White-tailed Kite Hovering
It won’t be long until RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser will be heading back to the tropics for another wintering season of awesome research and field work in Central America. Later on in the season RTPI President Twan Leenders will be traveling once again as well as the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History continues its truly global art, education and conservation work. This is a White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus), one species that I will be jealous of them getting to see. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreOsprey Subspecies
This late fall Osprey is a bird of a rare subspecies we do not get to enjoy passing by too often! I recently took this record shot of what looks like one of the 12 Presidential MV-22 from the U.S. Marines Corps HMX-1 squadron, used as support aircraft, flying unfortunately all too far away for a good look. Happy Veterans Day, and thanks to all for their service. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreFoliage Flight
Goodbye to the fall foliage, and goodbye to those dots – they are Turkey Vultures heading to the south for the winter. Some will try to hang on in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, but once the snow starts coming and life goes into hiding it becomes very difficult for these scavengers to find food, and the competition skyrockets. We will see them drifting up along Lake Erie again next spring.
Read MoreFall Pond
Make sure some of your Sunday is outside enjoying the end of the fall foliage season. It is hard to imagine ponds like this one could be covered in ice in a couple of months…
Read MoreAutumn Leaves
There have been a lot of bright pink autumn leaves to go along with the lemon yellow painted on the trees during this fall foliage season. The past week has yielded some gorgeous October weather. If you look a little closer you may end up seeing something other than a leaf flying off in the breeze – that is a Yellow-rumped Warbler flitting between the trees, one of millions on the move right now. Migration started strong again last night behind another cold front, and it should continue through the weekend. Good birding, and good autumning! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
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