Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis)
It is December duck time! I have been enjoying some of the new arrivals across our region as birds like Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Greater and Lesser Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, and these Long-tailed Ducks make their way to our shores. This species of diving duck certainly spends a long time underwater when it is feeding. It can even go down to near 200 feet! Their incredible patterns almost appeared camouflaged against the water on this cloudy late autumn day. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreHooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Here is a group of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus), a common species to spot on an unfrozen pond or lake near you right now. Chautauqua Lake is certainly a good place to find them – at least during this time of the year while it is not a solid block of ice. More of our waterfowl species are moving into the region as we have had an active and varied weather pattern. Have you had any surprises?
Read MoreSnowy Owl in Dunkirk, New York
This tremendous photo of a Snowy Owl at Wright Park Beach in Dunkirk, New York was taken this morning by our friend Gale VerHague. She used a basic point and shoot camera showing how easily we can safely photograph these birds from a distance thanks to a good zoom, especially if you have a scope. Giving them space is important so that they can rest during the day and hunt at night – in this case, likely waterfowl on Lake Erie. It is all the more necessary when, as Gale told me, birds like American Crows have honed in on the raptor as they were harassing this individual. Please try to...
Read MoreTundra Swans
Chautauqua Lake provides an excellent feeding ground for a number of migrating ducks, swans and geese throughout the cooler months. Just yesterday, over 200+ Tundra Swans filled Bemus Bay along with numerous Canada Geese and Mallard ducks. These large and beautiful swans captured the attention of several lake-side residents as they belted out their high pitched honks while feeding on the abundant vegetation within the shallows of the lake. As winter progresses more waterfowl will make their way to the Great Lakes and Chautauqua Lake to reach needed food resources after their long trips from...
Read MoreSnowy Owls spreading south
In the past week, since I posted this entry about another possible irruption, more Snowy Owls have moved in to southern Canada and the United States. One bird was found and photographed by Michele Rundquist-Franz, President of the Presque Isle Audubon Society, in Erie, Pennsylvania, not too far from us at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History in Jamestown, New York. Local excitement went up another level this weekend as two Snowy Owls appeared here in our own Chautauqua County on Saturday, November 15, both at the Dunkirk Airport. The first was found in the morning by our...
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