December 31, 2007: Lancaster and Alden Birds (New York) (3 PHOTOS)

Just a few photos today on New Year's Eve:

Wild Turkeys in Lancaster, NY (Melissa)

Common Redpolls at our feeder
Red-Breasted Nuthatch enjoying our peanut feeder

December 30, 2007: Rochester Lake Ontario Shore Birding (New York) (9 BIRD PHOTOS)

More Lake Ontario birding in the Rochester area today, at Charlotte (Ontario Beach), and Irondequoit Bay Outlet. As usual for this time of year, the light was awful! We got a few decent shots anyway, and a nice new bird to photo! (See below)

CHARLOTTE:

Nice queue of Ring-Billed Gulls
Mallard

Bonaparte's Gull

IRONDEQUOIT BAY:

American Coot

One of the many domestic geese here

Above and Below: Long-Tailed Duck

Above and Below: Merlin!

December 28, 2007: Birds at home in Alden (NY) (2 BIRD PHOTOS)

The 2007-2008 Winter Finch Invasion hits home! Two Common Redpoll pictures from our backyard birdfeeder area....

December 25, 2007: Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

December 24, 2007: Pet Pictures for Christmas! (7 PHOTOS)

Here are some various pet photos, enjoying the Holidays and Christmas!

Nella
Deidra enjoying her new tunnel!
Mojo and Mystic opening presents
Above: Mojo Below: Mystic

Deidra resting

Casey

December 22, 2007: Birding- Niagara River Parkway, Stoney Creek, Ont. Hawk Owl, Guelph Arboretum (16 PHOTOS, 13 BIRD)

We birded a couple of locations today, across the river in Southern Ontario. We did our traditional winter birding up the Niagara River Parkway, but then checked in Stoney Creek for a reported Hawk Owl (success!) and the Guelph Arboretum for Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks (partial success). The photos...

NIAGARA RIVER PARKWAY ROUTE:

A view of Buffalo from across the river in Fort Erie
Winter plumage Common Loon
Lesser Scaup

Common Goldeneye

Buffleheads

Tundra Swan

Niagara Falls, Ontario

STONEY CREEK, ONTARIO:

Hybrid Canada Goose (with what?)

Cooper's Hawk

Photos of the Stoney Creek Hawk Owl:

Guelph Arboretum:

Pine Grosbeaks

One of the berry bushes being enjoyed...

December 16, 2007: Alden, New York Winter Weather (3 PHOTOS)

We did not get as much snow from the big winter storm as they anticipated. They were thinking 20-24", but it turned to rain for awhile, and out and out stopped for awhile. We still ended up with about a foot. Below are some photos of the yard....

December 15, 2007: Flights Austin - Memphis - Detroit - Buffalo

Today I had three Northwest flights: Austin-Memphis, Memphis-Detroit, Detroit-Buffalo. Clouds the entire time, so no photos. Here are the flight aware flight paths.

December 11, 2007: Flights Buffalo - Detroit - Memphis - Houston - Austin (1 PHOTO)

Today I set a record, being on FOUR flights! The first two went okay, Buffalo-Detroit, and Detroit to Memphis. The latter flight landed a bit late though, so I missed the Memphis-Austin flight, and was stuck in Memphis. I talked to Northwest and the next Austin flight was 7 hours later. I checked the schedules on my blackberry and noted Northwest had a flight leaving soon to Houston, and then I could grab a Continental flight from there to Austin. I did that, so I ended up on Memphis-Houston and Houston-Austin, arriving in Austin around 8pm. With all of that, I only got one photo (cloudy most of the time) - this nice shot of Downtown Memphis.

Today's FOUR Flight Aware maps!

December 1, 2007: Western NY Birding (Fort Niagara State Park, Beaver Island State Park) (5 PHOTOS, 2 BIRD, 1 MAMMAL)

We got a few photos today, while birding in two places: Fort Niagara State Park in Lewiston, NY, and Beaver Island State Park, in Grand Island, NY.

Fort Niagara State Park:

We did not find any winter finches this time, but this Red Fox was looking too!
It was clear enough to get a nice view of Toronto across the lake

Beaver Island State Park:

Tundra Swans

Dark Eyed Junco (Melissa's photo)

Nice American Tree Sparrow shot