March 30, 2008: Birdfeeder Pictures From Home (4 PHOTOS)

It was a nice today today, the snow is finally melting! I got a few photos from the birdfeeder. The Redpolls are still here! I would imagine they will be leaving soon. Our other northern irruptive visitor, the Red-Breasted Nuthatch, is also still present....

March 28, 2008: Late Season Snowfall in Alden, NY!

Today we got a late season snowstorm..... Below are some photos. About 4" at the house. We are all ready for Spring to start! At the bottom is the official Buffalo NWS Local Storm Report

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

SPOTTER REPORTS

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY1007
AM EDT FRI MAR 28 2008
THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 6HOURS FOR THE SNOW STORM THAT AFFECTED OUR REGION THURSDAY AFTERNOONINTO FRIDAY MORNING. APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAYDEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND MEDIAFOR THESE REPORTS.
THIS SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOMEPAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/BUFFALO**********************
12 HOUR SNOWFALL**********************
LOCATION 12 HOUR TIME/DATE COMMENTS SNOWFALL OF (INCHES) MEASUREMENTNEW YORK
...WYOMING COUNTY...
WARSAW 7.0 740 AM
3/28********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************
LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS SNOWFALL OF (INCHES) MEASUREMENT
NEW YORK.
..ALLEGANY COUNTY...
ANGELICA 5.0 800 AM 3/28
BELMONT 5.0 910 AM 3/28
BIRDSALL 5.0 715 AM 3/28
...CATTARAUGUS COUNTY...
PERRYSBURG 7.0 700 AM 3/28
SOUTH DAYTON 5.0 850 AM 3/28
...CAYUGA COUNTY...
MONTEZUMA 3.5 615 AM 3/28
...ERIE COUNTY...
BOSTON 6.0 700 AM 3/28
COLDEN 6.0 730 AM 3/28
ALDEN 4.0 900 AM 3/28
ALDEN 4.0 920 AM 3/28
CLARENCE 3.5 805 AM 3/28
ELMA 3.5 700 AM 3/28 0.42" LIQ. EQ.
HAMBURG 2.5 700 AM 3/28
BUFFALO 1.9 800 AM 3/28 AIRPORT NWS
...GENESEE COUNTY...
PAVILION 6.0 730 AM 3/28
...LIVINGSTON COUNTY...
DANSVILLE 8.0 800 AM 3/28
DANSVILLE 7.5 720 AM 3/28
...MONROE COUNTY...
BRIGHTON 4.0 930 AM 3/28
GREECE 4.0 730 AM 3/28
ROCHESTER 3.2 800 AM 3/28 AIRPORT NWS
WEBSTER 3.0 905 AM 3/28
...NIAGARA COUNTY...
NIAGARA FALLS 4.0 800 AM 3/28
...ONTARIO COUNTY...
GENEVA 8.2 800 AM 3/28
...WAYNE COUNTY...
PALMYRA 4.0 845 AM 3/28
...WYOMING COUNTY...
WARSAW 6.0 645 AM 3/28
PORTAGEVILLE 5.5 805 AM 3/28 0.90" LIQ. EQ.

March 23, 2008: Birding Iroquois NWR, and the Lake Ontario Plain

On our way to Easter Dinner, we made a few very brief birding stops today. Not much time at all.... First, IROQUOIS NATIONAL WILDIFE REFUGE

Flyover Tundra Swan
Pintails flying over... We also had a few Widgeon and Gadwall

Rough-Legged Hawk

Flyover Canada Geese

Nice winter scene at INWR... Tundra Swans and a few Pintails

A quick stop at some open fields in Oakfield, NY

We got some nice shots of Snow Buntings in various plumages

Just before a delicious Easter Dinner, I got the chance to do some quick birding with my nephew. We had a nice walk through the woods...

Downy Woodpecker

Black-Capped Chickadee

March 22, 2008: Niagara River (17 PHOTOS, 8 BIRD, 1 ANIMAL)

Melissa had a friend in town, so we took her on a tour of the area, and up to see Niagara Falls! In the process, we got some nice photos. The first set of photos were taken from Goat Island, on the US side of the falls.

Above: The Skylon Tower, across the river on the Canadian side

Below: A shot of downtown Niagara Falls, Ontario Above and below: Two shots of a Peregine Falcon that flew right by us over the gorge as we were enjoying the falls! A shot of Niagara Falls, still with a lot of snow and ice built up around it Fly-by gull

Below: Some cool shots of river ice... Now, we headed further down the river, back home

Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser, from near the Power Intake station, along the Robert Moses Parkway south of Niagara Falls.

Male and Female Bufflehead, same location

Despite the cold, the ice is breaking up. Plenty of ice chunks were floating down the river.

Grand Island (West River Parkway): Some Canvasbacks on the ice

Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, NY: Female Lesser Scaup

Also at Beaver Island ... This raccoon was out in the middle of the day looking for food. He dug up an old apple from beneath the deep snow and was munching on that!

Interactive Map of Locations Pictured

March 22, 2008: Springtime Is Coming (Home) (1 PHOTO)

Another sign of Spring, even with all of our snow... This Field Mouse out running around by our driveway!!

March 21, 2008: Butterfly At Home (1 PHOTO)

We were shocked to find this butterfly in the house today (with all the cold weather hanging on). Pretty sure it's a Cabbage White, and pretty sure it came in on some flowers we got...

March 9, 2008: Big Winter Storm (9 PHOTOS)

Here are some pictures from the major Winter Storm that affected this area (along with many other areas of the country) (Link).

The Buffalo NWS at the airport recorded a storm total of 21.6". A storm spotter in Alden reported 18.5". There was too much drifting at our house to tell exactly how much we got, but these totals sound about right. Photos below...