Times Beach Safari

New signage on Furhrmann right across from Times Beach Entrance

I usually like to keep the Protection Farm Journal focused on Protection Farm, but we have a wonderful relationship with Times Beach Nature Preserve, which is located in, downtown Buffalo on the Waterfront.  Among other things we host a Facebook page called Friends of Times Beach Nature Preserve: Facebook Friends of Times Beach Nature Preserve

Times Beach in the WNY Traveler

Jonna and Jamie

This past Saturday 10-09-10 Jamie, Jonna, and I, went down early on a photo safari and were greeted with spectacular things.  The water was a little low, which is typical in the fall, and is very inviting for migrating shorebirds. Times Beach is known for fall migrating shorebirds. They are an important part of the 423 species that have been seen at Times Beach over the years.

A pair of American avocets were in the water near a shoreline mudflat, about half way out from the western end breakwall from where we were observing.  At first I did not know what they were. They were about 25 yards off shore, off the mudflats and at least 100 yards from where we stood.  They appeared to be floating, and because of the distance from us, they appeared to be a pair of floating gulls. They were white with some black wing markings, and I did not get my glasses on them at first. That is because I was immediately distracted by three Greater Yellowlegs, which were almost next to us on the nearby mudflats.

Looking toward downtown, mudflats exposed center and left

These Yellowlegs were incredible looking. They were walking back and forth, in and out of the water, and seemed to be playfully hunting for food. They had brilliant and long yellow legs.  They were very tall and elegant. I have always loved watching these birds. Basically, I felt that if I didn’t see another bird this day, I would be very happy with the Yellowlegs. Every once in a while they would take flight, with the familiar 3-chirp vocalization that helps to characterize their identification. They are similar to the Lesser-Yellowlegs, which you can also find at Times Beach, but they are larger. They would fly together back and forth across the mudflats, sometimes very close, sometimes, about 75 yards away from us.  We watched for several minutes before I finally decided to get my glasses on the white gulls floating offshore.

Avocets center tiny white specks to the left of central mudflats

Not a great photo because it is digitally zoomed but you can see the slender black upturned bills

I couldn’t believe what I saw. They were still in deep water, but the markings on their backs were not any gull markings that I recognized.  As I got a closer look at the heads I realized that they had long slender upturned beaks.  And then they started to move toward the shore. And I realized that they were walking. They slowly rose out of the water as they approached the relative shallows just off the mudflats. When I say slowly rose out of the water, I mean they elevated out of the water on these incredible long stilts for legs. They were hugely tall. Easily half again as big as the Yellowlegs.  They were almost as big as the Blue-heron that had just landed about 20 yards to their north. 

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) pair at Times Beach, Saturday October 9, 2010

American Avocet

They walk with such elegance

I think that this is a male and female, as there are subtle differences. We watched for about half an hour as they meandered back and forth around the mudflats, in and out of the deep water, moving their heads and necks back and forth in the water as they searched for food. These rare and stunning birds were just incredible to observe and really put an exclamation point on why Times Beach is such an important nature preserve on the Great Lakes.

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Greater Yellowlegs

After a while there was a commotion in the cattails near the far end of the mudflats. Three deer, a family, -an antlered father, a mother and a young yearling emerged on the mudflats. They were enjoying the day and were very playful. They were chasing each other around in circles, rearing up hind legs and tagging each other with the front legs, and the yearling kept going to nurse from the mother, which she resisted with some determination.  At one point, they noticed the Blue-heron and the avocets and I have a great photo of them checking them out.

What a day at Times Beach!

New paved roadway and parking at west entrance

New light standards along bike path

First Frost

The First killing frost of the season came this week, overnight this past Saturday (10-10-10)

Dawns early light melts the frost but it is still there, in the shadows

This brings with it the end of the growing season. We moved plants that needed protection inside on Friday night.  (Aloes and remaining tomatoes, mostly.)  During the past week we had reached temperatures of 70 degrees F, and although most of the flowers including the asters have been fading, there has been a fair amount of insect life. Lots of dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, and some butterflies. I photographed a beautiful American Copper last week, which I published on the previous post.  The chipmunks have been visible and noisy, as have the Wood Ducks on the marsh. You can hear them constantly in the evening and they fly in and out and vocalize.  We have had, at least until Saturday, a fairly profound chorus of spring peepers and crickets in the evening. The warm rainy nights brought the peepers back after a summer of quietness.  

On Saturday morning, the first frosty views at dawn were startling in a white crystalline and frozen kind of way.  This is a dramatic and for me at least, an uncomfortable reminder that the seasons are changing, summer is over, and long cold times lie ahead. I am not looking forward to the winter.

all frozen

It is always interesting to see dramatic changes of scenery.  We have just transitioned from a very colorful few weeks in the fields and meadows and forests, to now what is much more muted grays and browns.  When it is not overcast there is a deep blue sky, which seems particularly saturated in the crisp autumn. We were just reaching our peak woodland leaf season when the frost hit, and so now that too is fading. It is also interesting to see the spectacular night sky on the cold nights. There is no humidity in the air and the skies are deep black and brilliant with stars. There is a waxing moon now at about half crescent.

Crisp, cold, crystalline

The time since early September or so has brought certain melancholy both because of the changing of the landscapes, the changing of the temperatures, and because of the changing of the bird populations. It was difficult to say goodbye to the bluebirds in August. It was difficult to say goodbye to the hummingbirds in mid-September.  It was challenging to watch the blackbirds gather in huge flocks and the Canada Geese to mount their migratory V formations and head away.  But the news is good. The brilliant fall days, the beautiful goldenrods and asters, and the spectacular fall foliage brought new adventures and new life. The flowers attracted all sorts of insects including many species of bees and butterflies. Early in October bluebirds returned and every day now there are several in the yard singing from dawn until dusk. Sunday I counted 10 singing. All at once.  A gorgeous back and forth cadence from all sides. It was really nice to sit in the gazebo and listen.

Winter birds are now starting to gather. After the freeze we started filling the feeders with black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, and thistle.  This has brought in the dozen or so chipmunks that have been hanging around the edges waiting for the seasonal food source and this morning, two red squirrels, which had all but vanished from our view after the last snow of the spring.  Also this morning, there are 13 Chickadees that came noisily to me when I went onto the back porch to refill the feeders. They perched all around me, singing, scolding, and chatting it up.  One even landed on my hand when I held it up.  The red-bellied, and White-bellied Nuthatches are abundant. Jajean calls these cute and friendly little birds “squeak toys” because of the gentle squeaking sound they make. The Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are at the Suet, and there are also lots of Blue jays, juncos, and yesterday for the first time since last winter several tits, hanging around the feeders.

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilus)
Common, friendly, year round resident at Protection Farm.

 Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) Common year round resident, loves the thistle feeders.  This is a male in breeding plumage

Eastern Chipmonk (Tamias Striatus) Fat-cheeked and happy, this little creature is preparing for a winters hibernation. Once the deep freeze is on they will be replaced at the feeders by Red and Grey Squirrels. they do waken to feed every couple of weeks and if we are lucky we will get a glimpse of one during the winter.
Eastern Chipmonk

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) Common winter visitor

Tuftted Titmouse

Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Common yearround resident, loves the feeders. This bird is slightly smaller than the White-breasted Nuthatch and has a great persoality.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
White-breasted Nuthatch

Downy Woodpecker (picoides pubescens) These are common year round. the Downy is a little smaller than the Hairy Woodpecker, which is also common, but has not been around the feeders so far this season
Downy Woodpecker

I am not the only one that welcomes the return of the feeder creatures

Sunday October 10, 2010

Maindenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

The week was marked by several days of cold and rain. Several sunsets and twilights brought out Screech Owls and a Great -horned Owl. No photos but we heard them clearly and they were in the yard and around us.  On Friday the sun broke through as a high pressure moved into the area. A few straggler butterflies, notably a Monarch, a Red Admiral, an American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) (pictured below), and a  Meadow Fritillary, all on the remaining butterfly bush.  Most flowers are fading but a few asters are hanging in.  We are about at peak regards the changing of the leaves and will post photos as they become available. the wood ducks continue to make a racket in the marsh and the waters are growing deeper as there has been a lot of beaver activity there. Saturdays temperature hit 65 degrees and the sun remains brilliant today. We went to Times Beach in Buffalo yesterday and saw a pair of American Avocets, and 3 Greater Yellowlegs.  I have photos.

Last night the sky was clear and unlike any sky I have seen for months. It was cold an crystal clear. No moon, but a deep dark sky punctuated by millions of stars and planets. And we had our first frost last night.

Rising Waters 10-10-10

American Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)
Rare butterly on a late autumn day

American Copper on a woodland aster

 

British Soldier Lichen, aka Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia cristatella)

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

First Frost 10-10-10