Tag: Montezuma
Practice Practice Practice
by Susan
Been taking my camera out ss often as I can, experimenting with manual mode. And lighting. That seems to be my biggest problem. There was a particular grainy, 18% gray day this week, where everything came out fuzzy and monotone. Like this guy over here ———> I went back on the next day, which was bright and sunny, and did much better. Like that … Read More Practice Practice Practice
+ Andrea van Beausichem, Andrea van Beusichem, Birds, Ducks, eagles, egret, Fish, Geese, grebes, heron, Migration, Montezuma, muskrat, osprey, swans, Uncategorized
Spring, Montezuma Style
by Susan
Winter is slowly losing its grip on western New York. Eaglets are hatching, osprey and herons are nesting, and ducks, geese, and swans have found their mates. Although spring arrived meterologically on March 21, it wasn’t really spring for us nature photofolks until April 1st, when the gate to Wildlife Drive swung open. Today was sunny (and warm!), so I packed a lunch and … Read More Spring, Montezuma Style
Feeding the Waterfowl, An Update
by Susan
Well, this blog has definitely been seen, because Ms. van Beusichem has now issued a brochure, Draining the Main Pool, Feeding the Waterfowl, which is available without charge at the MNWR Visitor’s Center. Nice try, but in my opinion it warrants no cigar. She merely repeats the glib arguments that we have already heard, albeit with a bit more cheerfulness. “The Montezuma National Wildlife … Read More Feeding the Waterfowl, An Update
Wildlife Dried
by Susan
Writing on Joseph Karpinksi’s Facebook Page, Birds of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, MNWR spokesperson Andrea van Beusichem advised visitors that Wildlife Drive will be “challenging” this year. I’m not sure if that is the best way to describe it. . .pathetic is more like it. There just isn’t much to see on the grasslands situated where the marshes used to be. But hey, at … Read More Wildlife Dried
+ Birds, eagles, gear, Uncategorized
A Not-So-Quiet Day at the Marsh
by Susan
I thought it was going to be one of those quiet summer days with wildlife languishing in the sun, too hot to forage or preen, thus limiting my photo ops to flowers and sparkly water. But it was not meant to be, not if the blackbirds had anything to say. Turns out they had a lot to say, and do! Today there were a … Read More A Not-So-Quiet Day at the Marsh
McNature
by Susan
Having an affinity for nature photography, Diet Coke, and a bargain, I am a frequent visitor at McDonald’s golden arches. I can’t help but notice what surrounds most of their restaurants, it’s pretty nice. So, I make it a habit to bring a camera with me while I wait at the drive-thru for a large Diet Coke/light ice — a real bargain at $1.00 … Read More McNature
+ Birds, Caspian Tern, Coots, Ducks, eagles, egret, Fish, Geese, grebes, heron, muskrat, Uncategorized
West Shore Trail
by Susan
West Shore Trail is in the northern part of the Montezuma Wetland Complex. It’s rather isolated; nobody seems to go there much except me. That’s too bad because now that the simulated drought is over, the water levels at West Shore have risen even higher than those at the main pool in Seneca Falls, and the resident wildlife is even more varied here than … Read More West Shore Trail
So Weird.
by Susan
Grebes, they’re so weird. We have the (ubiquitous) pie-billed type here. They’ve come back stronger, I think, this year. . .or maybe I just didn’t notice them as much last year as I do now. They’re cute little things, like tiny ducks with a fancy-looking bill. But they’re definitely weird. They like to hide in the vegetation that grows in marshy water, but they … Read More So Weird.
Wildlife Drive Is Open, No Foolin’!
by Susan
Probably the most visited part of the sprawling Montezuma Wetlands Complex is Wildlife Drive, a 3.5 mile loop that allows visitors to take a hike from the comfort of their own cars. And today, April 1st, the gates were opened to welcome birders (and photographers) to the 2020 observation season. Even CoVID-19 could not prevent this long-awaited event — in fact, it’s one of … Read More Wildlife Drive Is Open, No Foolin’!
What? No ducks????
by Susan
Officials have announced that the unusually cold weather may have prematurely ended duck-watching at Montezuma this year. But I suspect it has more to do with the induced drought. Draining the pools over the summer (2019) was done with good intentions and fairly good results. The lush grasses that re-grew on the marsh beds crowded out the unwanted plant life and promised a … Read More What? No ducks????
‘Bye-bye Birdies!
by Susan
Traffic has resumed on the Atlantic flyway as fall migration begins. The songbirds have been gone for a few weeks now — the blackbirds, marsh wrens, and kingbirds have all left the watersides, leaving only tree sparrows behind. The osprey nests are empty, and just the hardiest egrets and herons remain, stalking the waters of Montezuma for fish and frogs. And there are … Read More ‘Bye-bye Birdies!
Seen by Susan: Fun with Flora and Fauna 
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