Ring Neck Pheasants

The DEC guys were at the South end of Canandiagua Lake releasing 21 Ring Pheasants cocks. This was really great to see even if they fly to fast to picture. Occasionally fly just overhead barely clearing our heads.

Fog on the hills of the valley

There was a bit of fog on the hills in the valley at Stid Hill this morning.
It looks like a sunny day but was just a normal cloudy day in Upstate NY.

Some bright spots

A great day in the valley.
The fall colours are fading fast, but there are still some bright spots to be found. I just viewed these images on the site. Something in the processing has upped the contrast and makes them look a little strange - sorry.

Candice Lake in the fall

A sunny day on Waldon Pond even if it is Candice Lake, NY.
The North End showing the really low water. Since this is part of the Rochester water supply, I have to believe that it is drawn down for a reason.

Deer, birds, sun life is good

Finally a buck! I have many pictures of Hinds but few of the stag with antlers.
Oh, my neck hurts. When I see birds like this Downey Woodpecker, turn their heads 180°, I get a crick in my neck.
Stid Hill in the sun.

Mink in the tree

Grenville ran this little guy up the tree. Way cool!

Sorry for the blown out eyes. I had to use flash to see him at all but this is red-eye Mink style.

Some local colour

This was yesterday at Finger lakes Community Collage. Just a little colour.
Today Grenville was in yellow. I think this may be the last weekend for colour in the area. It has peaked.

Dark days ... subjects getting scarce

It was a dark and stormy night, no day. Subjects are hard to find so we resort to what ever is left ... namely the milkweed.
Match fungus? Found this fungus on some old sleepers from the railroad. Look like matches.

A snake ... ?

Just what I thought was a pretty picture.
I was as surprised as he was to see this Garter Snake today. The temp was in the high 50s. I thought that these guys would have found winter shelter by now. As you can see he was movin fast. These guys usually are not that shy.

Frost early, Sun all day

Ponies on the hill graze in the frost.
Just in case you haven't seen frost in a while - here it is.
Slightly later it is a great fall day. Sit and enjoy.

Sparrow

A sparrow dances in the air.

Opening Day of Bow Season

It is the opening day of bow season here in NY. Therefore we will have to be more selective of where we take our morning walks. These were on the path in Gonadagan SP.

Flint Creek

Returned to this cascade on Flint Creek today in the hope of getting a good foliage picture, but there isn't much foliage to be seen.
Further down the creek is the dam for the grist mill in Phelps, NY.

The view to the south

Mud Creek is a great picture place so I have many shots but it is always changing.


This is the view to the south from the top of Fort Hill. It is made from several images merged together hense the jagged edges.

Start of Indian Summer

This is Thanksgiving morning if you are in Canada. The frost is in the air.
The frost was pretty heavy this morning. We have had frost before but it was not a killing frost. This is that day. It is Indian summer from now on.

Birds in Mendon Ponds

Folks were feeding the Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) at Mendon Ponds Park. It was fun to see just how many people were actually able to attract birds.

Another hot muggy day ...

Yet another hot muggy day in upstate NY. Well 60° may not be hot or muggy for some people. This may be as good as it gets until next year.
This Black Saddlebag (Tramea Lacerata) was taking advantage of what sunny warm weather we have left.

Boughton Park

At Boughton Park many of the trees are changing, but there are lots which are waiting.

Some signs of fall

The Canada Geese are starting to congregate into groups for the flight south.
Crab Apples about 1000 to the bushel or just bite sized.
The seeds are spreading their wings.

The Heavens have opened up ... there is a Sun

Morning sunrise through the fog. The heavens have opened up reveling the sun and some mostly blue sky after a week of rain and grey.
The spider waits patiently in it's web.
Cabbage White on the early fall foliage.

Fading flowers of fall

Flowers are about the only thing to take pictures of today because of the clouds. It gives me a chance to practice with the flash.
Don't know what these flowers are but they are the only things still in bloom.

The Red, Green and Yellow

This is a set of trees that I have photographed for the past 3 years. I was walking with Grenville and we were about to do the 180° turn in the trail when I saw the colors. I was here a few days ago and there was no hint that things were changing so this was a real surprise. You can see the road about 300 ft below. We are about 2/3 ths. of the way up the hill.