Seneca Meadows Wetland Preserve

Seneca Meadows, Inc. is a waste management and recycling facility dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the environment. Seneca Meadows Wetland Preserve is the company's most recent initiative. The Preserve features over seven miles of trails through diverse native plant communities.

On a recent birding trip Dave Spier had mentioned this spot. Plus I found that there are two geocaches hidden on the grounds, Praire Overlook Cache (GC32PGE) and Oak Tree Pass Cache (GC32PFK). So I decided to visit the area.

Upon arriving I found the parking full. As I made my way to Praire Overlook I came across several women who were gathering wildflower seeds. This explains the lot overflow. The walk to the cache was pleasant. The trails of crushed stone are smooth and flat which made for easy walking.

View from the cache.

As I made my way to the second cache I stopped to observe the flowers and grass.

Reaching the Oak Tree Pass Cache the clue enabled me to find the cache quickly.

View near the cache.

I continued west on Oak Tree Pass until I came upon the rain shelter. Headed north along the Main Loop. Noted that beavers had been busy recently. Coming to some water notice two wood ducks under a fallen limb. An ATV was coming towards me. The rider stopped and introduced himself. His name was Andy and he informed me that he built this preserve.

Rain Shelter

Near where I saw the ducks

When I came upon the trail to the Northern Overlook I ventured up it. This platform provided a panoramic view of the preserve.

When I got back to the parking area I was the only one there until a photographer drove up in his Mercedes. Decided to spot at May's Point Observation Deck before returning home.

Footnote: Returned here with Joan on Sunday, September 25, 2011. She was impressed. We both plan to visit again.

Birding - Montezuma 9/14/11

Noga Blind

Today the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) scheduled a birding tour. Photographer-naturalist Dave Spier was the leader for the event. Arrived at the MAC to discover that only Dave was present. We made the decision to out to the ponds.

Reaching Sandpiper Shallows we observed a well camouflaged Green Heron. Walking in the truck tracks we made our way south along the Shallows and then Dave trudged through the cattails to the edge of the mud flats.

Sandpiper Shallows

There we were able to closely observe several shorebirds - Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and a White-rumped Sandpiper (a life bird for me).

Dave took this photo of the Pectoral Sandpiper  and the White-rumped Sandpiper.

Great opportunity to get up close to these shorebirds.

Pectoral Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

This close-up venture through the cattails was an experience that I will attempt again thanks to Dave's instruction on how to approach it.

Heading back to the center we walked by the north pond. There we heard a Common Gallinule and observed 6 Green-winged Teal.

Once in the center while visiting with Becky a Northern Harrier flew out over the fields.

Stopped by Martens Tract on my way home.

There on the far end perched on the duck box was the Great Blue Heron. There were 3 Great Blue Herons flying around.

Thanks to Dave's gracious sharing of his knowledge of birds and photography had another wonderful day in the bird world.

Week Thirty-Eight - 14 to Go

Using a random encounter and a weird medical happenstance (superfecundation), Kellerman crafts a noir that will hold your interest to the final page

Read 52 Books in 52 Week in 2011

Week Thirty-Seven - 15 to Go

Sister Carol Anne O’Marie takes Sister Mary Helen on the road. Ballyclarin, Ireland, "Home of the Oyster Festival," is the destination. Coupled with a mysterious murder the setting provides lots of Irish color. This cozy allowed Mary Helen to show her knowledge of police procedure is not confined to the Tenderloin district.

And may you be in heaven
Half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead. ~ Irish Blessing

Sister Carol Anne O’Marie died from Parkinson's disease on May 27, 2009.

 Read 52 Books in 52 Week in 2011 

Doubledays vs. Lake Monsters Playoff Game

Attended Thursday night's New York-Penn League game between the Auburn Doubledays and the Vermont Lake Monsters. It has been awhile since I have taken a box seat along the first base line of  Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park.

The Doubledays, an affiliate of the Washington Nationals, are in the New York-Penn League playoffs for the first time since winning the 2007 championship. The Vermont Lake Monsters are affiliated with the Oakland A's.

Long time Auburn "you ask him and he will do it" and current NY Penn League Historian, Charlie Wride threw out the first ball.

Charlie Wride

Taylor Hill started  for the Doubledays and pitched five shoutout innings. The 6-foot-4 Vanderbilt alumnus after giving up a lead off standup double to Vermont's Sean Jamieson retired the last thirteen batters he faced striking out a season high eight.

Taylor Hill

The Lake Monsters starter Brent Powers keep the Doubledays' bats quiet for 6-and-a-third innings.

Brent Powers

But in the seventh inning, Wilfri Pena, a .222 hitter batting in the No. 9 position, slammed a long home run over the left field fence to seal the Doubledays win.

Wilfri Pena

Auburn closer Aaron Barrett got the save working the ninth inning.

Aaron Barrett

References:
The Citizen
The Post-Standard

Birding - Montezuma 9/6/11

Martens Tract

After getting the papers returned home to a sparse mist that was hanging in the driveway. The weather improved as I crossed the railroad bridge in Savannah.

Pulling into Muckrace a little after 7:30 AM observed 2 Canada Geese near the south berm. Twelve Yellowlegs were foraging in the shallows and 8 Mallards were preening on the drier sections.

Yellowlegs

Arrived at Martens Tract at 8:15 AM my attention was immediately drawn to the 17 Canada Geese  flying overhead. Along the back end of the marsh were 2 Great Blue Herons. Seven ducks were gliding on the duckweed.

Great Blue Heron

 On the observation deck grass and in the parking lot were evidence that hunters had been recent visitors.

Thanks to Danny Wegmans had some plastic bags in the car. So policed the area of this trash before leaving.

Made my way to Railroad Road. Despite the recent rainfall the road was in good shape. After parking the car walked toward the Seneca River to check it out. Since a train was coming headed back toward the car. Going west the CSX train was transporting container boxes.

The ground cover near the tracks showed evidence of last night's rain.

Walked out onto the Railroad Road impoundment. A Great Blue Heron flew over head and perched in a tree. On a isle there were 6 Trumpeters - 2 adults and 4 juveniles.

Noticed a truck  at the impoundment barrier. It pulled over as it approached. Jim, the driver, said that he and Nick were banding birds and he encouraged me to join them. At the trapping enclosure were 5 Wood Ducks. One already had their band on it but the other four needed banding. Using the ducks Jim pointed out their distinct characteristics and then he allowed me to release two of these youngsters. This was cool.

Released Wood Duck

Stopped at MAC for a rest room break. Becky was there. We had a pleasant conversation. Decided to head home by way of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Driving south on Route 89 noticed the Trumpeter Swans on Colvin's Pond.

Stopped at Mays Point and found Chuck Gibson on the observation deck doing a bird count. He noted that the presence of a multitude of dead carp and there eventual odor should make the weekend Muckrace interesting. A Refuge vehicle drove up to the deck with two bird counters. Since the SUV brought with it a swarm of mosquitoes Chuck and I decided to leave.

Made a quick visit to South Spring Pool far back was a Great Egret. There were also 2 Yellowlegs floating around.

The main pool at Visitor Center at the Refuge was quiet with the exception of 5 cars, 3 from New York, 1 from Ontario, and 1 from Pennslyvania. On the way out before turning onto 5 & 20 noticed a Great Blue Heron in the pool near the highway.

A great for birding. The highlight was the handling of the young Wood Ducks.

Week Thirty-Six - 16 to Go

What better activity for Labor Day weekend than grilling at a picnic. Added fun and flavor to ouroutdoor cooking with this The Deen Bros. cookbook. This volume elevated our grilling to a new level.

 Read 52 Books in 52 Week in 2011