What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
Signs of Spring!
The signs of spring are popping out - honeysuckle, trout lilly, and trillium! I love them all and am excited to see the white/orange, yellow, and red blossoms once they bloom! Even if the honeysuckle is non-native :(
St. Regis Winter Hike!
Had the best time hiking up St. Regis! A sunny day, broke out my snowshoes, it was quite chilly. Not too challenging of a hike except for one short, steep bit. Definitely recommend, especially on a winter day like this one!
Chilly Hike Up Baker Mountain!
Had a lovely but bitterly cold day (although the shining sun helped) hiking Baker Mountain, one of the Saranac Sixers. Very nice hike, close to Saranac lake with lovely views.
Snowy Walk on the Kip
A chilly, snowy walk on the Kip Trail looking for birds. Not much to be seen there but still a lovely golden hour adventure.
Misty Blue Morning
Looking for a few moments of peace before I headed to work I stopped at the Public Beach in Blue Mountain Lake to be rewarded with this spendor!
Views of Huckleberry Lake
Our first hike to Huckleberry Lake in the Wolf Lake State Forest in St. Lawrence County. An easy 1.7 mile out-and-back led to a ledge over the still-as-a-mirror lake.
Sandhill Cranes near Wilson Hill WMA
It was a delight to spot this pair of Sandhill Cranes grazing in a grassy field near the Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area in Louisville, St. Lawrence County, NY. Sandhill Cranes breed in several locations in the county, including the Wilson Hill WMA, Upper & Lower Lakes WMA, and the Lisbon Swamp Complex. Keep your eyes out for these majestic birds that can reach four feet in length and have wingspans of 6.5 feet. Better yet - keep your ears open for their distinctive rattling/rolling calls.
Trumpeter Swans on the Grasse River
In driving down Route 68 toward Canton, I spotted a good number of Trumpeter Swans on the Grasse River. I pulled over in a safe space and was able to count 15 of them! I captured this photo showing two adults and three immature swans (the ones with the grayish necks and heads). So named for their trumpet-like calls, the Trumpeter Swan is the largest waterfowl native to North America, getting to be six feet in length and with wingspans of 8.5 feet!