SLU Birders is a new club on campus that I co-founded with a friend this year, aimed at connecting students to the world of birds and avian conservation. Our first meeting was a walk down the Saddlemire Trail to look for birds. We ended up at the horse barn in search of Barn Swallows. We were unsuccessful in this search, but only because we noticed something across the street at the composting grounds-- a Bald Eagle!

Driving up CR 27 toward Canton, I saw two bald eagles sitting in a mowed field along with several crows and ravens. Perhaps they were at a gut pile?  The smaller birds began to harass the eagles who took flight. One landed on a nearby power pole where it was dive-bombed a few times. The other was harassed in flight, eventually landing back on the ground. The bad pictures from my phone don’t do the observation justice. 

Taking Hebron Yam on his first kayak excursion and we came upon this loons nest with 2 very large eggs of which only one loon survived. I suspect a snapping turtle or predatory bird had the other.

Started October with a short walk along the Observation Tower Trail at Indian Creek Nature Center in Canton, NY. This raccoon was up high in a Maple Tree that was just starting to bring its colors out. What was he doing up there? Look closer and you can see he was after the grapes which have grown into the treetops long after the farm is gone. The walked also featured many migrant songbirds including White-crowned Sparrow, warblers, and some very energetic Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

It was a treat on a mid-March day to watch this Barred Owl perch on a fence post, then swoop onto the snowy ground in chase of prey, and then return to the fence post when its attempt was unsuccessful.

The newest addition on Sixth Lake. Mother Loon and Baby.