Grand Island, New York
"Nature's Bounty"
Naturalist Photographer Nathan Cook
Volume Three
Click For Volume One
Click For Volume Two
Click For 2005 Volume One
Nathan Cook is a resident of Grand Island, NY
All photos have been taken on Grand Island, NY and most may be clicked for a larger view.
Inquiries may be made to the photographer at tetrazole@giecom.net
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Redwing blackbird nest and eggs: May 2005
Along with robins, the red winged blackbirds return to our area in early spring. This nest was found about four foot off the ground in a shrub along the river bank on the west side of the Island. |
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Robbins nest with eggs.: Early May 2005
This photo was taken early this month while on a trip to Illinois. Robbins do not exercise the best of judgment on selecting a nest site. This nest was just outside the door of a busy business; in plain sight, about five foot off the ground.
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Dead songbird: May, 2005
This songbird was discovered dead under the highlines on the northwest side of Buckhorn. On the same walk, chunks of dismembered skunk were also noted. In the case of the skunk, I believe it had been killed by a hawk, as there were hawk feathers with a strong skunk scent nearby. |
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Mating gnats.: Late May, 2005
Each spring and early summer, massive columns of gnats and midges may be seen along West River Road. This photo catches two mating while resting on a leaf.
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New maple leaves: Late May 2005
With few exceptions, our trees have only really leafed out over the past two to three weeks. These very new maple leaves still retain their very shiny surface. |
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Newly emerged poison ivy leaves: Late May 2005
When poison ivy first puts out new leaves in the spring, their colors may be quite intense. The crimson leaves will soon turn the more familiar green but once the cold weather of late fall sets in they will again be this color.
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Escaped lilacs.: Late May 2005
Feral lilac bushes may be found any number of places on the Island. Some of the best stands of these attractive plants may be found along West River and inside of Buckhorn, by the bird viewing blinds. |
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Woodland violets: Late May 2005
Patches of violets are now in full bloom along woodland trails. We also have white, yellow and light blue varieties on the Island.
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Pink Tartarian Honeysuckle in bloom: Late May 2005
The pink variety of this escaped cultivar is starting to bloom on the north end of the Island. The white variety should start to bloom in another week or two. |
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Garlic Mustard Blooms: Late May 2005
Garlic mustard is one of the first plants to emerge each year. They are now in the 1-2.5 foot range in height with myriads of white blooms.
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Gone to seed: Late May, 2005
Already producing seeds for a lawn near you. Dandelions get the advantage by not really dying in the winter. As soon as the ground thaws, they return to their nefarious plot of lawn domination world-wide. |
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Mayapple Patch: Late May, 2005
Though not yet in bloom, the mayapples are now up in force. This exceptionally large patch enjoys the filtered sunlight in Buckhorn park.
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Purple morning glories: August, 2004
This bright morning glory variety was grown from seed. Occasionally these garden varieties will reseed themselves along fences several years in a row. |
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Purple morning glory bloom: August, 2004
A closeup of one of the flowers to the left.
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Red Monarda: July, 2004
Though monarda is a common garden plant it may also escape into the wild. This plant was found in a disturbed area on the edge of Buckhorn this past summer. |
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Dew on red berries: October, 2004
The morning dew on the surface of these brilliant red berries glistened in the sun.
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Pinecone cluster: September, 2004
This attractive cluster of pinecones should provide some seeds this fall for some of the local squirrels. |
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Ferns in fall: October, 2004
Ferns are great opportunists when it comes to germination sites. These are growing out of some broken limestone in a shaded woodland location.
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Morning dew on fallen leaf: October, 2004
The morning dew appeared like jewels on this fallen leaf |
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Sunfish: July, 2004
Sunfish often "hover" just under the surface of the water. This specimen was photographed in a pond in the woods behind Huth Road School in the summer.
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Fungal Forrest: October, 2004
All the wet weather has been great for the fungus this fall. These delicate, small toadstools appeared all over one of the open areas in Buckhorn this past month. |
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Cedar takes a foothold: October, 2004
This cedar tree seedling took root in the rich soil of the forest floor.
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Bleeding Hearts: May, 2003
Though this flower is found in spring gardens around the Island, native varieties may be found in some woodland locations as well. Native varieties are rarely as robust as the plant in the photo and the flowers are often muted in color as well. |
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Crimson Sumac: October, 2004
Sumac is one of the basic building blocks in undeveloped areas throughout the Island. The plant delivers intense color displays briefly each fall.
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Fall exposes a hornets nest: October, 2004
This excellent example of a hornets nest was exposed when the leaves fell from this maple tree located in the Sandy Beach area. |
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Carpet of fall leaves: October, 2004
Under the tree with the hornets nest, was this brilliant crimson carpet of leaves.
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New toadstool: October, 2004
This fragile and solitary toadstool resembles a parasol. |
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Toadstool drying out: October, 2004
Another toadstool like that shown to the left is rapidly drying out in the mid-day sun.
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Green, but ripe crab apples: October, 2004
This crab apple tree was so full of fruit that the branches were being pulled down by their weight. Though green and very tart, the small apples were ripe. |
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Reflections on Woods Creek: October, 2004
The still water in Woods Creek gave a sharp reflection of the trees in their autumn colors.
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