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The tangled aftermath of the lightning strike.

A few weeks back, a large hemlock on our hill was struck by lightning during a particularly violent afternoon storm. It exploded from within, raining large tree shards across and down the hill and … more

By SANDY LONG | 7/20/21 | 1 comment

Tiny seedlings are started in moist rock wool before being planted in our hydroponic setup.

New methods, same goal

As many of you will know—either by reading this column or through the community grapevine—my wife and I are always working in agriculture, be it with vegetables or livestock. Very … more

By HUNTER HILL | 7/20/21

Carrying on a proud tradition. Kelly Buchta is pictured in a section of the fly shop dedicated to the past meets the future, as she looks at a photospread article published in Popeye, a Japanese fashion magazine, about the Walt and Winnie Dette and the new proprietors.

A reel tradition in real time

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — It all started in 1928 when Walt and Winnie Dette founded Dette Trout Flies. Ninty-three years later, it holds the distinction of being the oldest family-owned fly shop … more

By TED WADDELL | 7/20/21

The vagaries of the little sulphur mayfly hatch [Photo gallery]

As a longtime angler, I’ve had trouble finding rising trout during almost every mayfly hatch that occurs each year along rivers in the Catskills. All species, it seems, provide their own set of … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 7/14/21

Identifying animals by the excrement (scat) they leave is a tool used by people for various reasons. However, the scat itself can sometimes attract other critters. In this image, some coyote scat has attracted three different species of insects. They are the American carrion beetle (Necrophila americana), the larger beetles with yellow thorax markings; the margined carrion beetle (Oiceoptoma noveboracense), the smaller beetles with red thorax markings; and a single mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa) at the top left side of the image.

Some oddities found in a forest

When walking through a forest during this time of year, there are usually quite a few things to see and hear. From the hermit thrush calling near the higher trails to the wood frog trying to … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 7/14/21

Ed Wesely passed away on May 26, 2021. He greatly appreciated the poetry of Emily Dickinson:.“Because I could not stop for Death –.He kindly stopped for me –.The Carriage held but just Ourselves –.And Immortality.”.— Emily Dickinson

A legacy of compassionate action

In early 2005, River Reporter (RR) writer and passionate naturalist Ed Wesely asked me if I’d be interested in writing this “River Talk” column in weekly rotation with him. Ed … more

By SANDY LONG | 7/7/21

Garlic scapes are a tasty summer treat, whether cooked or fresh by themselves—if you have the palate for it, that is.

Ex-scaping the 9 to 5

I’m someone who loves his job, truly. But I’ve also been described as a jack of all trades, which makes me anxious sometimes when I spend too much time doing just one thing—i.e. my … more

By HUNTER HILL | 7/7/21

Boaters enjoying a rafting trip while wearing their life jackets.

Wear a life jacket and shoes

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER — You’ve come to the river to have a great time. But whether it is fishing, boating, swimming, or floating. being on or near the river has its risks, and everyone … more

7/7/21

This adult peregrine had left its perch with the remnants of a couple of prey items flown around to entice the young. Sticking out if its bill is a foot with a leg band attached to it. It probably belonged to a pigeon. During this time, adults will bring prey items to a ledge away from the young are and then start eating. This may entice a young to fly over to the adult’s location in order to partake.

Peregrine flight school

Around the middle of June, I took a trip to New York to monitor a peregrine nest. It was just about time for the young to fledge—a good time to get a count of the number of young. On arrival, I … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 6/30/21

The longest day

June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of this year. It provides about 17 hours of daylight and is the official beginning of summer. This means that anglers can be on the water until at … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 6/30/21

This lovely northern catalpa tree grows just outside my dentist’s office in Milford, PA. The white blossoms and large heart-shaped leaves are attention-grabbers. Catalpas typically flower about seven years after planting and yield bean-like seed pods filled with inch-long seeds that are fringed at the ends.

Blossom abundance!

Two of the blooming beauties we are blessed with here in the Upper Delaware River region that have recently launched their showy displays are the northern catalpa tree and the mountain laurel shrub. … more

By SANDY LONG | 6/23/21

My son’s first fish, caught NOT on Father’s Day.

NOT Father’s Day fishing

For the record, I was right. But then I was wrong. Returning to the right, I’m going to chalk up my confusion to a well-balanced case of aging. As someone who prides himself on being organized … more

By HUNTER HILL | 6/23/21

This leucistic turkey vulture has the classic color variation of this condition. The dorsal side of this bird shows a very splotchy left wing and back. The right wing is largely normal plumage.

Albino versus leucistic

Some of us are lucky enough to see white-colored deer on occasion. You may have heard someone say, “I saw an albino deer in my backyard today!” The question to ask in response could have … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 6/16/21

The Big Hole River, one of Montana's premium trout waters, is suffering a brown trout population decline.

Brown Trout decline in some southwest Montana rivers

The other day when I met Galen for an evening of fishing, he handed me a book containing a note that outlined a serious decline in brown trout populations within some Montana rivers. This is what … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 6/16/21

Sap oozes from a beaver-addled sapling, providing food for airborne yeasts that produce a colorful gooey substance.

Stump flux

With a title like the one atop this column, who could resist the temptation to know more? That’s pretty much how I felt when stumbling upon the beaver-addled, slime-covered stumps depicted … more

By SANDY LONG | 6/9/21

It’s always satisfying to see fresh dirt turned up and new crops being sown.

One potato, two potato, three potato, a thousand

On the subject of planting season, I have more to do than I can say. Since I’m about to spend a page of the paper talking about it, you can assume just how much I really have to do. Farming … more

By HUNTER HILL | 6/9/21

Martucci, Gunther pass bill helping sportsmen, protecting animal welfare

Albany, NY – Senator Mike Martucci (R,C,I–Hudson Valley and Catskills) and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D,WF,I–Forestburgh) announced the two-house passage of … more

6/2/21

This fawn was found near a house and very close to a road in Shohola, PA during the last week of May. The doe gave birth to the fawn very recently, and the fawn did not have the strength to walk yet. This wasn’t the best choice of resting spots, as the fawn was obvious to passing motorists. This fawn was eventually walking and found with its mother a few hours later.

Fawn follies

May and June are the time of the fawns. You may have seen them already in your yard or nearby fields or forests. It is when they are seen on or near a road that they are of most concern. When … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 6/2/21

A trout finally landed after a struggle

The first six weeks or so of the 2021 trout season have been a mixed bag of weather and streamflow. When the season began on April 1, flows were down due to early snowmelt, with the release from … more

By TONY BONAVAIST | 6/2/21

Delicate bluets (Quaker ladies) brighten a grassy path.

Forest finds and fineries

“I was walkin’ through the woods one day, in the merry merry month of May....” Yes, I’ve slightly adapted the song to suit my purpose here—to wake readers to … more

By SANDY LONG | 5/26/21

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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