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This is an image of a young eagle, about three weeks old, taken on the first day of May a few years ago. At the moment, it is covered by secondary down, but very soon, dark brown pin feathers will start to appear and then will replace the down. The young are now large enough to be seen over the nest wall when standing. This nest is close to six feet in diameter; however, when the latter part of June arrives, this once-spacious nest will become pretty cramped with two nearly full-grown young (the average clutch size) occupying it.

During the winter, the resident bald eagles have been enjoying their time off from breeding activities for the most part. Some banded eagles, documented as part of territorial pairs in the … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 5/5/22

The East Branch of the Delaware, at 1,400 cfs, on April 14. Normal flow is 100 cfs.

Water, water

I believe the summer deluge began sometime in July of 2021. Part of that phenomenon had to do with the inordinate amount of rain that we had in the western Catskills during that period. At the … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 5/5/22

The wound of the ill-fated Eastern garter snake described in this column can be seen at the lower right corner of this photo.

A twist of fate

The world of nature is full of surprises, and they are not always pleasant. Walking on the road where I live in Pike County, PA, I came upon an Eastern garter snake curled on the macadam. Bending … more

By SANDY LONG | 4/27/22

Farming and flamethrowers go hand-in-hand more than you might think.

Flamethrowers and thunder chickens

While spring is most certainly sprung and the most recent snowstorm officially melted away into the land of blissful ignorance, I can’t help but feel like I’m still playing a lot of … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/27/22

The mourning cloak’s wings are largely dark, with purple spots near the trailing edge. Both the fore- and hindwings are fringed with a band of light yellow. ..When they are seen in spring, the wings may appear somewhat tattered; after they mate in the spring, they are close to the end of their 11-month lifespan. ..The underside of the wings appears dark with less color. The yellow fringe can be seen in flight, depending on the viewing angle.

Spring butterflies

During a mid-month hike a week or so ago, there were a fair number of things to see and hear. Pileated woodpeckers calling and drumming, bald eagles and vultures soaring above the mountain tops, and … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 4/22/22

The small, remote streams where wild brook trout still thrive.

Early-season trout fishing

In those days, the teenage years, trout fishing was strictly a weekend affair. Except during summer, when on occasion my friend Tony and I had the rare opportunity for a weekday adventure. At the … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 4/20/22

Adult beavers average 40 to 60 pounds and typically grow up to 40 inches in length. Their stubby bodies, glossy brown coats and paddle-shaped tails make this mammal easily identifiable in the Upper Delaware River region.

Beaver teeth

What do you know about North America’s largest rodents, and in particular their unusual teeth? Castor canadensis is an aquatic fur-bearing mammal that was eliminated in Pennsylvania and most … more

By SANDY LONG | 4/13/22

The River Reporter’s Amanda Reed is not only an award-winning graphic designer, but one of my best fishing buddies as well.

Flocking to the stockies

Confidence. Founded or unfounded, confidence is what turns a mere attempt into an experience. It doesn’t even have to be real; sometimes faking it will get you just as far as the real thing … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/13/22

This nymph-stage blacklegged tick is possibly hungering for a blood meal.

Tick turn-off

EVERYWHERE — Cedarwood oil smells great to a lot of people. It can be found in many consumer products—perfumes, soaps and deodorants, for example. But cedarwood oil also is prized … more

4/13/22

These two spring peepers are in amplexus, a method of mating where the male (on top) grabs the female with its forelegs. A male that is successful in attracting a female usually calls louder and faster than nearby males. A female can lay more than 750 eggs that hatch in six to 12 days.

Early songs of spring

About mid-March, when a couple of mild days arrived, I started hearing one of the first sounds that tell of the impending arrival of spring and warmer days ahead. I visited some vernal ponds, and on … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 4/8/22

Quill Gordon

In the last three or four years, the years I’ve written about fly fishing for the River Reporter, there have been columns about most of the important mayfly species that hatch from Catskill … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 4/8/22

Andrew Sander, 13, of East Meredith, NY, was joined at Fly Fest 2022 by his father Henry, part of a self-described outdoors family. Andrew was mentored in the art of fly-tying by Joe Ceballos, president of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild.

Fit to be tied

ROSCOE, NY — On February 26, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM) held Fly Fest 2022, its annual rite of passage as the frigid grasp of winter starts to thaw, bringing forth … more

By TED WADDELL | 4/6/22

Wooden folding tip-ups are the ideal choice for the traditionalist ice fisherman.

Identifying the ideal tip-up

Although by the time this magazine is printed, ice-fishing season will be either over or close to it, it’s been on my mind for a few years now to talk about the particulars of this chilly … more

By HUNTER HILL | 4/6/22

A section of the East Branch with accessible PFR.

The public’s right to fish in Catskill navigable rivers

On several occasions, anglers have asked what I thought was the single most important issue facing the future of trout fishing in the Catskills. Without hesitation, I replied, “Continued and … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 4/6/22

A pool of chiseled shards cast off by a woodpecker searching for sustenance collects at the base of a tree.

Drilling in

In the still-stark days of early spring, it’s easy to see evidence of woodpecker activity in the Upper Delaware River region. Swatches of light-colored wood catch the eye as one passes by … more

By SANDY LONG | 3/30/22

Our new old tractor isn’t quite ready to start digging up the fields while we have it pulled all apart, but as with a visit to the doctor, she’ll be ready to get back to work before long.

Humpty Dumpty’s tractor

I love new things, new old tractors being the most recent for me to experience. As most old-timers will be quick to tell you, tractors are like children: they each come with their own set of … more

By HUNTER HILL | 3/30/22

On April 1, trout that are caught can be kept as the harvest season officials opens. Let the fishing begin!

1.8 million trout stocked statewide in New York

NEW YORK STATE — For the seasoned fisher and beginners among us, Catskill streams are a springtime worldwide fishing destination. For decades, April 1 was the traditional opening day of … more

3/29/22

This is a bear caught in the act foraging for food that might be in this trash can. Bears have the strength and dexterity to take the lid off of trash cans and dumpsters and may drag cans into the woods, making a mess as they go. Bears use scent to find food so a little ammonia in the trash may keep them away.

Bears awaken

From mid-December or so until now, we have been able to fill bird feeders and not have them pulled down or otherwise damaged by our big bruin friends. The bears seek their wintering places around … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 3/23/22

Opening day?

It’s difficult for me as a writer of fly-fishing stories and as a columnist for the River Reporter , not to have a few words about the opening day of trout season on April 1. I’ve had a … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 3/23/22

In a pinch, you can use your own footprint to establish a reference for the size of an animal track you’ve found.

Telltale traces

As the end of winter approaches and the final snows fly, there are still opportunities to explore the goings and doings of our fellow animal inhabitants in the Upper Delaware River … more

By SANDY LONG | 3/16/22

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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