Canadian wildfires have brought unhealthy air, surreal images to the Southern Tier
By Janie Ferguson,
It is currently sixty-six degrees and cloudy here in Cameron Mills, NY this Friday, July 17, 2026, at just about 9:00 am. The air quality continues to be at an unhealthy range, with an expected high of eighty one degrees today.
I begin this week with a stocky, male, purple finch with raspberry-red plumage on its head and breast, and then a shot of last night’s, bright, wildfire, sunset, along the Canisteo River. The smoke from the fires in Canada has spread down into the twin tiers, and into the NY area, and further south as well, these past few days.
As I went out to try and capture the sunset I heard the snort, snort of a deer close by, several different times, as she alarmed those around her, but I didn’t see one anywhere. When I was heading back to the house from the river I turned to see this graceful, female, white tail deer. She walks away just a bit, and then turns to look at me. I move ever so quietly to get my monopod extended again, and click, click, click I capture this cautious beauty, in all of her glory, to share with you today!
Next a female Baltimore oriole delight searching for the grape jelly below. It is enjoyable to still have the orioles, and the grosbeaks here in mid July. Another shot of the deer, as she moves further away framed by the willow and pine trees, off in the distance. Then she stops again to look at me, and sees I’m no threat to her, but continues on down to the river flat with her upturned, white tail flying in the air
I end today with a male red-bellied woodpecker with a beak full of suet. This is his favorite spot at my feeders, as he is surrounded by red, white and blue this July, the 150 Anniversary of America’s Independence!
I will also add today the ringtail raccoon mother that visited with her three kits this week, too, as she was up a pine tree eating my sunflower seeds, very early in the morning. I had just put my bird seed back out for the day.
I hope you all enjoy this wildlife and nature all around us here in the country.
So blessed to be able to enjoy it all, and to share it with you, too.
Enjoy your weekend,
Janie
