Weekend Preview

Dateline: 20 May 2023

Pond rain

Erie/Presque Isle weather news: unsettled Friday – windy, humid, partially cloudy; light, highly localized rain starting around noon. Saturday: thunderstorms Friday night followed by periodic heavy rain Saturday morning; very rainy. Good for the grass, not good for birding.

Presque Isle trail news: before Saturday, Marsh Trail remained very muddy but passable without wet feet.

Erie County bird news: recent “first for 2023” sightings of Red-headed Woodpecker (in woods adjacent Gull Point) and Scarlet Tanager (Asbury Woods)(no pictures). Here, very happy to finally see a Bay-breasted Warbler high in the trees on Ridge Trail:

Bay-breasted Warbler I
Bay-breasted Warbler II

Very cool sighting of a Lincoln’s Sparrow recently along Sidewalk Trail:

Lincoln’s Sparrow I
Lincoln’s Sparrow II

ID tips: gray face, well-formed eye ring, fine streaking on breast, hint of ‘buffy wash’ on neck and breast.


“Bonus” warbler content; shots taken recently along Ridge Trail and Sidewalk Trail, Presque Isle State Park:

American Redstart (f)
Magnolia Warbler (m)
Magnolia Warbler (m) – take off
Chestnut-sided Warbler (m)
Magnolia Warbler (f) I
Magnolia Warbler (f) II
Shady Black-throated Blue Warbler (m)
Magnolia Warbler (m) III
American Redstart (m)

Wishing everyone a nice weekend! #more_bird