Dateline: 3-4 June 2023
Safe to say that spring migration season’s mostly over. End of May, the casual BirdingPI.com “warbler tally” was a respectable/normal 18 species (not including vireos) seen at Presque Isle State Park:
- Unexpected: Blue-winged Warbler, Hooded Warbler
- Might have seen but didn’t: Canada, Prothonotary, Blackburnian, most of the ‘gray headed’ warblers
- Would have liked more time with: Northern Parula
- ‘Warbler of the month:’ Common Yellowthroat
The unusual stretch of dry/moderate weather continues. Per Erie News Now (June 5), “Erie has not seen ANY rain for 15 days straight now, …. If we make it through tomorrow night dry, this will become the longest rainless stretch in over 20 years for Erie.” (!)
Presque Isle State Park trail conditions generally good. Gull Point “inner old” trail muddy but passable. Despite the dry weather, problem spots still include: Long Pond west end, Duck Pond, B Trail, and Gull Point “middle old.”
As previously mentioned, main park road was closed Saturday morning (between Beach No. 8 and Beach No. 11) for a charity walk. Very peaceful with the reduced road noise. Also a great time to bird the ’causeway’ between Thompson Circle and Budny Beach:
The Canada Geese don’t care about traffic even under normal conditions, but easier to get ‘goose crossing’ shots like these:
With restricted vehicle access, BirdingPI.com’s Saturday contingent hiked from Beach No. 8 to Pine Tree Trail, to the end of the Gull Point ‘inner old’ trail (by the beach), to Thompson Circle, and then up the Dead Pond Trail to A Trail, which terminates back at Beach No. 8. (Side note: this is a classic PI loop hike.) Not a ton of bird activity, but still great to see things like these lovely Great Crested Flycatcher on the Dead Pond Trail:
Lots of flower/mammal/insect activity on Saturday! Posts forthcoming.