Blurry Canada Goose

Dateline: 22 December 2023

For this post on the first full day of winter 2023, it was once again time to spin the “Wheel of Birds,” which landed on “Blurry Canada Goose.” And with that, apologies, but the “Wheel of Birds” has been de-commissioned in favour of this alternative, rather great content from the Gull Point Trail, Presque Isle State Park.

Cloudy & cold, but dry and above freezing. Overall rather modest/light bird activity along the ‘official outer’ trail, until a flurry of birds in the shrubbery/trees by the ‘big bend’ (where the trail comes closest to the bay side, turning generally N/S-ish to E/W-ish). Bird of the day, amazing to see a few lovely Yellow-rumped Warblers on the first day of winter:

Also a decent number of beautiful American Tree Sparrow, here (& above & below) foraging on Bayberry (probably Myrica pensylvanica):

More Yellow-rumped Warbler + American Tree Sparrow:


[Special Photo Editor’s section: For anyone disappointed with the ‘bait-and-switch’ on the post title, it’s a ‘Christmas bonus’ of blurry Canada Goose: