Caught a slight break in the weather in Millcreek Twp. (“Gateway to Presque Isle”) yesterday afternoon with localized clear skies and sun. (Thankfully, the snowplows finally returned…) Weather this morning: snow. BirdingPI.com field operations canceled for day 3 due to road restrictions/conditions.
While waiting on forthcoming snow/ice pictures (?), here’s misc. photos from the last few weeks in Erie County, mostly Presque Isle State Park & South Pier:
ID note on American Tree Sparrow: dark eyeline like Chipping Sparrow, but note the distinctive yellow lower beak mandible.
Two Tundra Swans on Presque Isle Bay, first shot is cropped/enlarged, second is not @ 600mm:
Following shot is American Coot & Ruddy Duck at head of Presque Isle Bay. Ruddy Ducks are at far right, fourth from right, and second from left, etc. Coots are the dark ones.
Following shot is at Beach No. 11 w/ Great Black-backed Gull second from right, + misc. gulls:
These were really far away and are hard to see in the picture, but it’s Northern Pintail ducks on Long Pond + misc. Mallards/American Black Ducks. The Pintail males have the white chest + a band of connecting white up the rear side of the head:
Extreme enlargement (Pintail males at left, bottom center, and right):
Lovely photos: loved the ‘howling gull’ on the light. Will the light show the gull the way?
And what WAS that person doing on the rocks? How did she/he get out there? People do the strangest things!
Appears they were taking ‘selfies’ against the surf. Getting washed into the lake is unlikely, but it was really windy and cold. Not ideal weather for being inundated.
Couldn’t tell from that shot, but the rocks were connected to the beach proper by a thin strip of sand.