Dateline: 26 June 2022
Sadly, BirdingPI.com has had to institute a moratorium on rabbit pictures, after numerous shots revealed an endemic tick infestation. Comments and photos were briefly posted and then taken down after the editorial board objected to “too much unpleasant tick content, science notwithstanding.” Anyway, instead of a rabbit, here’s a cute chipmunk:
Aesthetically pleasing invertebrates are still fair game, apparently, e.g., Silver-spotted Skipper by Budny Beach:
Obligatory Yellow Warbler content:
And why not? Yellow Warblers are great. And hungry.
Above shots by the Gull Point trailhead. Following shot along the old outer Gull Point Trail:
Bald Eagle over Thompson Bay:
Out at Gull Point, what appears to be a Song Sparrow:
Also out at Gull Point, a Northern Map Turtle along the trail:
On turtle ID, a Painted Turtle (which looks similar) would probably have some red on the legs or around the face. See also the following enhanced shell snippet from the picture above – the orange/lighter demarcations are indicative of Map Turtle:
Back along the Gull Point Trail by the beach, a male Downy Woodpecker:
In plant news, Dogwood’s currently blooming (e.g., visit Scott Park). Out at Presque Isle, see lovely Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) in bloom at the swampy area on the far east end of Budny Beach, along the Gull Point trail:
Also Common Eastern Bumble Bee:
Lovely but invasive Flowering Rush, in that same spot:
(“Invasive” as in non-native, not “evasive.” Thankfully, the plants are fairly stationary.)
Northern Flicker at Budny Beach:
Wrapping up the nature content with a Northern Cardinal (female), along the Sidewalk Trail:
Trail update: Having a bit of a warm/dry spell here in Erie. Swamp water levels lowest in a while, and most trails are in good/dry condition, except where previously reported. (Duck Pond Trail east end flooded. Long Pond Trail west end very wet and muddy and not recommended absent waterproof boots.)
[Editor’s note: For pictures of tick-ridden rabbits, contact us as per the “About Us” page.]