The last Willow Ptarmigan sighting at Presque Isle State Park was over a week ago; an Internet search reveals no subsequent sightings in Ohio, New York, Ontario, or anywhere else; sources suggest the bird may have moved on due to seasonal changes and/or the July heat. And with the ‘big bird event’ of the summer over, it was back to normal at Gull Point yesterday – a few birders, more casual hikers, actually rather peaceful.
Peaceful perhaps, but a great day for bird activity; these shots all long distance from the old observation platform:
The plover in the shots above is very pale. Differentiated from Snowy Plover based on location + determinative yellow legs in the following shot (i.e., immature Piping Plover are pale with yellow legs; Snowy Plover would have dark legs):
Coming up soon, more shorebirds!