Bad weekend mid-October 2021 for birding or bird photography. Localized rain and then general overcast Friday. Heavy rain early AM Saturday into the PM, also very windy. Bad day for going outside generally. Sunday featured heavy clouds and intermittent sun, plenty windy, with light thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Still, despite the poor conditions, the intrepid staff of BirdingPI.com made it out to Presque Isle State Park a couple times between rain storms. Bird activity was localized but lively – plenty of Sparrows, Kinglets, common Warblers, Jays, Woodpeckers, etc., plus a special guest or two.
What is the bird immediately below? What it is, is a real Birding, PI mystery. Signs suggest a juvenile/young male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Note the head coloring, varied back, and bold white and black wing sections. Comments/suggestions welcome.
Meanwhile, off the Long Pond Trail…
The Long Pond Trail is one of the great short birding trails at Presque Isle State Park, IMHO BirdingPI.com editorial staff. Swamp boundary, mature forest, mixed/open forest, and open pond view. Below, we have what is perhaps the largest Pileated Woodpecker ever seen (by us) – “What is that, a roasting chicken?” Scale is hard to gauge since this fine feathered friend was very high up in a huge oak tree, but we hope you enjoy the snapshots, such as they are.
The information about birding at Presque Isle is extremely beneficial to someone who is not completely aware of what to see and how to use the trails.
The photography is excellent!
Really interesting post!