Dateline: 12-13 November 2022
First up, been remiss in not mentioning again all the DCNR trail work at Presque Isle State Park this fall. For example, very excited to see the swampy crossing on the Long Pond Trail (above) filled in with rip-rap. (At least one BirdingPI.com staff member has previously fallen afoul of this slippery/treacherous morass.)
Moving on, awful weather in Erie over the weekend. Rainy all day Friday. Saturday, cold, overcast, periodic rain. Sunday, cold, overcast, very windy, periodic rain/snow/hail. Nevertheless, BirdingPI.com teams were dispatched as conditions allowed.
With duck hunting season officially open (e.g., numerous duck blinds on Presque Isle Bay and Thompson Bay), ‘duck watching’ conditions are highly variable, depending on location, time/day, etc.
Very interesting activity on the inner back bay between “Vista 2 Parking Lot” and “Vista 1 Parking Lot:” large flock of American Coot with Ring-billed Gull and Lesser Scaup on Saturday, + Bufflehead and Common Merganser on Sunday.
Here’s a shot with Coot in the foreground, Bufflehead at mid-frame, and Common Merganser flying in from the upper left corner:
Camera was at too slow a shutter speed for this shot:
Lots of Gull and Coot drama, with the former harassing the latter for food:
Moving over to Long Pond:
Finally, some shots of the bad weather for context:
Final note that all trail conditions are relatively wet due to recent precipitation. For example, west end of Long Pond Trail currently flooded out.
Loved the gull/coot action! This is a real sociological interaction between the haves/have nots. Black vs. white. Etc.
Also, re: video: no matter how fancy the camera, wind noise in the mic is always a problem!
And, this team member is also thankful for improved trail conditions…where needed!
Another poem:
give a coot,
you big galoot
or should I say give a hoot?
but then I would have to toot….my horn!