Dateline: 30 December 2022
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a great 2023!
It was time once again for the yearly BirdingPI.com “around New Year’s trek to Gull Point if conditions permit,” in this instance time-shifted to Friday afternoon due to the forecast weekend bad weather. (Weather Saturday: rain, rain, and more rain.) Last year: beautiful weather and an amazing Peregrine Falcon. This year, it was looking like Downy Woodpecker and gulls. Which are great, but no need for the Gull Point hike to see gulls.
As previously reported, weather was abnormally warm – nice to be out without hats/gloves. Trail conditions along the beach: icy and tangled with downed trees, but manageable. (Warm enough for the ice dunes to be soft enough for traction.) Trail conditions on the outer old trail: passable but very icy; not recommended.
Almost nothing at Gull Point – Mallard ducks in a melt spot on the back bay, and occasional overhead passing gulls.
Then, Gull Point/”expect the unexpected:” a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese flying over the lake generally from northeast to southwest. Officially something in the ‘rather amazing’/rare category = Presque Isle State Park not along the usual migratory path. ID tips: brownish overall colour, distinctive white face patch, and black splotches on the belly. Per All About Birds, orange legs and beaks = subspecies flavirostris, Greenland-breeding.
From a Presque Isle birding perspective, no better way to end 2022!
Later today, bonus post with Eastern Bluebird!