Dateline: 7-8 May 2022
If anyone’s wondering if this is a good time for birding at Presque Isle State Park, the answer is emphatically and definitively in the affirmative. In fact, based on both second-hand reports and BirdingPI.com’s own sightings, it’s getting pretty crazy out there. Bonus points for a run of lovely weather in the greater Erie area.
So much going on, in fact, concentrating here on the “weekend top four” for the sake of blogging expediency.
First up, the BirdingPI.com “bird of the weekend,” a surprise sighting of a Northern Waterthrush, in the swampy area on the east side of Thompson Circle. This is a BirdingPI.com “first ever,” so there was lots of celebrating Saturday evening.
Looks a little like a Hermit Thrush, but note the distinctive white supercilium (i.e., white ‘eyebrow’). Note also, in the picture above the chest is clearly yellow-ish (washed yellow) = yellow adult Waterthrush. (This distinguishes from Louisiana Waterthrush, with a white chest.)
Not the best pictures, but it was shady and at this point, who cares? It’s a yellow adult Northern Waterthrush at Presque Isle!
The first runner up, an amazing Ovenbird! Sighted along the Long Pond Trail. Not a common sighting, so lots of excitement here, too. Plus its crown stripe being slightly ruffled/raised = unusual.
It’s a busy weekend when Common Yellowthroat is second runner up. This lovely male was in the pond area at the east end trailhead of the Sidewalk Trail.
Note the black mask, white upper boarder, and the eponymous bright yellow throat.
Common Yellowthroat also seen on the Ridge Trail and on the Long Pond Trail.
Finally, in fourth place, but no less lovely, is the White-crowned Sparrow, seen on multiple days along the Long Pond Trail:
Weekend Update to follow when possible. Plus, a special “best morning ever?” report that includes more great sightings like Scarlet Tanager, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, and Veery! Plus some warblers and vireo that were so unexpected it’ll need photo forensics to figure out.