Weekend Update (II)

Dateline: 7 April 2023

Special ‘double post’ today to celebrate day no. 6+ of sunny weather in Erie, PA.

More content from Friday at Presque Isle State Park. First up, along the Dead Pond Trail (east end), first sighting this spring of Hermit Thrush:

Hermit Thrush I

ID: slight white eye ring, spotted breast, and red tail contrasting with brown back.

Hermit Thrush II
Hermit Thrush III
Contrasting tail

First (identifiable) dragonfly of the year, the beautiful Green Darner (Anax junius):

Yet another (!) spring first, happy to see Ruby-crowned Kinglet again:

Kinglet v.2
More ruby
Chin-up I
Chin-up II

ID tips: similar to Golden-crowned Kinglet except partial eye ring, lacks conspicuous yellow/gold head stripe, occasional hints of ‘ruby crown:’

Hint of ruby crown

The amazing American Kestrel‘s relatively common around the W. PA farmland down south, but here’s the first ever BirdingPI.com sighting at Presque Isle, in the woods adjacent North Pier:

American Kestrel
Kestrel II
Kestrel @ flight

Finally, lots of Turkey Vulture enjoying the sunshine in the woods adjacent Horseshoe Bay:

Totem pole I
Vulture
Totem pole II

A Bit Rusty

Dateline: 8 April 2023

State Game Lands No. 109

An excellent and unexpected encounter with a flock (16+) of amazing (and noisy) Rusty Blackbird Saturday at State Game Lands No. 109. Audio and video at the bottom.

Rusty Blackbirds
(Gun noise = nearby shooting range)

Weekend Update (I)

Dateline: 7 April 2023

Cool but beautiful (mostly sunny) holiday weekend in western PA. No additional warbler activity, but lots of nature otherwise. These shots from Presque Isle State Park on Friday.

“First time this spring” along the Sidewalk Trail, west end, a lovely Brown Thrasher:

Thrashin’

Another “spring first,” lucky this beautiful Eastern Towhee de-shrubified for a moment:

Towhee I @ Dead Pond Trail (west end)
Towhee II
Eastern Phoebe
Winter Wren (@ center/middle of shot)

Yet another “spring first,” great to see Chipping Sparrow back in the area, by Beach No. 9 (Pine Tree):

More Chipping Sparrow
Brown Creeper @ Pine Tree Trail

Another Brown Thrasher along the Pine Tree Trail:

More Thrasher I
More Thrasher II

Lots more Golden-crowned Kinglet activity – consolidated post (with shots from other days) to follow.

Belted Kingfisher above the swamp across from Pine Tree Trail east trailhead:

King me

Trail conditions: wet.

Corner of Marsh Trail and Sidewalk Trail

Following are flooded: Dead Pond Trail (west end); A Trail; B Trail; Long Pond Trail (west end); Duck Pond Trail; Marsh Trail; Sidewalk Trail (east end).

A Trail

Next time: a special appearance from down in the southlands, and later, more great weekend content!