A beautiful day Saturday for birding and photography at Presque Isle State Park. Mostly sunny, warm, light to moderate wind. Other than bicyclists, not that many people out. Still plenty of mosquitoes, though – looking forward to the first hard freeze.

Hiked a loop of the Sidewalk Trail (Presque Isle Lighthouse trailhead) to the Marsh Trail to the Ridge Trail (north section) to the Fox Trail back to the lighthouse. All trails passable but muddy in places. Light/moderate bird activity – mostly Kinglets, Warblers, and Sparrows.

Next, over to the Pine Tree Trail (good condition), which was literally hopping with activity: Jays, Kinglets, Warblers, Woodpeckers, Juncos, Crows, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Great Egret, Brown Creepers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Sparrows, etc. Depending on the weather, season, and time-of-day, the Pine Tree Trail can be sleepy, but times like this show why it’s a PI classic. Great day for enjoying this narrow strip of old pine woods.

There’s no better place locally than Presque Isle for diverse habitats and the chance to see interesting birds and other wildlife. But even a walk around the neighborhood can be surprising. Take this recent ‘guest appearance’ from what appears to be a female Merlin (Taiga coloration). Not to mention Nashville Warblers and Sparrows.

These are all recent sightings in Millcreek Township, PA – late September 2021.

Storms overnight Saturday, but clear and sunny Sunday morning with light wind. Gull Point was extremely quiet, perhaps due to the recent bad weather. No geese or cormorants even. Somewhat quiet overall in the interior, but plenty of interesting bird, etc. activity. Gulls, Geese (in the distance), individual Cormorants (in the distance), Bald Eagles, Sparrows, Robins, Herons, Crows, etc.

Weather was on-and-off hazy Saturday, 25 Sept 2021. Still windy, with regular rain and warm temps, especially overnight. Good hiking on the interior PI trails, but mostly quiet in terms of bird activity.

Trail conditions were generally ok over the weekend, but wetter/muddier than the last week or two due to recent overnight storms. Gull Point old outer trail now flooded and impassible without getting wet/muddy. Of note, the SE trailhead of the Long Pond Trail is dry enough to get by ok as far as the pond – thanks to whoever put down the makeshift logs to get past the main wet spot.

A-Trail – passable, muddy
Pine Tree Trail – good condition
Graveyard Pond Trail – passable, muddy
Long Pond Trail (SE trailhead) – passable, muddy; overgrown
Long Pond Trail (NW trailhead) – flooded
Sidewalk Trail (SE trailhead) – good condition
Sidewalk Trail (NW trailhead) – good condition
Marsh Trail – passable, muddy
Ridge Trail – good condition
Boat Landing 3 trail – good condition
Boat Landing 4 trail – good condition
Dead Pond Trail (northern section) – passable, muddy
Gull Point old trail (inner) – flooded
Gull Point old trail (outer) – flooded
Thompson Bay access points – good condition

19-20 Sept 2021. Presque Isle update.

Outer portion of the old Gull Point trail was muddy in spots, but passable in boots without special effort (e.g., no waders needed). Emphasis on ‘muddy,’ however. Particular activity in Northern Flicker, Bald Eagle, Yellow Warbler, Robin, Grey Catbird, and the smaller Flycatchers. Plenty of Double-crested Cormorant and Canadian Geese migratory activity out at the point. Shorebird sightings included Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, and Yellowlegs (Lesser?) at the point, and Solitary Sandpiper on the bay side.