Weekend Update, Part 2 (26 Sept 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.

Monarch, Gull Point old trail
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Gull Point old trail
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Gull Point old trail
Solitary Sandpiper, Gull Point Trail
Sandpiper, Gull Point Trail
Juvenile Blackpoll Warbler?
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Budny Beach
Nuthatch, Budny Beach
Starling, near Budny Beach
Yellow-rumped Warbler, near Thompson Bay
Snack
Yellow-rumped Warbler, near Thompson Bay
Nashville Warbler, near Thompson Bay
Cormorant, Graveyard Pond Trail

Weekend Update, Part 1 (25 Sept 2021)

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.

Belted Kingfisher – near Thompson Bay, Presque Isle State Park
Song Sparrow (?), Long Pond Trail
Eastern Phoebe, Long Pond Trail
Nut Vampire (off Pine Tree Trail)

26 Sept 2021 PI Trail Update

Long Pond from Boat Landing #5

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

Long Pond Trail

20 Sept 2021 PI Update

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.

Bald Eagle (juvenile) – Presque Isle, 20 Sept 2021
Incoming Geese, Gull Point, 20 Sept 2021
Telephoto view of Cormorants and Eagle on the beach, Gull Point, 20 Sept 2021
Northern Flicker, Gull Point (old trail), 20 Sept 2021
Yellowlegs, Gull Point, 20 Sept 2021
Yellowlegs, Gull Point, 20 Sept 2021