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.
Belted Kingfisher – near Thompson Bay, Presque Isle State Park
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
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 2021Incoming Geese, Gull Point, 20 Sept 2021Telephoto 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