After cartoon Eastern Kingbirds in yesterday’s Bird Lords of the Sky!, it’s time for the real thing at Lake Melvin/Flag Park in Fairview Twp, PA:
Lake Melvin is essentially a flood control basin (shallow lake with no outlet) and is currently rather swampy in spots. Hence, lots of dragonflies and other insects and corresponding bird activity including kingbirds, swallows, killdeer, etc.
Belted Kingfisher in flight:
Finally, plenty of Killdeer action; must have been at least a dozen at this particular location last weekend:
While enjoying the Mallards on Walnut Creek Sunday afternoon, a couple birds flew by, first a Great Blue Heron (which unhappily vocalized a “Croak!” upon noticing human presence):
Also a beautiful, very fast Belted Kingfisher flying both up and downstream:
These are very cute male, female, and immature (older duckling) Mallards at the head of Walnut Creek in Fairview Twp, Pennsylvania, this past Sunday afternoon, in rainy conditions:
Very cute to see this pair of ducklings break off from the larger group for exploring the creek, first paddling upstream (as far as a rapid-y/rocky area) and then back downstream:
From July 4th, it’s a gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk in Erie County, Pennsylvania. (Once again, this is the “notice an interesting bird at the side of the road and quick pull over to take digital photographs” method of bird photography.) These shots alternate the hawk on grass (just having finished eating some sort of small rodent) then on an old power pole:
In chronological order, harassed by a Red-winged Blackbird then taking flight to retreat to a nearby tree:
Americans love grass in all its forms, especially well-manicured lawns, and no American likes a well-manicured lawn as much the great American Robin! These recent shots from South Pier and along the beach at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pennsylvania:
Wishing folks in the United States of America a Happy Independence Day!Schlorp!
With news of the Willow Ptarmigan hitting the local press and more local press + eBird, there was a steady stream of enthusiastic birders at Gull Point this morning at Presque Isle State Park. It was even enough to lure a BirdingPI.com staff member out of the donut shop, despite heat/humidity + sand.
After sunrise, Bundy Beach, view towards Gull Point, 3 July 2026
Fortunately, an ‘eagle eye’ birder (identity unknown) with amazing spotting skills noticed the bird this time on the north outer beach at outer Gull Point, barely within view of where the rope trail starts (to access the observation platforms):
Willow Ptarmigan enthusiasts
Here are several really bad photographs (distant, bad viewpoint, bad lighting) in the ‘proof of life’ category, and sometimes that’s all you can do:
Shady Ptarmigan at center, w/ Eastern Kingbird aboveLocal celebrity@ center, rump viewLocal celebrity IIUncropped @ 600mm; bird @ center of shot under bushLocal celebrity IIIBird in shrub
Would have been nice for some ‘out in the open’ shots, but then there’s the realization that 6-7 cups of black coffee is not the best source of hydration in super warm/humid weather 🙁 [‘AHS’ certification: No staff members were harmedTM].
Wrapping it up for today with a few additional birds at outer Gull Point:
Finally, a really awful shot of a Willet. Still, first Willet sighting this year for BirdingPI.com at Presque Isle State Park!
Bad Willet
Tomorrow, an ‘amazing’ post in celebration of the #1 bird of the United States of America! (Hint: no, it is not Willow Ptarmigan, sorry. Also not Bald Eagle, sorry.)
Today, it’s part 2/2 of Willow Ptarmigan coverage at Presque Isle State Park, from a couple days ago, featuring long distance shots in rather heavy underbrush along the Gull Point beach trail:
After a ‘shade break’ + preening, this lovely/amazing bird popped out briefly for mid-day foraging. (Willow Ptarmigan mostly eats vegetation and, opportunistically, insects.) It seemed to be very much enjoying this plant, which is probably young Sandbar Willow (Salix interior):
