Too much rain. Can’t remember the last day without rain. Starting to feel bad for our bird friends. No more rain, please.
This Turkey Vulture was on the same branch, on the same tree, outside BirdingPI.com HQ, all day long in the rain. Finally, just wanted to buy it a North Face fleece and hot cup of coffee.
Nikon D850 with Nikkor 500mm f5.6 pf lens. Exposure compensation +3.0 to compensate for backlit/overcast skies.
Dateline: 30-31 October 2021
It was a rough weekend at Presque Isle State Park, for birding, bird photography, or anything else for that matter. Blustery and overcast Saturday, rainy Sunday AM followed by windy and partially cloudy conditions in the afternoon. Despite the poor conditions, BirdingPI.com launched targeted, limited expeditions to keep you informed (!)
Marsh Trail (intersection with Sidewalk Trail): flooded, impassible without rubber boots or the like
Sidewalk Trail: good condition; muddy in spots, easily passible
Dead Pond Trail (west/north section): very muddy, passible
“A” Trail: passible, although dodgy over the slick downed branch ‘bridge’ over the swampy portion
Pine Tree Trail: good condition
Thompson Bay trails: good condition, muddy in spots
Long Pond Trail (north/west section): flooded, impassible
Long Pond Trail (south/east section): flooded, muddy, but passible with care
Saturday, the initial intent was to survey the Marsh Trail. Turned out it was overtly flooded on the Sidewalk Trail side; lacking proper equipment, we pivoted to the nearby Dead Pond Trail. This section of the Dead Pond Trail was muddy and flooded, but easily passible overall without too much effort. Very little bird activity. From the A Trail, we transitioned to the nearby beach, following the tree line and dunes towards the Presque Isle lighthouse. (Watch out for ticks!) Plenty of activity with Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Nuthatches, Jays, etc. Later, brief excursions along the Pine Tree Trail, etc.
BirdingPI.com’s staff photographers spring into action regardless of subject matter. The following are recent sightings at Presque Isle State Park in the “not a wild bird” category.
The following are from the Duck Pond (appropriately enough) of what appears to be an escaped American Pekin, probably male, and a female Mallard. Congratulations to the happy couple!
Presque Isle State Park, despite the signs, is not a hotbed of tick activity (at least not in our experience despite many hours in the brush). Cavorting about the grass and shrubbery this past weekend, however = numerous close encounters. Keep an eye out!
Dateline: 23 Oct 2021
Mostly another soggy weekend in the greater Erie, PA area, including Presque Isle State Park. Saturday it rained and rained again. Our intrepid reporters ventured forth regardless, but more to combat cabin fever than in hopes of spotting the next Elegant Trogon. (Admittedly, this is unlikely in Erie County even in the best of times.) Photography conditions were rainy and gloomy, with correspondingly uneven results.
As a preview, Sunday dawned wet but clear. With the short break in the weather, a Birding, PI.com expeditionary force was launched to hike out to Gull Point, in full ‘wet foot’ regalia (e.g., rubber boots). Conditions were mixed; full report to follow. Until then, a trail condition update:
Pine Tree Trail: muddy in spots but easily passable
Sidewalk Trail: good condition
Gull Point beach trail: good condition
Gull Point mud flat trail to Observation Platform: muddy but easily passable
Gull Point ‘old trail,’ inner section: flooded; passable with rubber boots; overall, overgrown and not recommended
Gull Point ‘old trail,’ middle section: impassible, as usual
Gull Point ‘old trail,’ outer section: flooded; passable with rubber boots
The following are from around Millcreek Township:
Lots of Wild Turkey around the outskirts of Erie. (And not the fine Kentucky whiskey, although I’m sure there’s plenty of that, too.) You can see them occasionally on Presque Isle as individuals or small groups, but more often further inland, crossing yards and roads where it’s a mix of woodlands, open or abandoned farmland, and scattered residential. This year, we’ve had impressively large flocks – 24-26+ individuals.
(Crappy video curtesy of Apple iPhone 7.)
Dateline: 17 Oct 2021
With another rainy weekend, finally had time to go through snapshots from the other weekend, from an hour+ along the Pine Tree Trail at Presque Isle State Park. Conditions were challenging, with wind and heavy, transient cloud, i.e., spotty sunlight. Still, plenty of bird activity towards the SE trailhead, and the results, frankly, were rather nice – as Hannibal from the A-Team says, “I love it when a plan comes together!” (Mostly Nikon D7500 + Nikkor 200-500mm f5.6, plus whatever other dodgy gear the rest of the team was using.)
What is this bird? Inquiring minds want to know. Initial thoughts revolved around a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow. Subsequent research suggests a juvenile Chipping Sparrow. Think on it, but whatever it is, it’s lovely!
The Chipping Sparrow above is no mystery, but as luck would have it there was a bit of quality Thrush activity flirting about the Pine Tree Trail. We’re thinking the above could be a Swainson’s Thrush (russet-backed) – note the buffy eyering and overall coloring. In any event, happy to see it.
Bad weekend mid-October 2021 for birding or bird photography. Localized rain and then general overcast Friday. Heavy rain early AM Saturday into the PM, also very windy. Bad day for going outside generally. Sunday featured heavy clouds and intermittent sun, plenty windy, with light thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Still, despite the poor conditions, the intrepid staff of BirdingPI.com made it out to Presque Isle State Park a couple times between rain storms. Bird activity was localized but lively – plenty of Sparrows, Kinglets, common Warblers, Jays, Woodpeckers, etc., plus a special guest or two.
What is the bird immediately below? What it is, is a real Birding, PI mystery. Signs suggest a juvenile/young male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Note the head coloring, varied back, and bold white and black wing sections. Comments/suggestions welcome.
Meanwhile, off the Long Pond Trail…
The Long Pond Trail is one of the great short birding trails at Presque Isle State Park, IMHO BirdingPI.com editorial staff. Swamp boundary, mature forest, mixed/open forest, and open pond view. Below, we have what is perhaps the largest Pileated Woodpecker ever seen (by us) – “What is that, a roasting chicken?” Scale is hard to gauge since this fine feathered friend was very high up in a huge oak tree, but we hope you enjoy the snapshots, such as they are.
Some recent bird sightings out-and-about in Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania (Official town motto: “Gateway to Presque Isle”).
Dateline: 10 Oct 2021
After the rain on Saturday, Sunday was drier and sunnier overall, but still hazy. PI (Presque Isle State Park) was unusually congested due to the “Hot Apple Cider Hustle,” a half-marathon/5k run-walk. Somewhat randomly due to the traffic, and since it seemed too windy for Gull Point, the editorial staff ended up hiking the Dead Pond Trail from the east trailhead off Thompson Circle, as far as the B Trail and back. Historically, this section of trail has been hit-or-miss (mostly miss) for birding. But, as we like to say, “In any location, birding activity varies significantly based on time of day, weather, and season” = ended up being a great couple hours. That is, if you like White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chickadees, Eagles, and Nuthatches. Which we do.
Along the trail, there’s an open space (see above and below) of grass, sand, and young, bushy pine. Arguably, this was the highlight of the day, with the White- and Red-breasted Nuthatches and Black-capped Chickadees enjoying the sunshine and pine nuts.
All photos with iPhone (7), Nikon D7500 + Nikon f5.6 200-500mm lens, or whatever other shenanigans were on tap. Bonehead move: forgetting your camera’s set to limited ISO when using shutter priority mode at 1/1600 or 1/2000 S = underexposed. Don’t forget to check your shots as you go.
Despite the camera troubles, very much enjoyed a White-breasted Nuthatch that was spending plenty of time in a nearby tree.
