With mostly dry/warm conditions recently in Erie County, Pennsylvania, plus low lake levels, looks like the algae bloom is in full swing, at least in shallow locations like outer Thompson Bay at Presque Isle State Park this past Sunday.
Shorebird activity was fairly minimal here – along the Gull Point Trail – except for a pair of Yellowlegs (probably Greater Yellowlegs):
Not the best lighting on these shots, but still fun to see a Yellowlegs @ fishing behaviour:
Perhaps the best place in Erie County, Pennsylvania for regular sightings of Eastern Bluebird is Asbury Woods, esp. Brown’s Farm, as with these recent shots @ foraging (e.g., for caterpillars) behaviour:
Beautiful (warm, sunny, quiet) afternoon at Presque Isle State Park yesterday/Sunday. Bird activity along the Gull Point Trail somewhat subdued, but still plenty of things to see including a pair of beautiful Palm Warblers foraging ground level at outer Gull Point:
The Palm Warblers were just off the trail, middle left-side in this north-facing view from the old observation platform (outer Lake Erie at horizon):
More Palm Warbler activity:
The later it gets in September, the likelihood of seeing many (any?) Yellow Warblers in NW Pennsylvania diminishes. So, a nice treat yesterday to see a couple in Fairview Twp, including this beautiful male doing gravity stretches for getting the wings ready for heading south. Or perhaps it was just foraging behaviour.
[Editor’s note: definitely foraging behavior.]
Part 2 of sunset at Fairview Business Park, featuring Lake Melvin and its bird-friendly flat, muddy rim.
Rest of this post features the ‘bird of the day,’ a great sighting of a trio (maybe 4) of Pectoral Sandpiper. Note the relatively large size + distinctive heavily-streaked upper breast w/ sharp demarcation to white underbelly:
Landing sequence:
Weather this week’s been very nice in Erie County, Pennsylvania – cool overnight, warm/sunny in the afternoon. Forecast for the weekend: more of the same. Should be great conditions for birding/nature! #more_bird
Reporting today from earlier in the week at Fairview Business Park (Fairview, Pennsylvania) at sunset, featuring Lake Melvin and its “very attractive to shorebirds” shallow/muddy rim.
All Yellowlegs (probably Greater Yellowlegs) coming in for a landing:
Finally, lots of Cedar Waxwing at sunset action – perched + regularly launching into flight for flycatching:
Coming up next time, more sunset at Fairview Business Park, featuring semi-exotic shorebirds!
It’s part 2 of an outing last Saturday at Fairview Gravel Pit Lake, featuring “not warblers” like this beautiful female (or possibly immature/non-breeding plumage male) Scarlet Tanager:
(ID note: female Scarlet Tanager and non-breeding plumage males look similar except for darker wings on males. In the bird above, wing colour is intermediate, so not 100% sure on the gender.)
Here’s more White-breasted Nuthatch x Scarlet Tanager:
Distant but fun shots of a lovely Osprey:
Finally, a view of what’s presumably Lower Gravel Pit Lake, across the street from the fishing access ‘upper’ lake covered above and in the last post. Mainline train tracks at center horizon by the power poles.
Is “obscure hotspot” (as in birding hotspot) an oxymoron? Let’s go with ‘under the radar,’ as with this field expedition last Saturday to lovely/quiet Fairview Gravel Pit Lake in Fairview Twp, Pennsylvania:
Took all summer + getting off the beaten path, but finally some nice shots of “more heard than seen” Red-eyed Vireo (e.g., typically high in the trees ensconced in the foliage).
Coming up next time, part 2 of It’s The Pits!
Mixing it up with content from Presque Isle State Park from this past Sunday afternoon, featuring a foraging Tufted Titmouse along the Long Pond Trail x butterflies (Monarch and Orange Sulphur) at Leo’s Landing:
It was a good year in Millcreek Twp, Pennsylvania (“Since 1800”) for beautiful Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at the local feeding station. With the last spotted activity on 1 September 2025, however, looks like everyone’s heading south. Fly safe, little friends! (Fun fact: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds winter mostly in Central America.)
On the other hand, the migratory action is still ongoing, e.g., as with this female seen yesterday ‘in the wild’ at Presque Isle State Park along the Long Pond Trail:
More from around the feeder, back in August:
More from yesterday afternoon at Presque Isle State Park:
[Editor’s note: fairly early on, the local feeder was ‘adopted’ (i.e., territorially appropriated) by a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird – the subject of most of the recent ‘@ feeder’ shots on BirdingPI.com – who regularly chased off most other hummingbirds. A male – with ruby throat – was spotted only once at the feeder for about 2-3 seconds.]