The answer is “yes,” Groundhogs (Marmota monax) can climb trees, as shown here recently at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve in Cleveland, Ohio.
Why climb a tree? Possibly foraging for mulberry fruit:
BirdingPI.com: answering life’s persistent questions.
Finishing up from a couple weeks ago at Presque Isle State Park along the Sidewalk Trail, under rainy conditions. Featuring, of course, Eastern Kingbird:
In addition to aerial flycatching, it was fascinating to see this Kingbird repeatedly drop down into the grass for snatching perched dragonflies:
Close to the Misery Bay-side trailhead, here’s a Brown Thrasher, curiously missing most of its tailfeathers:
Before finishing up on the Sidewalk Trail, it’s back to ‘summer insects’ in Millcreek Twp (“Since 1800”), this time featuring 400mm f/4.5 close-ups at Asbury Woods. The purple thistle = Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense).
The small, orange/brown butterflies in the following shots are probably in the family Hesperiidae (skippers), e.g., Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius) or Hobomok Skipper (Lon hobomok):
Following is Pennsylvania Leatherwing (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) a.k.a. Goldenrod Soldier Beetle (left) & Sphaerophoria scripta or some other species of hoverfly on right:
Here in Erie County, Pennsylvania, it’s day 2 of the ‘Great June 2025 heat wave,’ with temp indices expected into the low 100’s deg F (38+ degree C). On the other hand, at least it’s not raining!
This post goes back a couple weeks at Presque Isle State Park, along the Sidewalk Trail under mild/rainy conditions, featuring a flycatching Eastern Kingbird or two (e.g., above and below), unless otherwise noted.
Coming up soon, more sidewalk! Also, summer insects!
Today, it’s multimedia content from yesterday at Asbury Woods, featuring beautiful Eastern Phoebe x beautiful Mourning Cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa). The connection? Same environment of mature pine/mixed forest, e.g., the bird and butterfly shots were taken within 50 meters or so of one another.
Video clips showing characteristic Eastern Phoebe tail wagging:
Heat advisory in effect today in Erie County, Pennsylvania – it’s gonna’ be a warm one! Stay cool, stay hydrated.
For those in the northern hemisphere (of planet Earth), happy first full day of summer 2025! And what better way to celebrate than birds? (Guess you could celebrate insect bites or heat stroke [heat advisory PSA], but those are difficult to attractively photograph.) Speaking of birds, the big news this week at Presque Isle State Park was multiple confirmed sightings of a rarely-seen-at-Gull Point male Wilson’s Phalarope, e.g., as shown here (breeding plumage) late yesterday afternoon:
In addition to the male, anywhere from 2-4 chicks were also reported (2 are shown below). This might be the first confirmed nesting/hatching at Gull Point (Pennsylvania generally?) ever.
Generally, female Wilson’s Phalaropes depart after laying eggs, leaving the male to care for the chicks. Hence, not unexpected to only see a male in this context.
As shown here, chicks are self-reliant for foraging for insects, etc.:
[Editor’s note: Scientific name for this species is Phalaropus tricolor. Hint to the AOS renaming committee: ‘Tricolored Phalarope.’]
“I have a joke.”
And with the comedic introduction (featuring Western Gulls) out of the way, it’s mostly amazing Long-billed Curlew @ Torrey Pines State Beach (north) on 4 March 2025, north of San Diego, California:
Closer-up shots of the aptly named Long-billed Curlew:
Finally, bonus Whimbrel!
“Yeah, rain birding in Pittsburgh! Just grab an umbrella and an old camera.” Right. Great idea. Obviously the sad result of some combination of nature overenthusiasm and/or too much (or not enough?) black coffee.
Rain. Like water off a duck’s back:
Goose family’s day along the Allegheny River:
Bird IDs: (1, 8, 13, 21) Northern Rough-winged Swallow; (2-7) Mallard (m) in fountain; (9-12) Canada Geese (adults & juveniles); (14) European Starling; (15, 18, 20) American Robin; (16, 19) Northern Cardinal; (17) House Sparrows (m).
Bird photography rule #17: be opportunistic. Even with the ‘wrong lens’ (600mm prime = too slow, absurdly long min focus distance, etc.), still possible this past Sunday along the Gull Point Trail for some nice flower/insect close-up shots, featuring Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).
Above: Probably Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) on Yellow Toadflax, + unknown species of bee in the family Colletidae on left. Below: Yellow Toadflax along Gull Point Trail.
Different date/nearby location, wrapping it up with a different wrong lens, this time an old iPhone, with Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus) on Purple Crown Vetch (Securigera varia):
Dateline: 15 June 2025
Back to Presque Isle State Park, with what seemed like a fairly slow day (shorebird wise) at Gull Point Sunday afternoon.
Slow, that is, except for a great sighting of recently hatched Piping Plover chicks, at least three, possibly four. Always a very happy occasion! Following shots at long distance from new observation platform:
More Piping Plover:
Some sort of brief altercation w/ two adults and a male Red-winged Blackbird:
Following notice was posted on both observation platforms. Unfortunately, despite looking, couldn’t find/see the crow effigies!
More birds @ outer Gull Point:
Finally, a nice (if not particularly well lit) sequence of Osprey carrying fish/food:
Coming up soon, more Gull Point nature!