Unsettled weather overnight here in Millcreek Twp (“Since 1800”), including early AM thunderstorms. Good news: looks like it’s clearing up to be a nice day. (Weekend forecast: potential for rain/clouds.)
Lightning-illuminated clouds @ 4AMNight clouds II
Misc. & sundry other recent content in Erie County, Pennsylvania:
Common GracklesRed-breasted Nuthatch w/ really large beetleShady Black-throated Green WarblerFull moon, 10 May 2025Northern Cardinal (m)
The brief-blooming Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum) are sadly gone, but following includes some nice, sunlit shots from earlier in the spring:
Black-throated Green Warbler II
Following birds all Black-capped Chickadee unless otherwise noted:
Chickadee @ mid-hop verticalCommon Grackle IIBlack-throated Green Warbler IIIRed-tailed HawkBlackburnian WarblerCommon Grackle IIIBlackburnian Warbler II, high treetop
Finally, after years of birding in Erie County, Pennsylvania, a great sighting of the #1 bird on BirdingPI.com’s “birds you might see in Erie County that we’ve never seen but would really like to see” list. All it took was yet another close encounter with the amazingly stinky chemical toilets at South Pier:
“The access to South Pier was permeated with a sharp chemical acridity.”
[Editor’s note: to be clear, the toilets at South Pier aren’t “unclean stinky.” Instead, they emit a surprisingly wide area, sharp, rather unpleasant chemical acridity – the germs don’t stand a chance.]
End of South Pier looking west
Anyway, just a quick stop for photos, and out of the reeds on the enclosed pond flies a reclusive and seldom seen Least Bittern, the smallest heron in the Americas (perhaps smallest anywhere). These shots in chronological order:
Even more recently, another surprise sighting of perhaps the same Least Bittern, this time at the swampy corner of the enclosed pond by Lampe Campground:
Shot above is of the enclosed pond with the campground on the right. The bird is in the shrubbery just right and up from middle; a view @ 600mm:
A very small heron that’s hard to see in the reedsLeast Bittern perched in reeds, cropped @ 600mm
With its mix of mature/tall eastern forest, open grass, and thicket habitat (e.g., along the ‘fitness trail’), Scott Park is a great place to see species like American Redstart. Here’s recent shots of the ‘better half’ 😉 – all female Redstart unless noted otherwise:
American Redstart (f)Forest at Scott ParkAmerican RobinChestnut-sided WarblerBlooming honeysuckle (species unknown)Brown-headed Cowbird (m)Eastern Wood-PeweeGray Catbird!White-throated SparrowW-tSIF
For a change, nice (if cool/windy) weather in Erie County, Pennsylvania over the weekend. Bird activity was erratic. Nevertheless, lots of great things to see for Global Big Day, etc. More on that later this week. In the meantime, it’s part 2 of 2 of Canada Geese babies from the other day at South Pier:
As promised, a fun video clip (sound turned down due to wind noise):
Wishing every mother, goose or otherwise, a Happy Mother’s Day 2025!
The Canada Geese family enjoys an outing at South Pier
These shots taken last week at South Pier, City of Erie, Pennsylvania. Very happy to see the Canada Geese nesting on the enclosed pond had a successful hatching of amazingly cute goose babies. These goslings were very young – able to paddle well in the pond, but occasionally wobbling when walking.
Coming up tomorrow, more goose baby pictures + video!
Celebrating Global Big Day with the next in BirdingPI.com’s recurring coverage of spring warblers, this time with a beautiful male American Redstart @ Scott Park:
In bonus Presque Isle bird news – and a great reason to get out today – a lovely/uncommon Red-throated Loon (non-breeding plumage = lack of red colour on throat) has been seen on Misery Bay for several days now. These recent shots @ 600mm from long distance:
Lots of hummingbird content on BirdingPI.com from Arizona, etc., but even the northeast has its own common/seasonal species, namely, the lovely Ruby-throated Hummingbird. These aren’t the best shots (shady), but still fun to see this lovely male recently at Scott Park in Millcreek Twp, PA (“Since 1800”):
Plus ‘bonus birds‘ same date/location:
Downy Woodpecker (m)Downy Woodpecker IINorthern Cardinal (m)Cardinal IICardinal III
Very blurry, but still nice to get a pop of the ruby throat:
An example of the perils of shooting @ 600mm – this bird was almost out of frame and looks like it’s running into a wall:
(400mm or 500mm gives a wider angle to more agilely capture quick motion and “birds in takeoff mode,” but then it’s less reach for distant birds. Always a tradeoff somewhere!)
At least with a complete bird (not cut off in the middle), the shot above could be sort of salvaged with a really close crop:
Anyway, looks like a nice day today in Erie County, Pennsylvania, and perhaps a good weekend for Global Big Day tomorrow – happy birding!
Mostly the lovely Blue-headed Vireo is seen way up in the trees. Lucky to have this brief interaction the other day in Millcreek Twp, PA (“Since 1800”) closer to eye level:
Continuing on with a focus on spring warblers and warbler adjuncts, e.g., vireos. Nothing more ‘warbler adjacent’ than the lovely Warbling Vireo. These recent shots from Leo’s Landing at Presque Isle State Park:
