Still recovering from Global Big Day weekend, so it’s back to the previous weekend with shots from a hike out to Gull Point @ Presque Isle State Park.

Mostly overcast = photography/exposure conditions not great. Nevertheless, fun to see this Eastern Kingbird in action:

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Following is a hoverfly (in genus Eristalis, exact species unknown) on what’s probably invasive Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), all over Presque Isle in sandy areas:

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Beautiful Dunlin @ outer Gull Point:

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Probably Orange Sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme), on left, on Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus):

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‘Bird of the day’ (or any day) was a surprise early sighting of Whimbrel:

According to the nice folks at eBird, this was the earliest recorded sighting of Whimbrel at this location (or maybe Erie Co. generally) by at least a couple weeks.

More Whimbrel:

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Based on dark head colouration, this appears to be Semipalmated Plover:

Unfortunately, the Whimbrel left soon hereafter, heading out easterly over Lake Erie:

[Editor’s note: “KIF” = Killdeer in flight, “BSIF” = Barn Swallow in flight, “OIF” = Osprey in flight, “WIF” = Whimbrel in flight. Note to staff: please stop using “…IF” – thank you.]

It was interesting weather at Presque Isle State Park for Global Big Day yesterday. ‘Interesting’ = mostly crappy, i.e., less than ideally conducive for productive and pleasant birding all day. … Mostly sunny (although windy/cool) until about 11AM, then light on/off rain, then moderate rain, then partial clearing by mid-afternoon, then moderate/heavy rain (+ sometimes very windy) late afternoon/evening as another front rolled through. Bird activity rather erratic, but lots to see!

Bird photography into thick brush or high into the tree canopy is hard enough. Just try it with an umbrella under rainy conditions on the Ridge Trail. Nevertheless, the suffering extra effort paid off, with this amazing Ovenbird, taken under rainy/overcast conditions close to where the Ridge Trail intersects the Sidewalk Trail at their east ends:

“Bird Watching Rule 14(a): the bird of the day is always Ovenbird, unless there’s an owl.” Johnson, Daniel & Matheson, Herbert. The Great Book of Bird Watching. 1st ed., HarperCollins, 1963.

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Coming up soon, more Global Big Day!

Wow, an unprecedented BirdingPI.com 3rd daily post! It really is a big day, content-wise at least. These shots from last weekend mostly at Presque Isle State Park:

Great sequence of female Black-throated Blue Warbler @ Ridge Trail. Note the distinctive ‘square’ white wing patch:

Very cool to see immature, probably female Northern Parula:

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Triple view of Hermit Thrush (note the contrasting tail):

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Nice triple view of White-throated Sparrow in the woods:

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Happy birding! #more_bird

Global Big Day post #2, featuring lovely White-crowned Sparrow under overcast conditions near the Gull Point trailhead @ Presque Isle State Park. Not the best exposures, but still fun to see. First, a classic ‘triple front sequence:’

Second & lastly, a White-crowned Sparrow bathing:

Happy Global Big Day. Looks like ok weather in Erie County, PA, at least for now. Hope everyone can get out for enjoying nature!

Today’s “Post 1,” beautiful Brown Thrasher by Long Pond, Presque Isle State Park:

Great time of year for sunsets over Lake Erie if the weather cooperates. These shots from a week ago Thursday at Presque Isle State Park under warm & sunny (except for clouds at the horizon) conditions:

This is along the beach trail NE of Stull Interpretive Center. Directions: upon entering the park, drive past Stull and then Leo’s Landing; make a U-turn at the first turnaround after Leo’s Landing. Look for the parking wide spot on the right with the wooden posts. Follow the woods trail to the multi-use trail, keep going to the beach trail. (Beach trail is a sandy trail in the screen of woods between the beach and the multi-use trail = seasonally good for birds.)

This particular evening in this area, lots (and lots) of Palm Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, & Warbling Vireo activity:

It’s a strange but wonderful medley of recent Pennsylvania birds – colourful “new for 2024” x Tufted Titmouse engaging in some sort of foraging behavior, or perhaps gathering nest building materials, anyway, something to do with moss:

Finally, an amazing Scarlet Tanager along the Sidewalk Trail, way up in a tree:

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General update: Erie Co. weather conditions variable, as always, e.g., sunny/windy Wednesday, cloudy Thursday. Forecast for “Big Day” this Saturday: PM rain; be sure to get out early! Yesterday early AM, amazing bird activity at Leo’s Landing (e.g., warblers, vireos, and so on). Recent sightings: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (x2), Gray Catbirds! pretty much everywhere, & more Rose-breasted Grosbeak than usual. Coming up soon: fun at Gull Point, more warblers & vireos, + the most amazing (literally) Cedar Waxwing behavior ever!

Dateline: 5 May 2024

Generally speaking, currently lots and lots (!) of bird activity at Presque Isle State Park, esp. warblers and vireos. Last couple years, seemed like more activity earlier relative to the tree foliage, e.g., more species seen when the trees were still relatively bare. This year, it’s hitting closer to full leaf coverage = more difficult to see + lots of staring up into tall/leafy trees + not much hope for Bay-breasted Warbler. OTOH, anecdotally, more Nashville, Tennessee, Northern Parula, & Cape May Warbler activity = great.

Shots above & below along the Sidewalk Trail & Ridge Trail on Sunday, under overcast/warm/humid conditions; bad for bird photography, but still plenty to see.

Really great (& not that common) to see this lovely Blue-winged Warbler. Note the eyeline, blue-ish wings, and wing bars:

This is is blurry even after sharpening, but still great to see a Blue-headed Vireo (usually too far up in the trees to see well or at all):

Even @ 400mm, still pretty far away:

Bonus Yellow Warbler on a sunny day at Headwaters Park:

South Pier: the City of Erie’s best spot for (i) eating lunch in your car in a parking lot with a view; (ii) hanging out in your car for other, unknown reasons; (iii) pier fishing; (iv) littering; (v) smoking/vaping/etc.; (vi) watching the happenings at North Pier; (vii) boat watching; and (viii) birding and other nature observation. Plus, chemical toilets!

Moving on to “recent South Pier news,” it’s repairs to North Pier w/ giant crane (Coast Guard Station on left):

Not unexpectedly (see any Osprey nest), the Osprey were very intrigued with this new neighbourhood high spot:

Even more exciting news, great sighting of a Common Raven (!):

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“Mashup” of Common Loon & mostly Caspian Tern:

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Barely possible to contain all the nature at Presque Isle State Park. In the “not seen every day” category, it’s White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) running on Budny Beach (east end), on Saturday: