Overcast and gloomy a week ago Sunday along the Gull Point Trail @ Presque Isle State Park, although dry conditions + some interesting/fun bird activity. Too early to expect much on the outer mud flats, but great to see four Killdeer, first sighting this year:

More Killdeer below, + additional shady photography:

Chickadee shots from around the ‘big bend‘ area, where the official outer Gull Point Trail turns from generally N/S-ish to E/W-ish:

On the back bay (outer Thompson Bay), Bufflehead (in the water) + Lesser Scaup in ‘landing mode:’

ID tip for Lesser Scaup: underside of wing has bright white strip about halfway down, then gray. (Greater Scaup: white the entire length.)

View of back bay beach access on the west side of the seasonal “Forbidden Zone.” (‘Forbidden Zone:’ the portion of Gull Point closed from 1 April – 31 October for bird nesting.)

Following is an easterly view of outer Gull Point (w/ observation platforms) from the bay side:

Several shots of Bufflehead ducks:

More Bufflehead:

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More beautiful Killdeer @ outer Gull Point:

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Lastly, view generally west from the outer/northside beach back towards Budny Beach:

It’s another assortment of recent winter birds in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”), featuring (in order) American Robin, male Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, & male House Finch:

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Plus a special bonus section of nice shots of beautiful male Bufflehead ducks in the sun @ Long Pond:

Checking in with amazing Bald Eagles at Presque Isle State Park, mostly at Leo’s Landing and Long Pond. (ID tip – white head = adult, & dark head/plumage = juvenile.)

Following is the pair of Bald Eagle nests on the north side of Long Pond:

Here’s a perched adult on the left, near the nests, & the shot after that = very cool to see one of the Eagles “on nest:”

Hoping for baby Eagles in the spring!

White-breasted Nuthatch! Too many shots of beautiful White-breasted Nuthatch @ Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”):

Recent shots of two species of Erie County, PA small mammal, Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) & Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus). First, the former @ Scott Park, exhibiting interesting foraging behavior, perhaps for nutrient ingestion or sweet flavour due to sap flow. (Some vines in Scott Park are starting to bud.)

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BirdingPI.com – the only website bringing you squirrels licking branches!

Beautiful weather in Erie County, PA on Friday, Monday, & Tuesday – mostly sunny with unseasonably mild temps (e.g., high of 21 deg C / 70 deg F on Monday). Saturday & Sunday: mostly overcast and chilly. Other than localized mud (e.g., B Trail, west end of Long Pond Trail, portions of Gull Point Trail), conditions at Presque Isle State Park generally good. ‘Interior’ bird activity remains very minimal; plenty of gull and waterfowl activity on the lake and bay, e.g., ducks:

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Wednesday forecast calls for ‘plummeting’ temperatures + cooler the rest of the week. Good luck and happy birding!

Some nice shots of beautiful Common Grackle at Presque Isle State Park, on a recent sunny day at Leo’s Landing:

A veritable potpourri of recent, sunny, late-winter birds in Millcreek Twp, PA (“Gateway to Presque Isle”). First up, a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk:

Mourning Dove in snow & sun:

Beautiful and noisy European Starling:

Lovely female House Finch:

A beautiful, sunny, mild Friday, March 1st 2024 in Erie County, PA. Saturday morning: overcast with light rain. While waiting on the weather, here’s another in BirdingPI.com’s occasional series of Erie winter/late winter birds. First up, the lovely and improbably-coloured Red-bellied Woodpecker:

And an extra-cute Tufted Titmouse exhibiting woodpecker-like foraging behavior:

And beautiful male Red-winged Blackbird on a Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) tree:

Happy March! Just two-and-a-half weeks until the first day of Spring 2024. In the meantime, plenty of volatile and occasionally-wintery weather in Erie County, PA, e.g., Tuesday into Wednesday unusually mild, transitioning into thunderstorms overnight Tuesday, then warm w/ hazy sunshine Wednesday morning followed by strong winds, increasing clouds & light rain, a daytime drop in temperature by 17 deg C (30 deg F), & wind/light snow/bitter cold overnight into Thursday.

Erie forecast calls for warmer temps Friday-Sunday with a mix of clouds and sun. Looking forward to lots of bird activity (hopefully). Until then, misc. bird from the recent past, mostly at Presque Isle State Park:

First two, then three Great Black-backed Gulls @ Beach No. 11:

(See previous post for video w/ vocalizations. Relatively uncommon to hear Great Black-backed Gulls; these were quite noisy, in their low-key way.)

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