As always, since sensibilities vary even in the context of ‘G-rated’ nature content, ‘NSFW‘ = snakes, ticks, bird-on-fish violence (or blood generally), & certain avian copulation behavior. Here, it’s the latter (beautiful Bank Swallows) x lovely Barn Swallows, along the Gull Point ‘rope trail.’
(For more information (TMI?), see Copulation (zoology) – Wikipedia & Cloaca – Wikipedia.)
Part 1 of a special report from a great, under-the-radar “nature spot” in Erie County, PA: West Road Access Area along upper Elk Creek in McKean Twp. Close to the junction of Interstates 90 and 79 on the southwest side, this is 18+ hectares of old farmland bordering the south side of Elk Creek, one of the important riparian corridors of the Erie-area watershed.
The shot below shows the main access + main gravel trail leading along the tree line and eventually down to Elk Creek. (The creek – really a small river – is to the right of the mature trees on the right-hand side of this shot, down a steep embankment.)
Mixed open field, brush, & scattered young trees, bordered by a line of mature forest along Elk Creek – great for Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, & probably the most reliable spot around (seasonally) for amazing Indigo Bunting:
Directions: Take I79 to the McKean, PA exit. Turn left or right westwards onto West Road. Drive 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) to the parking lot on the right.
It’s part 2 of ‘prime warbler migration’ @ Presque Isle State Park, along the Pine Tree Trail a few weeks ago.
Nice shots of shady Chestnut-sided Warbler:
Not a warbler, but Red-eyed Vireo (not the best pics., but no luck with anything better so far this year):
Beautiful Magnolia Warbler:
Here’s more Bay-breasted Warbler:
These are Cape May Warbler x Bay-breasted Warbler:
No post yesterday due to site maintenance. Today, it’s back to the height of warbler migration at Presque Isle State Park with shots from on and near the Pine Tree Trail.
It’s back to Global Big Day with more bird pictures from Presque Isle State Park, mostly after the rain started.
It was a rather amazing Sunday at Presque Isle State Park – sunny, warm/humid, the smell of Multiflora Rose in the air, then ocean-like ground fog along the outer beach. Bird-wise, things got off to the best start possible for a hike out to Gull Point with exceedingly cute Killdeer chicks in the Budny Beach east parking lot:
Later, an amazing American White Pelican trio over outer Gull Point. (Ho-hum, just another day at the Point… 😉 Reported occasionally on eBird, still a rare occurrence for Erie County and the east coast generally – this is the first BirdingPI.com local sighting ever:
Here’s an alternating medley of more Killdeer and Pelican:
These Pelicans came in the from the west/northwest maybe, then made a looping turn over outer Gull Point to head pretty much due south:
Pure conjecture, but considering the abrupt turn south from the lake, wonder if they were using Gull Point as a navigation landmark. (“Bird things that make you go ‘hmmmm….'”)
Finally, same day at Gull Point, the perils of field mis-identification. Following bird spotted flying overhead – obvious shorebird, decent sized, with long straight-ish beak – immediate thought is Yellowlegs. “Why does that Yellowlegs have a rusty belly?” Good question. The answer: not a Yellowlegs, but an unusual-for-Presque Isle Hudsonian Godwit:
To be fair, hard to see well under these lighting conditions, but still a good example of being cognizant of field marking inconsistencies (e.g., no species of Yellowlegs has a streaked, rusty belly, regardless of age).
Well, Global Big Day weekend is long gone, and spring warbler migration is past-peak, but it was an oversized holiday weekend at Presque Isle State Park nevertheless. Compounded by rather amazing weather: a sunny Saturday start with rain by late morning (clearing later), a warm and humid Sunday w/ eventual ocean-like ground fog, & big afternoon thunderstorms Monday (including torrential rain & pea-size hail).
Concurrent with spring, of course it’s nesting season. Recent nests and/or chicks (juvenile birds) seen at Presque Isle: Bald Eagle, Osprey, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Killdeer, American Robin, Wood Duck, Barn Swallow, & Tree Swallow. Here’s a great sequence of a lovely female Yellow Warbler nest building in a blackberry shrub along the Gull Point Trail, from Saturday (before the rain):
Coming up soon, amazing American White Pelicans at Presque Isle! Also, special Eastern Towhee portraiture! And baby Killdeer! #more_exclamation_points!!! #more_bird
“Dr. Science, I didn’t know there was a feral cat population in Presque Isle State Park!”
“Yes, Joey, there is. Although due to harsh winter conditions, ‘population’ more likely means transient individuals, such as strays wandering in over the ‘land bridge,’ or abandonments, or perhaps wide-ranging house cats from nearby neighborhoods.”
“Dr. Science, a ‘wide-ranging house cat from a nearby neighborhood’ wouldn’t be feral exactly, right?”
“You’re very astute, Joey. That means smart and observant. But take this example spotted recently by Dr. Science’s field team along the Duck Pond Trail. No houses around here!”
“That’s a beautiful cat, Dr. Science. It seems healthy.”
“Probably a reasonably steady diet of songbirds and chipmunks, Joey. House cats are great hunters.”
“Chipmunks!?! But they’re so cute, Dr. Science!”
“Probably also tasty, from a cat perspective, Joey.”
“Yuck. What’s going to happen to this cute kitty, Dr. Science?”
“No way to know, Joey – that’s nature for you. Hopefully it will wander back into inhabited areas, or be captured by the friendly park rangers for safe relocation to a good home.”
“Dr. Science, is the scientific name of the domestic house cat really ‘Felis Catus?’ That sounds made up.”
“Yes, it really is. … Say, Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?”
[Editor’s note: BirdingPI.com management apologies for the general goofiness of this post, which is clearly the result of either too much or too little black coffee. … Feral house cat pictures taken along the Duck Pond Trail @ Presque Isle State Park on 25 May 2024.]
So far this year there’s been Red-winged Blackbird harassing Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird harassing American Crow, Red-winged Blackbird and American Crow co-harassing Red-tailed Hawk, and Red-winged Blackbird harassing Canada Goose (<– true story; sadly, no pictures, but the goose seemed rather offended.) Here, it’s three Common Grackle and one Red-winged Blackbird harassing a Red-tailed Hawk, high above Erie County, PA:
[* Editor’s note: “bird-on-bird violence” = exhibiting seasonal mating/territorial aggressiveness behavior. ‘No birds were harmed.’]
First up, very special pictures of what may be the first ever BirdingPI.com coverage of Purple Finch in Erie County, PA! (Much less common than House Finch.) Taken recently at West Road Elk Creek access.
ID tip: typical finch features w/ an overall red-purple/raspberry wash.
Also exciting, amazing Purple Martin “in the wild.” Meaning not at or around a Purple Martin house. These pictures from the swampy area near the east Long Pond Trail trailhead.
Following are alternating Purple Finch & Purple Martin:
It wouldn’t be complete coverage without a comparison to House Finch. Following shots are of beautiful males in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”). Note the similar features but much less extensive red-purple colour:
