More Darth Vader Great Black-backed Gull:
Meanwhile…
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s special New Year’s post: Gull vs. Eagle!
Episode V – The Gulls Strike Back
Gull Wars (Episode IV)
A few days ago, in a state park not far away…
Ring-billed Gulls on the chase for destroying the Death Star food:
Coming soon, Episode V – The Gulls Strike Back!
[Editor’s note to staff: the wave picture at top is clearly on a different day/time = nonsensical. Please delete or replace before publication.]
TSIF
Tooth surface index of fluorosis? Thank swans it’s Friday? Maybe Tundra Swans in flight? Recent Tundra Swan activity at Leo’s Landing, Presque Isle State Park.
With entrance to Presque Isle Bay in background, South Pier on right and North Pier on left:
Maps To Birding Fun
BirdingPI.com is excited to announce (i) its December 2023 updated map of Presque Isle State Park, and (ii) more notably, its new Gull Point trail map! While Gull Point may have taken tens of thousands of years to form, it was only 10-20 minutes to capture on a cartoonish map! [Editor’s note: ahem – ‘cartoonish’ is not exclusive of general accuracy or informativeness.]
To celebrate, recent raptors in Erie County, PA!
Finally, the ‘cherry on top,’ and in a rare 5 minutes of clear skies in Erie, Christmas night full moon:
More Strange Birds
The variable weather continues in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Cloudy/gloomy over the weekend, mild and eventually sunny Christmas day, cloudy/gloomy but unseasonably mild (13 deg C) Tuesday, & on-and-off light-to-heavy rain Wednesday. Above and below: Walnut Creek @ Asbury Woods, in full-flow mode.
And with the bad/gloomy weather, time to catch up on more recent “strange” (as in uncommon) birds at Presque Isle State Park. These long-distance shots are somewhat unsatisfying, so posted less for ‘art’ and more for informational/archive purposes.
First up, finally saw the Purple Sandpiper recently seen at Gull Point and the outer beaches and reported on eBird. This was on the breakwater off Budny Beach/Sunset Point. Dunlin-sized (medium), yellow-orange legs, droopy bill that’s yellow at the base and dark at the tip, & solid-ish upper chest transitioning to streaks to white belly.
On left, with Red-breasted Merganser on right:
Next up, an amazing Northern Shrike on Big Pond:
Overall gray (head, chest, back), + black wings & tail, + characteristic black mask. Distinguished from Loggerhead Shrike due to location/season + mask is less extensive. … Below, in a tree (towards top) with Bald Eagle:
Finally, at a very long distance on Lake Erie off Gull Point, an Eared Grebe (non-breeding plumage). Red eye, thin/straight/pointy bill, peaked forehead, + black cap that extends down below eye level for a “smudgy cheek.” Relative to Horned Grebe, lacks white-tipped bill and ‘clean line’ look on head.
Coming up next time, an exciting BirdingPI.com content update! Plus bird pics.
Xmas @ Gull Point
More “pre-Christmas” shots from the first full day of winter 2023 along the Gull Point Trail @ Presque Isle State Park. Above, a juniper festooned with Christmas ornaments, just off the “outer official” trail.*
Scant bird activity on the mud flats and outer beaches. However, great to once again see a beautiful Peregrine Falcon, which seems a recurring event this time of year. Also a pair of lovely Dunlin = unusual in December/winter.
[* Editor’s note: BirdingPI.com staff not responsible for indicated juniper shrub. It’s all festive/well-and-good, however the decorations appeared abandoned = essentially litter that will require cleanup.]
Best Christmas Ever (?)
The ultimate Christmas gift: Ring-billed Gulls in Erie County, PA. Here, it’s “Gulls doing gull stuff” x “Gulls with a giant floating Christmas tree ornament:”
Plus a great “stocking stuffer,” gulls diving!
Merry Christmas!
Blurry Canada Goose
Dateline: 22 December 2023
For this post on the first full day of winter 2023, it was once again time to spin the “Wheel of Birds,” which landed on “Blurry Canada Goose.” And with that, apologies, but the “Wheel of Birds” has been de-commissioned in favour of this alternative, rather great content from the Gull Point Trail, Presque Isle State Park.
Cloudy & cold, but dry and above freezing. Overall rather modest/light bird activity along the ‘official outer’ trail, until a flurry of birds in the shrubbery/trees by the ‘big bend’ (where the trail comes closest to the bay side, turning generally N/S-ish to E/W-ish). Bird of the day, amazing to see a few lovely Yellow-rumped Warblers on the first day of winter:
Also a decent number of beautiful American Tree Sparrow, here (& above & below) foraging on Bayberry (probably Myrica pensylvanica):
More Yellow-rumped Warbler + American Tree Sparrow:
[Special Photo Editor’s section: For anyone disappointed with the ‘bait-and-switch’ on the post title, it’s a ‘Christmas bonus’ of blurry Canada Goose:
GIF/etc.
Rainy Saturday today in Erie County, PA. For today’s post, spun the “wheel of birds” again, landing on “Gulls in flight”/GIF. Fortunately there’s enough shots in the hopper for some GIF + eating/fishing + bathing. (Or at least wet.) These are Ring-billed Gull at East Ave boat launch.
Hard to see, but this talented laddie or lassie caught two fish at once:
Exhibiting “water removal by shaking during flight” behavior:
More “water removal by shaking during flight” behavior:
Even w/ completely upside down head:
At The Park (IV)
For the first full day of winter, and with dry/cloudy/cold conditions, it was time to head back to Gull Point, Presque Isle State Park. Full report forthcoming. In the meantime, spun the “wheel of birds” and landed, entirely by chance, on “Arizona/summer.” (Also on the ‘wheel of birds:’ (i) gulls bathing; (ii) gulls in flight; (iii) gulls eating fish; (iv) gull potpourri; & (v) blurry Canada Geese.)
So, back to Christopher Columbus Park in Tucson, AZ, with lots of reasonably nice bird portraiture. Following, beautiful female Great-tailed Grackle:
Two of Eurasian Collared Dove:
Mixed birds: Magpie Duck (domestic escapee, on left); American Coot x2 (foreground); Snow Goose (white bird in middle); Muscovy Duck (domestic escapee, rear middle); & probably Mexican Duck (right).
More beautiful female Great-tailed Grackle:
Two of lovely Green Heron:
Beautiful Vermillion Flycatcher (m) exhibiting preening behavior:
Finally, male Great-tailed Grackle, w/ lovely blue/black colour:
