Time for an Erie, PA ‘winter reprieve‘ with a random, previously-unpublished post found in the ‘Drafts’ folder.
Cuddly bunnies near Edinboro Lake! Specifically, Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), early morning:
And a cuddly Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) along the Marsh Trail @ Presque Isle State Park:
“European” and “Eastern,” respectively, of course. More recent shots of non-waterfowl/gull ‘winter birds’ in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”):
At Presque Isle State Park, always plenty of Ring-billed Gulls to love, on Valentine’s Day or any other day. Sometimes they even do interesting/ fun-to-watch things, like the several instances of dive fishing shown here:
Mission: Unsuccessful.
Mission: Unsuccessful II.
Success, finally! Yum.
Despite a return to cooler seasonal temperatures, the forecast Monday-night snow failed to materialize in Erie County, PA; looks like another nice-ish, chilly day. (Regional weather maps show the ‘big storm’ tracking well east of western Pennsylvania.) Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay currently completely unfrozen.
Anecdotally, lots of seasonal bird activity in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”) yesterday – American Crow, European Starling, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, etc. These recent shots of American Robin x Mourning Dove:
Coming up soon, Eastern Bluebird! (Finally!)
Dateline: 4 February 2024
If there’s a Gull Point ‘off season’ at Presque Isle State Park, it’s probably February. Nevertheless, on a recent, sunny, surprisingly mild (for February) Sunday, a great hike + always something interesting to see!
First up (bird-wise), two bad photographs of a still ‘very cool to see’ Northern Harrier:
On the outer mud flats, maybe 4-5 Herring Gulls, and that was pretty much it!
Back in the tree line:
Lots of Yellow-rumped Warbler:
Previously seen at this location (‘big bend’) end-2023. Probably an overwintering population, w/ mixed American Tree Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees, etc.
Dateline: 10 February 2024
Sometimes a duck flies away. Other times, it repositions nearby to a more duck-comfortable distance. These shots of the latter, taken yesterday at Presque Isle State Park, featuring beautiful Mallard by Long Pond.
Cloudy/rainy conditions this Saturday morning in Erie County, PA, but unseasonably warm. (Temperatures supposed to return to normal tomorrow, although still above freezing in the daytime.) While waiting for conditions to clear up by this afternoon (hopefully), some recent shots from Presque Isle State Park on a sunny morning:
Failed to make note of 3 February 2024, the winter mid-point. On the other hand, the northern hemisphere’s well on the way to spring!
Speaking of spring, “crazy February” continues here in Erie County, PA, with unseasonably warm weather and no snow/little ice. After a sunny but cold weekend (AM hard frost), it transitioned to high temperatures in the 10+ deg. C range (50’s deg. F!), with clouds/rain Thursday night, otherwise mostly/partly sunny. So mild, at least one Erie golf course opened Wednesday (!), not to mention recently sighted daffodil shoots. All that said, forecast calls for a 50%+ chance of snow next week.
Ice conditions at Presque Isle State Park and Lake Erie remain highly variable: Lake Erie completely unfrozen, & Presque Isle Bay + interior ponds varying between ‘light ice’ and ‘mostly no ice,’ depending on overnight temperatures.
Seasonal bird activity remains high, e.g., American Robin, Blue Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, ducks/waterfowl, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bald Eagle, American Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebird, European Starling, Wild Turkey, etc. Unofficial BirdingPI.com “species seen in Erie County so far in 2024” count = 69!
Tundra Swans in flight over Presque Isle Bay:
Of note, very early recent sightings of Red-winged Blackbird at Leo’s Landing (& Gull Point), Yellow-rumped Warbler on the Gull Point Trail (probably an overwintering population), and Golden-crowned Kinglet in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”).
Photos of Yellow-rumped Warbler forthcoming. Meanwhile, wrapping it up with ‘morning’ ducks on Lake Erie:
More male Red-breasted Merganser:
Fairly regular Pileated Woodpecker activity this winter in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”). Also spotted at Presque Isle State Park itself. These recent shots from the former.
It’s the return leg of BirdingPI.com’s August 2023 fully-permitted day hike at amazing Aravaipa Canyon in central SE Arizona.
Female Blue Grosbeak w/ snack:
Series of photographs heading downstream from the turnaround at Cave Canyon junction:
Back at the desert-y trailhead in full afternoon sun. Probably at least a 9-10 deg C (15+ deg F) difference in temps between the trailhead on an August afternoon and the streambed w/ water + trees.
All in all, an amazing (and robust) day hike. If you go, take food and lots of water!