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!
Cooper’s Hawk, Presque Isle State ParkRed-tailed Hawk, Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”)More Cooper’s HawkMore Red-tailed Hawk#more_hawkRtHIF
Finally, the ‘cherry on top,’ and in a rare 5 minutes of clear skies in Erie, Christmas night full moon:
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.
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.
Peregrine Falcon @ Gull PointDunlin + old observation platformOld snow drifts @ Gull Point outer beach
[* 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.]
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:”
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:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Also a decent number of beautiful American Tree Sparrow, here (& above & below) foraging on Bayberry (probably Myrica pensylvanica):
American Tree Sparrow
More Yellow-rumped Warbler + American Tree Sparrow:
Downy WoodpeckerBlack-capped Chickadee
[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:
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:
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:
Welcome to Grackle ParkGtGIF
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).
What better way to celebrate winter solstice 2023 than with more gull content? Here, a special focus on Lesser Black-backed Gulls, seen multiple times recently at Beach No. 11 @ Presque Isle State Park.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
First, as part of BirdingPI.com’s DEI initiative, proposing a more inviting name for this lovely gull, relative to Great Black-backed Gull, such as:
“Great Black-backed Gull” & “Also Great Black-backed Gull,” etc.
Stay tuned for more on this front, along with further “no birds named after racist/bad humans” re-naming announcements.
Moving on to substantive matters, for comparison purposes, a Great Black-backed Gull on the breakwater off Budny Beach:
GBbG I
ID tips – large gull, pink legs, black or dark slate wings/back, white chest/head, and yellow bill with red spot:
Another view
Fun fact: Great Black-backed Gull is the largest gull species in the world!
GBbG III (left of middle)
Now on to Beach No. 11. Amongst mixed gulls, gull in upper left corner standing on one leg = Lesser Black-backed Gull.ID tips: smaller than Great Black-backed Gull + Herring Gull; larger than Ring-billed Gull; yellow legs; wings/back may be lighter than Great Black-backed Gull, but even if so, much darker than Herring Gull; yellow beak with red spot.
Mixed gulls
Comparison to Herring Gull on left:
More mixed gulls
More views:
On leftOn rightForegroundRight of middle
Now back to Great Black-backed Gull @ same date/location (hint – it has a black back):
Bonus beautiful Ring-billed Gulls:
Finally, even if birds aren’t government drones, clearly this gull is trained for tactical operations:
Generally bad weather (rainy, snowy, cold, windy, cloudy) the last few days in Erie County, PA; difficult birding conditions & reduced bird activity generally. As such, good a time as any for more Arizona content, back at Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, in August.
First up, a Western Kingbird perched on a fence, roadside, at the nearby water processing plant. Relative to Tropical Kingbird = white side tail feathers (not well shown in these shots) + yellow doesn’t extend as far up on the chest:
Probably Willow Flycatcher:
Two of lovely Common Gallinule:
And two of probably female Broad-billed Hummingbird:
A great aspect of Sweetwater is the numerous mesquite and other trees = good chance to see raptors at eye level, like this amazing Cooper’s Hawk:
Recent fun shots of birds + “human stuff,” Presque Isle State Park and close vicinity.
Herring Gull (?) & top of Perry Monument – detailGulls @ Presque Isle Bay + buoyMallards + Coast Guard dog (?) on North Pier restricted areaRing-billed Gull @ South PierMallards & dry-docked buoys @ North PierGulls @ South PierCoast Guard stationEast end South Pier w/ Ring-billed GullsGreat Black-backed Gull on buoy @ Presque Isle BayGreat Black-backed Gull & other trespassers
