NSFW = nice snake for winter. Here, temps in Erie County, PA were overall high enough end-December for an active mature Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) off the Canoe Portage Trail:
And now, ‘bonus’ reptile, etc. content from Arizona! Here, beautiful Spiny Lizards in the Sceloporus genus, probably either Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magisteror) or Texas Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus):
Finally, a Sonoran desert trio:
Another winter reprieve, with early morning bird shots from in/around the Tucson, AZ metro area back in August.
Lots of Gambel’s Quail, including a kerfuffle:
First two, then three males:
More beautiful Cactus Wren:
Update: 14 January 2024
As of around noon on Sunday, Presque Isle State Park is totally closed (at the main gate) due to storm damage and downed power lines, for both vehicle and pedestrian access.
Dateline: 12 January 2024
Presque Isle State Park remained mostly closed Friday, due to storm damage from the recent high winds. All vehicle and pedestrian access was closed past Stull Interpretive Center, although the beach was open. (Presumably one could walk east along the beach further into the park proper.)
The ‘excitement’ continues with more winter gulls from in and near Presque Isle State Park!
In line with these shots (ice, overcast, snow, etc.), the Erie County forecast calls for bad weather pretty much the rest of January. Stay tuned to BirdingPI.com for plenty more gloomy winter content!
Generally bad weather over the weekend in Erie County, PA – overcast, light rain/snow, etc. – but temps remained around freezing = not much snow accumulation + highly variable ice conditions at Presque Isle State Park. (E.g., Long Pond significantly frozen on Saturday, but mostly unfrozen Sunday.) Lots of gull activity generally; here, from Sunday, lots of beautiful American Pixie Gull (a.k.a. Bonaparte’s Gull) off Leo’s Landing:
Somehow the spirit of Eddie Haskell lives on, with these recent shots of Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) @ Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”):
Coming up soon, a snake in winter! #global_warming
While waiting on the Presque Isle ‘Weekend Update’ (spoiler: ducks and gulls), time to revert back to warmer climes in Arizona back in August. These shots from a SE Arizona Birding Festival field 1/2-day trip to Florida Canyon and Box Canyon, both northeast of world-famous Madera Canyon outside the town of Green Valley.
Sound like the locals: “Florida” is the Spanish pronunciation = flo-REE-dah.
ID tip on Cassin’s Kingbird: strongly gray head and chest with starkly delineated white throat.
Bird of the day, a lovely Thick-billed Kingbird, mostly found in Mexico:
ID tip: similar colouration to other ‘western’/tropical kingbirds, with brown-ish wings, gray head, yellow underside, gray breast, and white-ish throat. but relatively large sized + chunky bill. This location (upper Box Canyon) has typical vegetation for this bird = mature sycamore + streamside.
Here, a beautiful Scott’s Oriole (f) on probably Century Plant (Agave americana):
Finally, an amazing Golden Eagle:
On a snowy Sunday in Erie County, PA, time for more winter birds @ Presque Isle State Park:
Ring-billed Gulls on air, land, & water:
Finally, a trio of Bufflehead (f) ‘flapping/rear view’ on Presque Isle Bay:
Dateline: 31 December 2023
“This shortest straw has been pulled for you…” – Metallica, The Shortest Straw, 1988.
It was time once again for BirdingPI.com’s annual “New Year’s Eve day trek to Gull Point.” With cold temps, overcast skies, light/persistent rain, and minimal bird activity, the normally happy occasion morphed into BirdingPI.com’s “New Year’s Eve day involuntary ordeal out to Gull Point.” Happy to report, however, only minimal hypothermia. #no_birder_left_behind
Highlight of the day, lovely Downy Woodpecker in ‘launch’ mode:
Finally out at Gull Point proper, e.g., outer mud flats. The only in situ birds observed, two Herring Gulls:
So this goes down as “Gull Point least on-site bird activity ever.” Which is something, maybe.
And to wrap it up, on Lake Erie off Gull Point, first a raft/line of ducks, mostly Scaup (Greater? Lesser?):
And one, lone, lovely Ruddy Duck:
Coming up soon, more Erie County, PA bad weather, and then some!
Ahead of what looks to be a cold and (lightly) snowy weekend in Erie County, PA, some misc./recent bird pics from Presque Isle State Park!
A nice series of beautiful Ring-necked Duck (m):
Two of GBHIF in fog over Thompson Bay:
Finally, two of lovely American Tree Sparrow by Beach No. 11 parking:
Wishing everyone a great weekend! #enjoy_nature