Dateline: 18 November 2023

Other than copious gunfire & motorboat noise on the back bay (duck hunters), it was a very quiet mid-day at Gull Point on Saturday. A few unidentified sparrows, GBH, woodpeckers, some Ring-billed Gulls, etc. Still, nice conditions for a hike at Presque Isle State Park, regardless of bird activity.

There’s a fairly pronounced demarcation of open field/mud flat at outer Gull Point and the regular Presque Isle woodlands of inner Gull Point. Hence references to the “tree line:”

Saw one flock of 6+ Snow Bunting flying overhead:

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Everyone loves Budny Beach, even the GBH:

(View above is looking northeast-ish past Gull Point; land on far left probably in New York state.)

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Trail conditions: despite the rain Friday, dry enough recently for minimal impact. Most trails in good condition except for localized mud.

Coming up soon: Presque Isle duck update, plus more from Arizona! Also, leaping squirrels 🙂 and malformed Wild Turkeys 🙁

BirdingPI.com’s ‘exciting’ gull coverage continues with more Ring-billed Gull. This time it’s morning at East Ave boat launch, Erie, Pennsylvania. Wow.

Moderate/heavy rain all day yesterday (Friday) in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Sunny today – looks like a nice day for nature! #more_bird. These shots from Gull Point, etc. @ Presque Isle State Park last Sunday.

Following all Snow Bunting @ outer Gull Point enjoying the water:

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Wrapping up this post with Dunlin on the main pond where the roped-off trail to the observation platform(s) (when seasonally present) starts:

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Bonus mediocre Dunlin video from the preceding Friday! Wow. (Caution – audio track = wind noise.)

More Ring-billed Gulls! More Mallards! #more_bird. Back at Pymatuning Reservoir spillway last Saturday.

Well, it’s back to the mountains of east-central Arizona, with some nice birds from August in Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest outside Pinetop/Lakeside. First up, the ‘bird of the day’ (or the bird of any day, really), a BirdingPI.com ‘first sighting ever’ of the literally amazing Red Crossbill:

The offset beak facilitates seed extraction and maybe even shearing through immature/green pinecones = really cool adaptation.

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Three shots of beautiful Mountain Chickadee:

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For variety, three birds “at a distance” (hint – each bird is at the center of the shot):

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Two of lovely Northern Flicker (red-shaft):

In eastern North America, of course, it would have a yellow feather colouration. Hence ‘yellow shaft’ (feather shaft) in the east and ‘red shaft’ in the west.

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Dateline: 10 November 2023

Back to Gull Point, with ‘part 2’ from last Friday – in which a post contains way too many Dunlin & Snow Bunting!

Finally, a very long distance and unsatisfying shot of Lapland Longspur (on far right and left of middle; Horned Lark on far left). Still, very cool to see!

Dateline: 11 November 2023

Photographing birds at Pymatuning Reservoir spillway (Crawford County, PA) is the birding equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel. Except the birds aren’t captive. And there’s no violence or bloodshed. Ok, maybe not so similar. … Anyway, it’s a popular spot for ‘feeding the ducks’ = local Canada Geese, Ring-billed Gulls, & Mallards, all used to human presence. Rather nice, actually, to enjoy things up close for a change.

Partially cloudy/gloomy conditions not conducive to photos. Thank you, Nikon spot metering mode. … Except where noted, following shots are all Ring-billed Gulls (the white ones), male Mallard (green/blue head), and female Mallard (mottled brown):

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Coming up soon, more Gull Point! More Pymatuning Reservoir! #more_bird

Dateline: 10 November 2023

Despite partially cloudy conditions, a rather epic day Friday at Gull Point – Presque Isle State Park – with ducks, Dunlin, and an amazing trifecta of Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, & Lapland Longspur!

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Coming up soon, more Gull Point!

More Dunlin, more Presque Isle State Park. Recent/gloomy shots at Leo’s Landing on Presque Isle Bay.

Dateline: 5 August 2023

While waiting for more Dunlin content from Presque Isle State Park, it’s back to Marana, AZ in August for BirdingPI.com’s final epic installment (for now) of birds @ El Rio Preserve.

Lucky to have plenty of time with this beautiful Greater Roadrunner in a tree – such an amazing/cool bird!

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Not quite sure, but some sort of juvenile or female flycatcher probably:

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