While waiting on photo editing of warbler shots from the weekend, here’s more butterflies and bumble bees from a couple weeks ago @ Leo’s Landing, Presque Isle State Park. (Monarch Butterflies, Common Eastern Bumble Bee, and – at the end – Silver-spotted Skipper.)
More birds from the previous weekend at Presque Isle State Park, along the Pine Tree Trail.
Tough to ID in the field, but reviewing the photos relative to, e.g., allaboutbirds.org = female or immature Bay-breasted Warbler. Note the hint of bay/chestnut colouration on the sides under the wings + strong white wing bands + overall yellow/green appearance:
At times, tons of Red-eyed Vireo activity:
Probably Pine Warbler:
Two of cute Tufted Titmouse:
These are probably Warbling Vireo:
Lovely Northern Cardinal (f) with berry:
More beautiful Red-eyed Vireo:
As of 16 September 2023, BirdingPI.com “September warbler count:” 14 species!
BirdingPI.com’s field team was out of town Saturday on a special scouting trip “down south” – more on this later. Meanwhile, Sunday 17 September 2023, amazing migratory warbler, etc. activity at Presque Isle State Park. Lots and lots of birds!
These shots from last weekend along the Pine Tree Trail.
Lots of Red-eyed Vireo activity:
Also lots of lovely Magnolia Warbler:
Great to finally see Blackburnian Warbler, really high in the pines:
Coming up soon, more PI warblers! Also exotic sub-tropical birds (really).
Part II of beautiful birds along the Marshall Gulch trail, Mt. Lemmon, AZ, from August.
Plenty of Least Flycatcher activity this September at Presque Isle State Park. These shots at Leo’s Landing.
More on this in the days to come! Hint: White Ibis, not Gull Point.
Depending on weather/flowers/location, still lots of beautiful Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) at Presque Isle. These shots from Leo’s Landing off Presque Isle Bay.
Also Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) really enjoying the pollen on these Purple Thistle (Cirsium horridulum):
No birding trip to Tucson, AZ is complete without the Reid Park Elegant Trogan search. (Step 1: margaritas, and lots of them.) visiting Mt. Lemmon at least one. Amazing spot for all sorts of “pine mountain,” etc. birds only seen at higher elevations. These shots from the beautiful Marshall Gulch trail in August, including “first time ever” of this lovely flycatcher:
Any time there’s Red-faced Warbler, it’s ‘bird of the day.’ These shots very shaded/grainy, but still a beautiful bird:
Coming up soon, more at Marshall Gulch!
Dateline: 9 September 2023
Rough day Saturday for bird photography at Presque Isle State Park – overcast and gloomy. Not a lot of bird activity, either, except for great sightings of Pine Warbler (first BirdingPI.com sighting this year) along, appropriately, the Pine Tree Trail.
Following are all believed Pine Warbler. ID notes: white wing bars, overall yellowish cast, + distinctive broken yellow/white eyering with dark eye line.
Edit: note that Presque Isle State Park is closed for vehicle traffic Sunday, 10 September 2023, until 12 noon, for the Erie Marathon.
ABA Warning: This post Rated PG-13 for fish gore, bird-on-fish violence, and exuberant flora. Viewer discretion is advised.
More from last weekend at Headlands Beach in Mentor, OH! #more_Osprey
Perhaps due to human presence (even at a distance), this bird was moving its fish/lunch from location to location down the beach.
Meanwhile, a couple other Osprey were flying high overhead:
Back with the fish:
Interesting the fish’s head was the first to go. Apparently it’s the ‘tasty bits!’
Great sighting of juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker:
Now it’s over to the Mentor Marsh Nature Center; nice trail through the woods with an observation platform overlooking the marsh:
Not much bird activity here; Cardinal, Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, and this fine Brown Thrasher:
Finally, a quick stop at the great Wakerobin Boardwalk Trail off Woodridge Ln:
Bird activity: GBH, Barn Swallow and/or Tree Swallow, Wood Duck, American Crow, Song Sparrow (?), and the day’s highlight – and a BirdingPI.com ‘first sighting ever’ (!) – a beautiful female (or male w/ nonbreeding plumage) Bobolink:
