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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Forgot to switch back to a fast shutter speed for most of these shots = overexposed white plumage + blurry. (#2 Rule of Photography: check your camera settings. #1 Rule of Photography: remember the batteries and memory cards.) Nevertheless, very cool to see (and hear = distinctive whooping/hooting) Tundra Swan last week back at Presque Isle State Park the first time this fall:

Two Tundra Swans landing by four already in the water (hard too see, but on the right-hand corner of this shot):

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Foolish perhaps to ascribe human emotions to birds, but everyone seemed very happy with this reunion! See also recent, very interesting research showing geese (and by extension, presumably, Tundra Swans) recognize each other socially.

Still lots of Dunlin activity at Presque Isle State Park. Recent sightings at Thompson Bay, head of Presque Isle Bay, and Leo’s Landing. These shots from the other weekend at Gull Point.

And lots and lots of flocks of Dunlin in flight:

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Coming up soon, more Dunlin! #more_bird

Overcast with periodic light rain Saturday; very gloomy. Sunny Sunday – lovely day. Lots of ducks spotted evacuating Presque Isle State Park ahead of today’s start of duck hunting season. Stay safe, duck friends!

On Niagara Pond, perhaps the world’s blackest American Black Duck?

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