Wonders never cease – shots of “wild” Ruby-throated Hummingbird that aren’t totally awful! (Wild = not at a feeder.) And a male to boot, with visible gorget. (Gorget = hummingbird throat feathers, esp. iridescent throat feathers.)
Photographs taken recently at Headwaters Park, Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”), early evening.
Mostly long-distance shots @ 400mm, significantly cropped.
Dateline: 21 May 2023
Another beautiful weekend at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA. After the rain Saturday morning: cool, humid, mostly cloudy; lovely, lingering scent of honeysuckle on the Pine Tree Trail (Common Yellowthroat, Bay-breasted Warbler, etc.; report forthcoming); Sunday: sunny, cool, slightly windy, beautiful day.
After just a fleeting glimpse the other day at Asbury Woods, BirdingPI.com personnel were dispatched for spending Sunday scouring the Long Pond Trail ‘hinterlands.’ Mission: Scarlet Tanager!
First up, by the east trailhead, another “first of 2023” BirdingPI.com sighting, Northern Parula! Not the best shots ever for showing distinctive colouring, but still excellent to see:
In that same area, another “first of 2023,” awful photographs of Blackpoll Warbler (m)(!):
Part of the southwest side of Long Pond is defined by a roughly NW-to-SE sand ridge; hence the stand of mature forest in this spot. Pond on the one side, swamp on the other, tall trees and brush in between = bird goodness.
Warbler nest near Boat Landing #5:
Several shady shots of Red-eyed Vireo:
BirdingPI.com’s springtime “go to” spot for the amazingly red Scarlet Tanager = Long Pond Trail:
Mission: successful!
Dateline: 13 May 2023
Lots and lots of birds on the Pine Tree Trail (& vicinity), from last Saturday.
Three of lovely Black-and-white Warbler:
Based on the buffy eye-ring and non-contrasting tail, possibly Swainson’s Thrush:
Partially blocked shot, but still great to get a decent photograph of Ovenbird:
Also very nice to see Cedar Waxwing back in town:
World’s worst hummingbird photo, but included here to show a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Most (all?) BirdingPI.com sightings previously have been, coincidentally, females.
Presque Isle honeysuckle season is in full swing:
Two of the always amazing Great Crested Flycatcher:
Four of the implausibly-coloured/beautiful male Magnolia Warbler:
Surprised the out-of-town summer tourists are back already:
Please also enjoy ostentatious Wild Turkeys.
Another quick ‘photo essay’ of birds seen recently along the Long Pond Trail @ Presque Isle State Park.
Following probably juvenile Cooper’s Hawk:
Beautiful Yellow Warbler (m) taking advantage of a spider’s web:
Female Baltimore Oriole:
And, male Baltimore Oriole:
Always great to see the cute and noisy House Wren:
Bonus shots of Brown-headed Cowbird at a different location:
BirdingPI.com’s giving killer whales hunting seals off the northern Shetland Islands a run for its money, with recent cute/furry “critters” content from Presque Isle State Park and elsewhere in Erie County, PA.
Controversial and engaging content of Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) along the Sidewalk Trail:
Take that, Sir David Attenborough!
Dateline: 20 May 2023
Erie/Presque Isle weather news: unsettled Friday – windy, humid, partially cloudy; light, highly localized rain starting around noon. Saturday: thunderstorms Friday night followed by periodic heavy rain Saturday morning; very rainy. Good for the grass, not good for birding.
Presque Isle trail news: before Saturday, Marsh Trail remained very muddy but passable without wet feet.
Erie County bird news: recent “first for 2023” sightings of Red-headed Woodpecker (in woods adjacent Gull Point) and Scarlet Tanager (Asbury Woods)(no pictures). Here, very happy to finally see a Bay-breasted Warbler high in the trees on Ridge Trail:
Very cool sighting of a Lincoln’s Sparrow recently along Sidewalk Trail:
ID tips: gray face, well-formed eye ring, fine streaking on breast, hint of ‘buffy wash’ on neck and breast.
“Bonus” warbler content; shots taken recently along Ridge Trail and Sidewalk Trail, Presque Isle State Park:
Wishing everyone a nice weekend! #more_bird
Fun to see a female Baltimore Oriole gathering nesting material (cattail fluff). These shots taken fairly recently by the Long Pond Trail east trailhead, Presque Isle State Park.
Dateline: 14 May 2023
Finally got someone back out to Gull Point @ Presque Isle State Park. Lots of complaining about the ‘long’ hike – “But there’s sand!”
Pine Tree Trail, Dead Pond Trail, Sidewalk Trail, etc. are easy – pick somewhere to stand and the birds flock around like Mary flippin’ Poppins. Gull Point takes effort – no pain, no (birding) gain.
Following’s a crop @ 800mm of the SW mudflat (approximately at the center of the picture above). Quality is awful, but it’s posted to show (i) Dunlin (x2 on right); and (ii) a gull at Gull Point! (Wow!)
Another awful crop @ 800mm, showing Dunlin and other shorebirds (Sanderling probably) in flight:
Still another awful crop, of what’s probably Sanderling:
Lots of Spotted Sandpiper out-and-about:
Blurry shots of what’s probably Cooper’s Hawk passing overhead on its way (apparently) to the ‘mainland:’
Very cool to see a pair of Yellowlegs! Based on the slightly upturned bill (see shot below), calling it as Greater Yellowlegs:
Lots of Killdeer activity:
A Killdeer nesting near the roped access trail to the observation platform:
The parent Killdeer temporarily left for its “lure predators away by pretending to have a broken wing” behavior:
Killdeer chicks and egg:
[Editor’s Note: BirdingPI.com Field Policy No. 12(b): “Upon encountering an active ground-level nest, vacate the area immediately in a calm and orderly manner. Quick photographs are permissible if possible without further disturbance.”]
On the back bay along the “outer old trail,” a pair of Lesser Scaups:
Following’s a bad crop @ 800mm, but including it here to show the purple iridescence. Normally hard to see w/o good lighting/right angle. ID tip: generally, male Lesser Scaup = purple iridescence; male Greater Scaup = green iridescence.
Special guest appearance of attractive mushrooms:
[Editor’s Note: BirdingPI.com management apologizes for use of the phrase “Mary flippin’ Poppins” in this post. Appropriate individuals have been referred to anger management training.]
Always a springtime favourite, a lovely Rose-breasted Grosbeak (m), the “Elegant Trogan of Erie.” [Editor’s Note: ???] Shots taken a couple weeks ago in a tree at the Budny Beach east parking area, Presque Isle State Park.
Bonus shots of a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak along the Pine Tree Trail:
Always a treat to see BirdingPI.com’s ‘official second favourite warbler,’ the lovely Black-throated Blue Warbler. Gorgeous blue/black/white colouration. All shots recently on the Pine Tree Trail, Presque Isle State Park.
Couldn’t ID the following bird in the field, but a dozen or two minutes of intensive research revealed it as a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. Another “first time anywhere” BirdingPI.com sighting. ID tip: white ‘wing square’ is distinctive.
More shots of the male Black-throated Blue Warbler:
