Really fun shots (part I) of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher from this past weekend at Presque Isle State Park, off Thompson Bay swamp/pond.

---

Not a bee at all, rather a very cool sighting of adult Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) sphinx moth, at Presque Isle State Park (@ “Pine Tree Meadows”) this past Saturday.

Yes, an entire post just for a ‘Veery’ pun. (At least it’s not more Canada Goose…) Another BirdingPI.com “2023 Presque Isle first,” a lovely Veery from this past Saturday by the Dead Pond Trail east trailhead. ID tip: thrush with white underside, slight/light brown chest spotting, overall cinnamon color.

---

Amazing weekend at Presque Isle State Park. Saturday weather: sunny, mild. Sunday: highly localized heavy rain, overcast/humid, turning partly sunny by late afternoon. Greatly increased warbler activity esp. Yellow Warbler. “New for 2023” sightings: Black-and-white Warbler; Common Yellowthroat; Northern Waterthrush; Baltimore Oriole; White-crowned Sparrow; more Gray Catbird!

Skipped the planned Gull Point trek on Sunday due to possible rain. BirdingPI.com team re-positioned for a lengthy stakeout around Long Pond, resulting in catching a beautiful (and uncommon at Presque Isle) Northern Waterthrush!

ID note: white eyebrow of this individual looks akin to Louisiana Waterthrush, but note the small throat spots and ‘buffy underwash’ = Northern Waterthrush.

More on this lovely warbler at All About Birds.

---

More from around Long Pond on Sunday:

Went from ‘zero to 60’ on the amazing White-crowned Sparrow over the weekend, with multiple sightings of multiple individuals at multiple locations:

---

---

Coming up soon: lots more from the weekend! #more_bird

This post brought to you by WEPAGAS (Western Pennsylvania Goose Appreciation Society), Greater West Millcreek & Fairview chapter.

“Top 10 Tips – Tip #7: When all else fails, Canada Goose.” Miller, N. (1994). Miller’s Modern Handbook of North American Bird Photography, 2ed. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Nice weather Friday in Erie, PA, with sunshine and cool/mild temps. Looks like more sun for the weekend – happy times for birding/nature!

Here, the “pre-shot of the weekend,” lovely Chipping Sparrow on flowering tree, Pine Tree Trail, Presque Isle State Park:

---

Happy to report the Gray Catbirds! are back, e.g., here off the Sidewalk Trail:

---

Anecdotally, with the nicer weather, receiving reports of increased warbler activity at Presque Isle, at least re. Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow:

Wishing everyone a nice weekend!

Rain finally eased up in Erie, PA on Thursday, but everything’s still plenty wet. So, time for more Killdeer in a puddle.

---

Bonus House Sparrow @ Budny Beach east parking:

After a Wednesday of incessant rain, time to revert to a recent sunny day with shots of a beautiful Hermit Thrush off Dead Pond Trail between A Trail and B Trail, Presque Isle State Park:

The awful spring weather continued Tuesday in Erie with overcast, cold temps, freezing rain, snow, rain, etc. Lots and lots of rain. … Appropriately, it’s a Killdeer. In a puddle.

All shots by North Pier, Presque Isle State Park.

Recent shots of Bonaparte’s Gull by Leo’s Landing/Feather Platform, Presque Isle State Park. Adult/breeding plumage (black head) x2 + first winter bird (smudge behind eye + gray wing with black bar).