Mostly clear overnight in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Cloudy this Saturday morning; current forecast suggests snow starting later this afternoon.
Got the team heading out momentarily to Presque Isle State Park for some cloudy/gloomy/cold bird photography; expectations are low. Elsewhere in Erie from the recent past, it’s eight shots of always amazing Common Raven @ Lawrence Park Twp:
It’s a sunny but annoyingly cold Friday today in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Weekend forecast calls for snow, cold, etc.; BirdingPI.com field operations currently “TBD.” But however the weekend plays out, here’s some guaranteed nice bird content, closing out 12 January 2025 @ Gull Point, Presque Isle State Park:
Unless otherwise noted, all shots Purple Sandpiper (above) or Snow Bunting (below).
Coming up soon, Blue Jays, a Hairy Woodpecker, Common Raven, & more! #more_bird
Happy to share these recent/fun shots of a male Canvasback & a preening female (or immature) Red-breasted Merganser off South Pier, Erie, Pennsylvania:
Second and final part of mostly American Tree Sparrow x White-tailed Deer in the area between Long Pond & Marina Lake, from last Saturday at Presque Isle State Park:
Recent shots of beautiful House Sparrow @ Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”), w/ a hint of falling snow:
Males (as above) have distinctive black chin & breast w/ gray crown and brown behind the eyes. Females/immature, as below, overall more brownish/beige:
More from a sunny, cold Saturday at Presque Isle State Park, w/ American Tree Sparrow x White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the former by Marina Lake across the road from the access to Boat Landing #4 on Long Pond, the latter on the NE side of Long Pond as seen from B.L. #4:
What better to do in Erie County, Pennsylvania on a sunny Saturday than go to the beach at Presque Isle State Park? These shots from yesterday at Saw Mill Beach & Budny Beach; @ -7 deg C (19 deg F) + substantial windchill = beautiful day, but really rather awful to be outside. Relevant shots White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) foraging for grass in the dunes:
[Editor’s note: “Doe Ice.” Next level punnery genius.]
After a rainy Friday yesterday, temps plummeted overnight in Erie County, Pennsylvania; weather Saturday morning: partially cloudy, light snow, very cold/icy. BirdingPI.com field operations on “TBD;” maybe after more coffee. Anyway, closing out Gull Point from last Saturday; unless otherwise indicated, all shots foraging Snow Bunting @ outer Gull Point:
Trio of Red-bellied Woodpecker:
Rainy Friday today here in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Weather forecast tomorrow, cold & partially cloudy. Weather Sunday, warmer w/ light rain. Kicking off the weekend with recent, sunny ducks at South Pier, e.g., mixed ducks in the following shot Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, American Coot, + a male Canvasback @ center:
Finally, didn’t get the ‘splashdown’ portion, but still a nice sequence of landing male Mallard:
More from Gull Point @ Presque Isle State Park this past Saturday. Weather conditions: mostly cloudy, cold; awful wind chill @ outer Gull Point, where the star (and pretty much only) attraction was beautiful Snow Bunting:
Meanwhile, a bit more pleasant (if cold/snowy) inside the tree line, w/ great Black-capped Chickadee activity:
Not unexpectedly, the main activity was foraging for food, e.g., the Snow Buntings taking advantage the copious stalks of dried weed/flowers (w/ seed pods, presumably) @ outer Gull Point.