Dateline: 11-12 March 2023

A return to normal seasonal conditions this weekend with cold temps, light snowfall, and snow on the ground. No BirdingPI.com field operations Saturday due to the snow. Sunday, overcast, cold, periodic light snow; Presque Isle State Park roads in good shape. Trails generally passable except localized mud/flooding where typical.

Lots of waterfowl, etc. activity on the ponds, bay, and Lake Erie. First up, ducks on Marina Lake. Following shots all Ring-necked Duck:

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Next over to Long Pond with more Ring-necked Duck! (+ Canada Gooose)

Bonus video @ Long Pond:

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Finally, some gloomy but pleasant content of ducks (mostly Ring-necked Duck and Scaup) on Presque Isle Bay:

Recent content of Bald Eagle @ Long Pond, Presque Isle State Park. Shots of juvenile in flight:

Bonus video:

An adult landed in the marsh and then flew off with something in its talons; unable to tell exactly what is what, a fish or perhaps nesting material:

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Bonus Bald Eagle (molting plumage) over Thompson Bay:

On a cold, cloudy, snow-covered Saturday, a bit of sunshine from earlier in the week: please enjoy Blackbird/Sunset special report.

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Plenty of snow Friday in Erie County – at least 15 cm. Also plenty of bird activity – European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Red-tailed Hawk, etc.

It’s a cold, snowy Friday in Erie County, PA. Warming things up with a bonus post of recent shots of the always amazing Pileated Woodpecker!

Recent shots of beautiful Red-breasted Merganser off South Pier, Erie, PA, around sunset. (Stay tuned for a special sunset report with Red-winged Blackbird + you guessed it, the sunset!)

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Meanwhile, a winter weather advisory is in effect for Erie, PA from 7AM Friday through 7AM Saturday, projected snowfall of up to 10+ cm. Winter is coming!

After a cloudy weekend and then snow, a couple days in Erie County of clear, cold, windy weather.

Moonset at sunrise with European Starling and unidentified ducks:

Mourning Doves @ snowy branch:

Some rather nice shots of beautiful Northern Cardinal (m) @ snowy tree:

Mostly cold and unpleasant Saturday at Presque Isle State Park, + bad lighting for photography. What else to do but huddle in the chilly wind for admiring the Canada Geese?

Preening/grooming behavior @ Long Pond, boat landing #3:

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Surprise cold/wet snow Monday evening in Erie, PA, at least five cm by 9 PM. And with that, why not another episode of Misc Bird? All photos from this winter in Erie County, PA.

First, probably Herring Gull at Presque Isle State Park:

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Misc gull @ Long Pond, when it was still frozen over:

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Pileated Woodpecker in torpedo (flight) mode, Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”):

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Beautiful Red-tailed Hawk @ tree:

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A nice sequence of House Sparrow (m):

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Lovely Red-bellied Woodpecker:

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Dateline: 5 March 2023

Another cold/cloudy day in Erie, PA on Sunday; high temp around 4 deg C. Very subdued bird activity at Presque Isle State Park. More on Saturday to follow – geese, ducks, etc. Here, what there was of Sunday in the mostly non-waterfowl category.

Following – juvenile Bald Eagle over Thompson Bay:

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Misc gulls @ Beach No. 11:

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After the substantial rain Friday night, all trails in fairly damp condition, some flooded. Flooded trails: Long Pond (west); Sidewalk (east); Marsh; B Trail; Dead Pond (portions, east end). Some Thompson Bay access points flooded on Saturday but back to normal Sunday.

Cloudy and cold in the greater Erie, PA area Saturday – rather unpleasant day for birding – but stay tuned for full report later in the week. Featuring – wait for it – waterfowl!

Here, even more Northern Cardinal, all recent shots from Erie County. Mucho (lots of) Northern Cardinal activity this time of year!