Last weekend of winter 2023. Mostly rainy and windy on Friday. Saturday morning: partially cloudy. Winter weather advisory in effect Saturday afternoon into Sunday:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 2 PM EDT SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches along and near the Lake Erie shoreline with 3 to 6 inches in the higher terrain of Lake County and Erie County, PA. Wind gusts up to 40 mph possible in snow squalls.

* WHERE...In Ohio, Lake and Ashtabula Lakeshore counties. In
  Pennsylvania, Northern Erie and Southern Erie counties.

* WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 2 PM EDT Sunday.

All BirdingPI.com team members dispatched to Presque Isle State Park – getting out for birding while the getting’s good!

Meanwhile, recent bird activity as generally expected: Robin, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Starling, Junco, Dove, Blackbird, Canada Goose, GBH, ducks, and gulls, the occasional woodpecker, hawk, and Turkey Vulture. Looking forward to migration season kicking off! Here, some EOW (end of winter) gulls.

Ring-billed Gull taking off into a stiff headwind @ South Pier:

Gull chase for fish @ Beach No. 11 (probably juvenile/young Ring-billed Gull):

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend – stay warm!

Well, from a bird photography standpoint we’re on the highway to heck with more Red-winged Blackbird shots, but so be it. Only so much to be done in late winter, Erie, PA. (Friday morning weather: wind and heavy rain.) These shots from South Pier earlier in the week.

With a sunny Wednesday, it was back to watching water drip in Erie County, PA. Behold the magic of fast shutter speeds, burst shooting, & large memory cards! [Edit: also, gravity.] [Edit: also, surface tension.]

Wednesday bonus snowbirds – Northern Cardinal (f & m)!

Return to clear weather Wednesday in Erie, PA, albeit cold @ approx. -3.5 deg C. And with the weather out of the way, time for oddly-exposed GIF (Goose in flight) coverage @ Thompson Bay, Presque Isle State Park, from this past Sunday:

More poorly lit duck/etc. shots from this past Sunday afternoon at Presque Isle State Park. Starting with beautiful American Black Duck @ Niagara Pond – always a pleasure:

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Following shots on Misery Bay. Nice to see a few Ruddy Ducks again!

Pair of Horned Grebe (non-breeding plumage):

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Always pays to check Lake Erie by Budny Beach. Here, interesting sighting of juvenile Long-tailed Duck:

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Bonus video – Ruddy Duck!

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!