Sadly, no recent sightings of Pierce Brosnan in Erie County, Pennsylvania, but even if so, not sure that would qualify as “Other animals” for eBird. Maybe. Anyway, today’s post features a duo of male Common Goldeneye in flight over South Pier, plus the obligatory seasonal “Lake Erie frozen over” shots from this past weekend. Please enjoy responsibly.
While waiting on photo editing for more content from this past weekend at Presque Isle State Park, it’s back to South Pier the other day, with several Bald Eagles very interested in an open pool of water.
With Presque Isle Bay, outer Lake Erie, and the interior ponds at Presque Isle State Park all frozen over, migrating waterfowl look to wherever there’s open water, the best spot being Presque Isle Marina where underground pumps keep the water recirculating in Marina Lake to avoid ice damage to dock infrastructure.
These shots from a very cold and mostly gloomy (ice fog/snow drizzle) Saturday, although with no one on staff thinking to take an ‘environmental context’ shot Saturday (ahem), this is from Sunday:
Current transients at the marina include Bufflehead (left/middle), Red-breasted Merganser (right of middle), and Lesser Scaup (right, bottom middle), plus Canada Geese, Common Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, etc. (shown below):
Another day of low high temps yesterday in Erie County, Pennsylvania, e.g., -12 deg C as of 2 PM. Presque Isle State Park very ‘frozen over’ and quiet except for the ice fisherpeople at busy places like Misery Bay. These shots from Thursday at South Pier again, where the remaining open water had finally frozen over:
With the channel fully iced over, passing ducks were mostly checking things out (flying low to find water) and then moving on to Presque Isle Bay or outer Lake Erie:
Or, like several Tundra Swans seen high overhead, heading south:
Nice sequence of female Common Goldeneye:
Coming up soon, still cold in Erie!
As of Wednesday, the Presque Isle Bay entrance channel @ South Pier had further solidified, with one unfrozen pool remaining against the North Pier bulwark. Being in short supply, this tiny spot of open water was very popular with the ducks, mostly Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, and Bufflehead, plus a few Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasback, and Common Merganser.
In this shot from South Pier, pool is at center below the red emergency life ring stand @ Coast Guard Station grounds:
As with the Bald Eagles the day before, today it was gulls successfully ‘ice fishing’ despite the significant duck presence:
(In shot above, white blob on ice to the right of center = sleeping Tundra Swan.)
Finally for today, Bald Eagles cavorting over North Pier area:
Cold, clear night last night in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Current air temp at 9 AM: -16 deg C.
In today’s post, continuing on with choppy channel ducks, etc. at South Pier from 22 January 2026:
Nice sequence of an immature Red-breasted Merganser in flight with water landing:
Rest are all Lesser Scaup in surf, + a Ring-billed Gull or two:
Erie Co. weekend weather forecast: extreme cold continues. Likely no/little snow. If going outdoors, stay safe!
In yesterday’s post, it was a week+ ago with unfrozen, choppy water on the entrance channel to Presque Isle Bay between North Pier and South Pier. As of a couple days ago, with the recent cold snap, current conditions are ‘mostly frozen.’ Here’s the view from South Pier looking towards Presque Isle Bay:
In the few spots with open, unfrozen water, it’s a bird activity magnet including Bald Eagle:
Telephoto view of Presque Isle Bay w/ unfrozen pool of water with several Scaup ducks:
Initially, the Bald Eagles (3-4) were cruising (flying around) the pool shown below, presumably looking for fish. More on this in an upcoming post.
These include American Coot, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Lesser Scaup:
Also Ring-necked Ducks and a female Canvasback or two:
Finally, looking east/northeast from the end of South Pier. The sort of open water is what’s left of the official shipping/boat channel to outer Lake Erie:
In today’s post, back to South Pier, Erie, Pennsylvania, about a week ago, on a different, even windier day. (Gusts 80 kph+.) At least it was sunny again! All shots from behind the “South Pier tree.”
As of yesterday, Presque Isle Bay @ South Pier is now mostly frozen over. More on that in future posts, plus more eagles!
The following shot exactly captures current conditions at Presque Isle State Park, featuring Erie-based The Eagles tribute band “The Eaglets” this past Saturday:
Meanwhile, elsewhere, nearby, 3 different adult Bald Eagles:
Current weather conditions in Erie County, Pennsylvania: “Extreme cold warning” until 11AM. As the saying goes, “If it wasn’t so cold, snowy, and windy, it’d actually be nice out.”
A good 25+ cm (10+ inches) of fresh powder in Erie County, Pennsylvania yesterday, perhaps more depending on specific location. While waiting on snow removal for getting back out in the field, here’s more from South Pier the other day + nearby East Ave Boat Launch:
