A ‘bonus’ post with some misc shots from the last few weeks, mostly at Presque Isle State Park.

Dateline: 9-10 July 2022

Per previous reports, Saturday at Presque Isle State Park was extremely windy with significant surf on Lake Erie. Sunday, lightly breezy, humid, dry, and warm. Lovely weekend for birding.

In other Presque Isle trail news, the Gull Point inner old trail (from the trailhead at Budny Beach east parking to the beach) is mostly dry enough for passage without special footwear; still very muddy in spots – boots recommended. Also extremely overgrown. Recent sightings: Wood Duck, blackbirds, robin, warblers, American Woodcock (confirmed sighting on Sunday!), Eastern Kingbird, etc.

Immature/juvenile Yellow Warbler may present an eyering. Based on that and the yellow throat and belly, following believed to be Yellow Warbler:

Head of Thompson Bay, from the Gull Point inner old trail:

Saturday early AM, amazing number of Eastern Kingbird around Thompson Bay (e.g., the area in the shot immediately above). These were sitting/flying about the old power lines:

And, an ‘up close’ example from off the Sidewalk Trail later, for reference:

Always gulls:

Busy year for American Goldfinch. This male along the Gull Point outer old trail, by Thompson Bay. More goldfinch to come later in the week.

Out to the Gull Point mud flats finally. Brief GBH appearance:

No major sightings of shore birds, other than Spotted Sandpiper. Plus the usual Killdeer, geese, gulls, sparrows, swallows, blackbirds, etc. Of note, however, Mute Swan and Caspian Tern, in this long shot from the observation platform:

Also of note, mixed flock of Mallard and American Black Duck (as confirmed via forensic enlargement):

Better shot of a Caspian Tern, from the observation platform:

Heading back to Budny Beach, more Turkey Vulture:

The big sighting, of course, was Marsh Wren by the marsh. See https://birdingpi.com/pi-bird-alert-4/

Quick stop by the Sidewalk Trail east end swamp. Brown Thrasher in preen mode:

With what appears to be a juvenile Brown Thrasher (on the left):

Finally, another dragonfly by the swamp. Probably juvenile Blue Dasher:

Tomorrow, more yellow birds!

Dateline: 8-10 July 2022

So much nature going on out at Presque Isle State Park over the weekend, can’t be contained in just one (reasonably sized) post. Following are mostly along the Long Pond Trail.

In Presque Isle trail news, looks like the PA DCNR (state park) folks have been busy clearing the Long Pond Trail. Looks awful, but better that than “bushwacking required”/overgrown mode like last summer. Plus easier for birding.

The baby deer were enjoying it – two were spotted frolicking running up and down the trail. (BirdingPI.com staff caught by surprise taking iPhone shots, so the pics at the top above and following were rather rushed = not super sharp, but still super cute.)

Lots of Baltimore Oriole activity this year; way more than 2021. Juveniles and/or molting individuals seen numerous times. Example:

Mourning Doves are pretty much everywhere; here’s a nice shot just for fun:

Lots of rose blooming currently, here, probably invasive Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa), with a bee:

More Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans), close to Long Pond, on the trail:

In the woodland shade, probably Song Sparrow:

Another (slightly out of focus) example of molting or juvenile Baltimore Oriole:

Obligatory but fun Yellow Warbler content:

Lovely Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) dragonfly:

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, featuring Gull Point and a cast of thousands (of Eastern Kingbirds, literally)! Really, lots of Eastern Kingbirds.

Breaking News: Marsh Wren Spotted Near Marsh

Dateline: 10 July 2022

After multiple, extensive surveys along the Gull Point Trail (Presque Isle State Park), the BirdingPI.com team logged its first sighting of Marsh Wren this season on Sunday.

Difficult photography conditions due to shade and heavy underbrush.

But in the open long enough for several shots before returning to nearby cattails.

Location: Gull Point Trail, on the east edge of the marsh, along the section of beach/Thompson Bay between the middle and outer portions of the old trail.

Distinctive features: white eyebrow, mostly clean breast, tail frequently held vertically.

Decent Marsh Wren calls on iPhone audio via ChirpOMatic:

(Background noise is wind and surf.)

Dateline: 9 July 2022

Absolutely beautiful day Saturday out at Presque Isle State Park. Also extremely windy; surf on Lake Erie was up to ocean level.

Seems like everyone was enjoying the wind. Or at least properly skilled/equipped humans and large-wingspan birds.

In particular, Turkey Vultures. Right away in the morning at Budny Beach, six vultures were swooping/gliding in the wind, for quite a long time. Don’t like to anthropomorphize, but they seemed to be having a great time:

Taking a break on Budny Beach:

More on this with the upcoming weekend update, plus exciting Presque Isle trail news! Stay tuned!

Recent early morning shots of Eastern Kingbird by one of the Long Pond fishing accesses, Presque Isle State Park:

Challenging photo conditions both on the lighting and fast movement side = fun lighting effects.

Video from the BirdingPI.com HQ Hawk Cam(TM), featuring Red-tailed Hawk! (Background noise due to nearby ventilation shaft – sorry.)

Wow!

For whatever reason, lots of Red-tailed Hawk activity in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”) recently; at least three individuals regularly present near HQ. Recent stills:

Wishing everyone a nice upcoming weekend!

Dateline: 7 July 2022.

Either a late weekend update or an early weekend preview, take your pick. Great weather over the past holiday weekend; light rain Tuesday morning. Supposed to be dry into the upcoming weekend.

In Presque Isle trail news, the B-Trail, though still muddy, is now easily passable. Other than the copious biting flies.

View of sailboats from Gull Point, from spring:

Finally, a “shout out” to the latest Audubon photography award winners @ https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2022/the-2022-audubon-photography-awards-winners-and. Disturbing lack of Presque Isle content, but lots of great bird photography nevertheless.

Dateline: July 2022

Observing a family of Canada Geese at the Thompson Circle swamp/pond crossover when a female Wood Duck waddled out of the pond vegetation. (Pond’s relatively low due to dry conditions.)

They normally spook easily. This one seemed confused or at least unconcerned, perhaps because of the nearby Geese and/or because the BirdingPI.com team was already present when it came into view.

After some foraging, it moved back to the water for preening:

And then the moment of realization:

Detected human presence = time to leave.

Following shots are not super sharp (more lens/camera testing), but still pretty to see: