A literal flurry of Bay-breasted Warbler activity last Saturday after the rain, off the Pine Tree Trail at Presque Isle State Park. (3 or 4 individuals total, at least.) Photography conditions = shady/forest; still, great to get more ‘quality time’ with these lovely birds.
Really a lot of Yellow Warbler activity at Presque Isle State Park this year. Seen up to 6-7 individuals in one location, and multiple instances of 2 or 3 in flight/chase mode.
These shots at various locations over the past week or so. And yes, more Yellow Warbler content’s on the way!
It’s a lovely Blue Jay working on a nest in Chautauqua Park, Erie, PA:
[Edit: an iPhone shot of the nest in question, taken quickly after the Jay flew off to gather more twigs or whatever:
Volunteer/wild Purple Columbine (possibly Aquilegia vulgaris):
Dateline: 21 May 2023
From this past Sunday at Presque Isle State Park, fun shots of a Northern Flicker @ nest hole:
Site location: way high up in a tree by the main park road between Niagara Pond and Misery Bay:
Wonders never cease – shots of “wild” Ruby-throated Hummingbird that aren’t totally awful! (Wild = not at a feeder.) And a male to boot, with visible gorget. (Gorget = hummingbird throat feathers, esp. iridescent throat feathers.)
Photographs taken recently at Headwaters Park, Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”), early evening.
Mostly long-distance shots @ 400mm, significantly cropped.
Dateline: 21 May 2023
Another beautiful weekend at Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA. After the rain Saturday morning: cool, humid, mostly cloudy; lovely, lingering scent of honeysuckle on the Pine Tree Trail (Common Yellowthroat, Bay-breasted Warbler, etc.; report forthcoming); Sunday: sunny, cool, slightly windy, beautiful day.
After just a fleeting glimpse the other day at Asbury Woods, BirdingPI.com personnel were dispatched for spending Sunday scouring the Long Pond Trail ‘hinterlands.’ Mission: Scarlet Tanager!
First up, by the east trailhead, another “first of 2023” BirdingPI.com sighting, Northern Parula! Not the best shots ever for showing distinctive colouring, but still excellent to see:
In that same area, another “first of 2023,” awful photographs of Blackpoll Warbler (m)(!):
Part of the southwest side of Long Pond is defined by a roughly NW-to-SE sand ridge; hence the stand of mature forest in this spot. Pond on the one side, swamp on the other, tall trees and brush in between = bird goodness.
Warbler nest near Boat Landing #5:
Several shady shots of Red-eyed Vireo:
BirdingPI.com’s springtime “go to” spot for the amazingly red Scarlet Tanager = Long Pond Trail:
Mission: successful!
Dateline: 13 May 2023
Lots and lots of birds on the Pine Tree Trail (& vicinity), from last Saturday.
Three of lovely Black-and-white Warbler:
Based on the buffy eye-ring and non-contrasting tail, possibly Swainson’s Thrush:
Partially blocked shot, but still great to get a decent photograph of Ovenbird:
Also very nice to see Cedar Waxwing back in town:
World’s worst hummingbird photo, but included here to show a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Most (all?) BirdingPI.com sightings previously have been, coincidentally, females.
Presque Isle honeysuckle season is in full swing:
Two of the always amazing Great Crested Flycatcher:
Four of the implausibly-coloured/beautiful male Magnolia Warbler:
Surprised the out-of-town summer tourists are back already:
Please also enjoy ostentatious Wild Turkeys.
Another quick ‘photo essay’ of birds seen recently along the Long Pond Trail @ Presque Isle State Park.
Following probably juvenile Cooper’s Hawk:
Beautiful Yellow Warbler (m) taking advantage of a spider’s web:
Female Baltimore Oriole:
And, male Baltimore Oriole:
Always great to see the cute and noisy House Wren:
Bonus shots of Brown-headed Cowbird at a different location:
BirdingPI.com’s giving killer whales hunting seals off the northern Shetland Islands a run for its money, with recent cute/furry “critters” content from Presque Isle State Park and elsewhere in Erie County, PA.
Controversial and engaging content of Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) along the Sidewalk Trail:
Take that, Sir David Attenborough!