More from the Christmas Bird Count this past Saturday at Presque Isle State Park. Weather: initially clear turning to light overcast, extremely cold, windy on the bay and lake. This post features three great winter birds seen in close proximity to where the Old Oil Well Trail terminates at Presque Isle Marina: Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, and Dark-eyed Junco.
Loved the gull with the fish! Nice to know there are at least 4 birds in the greater Erie area!
“A journey of a thousand birds begins with one bird.”
Our backyard bird count included: Great Horned Owls, Doves, Gila woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and one hawk. What’s very interesting is that the doves are starting to mate already, which is very early. The warm weather has them confused! Also, yesterday evening, at about 5 p.m, our two resident owls were busy in the big mesquite to the south of our house, and were obviously in the mating mood, too! Lots of action in the tree, then they flew off!
Very nice! And I’m sure the desert is much nicer this time of year than Erie. Looks like folks here had reported Great Horned Owl(s) in the bird count, but the only BirdingPI.com sighting was of the resident Eastern Screech-Owl right off Fisher Drive where the multi-use trail crosses over. Last time at that spot, it was absent, so very nice to see it again.