On/off moderate-to-heavy lake effect snow today in Erie County, Pennsylvania, going from “almost no snow” on Christmas back to normal conditions (snow and lots of it) for New Year’s. And with that out of the way, might as well finish off Christmas Eve Day at outer Gull Point:
Gull Point ‘inland’ trail w/ residual snowDistant view of perched Peregrine FalconFIFResidual ice sheetFIF II, rear viewRing-billed Gull (r) + Great Black-backed Gulls (adult – middle; immature – left)Perched Falcon IIIFIF III, rear view
(As shown, after some shots perched on driftwood, the Peregrine Falcon was mostly seen in departure mode.)
Perched Falcon IVImmature (left) and adult (right) Great Black-backed Gulls in flight over outer Lake ErieFIF IVNE tip of Gull Point, looking north-ish towards outer Lake Erie and CanadaPerched Falcon VFIF V, rear viewView east-ish from Gull Point, looking towards New York StateGB-bGIFPerched Falcon VIFIF VI, rear viewPerched Falcon VIIGreat Black-backed GullFIF VII, rear viewMigrating ducks (mostly Lesser Scaup) over outer Lake ErieExposed surface rocks @ outer Gull PointFIF VIII, rear viewMigrating ducks IIPerched Falcon VIIIFIF IX, rear viewMigrating ducks IIIView of outer Gull Point looking towards tree line and Budny Beach
Such a beautiful day – number of folks at Gull Point other than BirdingPI.com staff: zero.
ID tip on (i) adult Great Black-backed Gull: large size, black wings, pink legs, & lower mandible w/ red spot; (ii) immature: large size, checkered mostly b&w wings, dark/stout bill, & prolonged proximity to adult.
2 thoughts on “EOY @ Gull Point”
Paul Edward
Wow! What a fantastic photo essay of the falcon! And the other photos of the area are very informative as to what we are seeing. The exposed surface rocks is a lovely art shot!
The Erie, PA area is geologically sedimentary (e.g., ancient lake or sea bed or whatever), so lots of loosed, flat rocks all over the place, which become exposed to the surface at Gull Point when the copious wind blows surface sand away. Very cool to see.
Wow! What a fantastic photo essay of the falcon! And the other photos of the area are very informative as to what we are seeing. The exposed surface rocks is a lovely art shot!
Thanks!
The Erie, PA area is geologically sedimentary (e.g., ancient lake or sea bed or whatever), so lots of loosed, flat rocks all over the place, which become exposed to the surface at Gull Point when the copious wind blows surface sand away. Very cool to see.