Dateline: 26 December 2021
With reasonably good if unspectacular weather in the Erie, PA area on Boxing Day (e.g., mostly cloudy, moderate wind, moderate temps), it was time for BirdingPI.com’s “annual New Year if conditions permit” informal survey of Gull Point! Not many folks out ‘early’ (11am-ish); contrariwise, numerous groups spotted in the afternoon for a ‘work off the Christmas calories’ hike.
Time for a Fight Club joke? First rule of ‘informal survey:’ you don’t talk about informal survey. Ok, stupid, but the real rule is counting species seen from Budny Beach to Gull Point, including lake, back bay, ground, and air.
First up, a Crow at Pine Tree Beach. Outside the hit zone; however, other Crows were later seen at the Budny Beach parking area. …
Not much activity along the beach out to the Point. (Beach trail generally in good condition.) Upon arriving closer to the observation platform, however, lo and behold, an amazing Peregrine Falcon. (Bird of the bi-month!)
Not the world’s most uncommon raptor, but not a previous sighting (at Presque Isle) for BirdingPI.com. As such, a momentous and happy event.
Unlike most local raptors (hello skittish Bald Eagles), this falcon seemed fairly mellow; as such, able to get reasonably close (20 feet?)
Briefly distracted by passing ducks:
If you’re wondering about the ID, behold the miracle of modern photography. Note the sharp contrast between very dark head and white neck.
Then, back to the falcon:
After some quality observation time, skipped going up the observation platform to leave this lovely bird in peace. (It flew away when a group with kids arrived later.)
With the entire Gull Point area open for access December – March (i.e., non-nesting season), time to walk around the outer beach for observing ducks on the bay:
We’re calling these as Greater Scaups due to the head shape (rounded, lower), but hard to say for sure, vs. Lesser Scaups, at this distance. Greater, Lesser, who are we to judge? They’re all great.
Plus at least one Redhead, since, well, it’s got a red head:
After walking the outer beach, it was time to head inland along the ‘old trail:’
Not much activity inland until crossing back over to the beach along one of the informal connector trails. There, quite surprised to see a bevy of birds, e.g., Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal (m & f), Downy Woodpeckers (m & f), various Sparrows, etc.
The following is a bad shot (obviously), but it’s included for ID purposes. Calling it as an American Tree Sparrow, based the rufous crown, rufous eyeline, grey facial coloration, and bold wing bars:
Normally it’d be time for the species count and wrap-up. Not this year! New Year’s Eve day (31 December 2021) turned out to be a gorgeous day, at least for an hour mid-day, at least for Erie. Spent another few hours out at Gull Point, with some amazing Peregrine Falcon time. Stay tuned for “Part 2!” Wow!