Dateline: 14-17 January 2022
Leading up to the weekend, access to Presque Isle State Park remained limited, with the loop road closed for construction just past the Perry Monument area (heading counter-clockwise). Generally cold and overcast.
Quite surprised to see a lovely Belted Kingfisher out-and-about, taking advantage of a spot of open water on the Lagoon (aka Graveyard Pond) for a bit of fishing. All shots at a considerable distance from the Graveyard Pond Trail, but you get the idea.
Elsewhere, herons on ice:
Moving on to the weekend. Saturday. Saturday at Presque Isle State Park was an unmitigated birding disaster. It happens. First clue: high temperature of 15 deg F or thereabouts. Just not pleasant. Second clue: “trails in your mirror are less frozen than they appear.” (Reader advisory: despite appearances, the Marsh Trail is not frozen over. Reader advisory, part 2: damp socks in 15 deg F weather are not pleasant.) Third clue: snow-covered surfaces may obscure slippery surfaces.
Ah, yes, the “Ye ol’ Presque Isle slip-and-fall.” Fortunately, no injuries, other than the demise of a mid-level B&W UV filter and a Nikon lens hood. The takeaway: lens hood + protective filter = crumple zone.
Moving back to happier topics, Sunday dawned clear and very cold, but with a forecast of sunny skies and reasonable temps into the afternoon (ahead of the big storm) — time to break out the backup equipment (Nikon D7500, etc.) As it happens, in the category of “Presque Isle giveth and Presque Isle taketh away,” after a bad Saturday, Sunday, frankly, was rather amazing. Stay tuned for a detailed report in the next post! (Preview: Ducks. Lots of ducks. Plus lots of other Birds. Plus Gull Point. Wow!)