Dateline: 13-14 May 2023
Spectacular weekend at Presque Isle State Park. Friday weather: sunny, mild; Saturday: foggy morning, then mostly clear, warm, humid; Sunday: clear, very windy, cooler; Monday: cool, sunny. Trails have benefited from the run of dry weather; all in good condition except the ‘usual suspects’ (Gull Point ‘inner old’ and ‘middle old’ trails; Long Pond west end; Duck Pond; B Trail; etc.)
Finally got a BirdingPI.com team back to Gull Point on Sunday; full report to follow. Not ideal conditions with the wind, but fascinating/notable Blue Jay migratory activity – cumulatively, hundreds of Blue Jays spotted over the Gull Point Trail area, flying generally west to east against the stiff NE wind. Speculating they were intending to head north into Canada, but having difficultly from the weather.
Example Blue Jay in flight:
Following don’t do it justice, but still fun/interesting:
Elsewhere, not enough data yet for substantive comments on shorebird migration. (Based on recent sightings of Spotted Sandpiper, Yellowlegs, Dunlin, etc., seems normal so far.) Vireo and flycatcher activity seems normal. For warblers, no BirdingPI.com sightings yet of ‘usuals’ Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Northern Parula, etc. Normal levels of Magnolia, Palm, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, & Chestnut-sided Warbler activity. Always plenty of Yellow Warbler activity at Presque Isle, but seems like more than usual this year – Yellow Warblers everywhere!
Warbler shots above taken adjacent the swamp/pond north of Pine Tree Trail:
Shots above: SE and SW views of Pine Tree Trail swamp/pond (Pine Tree Trail is past the screen of trees), taken adjacent the main park road by Sunset Point. (This view previously inaccessible until recent brush removal.)
American Redstart always a Presque Isle spring/summer regular, but more activity this year than past. (Multiple males and females spotted at both Presque Isle and Scott Park.) Photographs of a male by Beach No. 11 parking area:
Also more Baltimore Oriole, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Towhee, & Gray Catbird! activity this year.
Coming up soon, more Pine Tree Trail, and Gull Point! Also, Wild Turkeys on full display!
[Editor’s Note: characterizations of bird activity are anecdotal and based on field reports from an informal (non-scientific) birding perspective.]