Weekend Update

Dateline: 30 December 2022-3 January 2023.

Right now in Erie, PA it’s all about the weather. Friday: nice day, very warm (see previous post); Saturday: moderate/heavy on-and-off rain; Sunday: overcast with almost a hint of sun, turning to generalized overcast and widespread drizzle/light rain by mid-afternoon; Monday: partially sunny and mild in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”), 9 degree C cooler and heavy fog at Presque Isle State Park – almost zero visibility on the back bay; Tuesday: rain and lots of it. Snow has melted, and Presque Isle Bay, etc. have returned to “mostly unfrozen” state. Lake Erie remains unfrozen with little float ice. Presque Isle trail conditions: generally wet and muddy.

Species spotted New Year’s Day: Northern Cardinal; Downy Woodpecker; Pileated Woodpecker; Eastern Bluebird; Black-capped Chickadee; Canada Goose; crow; House Sparrow; Ring-billed Gull; Mallard; Ring-necked Duck; Bufflehead; Belted Kingfisher; European Starling; domestic Mallard (American Pekin); GBH; Bald Eagle; Common Loon; Horned Grebe; Red-tailed Hawk; Rock Pigeon (i.e., common pigeon); Double-crested Cormorant; American Coot; etc. Photography conditions generally poor; a few ok examples:

Ring-billed Gull w/ fish @ Long Pond:

Two shots of beautiful Common Loon near North Pier:

Monday, a bit of blue sky south of Presque Isle. Fair amount of American Robin activity, apparently heading south:

Meanwhile, extremely foggy at Presque Isle State Park:

Aside from rare geese, the ‘bird of the weekend’ was this amazing Barred Owl near the corner of Canoe Portage Trail and Duck Pond Trail:

Winter advantage: easy to scan the treetops for ‘bird profiles.’

Tough conditions shooting high up into a tree in the fog against an overcast sky. These shots adjusted for contrast and brightness.

End portion of Duck Pond Trail closest to Duck Pond was passable but extremely muddy and wet – not recommended until things freeze again or dry out.

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Next time, a special report from Sunday! #more_bird!