Dateline: 25-26 March 2023
It was the BirdingPI.com “official start of spring” Sunday with the first butterfly of the year – a beautiful Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) spotted along the Pine Tree Trail, Presque Isle State Park!
Saturday weather: cold, with steady rain and wind in the morning; very unpleasant. Afternoon, periodic thunderstorms and torrential rain. Very windy overnight. Sunday, cool, sunny, light wind – lovely day to enjoy nature. Conditions at Presque Isle: wet, e.g., shot below – this was a dry/grassy field last summer:
Lots of bird activity, but nothing in the “new migrant” category other than a positive audio/call ID of American Woodcock.
Beautiful backlit Bald Eagle (juvenile) over the Thompson Bay swamp/pond:
On Thompson Bay, a Blue-winged Teal (far left) and Ring-necked Ducks (right):
By North Pier, couple nice shots of Red-winged Blackbird (m):
On Niagara Pond (by the road), the amazing Northern Shoveler (m):
At that same location, a Turkey Vulture:
Generally, an amazing amount of Turkey Vulture activity – unable to get good shots, but counted 8-10+ by the Thompson Bay swamp/pond at one point.
Wrapping it up for today with a cute Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger):
Stay tuned this week for more “great” content – gulls, ducks, American Robin, and a special report on amazing Killdeer activity on North Pier!