Dateline: 20 July 2024
Another beautiful/epic weekend at Presque Isle State Park, with warm-mild/spectacular weather and plenty of bird activity along the Gull Point Trail. Based on this carcass atop the old observation platform, however, not such a nice weekend, apparently, for a gull:
Gull Point highlights: Whimbrel, Tricolored Heron (still hanging around since last weekend), Willet, Semipalmated Plover, & unusual Green Heron volume (5+ spotted at one time). Of note, currently extremely ‘buggy’ @ outer Gull Point, with concurrent amazing (literally amazing) swallow, etc. activity – at times, hundreds and hundreds of mostly Bank Swallow (w/ Barn Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, etc.) swirling about in flight. (More on this in later posts.)
First saw this Whimbrel already in flight; subsequently dropped into the brush/dunes on the south side of outer Gull Point. Not seen again, sadly, despite lots of observing.
This is (apparently) the same juvenile Tricolored Heron as seen both Saturday and Sunday last weekend. Spotted again both Saturday and Sunday this weekend:
Despite challenging conditions (long distance, backlit morning lighting), still a nice shot of Tricolored Heron (foreground) & Yellowlegs (background):
Not a very good shot (challenging distance + lighting), but here’s the Willet (l) and a (probably) Greater Yellowlegs (r):
Less than ideal lighting, but still a cool view of Tricolored Heron exhibiting “shade water to attract fish” foraging behavior:
Trail conditions: locally muddy where usual, e.g., Gull Point ‘inner official trail:’ fairly wet/muddy.*
Coming up soon, “The Heron who would be a Goose.” Also, butterflies on rotten fish!
[Editor’s note: triple ‘r’ alliteration for the win!]
[* Editor’s note 2: seen multiple instances of folks starting on the Gull Point Trail at the official trailhead, along the ‘inner official trail,’ then turning back in discouragement due to mud/water. Hint: that section of trail comes out at the beach again soon enough, so just follow the beach in the first place!]