Dateline: 26 February 2022
Although still operating with a winter skeleton crew (conditions in the Oaxaca, Mexico area: high of low- to mid-80’s, lows around 50 (deg F), sunny), the weather Saturday in Erie, Pennsylvania dawned mostly sunny if quite cold. Meaning, high time to dispatch a survey crew up to Presque Isle State Park for assessing local conditions.
Even before the afternoon, periodic lake-effect clouds moved in with periodic, light- to moderate-snow; highly variable based on location, e.g., sunny at Presque Isle State Park but snowing in downtown Erie, as one could see across the back bay.
All hiking conditions at the park were rather awful – light snow on top of ice (from a spell of freezing rain the other night) on top of patchy, old ice/snow; localized flooding (e.g., east end of the Sidewalk Trail completely flooded where it crosses the pond/marsh)(see trail map at https://birdingpi.com/about-presque-isle/). Absolute air temp wasn’t bad (28-30 deg F), but when the wind picked up in places like on the beach or along the back bay, the wind chill was brutal. (Proposed new BirdingPI.com motto: “Suffering in the cold for birds so you don’t have to”?) Anyway, that’s why they make enclosed automobiles, winter clothes, and Thermos(R)-brand vacuum bottles for hot coffee. [Editor’s Note: no affiliation with Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation.]
First up, a cold, quick, icy stop at the beach to the east of Presque Isle Light House. Lake was mostly frozen over, but some patches of open water were seen far in the distance. No bird activity other than some distant, unidentifiable ducks/waterfowl. Same at the Budny Beach parking area.
Next up, another quick stop at Thompson Bay, at Access Trail #1. https://birdingpi.com/872-2/. The bay was mostly frozen over, except for where a group of mixed ducks, etc. were taking advantage of a patch of slushy water:
Mallard, American Widgeon, Bufflehead, Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead, and, of note, Hooded Merganser and what appeared to be American Black Duck. The latter appearing rather dark from a distance and tending, from our experience, to prefer sitting on the ice:
Meanwhile, a Bald Eagle flew overhead, heading generally north from across the bay towards the south/southwest interior:
Next up, the Perry Monument area. Large flock of Wild Turkeys along the road by the Lagoon boat launch – no pictures due to road congestion.
A goodly portion of the back bay (Presque Isle Bay) remained unfrozen by the Perry Monument, so it was a hotbed of bird activity, just like last weekend. Mixed waterfowl and many, many seagulls. Of note, very exciting to see Swans, probably Tundra Swans, both a flock high in the air and a pair in the water. Let’s enjoy a few photographs:
[Editor’s Note: there are no birds in the picture above. In case you were wondering.]
You’d think that was enough for Saturday, but please, think again. Next up, Gull vs. Gull! Stay tuned! Wow.