OK, so it was a warm beautiful day, so far so good for a nice relaxing day of bird watching at Presque Isle; sunny and in the 70s, very little wind, sweet! We, Jerry and Linda, Judy, Joao, Terry, Julie and yours truly, met at our usual spot on Vista 2 at Presque Isle. We did a little what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation catching up before setting out for a morning full of birds. We started at the banding station where banders, Andrea and Linnea, were just sitting down to process a few birds from their first net run. They had netted a gray-cheeked thrush, a Wilson’s warbler and a gray catbird which they speedily processed to limit the disturbance. Naturally, we had very good looks at these birds as well as a female hummingbird that flew into the net right in front of me. Linnea extracted it from the net and explained that they do not band hummers at PISP because they don’t have the appropriate (very tiny) bands. For more detailed and interesting information about the bird banding being done at Presque Isle visit the Presque Isle State Park Bird Banding blog.
Gray-cheeked thrush
After an enjoyable visit at the banding station where the birds are always easier to see, identify and photograph, we set out for the trails. As Jerry cajoled, “Well, that (the banding station) was the easy part.” Truer words were never spoken. I’ve birded in the summer/fall before, but for some reason the trees and bushes seem fuller this year, and, my nemesis, the mosquitoes, seem more plentiful and THIRSTIER. UUUgh! Maybe it’s the rain? Maybe my imagination.
We did get some nice views of many species but not without a lot of neck and eye work. None were cooperative enough for me to get any usable photographs, sorry! The following is Jerry’s official bird tally for today’s class.
We recorded the following 48 species of birds this morning:
Canada Goose–several heard and seen throughout
Mute Swan–two off beach 11
Tundra Swan–one off beach 11
Mallard–four or five overhead at vista 2
Double-crested Cormorant–many off vista 2
Great Blue Heron–one off beach 11
Green Heron–one heard on Pine Tree Trail
Red-tailed Hawk–one over Fry’s landing
Ring-billed Gull–several, especially off vista 2
Herring Gull–a couple off vista 2 and at Gull Point
Caspian Tern–one heard at Fry’s landing
Ruby-throated Hummingbird–one trapped in the mist net
Belted Kingfisher–one heard at Niagara boat Launch
Downy Woodpecker–two at fry’s landing
Northern Flicker–one heard along Pine Tree Trail
Eastern Wood-Pewee–one heard along Pine Tree Trail
Least Flycatcher–one along Pine Tree Trail
Great Crested Flycatcher–one heard at Beach 11
Warbling Vireo–one heard singing along Pine Tree Trail
Philadelphia Vireo–one at Fry’s landing
Red-eyed Vireo–one heard at Niagara boat launch and three at Fry’s landing
Blue Jay–one heard on Pine Tree Trail and one heard at Fry’s landing
American Crow–one at Gull Point
Purple Martin–several circling overhead
Black-capped Chickadee–one or two along pine tree trail and three or four at Fry’s landing
White-breasted Nuthatch–one at Fry’s landing
House Wren–one heard at Fry’s landing
Gray-cheeked Thrush–one being banded
Swainson’s Thrush–one along Pine Tree Trail and one at Fry’s landing
Wood Thrush–one heard at Fry’s landing
American Robin–several at Fry’slanding
Gray Catbird–at least four throughout the area
Cedar Waxwing–30 to 40, especially in a tree top near Thompson Circle
Nashville Warbler–one at Fry’s landing
Yellow Warbler–at least four at various sites
Chestnut-sided Warbler–a couple at Fry’s landing
Magnolia Warbler–about 6 at various sites
Black-throated Blue–at least four at fry’s landing
Blackburnian Warbler–one at Fry’s landing
American Redstart–several at various sites
Common Yellowthroat–one at Fry’s landing
Wilson’s Warbler–one at the banding station, one on Pine Tree Trail, and three at Fry’s landing
Eastern Towhee–one heard along Pine Tree Trail
Field Sparrow–at least three along Pine Tree Trail
Northern Cardinal–one heard at Niagara boat launch
Rose-breasted Grosbeak–one at Fry’s landing
Red-winged Blackbird–two at Fry’s landing
American Goldfinch–several working on the thistles at the beginning of Pine Tree Trail
Jerry McWilliams
Instructor
After class Julie and I headed down to the foot of Sommerheim to see what we could spot. It’s nice and open there with few trees to obstruct your vision:) and we’re often pretty fortunate and come up with a few species not seen in class. Today was no exception. The first bird we spotted (besides the moorhen family) and the highlight of the day, I think, was a bald eagle fishing in the waters just west of the Erie Yacht Club. Unfortunately, I did not have my long lens on, but was able to get a few distant shots.
There are three more bird identification classes left and they run on Saturday mornings (9/5, 12, 19 and 26th) from 8-noon. We meet at the Vista 2 parking area on Presque Isle State Park. For details about enrolling in the class see page 3 of the Presque Isle Audubon Society’s
Tern of Events newsletter or contact us here at
Presque Isle, Naturally.
We also saw several red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures and a few great blue herons which I’ve not seen a lot of this summer. This guy flew by us as we stood on the floating pier.
Well that figures. I don’t make it to class and you both see this awesome site of the eagle fishing. Guess I better try for next week.
We missed you, Toni:(