The alarm went off at 5:30AM and I slowly dragged myself from the warm covers thinking I must be crazy getting up to go count birds. I could see fresh fallen snow glistening in the street light as I peered out my window. It was going to be cold and the visibility was poor as the weather called for snow showers. After a couple of cups of coffee I layered up and gathered my gear and headed for Presque Isle.

A good size group of birders met at the Ranger Station eagerly gathering in groups before setting out to our designated areas. I met up with Julie and we joined the group that was going to be counting along the lagoons. Since my bird banding friend, Don, and I had to leave by 11 o’clock we rode together to our first stop at the Marina. Visibility was poor and it was snowing and blowing with a few sightings of geese, gulls, a Bufflehead and a Great Blue Heron flying overhead. It is duck hunting season on Presque Isle so several hunters could also be seen and heard.

As we were leaving the Marina road and turned onto the main highway around the park we came to a sudden stop for something we did not expect to see. There in the middle of the road was a Coyote.

Several Coyotes make their home on Presque Isle and I have seen their scat on the trails but this was my first time seeing one.

The photos are grainy and poor but I had to show you. We were all excited to see him standing there and one of the reasons I love Presque Isle because you never know what you will see on this beautiful park off the shores of Lake Erie.

Our next stop was the first bridge over the Lagoons where we spotted another Great Blue Heron flying in and landing a good distance away.

Perry Monument was next where we stood out in the open and the wind seemed to go right through you. American Tree Sparrows fed off the ground and gulls were out in Thompson Bay. Several Swans flew overhead calling to each other. Then suddenly a Peregrine Falcon went soaring by us chasing what we thought might have been a Snow Bunting. I tried to photograph the Tree Sparrows but all of my shots were blurred. One of these days I’ll learn the settings on my camera. Michele could not make it this year so I’m afraid the photos are poor quality.

The last stop for myself with the team was the Graveyard Trail along the Lagoons near Perry Monument.

This trail takes you to parts of the inner sections of the lagoons. Here we saw several Mallards and a couple of Black ducks among the dried reeds and boggy areas. Once again the Swans flew overhead and this time came directly over us.

Sadly I had to end my day early for the Christmas Bird Count. The rest of the team would meet for lunch and then head back out again. I have not heard yet what the final count was but will post it as soon as I hear.