Well, February is nearly at its close and I for one must say. “Hurray!”  Yes, I’ve said it (even written it) before and I’ll say it again, “February is my least favorite month!”  It’s cold and stark and bleak and…cold!  Of course, nothing, even February, can be all bad.  I’d like to share a few of the photographic  highlights I had at the park in February. First, the ice and snow can provide a beautiful and serene canvas upon which the sun can paint its colorful glow.

Sunset on Misery Bay

It’s hard to believe that this next photo was taken within 5 minutes and 50 feet of the previous.  In the above photo, shot with a easterly orientation,  the sun was shining into the scene, painting the sky and its clouds.  It has a cool look with its blues. While in the following photo, the setting sun is decidely warm.

Sun Setting on Presque Isle Bay

There were also a few interesting birds of note at the park this February.  The most unusual was a purple sandpiper that was not only the first of its species ever recorded on PI in February but the first of its genus (calidris). The sandpiper was located by Drew Mortnensen and birders from across the state had opportunites to see the bird which stuck around the park for about a week.

The Happy (and unusual) Couple

Ready for Take Off

There’s no telling what will show up at Presque Isle at any given time.  Whatever it is, or isn’t, it’s always worth a trip down.  Join us at the park and see what you can discover.

After a too long hiatus trying to update my blog theme (Thanks guys at Erie Times/GoErie!) I’m posting these images of the magnificent Presque Isle landscapes as a trial run with the updated theme. I hope you enjoy these images shot with High Dynamic Range (HDR) technique in October and November of this year and that it prompts you to visit Presque Isle yourself and enjoy her splendor in living color!

Majesty at the Marina

Frosty Oak Leaves

Reflections-Pylons at Marina Boat Launch

Carpeted in Color

ColorFall!

No Mooring!

Sunset at the Confluence

Presque Isle State Park has been home to the beautiful red fox (vulpes vulpes) off and on for years. The red fox is the largest of the fox species of which there are approximately 25.   Since I’ve been frequenting the park for 5-6 years now I’ve had several people tell me they’ve seen a fox on the park,  usually crossing the street or quickly scurrying down  a path.  According to some, the once resident foxes were either run off the park or killed by the resident coyotes. 

Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes)

This year the fox are back in residence!  A pair of red fox had a litter of kits.   Per DCNR Park Ambassador, Brian Berchtold, the fox litter started out with four kits.  One of those kits was hit by a car and killed.  What I thought were two of the young, continue to be seen consistently not far from the now abandoned den.  

Red fox pair

Carrie Duafala, who you may know as the researcher whe tagged and studied the coyotes on Presque Isle (Pacoyotes.com)  was kind enough to provide me with some interesting information about the red fox species, including the fact that the foxes that I have photographed are likely the adult pair.  This has been supported by the fact that two larger fox, like the ones I’ve photographed and present here, have been seen recently with a smaller fox, likely one of the kits.  Carrie also explained that  like feline family units (rather than canid family to which the fox belongs), fox young disperse fairly early,  possibly staying on the parent’s territory until spring.  Despite the solitary nature of the fox, the female young may stay on in the territory and be a subservient member of the loose group and help her mother raise the next litter of kits.   I hope they do stick around until spring because I’d love to be able to take some photos of them in the winter snow. 

Even adult fox sometimes act like youngsters. This one was seen playing with a styrofoam bobber.

Like other beasties I’ve written about in this blog, the fox have become unusually tolerant of people due to the constant presence of humans on their territory, not only on Presque Isle but around the globe.  the red fox has become extraordinarily resourceful and adaptable which is part of the reason it is known as being cunning…”sly as a fox”. 

I believe this is the female fox, or Vixen. The male is known as a Reynard.

  If you should happen to come across a fox or other wild animal on PI or anywhere else, respectfully watch from a distance. Do not approach the animal and just as importantly, do not let the animal approach you.   There are ignorant people out there who feed these animals and the animals may approach in hopes of getting a free meal or they may just approach out of curiosity.  Either way, yell and shoo them away!  It’s safer for both of you.

The vixen enjoys a drink.

The regal fox, perched on a log, unperturbed by the several photographers snapping away.

To see a short video clip of this fox doing some log rolling as she hunts for a possible reptilian snack click here. Notice that the title says “fox kit”.  This was before I was made aware that this is an adult fox.

Momma barn swallow with a nice juicy fly.

Well, I did make it back down to the Beach 10 concession stand before the barn swallows fledged and am happy to be able to bring you a few photos of the oh-so-cute nestlings!  As it turned put there were more than just barn swallow nests around as I was able to watch activity at a tree swallow nest,

Momma (or Poppa) takes a look before heading out for more food for the babes.

a flicker nest, 

A pair of northern flickers.

a downy woodpecker nest and a house wren nest (both too high up to get any photos) .  Interestingly the nests, although some high up, were all within 50 feet of the main entrance of the concession stand/shower area which is one of the busiest places on the park. 

Mine, mine, mine!!

 As I stood and photographed the nests many people walked by and asked what I was doing.  I pointed out the many nests around the stand.  Some people were excited, others not so much, yet all were surprised they had missed them. It seems the passersby were almost as unconcerned about the birds as the birds were about the passersby:)

 In my last post I mentioned a few of the birds that breed and live on Presque Isle for the summer, among them is the beautiful Barn Swallow.  Dazzling irridescent blue above with muted peachy pink underparts and a deeply forked tail,   the barn swallow is perhaps the most distinctive of the swallows. It is also the most wide spread of the swallow species with poulations in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.  It’s likely that the moniker is derived from the fact that it builds its nest on or within barns or other man-made structures.  Since there are no barns at Presque Isle, the barn swallows that I have photographed and share here have set up housekeeping at the Beach 10 concession stand! One of the most popular spots for a nest is on the light fixture on the beach side of the stand.  I can’t recall a summer when I didn’t see a nest in this spot.

How annoying would that light going off and on be?!

 Because these birds build nests in such a busy area with people coming in and out all the time, they have become very tolerant of people.  Their nests are literally feet away from people coming in and out of the concession stand.  They’ve also taken to building nests within the shower rooms and bathroom stalls! 

Male Barney still handsome despite his muddy beak:)

 Both the male and female barn swallow participate in the building of the nest.  Below is a probable  female barn swallow with a leaf vein she will dip into the mud to make her own “plaster”.  Although often difficult to tell apart, male barn swallows are generally more colorful than the females possessing a deeper blue above and slightly darker peach below.

Barn swallow with leaf vein which she'll dip into the mud to create her own "plaster".

I was hoping to go to Presque Isle today to get you a picture of the babies on the nests (if they haven’t already fledged) but because of the rain I didn’t head down.  Not to worry however, barn swallows have two broods per breeding season and, unlike a lot of bird species, they often use the same nest for both broods. 

So, if you stop in for a bite to eat or a beverarge at the Beach 10 concession stand, stop and take a peek at the beautiful barn swallows!  If they aren’t on nests you’ll often see them perched on the power/phone lines on the south side of the stand or flying around catching bugs and sometimes just showing off:)

Male blackpoll warbler, Leo's Landing

Male American Redstart singing, Leo's Landing

The American Redstart is another familiar migrant but is also known to nest at the park in small numbers.  I’ve seen pairs on Duck Pond Trail in the summer that I’m thinking must’ve been nesting there.  Below is a picture of a pretty female magnolia warbler. When we start seeing the female warblers in greater numbers than males we know migration is nearing its end.  According to the range maps I’ve reviewed the magnolia warbler probably nests in this part of PA as well as a wide range north of us. 

Female Magnolia warbler, Pine Tree Trail

Female black-throated blue warbler, Fry's Landing

Male northern parula, Fry's Landing

 I enjoyed watching this pretty northern parula forage at just above eye level in this tree until it flew up into a much taller tree, as warblers tend to do.

Male black and white warbler, Pine Tree Trail

 The aptly named black and white warbler is a favorite migratory warbler at Presque Isle maybe because it is one of the more easily spotted and observed warblers because it moves along bare tree trunks and branches foraging for bugs, behaving much like a nuthatch.

Yellow-rumped warbler with a bug, Leo's Landing

 So what’s a birder and nature lover to do now that these beauties are flying off to their summer breeding grounds?  Well, there’s always the “sweet, sweet, sweet, little more sweet” yellow warbler that is perhaps one of the most adundant breeding birds on the park.

Female yellow warbler with nesting material, Gull Point Trail

  Not to mention the seemingly infinite number of other beautiful creatures, plants and scenic views that make Presque Isle such a wonderful destination…but don’t take my word for it.  Come down to the park and see for yourself!!!

Many of us were disappointed when we heard that there would be limited or possibly no bird banding this spring at Presque Isle due to budgetary constraints.  Banding has been going on at the park  for many years now, most recently under the auspices of the Important Bird Area (IBA) program for Western PA under the direction of Dr. Sarah Sargent, IBA Coordinator for Western PA.  The data collected during the banding process is an important tool in tracking trends in both migratory and local bird populations. 

Bird bander,Walt Wehjte, extracts a pretty yellow warbler from the mist net.

A handsome male chestnut-sided warbler poses for a few shots.

 

 Additionally, kind of  like the barbershop or cafe in the city, the banding station had become a  “hangout” and social center at the park where birders and others interested in the goings on at the park congregated and caught up with one another.  Had banding really been disbanded, where would we have gone? What would we do? 

Sam, Ruth and Dave look on as Walt weighs a warbler.

Luckily some funds were found and bird banding is being accomplished again this spring!   Our illustrious bander for spring 2012 is Walt Wehjte, Ph.D., a very knowledgeable and eloquent bander who’s always ready to share his wealth of knowledge with visitors to the banding station and volunteers. 

Bird banding volunteers Ruth, Barb and Sam enjoy a laugh, probably at Sam's expense.

Banders often use reference materials to determine the sex and age of birds ass accurately as possible. Here Walt holds a Warbling Vireo that he has banded.This gray catbird was better able to hang onto Walt's glasses than Walt was.

It’s no surprise to know that Walt has spent some time in front of a college classroom.  He also writes a really mean blog post which I highly recommend you check out here.  So the data is being collected and we still have a place to hang out and “chat”. 

Band on!

I have the benefit of working four 1o hour days and take advantage of my long weekends by spending at least one morning at the park.  On Friday I was up and out before the usual time I get up to go to work.  Isn’t it funny how much easier it is to get up in the morning to go birding or take a hike:) than it is to go to work.  I love my job, don’t get me wrong, but, well…you know what I mean.  I was hoping to be able to get some sunrise shots for the blog but it was quite overcast,  so, no sunrise shots.  The good thing is, and anyone who’s ever tried to photograph a turkey can confirm this, overcast is preferable when shooting turkeys. Even with the overcast skies the whitish shiny skin  on the head of the male turkey, also known as a jake (Or Tom as I say) is quite reflective and often gets “blown out” in photos, appearing as a white splotch with no detail.  You can try and adjusting for this by reducing  the exposure but then you may lose detail in the darker feathers.  Ok, that’s probably more photography jargon than you want.  Anyway, here are some shots of Tom, strutting his stuff for his harem.  It was comical and a little pathetic how disinterested they were in his advances.  Poor Tom.

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Now that's a mouthful.

“This looks like a pretty nice spot.”

In my last post I brought you news about the many new and exciting things going on at Presque Isle as spring gets underway. Well, it’s still going strong and  I’d like to remind everyone that this is a delicate time for wildlife on the park.  Some birds, like the great-horned owls, robins and starlings are already tending to young ones. Others are just beginning to build nests.  It is important that if you come across a bird working on a nest you avoid lingering there. I recently read an excellent article by George Lepp in the May 2012 edition of Outdoor Photography magazine called “Give ‘Em Some Space” that addresses this very issue.  In the article Lepp outlines steps to avoid disrupting nests and nesting sites.  He points out that birds are especially alert when building a nest. I suppose this is for several reasons but, putting myself in the birds shoes, I imagine they feel more vulnerable being exposed for long periods of time while excavating and/or bringing in building materials.  He also points out that your presence, particularly near ground nests, can attract predators to the nest as they follow your scent.  So, it’s always best to stay a respectable distance from any nest, either one that’s under construction or inhabited.  How close is too close?  I’ve heard many say as soon as you notice a change in the bird’s behavior, meaning he’s noticed you noticing him, you’re too close.  Some birds are much more proximity-tolerant such as chickadees, which some people train to eat from their hand, while others are quite intolerant, like belted kingfishers who, I swear,  fly away the second I put my foot out the door even though my home is 100 feet from the creek where they fish.

I'm goin" in.

Here are a few shots of a pair of chickadees excavating a nest.  I stayed about 30 to 40 feet away hidden behind a tree as the chickadees diligently worked on their home,  in and out like a well-oiled machine.  One flew out with a mouthful of decayed wood and the other would fly in immediately afterward for his/her load.   I stayed for a minute or two and then bid adieu to the industrious pair, congratulating them on their new home.

It's dark in here!

Now that's a mouthful.

Spring has sprung and no where is that more evident than at Presque Isle!  Many of the wildflowers are starting to bloom, the trees are budding beautifully and the birds and bees are…well, you know.  Owls are among the first, if not the first, of the bird species to start their new families in the spring and actually late winter.  We are fortunate to have Presque Isle host a great-horned owl family again this year and I’m glad to be able to bring you a couple of photos.

One of the adult great-horned owls keeping watch on the nest.

Great-horned owl chick, estimated age is one month old.

The Canada Geese are also early (and prolific) in their pursuit of expanding their families.

Mother Goose sits patiently on her eggs.

Things are changing and growing at the park on a daily basis.  Soon the warblers will be warbling as they stop over during their migration from as far away as South America headed for their northern breeding grounds. Please come on down and enjoy all that nature has to offer right here in our own backyard.