jeanettegirosky's Journal

Well, I have made a few other birding jaunts around Presque Isle since my last post, but until today, I haven't noticed many significant changes. Spring is a hold out, with the temp being 44*F and light rain with thick fog. On the plus side, leaves are starting to make an appearance on the bushes, casting a green promise on a dead landscape.

Lichens have exploded, almost overnight. I put one up for identification but I am pretty sure it is the Common Greenshield. I plan on going out for a better look at lichens and fungi. I was amazed at the lack of information on these very important microecosystems of nature and saddened by the fact that Pennsylvania has lost many of its lichen holdings to universities in other states. Anyway, I plan on giving them a bit more attention as lichen populations in general are on the decline from pollution and fragmentation.

In the bird world I noticed a reduction in Scaup numbers but an increase in Buffleheads, especially in the bay. There was a nice sized flock of Red-breasted Mergansers off the East Pier...I counted 70 birds. Also off the East Pier I played 'hide-and-seek' with a Brown Creeper...unfortunately I lost and was unable to get the picture. The Brown Creeper though, is what drew me to more closely inspect the lichens.

I am seeing many more Bonaparte Gulls in breeding plumage. They are still mixed with the Herring Gulls, though not as solidly as before. The Ring-Billed Gulls seem to want to have nothing to do with these relatives of theirs; they head inland when the other gulls are especially active. American Coots are still hanging in the cattails at the head of bay in sizeable numbers. Mallards have paired up though tend to hang right on shore and are not noticeable unless you flush them out. And of course, there are Canadian Geese everywhere getting ready to nest.

I didn't get over to Beach 11...perhaps tomorrow.

Another quick jaunt around Presque Isle for me today. It was sunny, a stiff wind and 38*F. Not as many ducks in the bay as on 3/28/2013 but quite a few gulls, mostly adult ring-bills. I saw some turtles basking on a log in the pond right before the Ranger Station! Spring is here hopefully! Unfortunately the turtles dove into the water upon my approach and I was unable to get a pic or identify them. They were rather small though. Canadian geese have paired up to the point were I can be sure of encountering them in their chosen locations, at least in areas accessible by vehicle. I did not go deep into the lagoons. I came upon a Tundra Swan in a grassy picnic area by the Lagoon Boat Launch. I approached it to within ~8 feet and it made no effort to get away from me....and only slightly alarmed. It was sitting in the sun preening. Beach 11 to Gull Point still harbors large numbers of gulls and ducks. I didn't make any effort to identify them. The majority of the ice dunes on the beaches are gone.

Had to do some quick birding so I didn't get to stop everywhere I wanted. I didn't record all my species here....Presque Isle Bay was full of ducks....Great and Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, Red-Headed Ducks, American Coots, Red-breasted Mergansers, Golden-Eye and a few Mallards. The majority of the ducks are Coots and Scaups, with Lesser Scaups being more common. I would estimate there were about 3000 ducks. They were mostly in the cattails at the head of the bay but stretched out to Vista 3, with little flocks all along the bay. I didn't take any pictures because they were out of camera range. There were hardly any gulls...a few Herring Gulls fishing was all. Saw the 3 Mute Swans also.

There are still dead Gizzard Shad lining the shores of the bay and into the lagoons. I stopped at East Pier and noticed not only a Largemouth Bass, but also a brown bullhead and a number of Sheephead have washed up. I took a pic of Canadian Geese....they were the only pair there and not so afraid of me this time.

On my way to Beach 11, I noticed a lack of birds towards Perry Monument. Just a few geese. When I got to Beach 11 however, there were more sea gulls then I could possibly count. Bonaparte, Ring-billed, Little, and Herring gulls....mostly adult. They were stretched from beach 11 to Gull Point, and there must have been in excess of 50,000. Additionally there were all the same ducks as in the bay, with bigger flocks of mergansers. The male mergansers were chasing each other back and forth in the water, and were quite comical! There was also about 100 Tundra Swans.

There were many gulls all around the lake side of the park and I saw the Great Black-backed gulls on the breakwater at Sunset Point and came to a screeching halt. I am positive in my ID, though the picture isn't the best. They were mixed in with large flocks of Ring-billed Gulls.

Leaving the park, I saw a White-tail deer at the turn to Beach 6.

It was cold, 37*F, with a stiff wind and mostly cloudy with some light rain.