Presque Isle
Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
Raptor Counts: March 2016
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Species                     Month Total   Season Total
------------------       --------------       --------------
Black Vulture                               0                         0
Turkey Vulture                   9515                9523
Osprey                                             1                         1
Bald Eagle                                   58                      58
Northern Harrier                   22                       22
Sharp-shinned Hawk           66                       66
Cooper's Hawk                        26                      26
Northern Goshawk                  0                         0
Red-shouldered Hawk     103                   103
Broad-winged Hawk               1                         1
Red-tailed Hawk                  336                   338
Rough-legged Hawk                7                         7
Golden Eagle                               0                          0
American Kestrel                102                    102
Merlin                                              6                          6
Peregrine Falcon                       0                          0
Unknown Accipiter                 2                          2
Unknown Buteo                        9                          9
Unknown Falcon                       0                          0
Unknown Eagle                         0                          0
Unknown Raptor                     6                          6

Total:                                     10260                10270
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Official Counter:        Jerry McWilliams

​The following birds of note were reported from Presque Isle S.P., Erie, Pa., unless noted otherwise.

Surf Scoter  1 pair; through the week; north pier and Beach 11
 
Sandhill Crane  9; March 7; Presque Isle Hawk Watch at the Tom Ridge Center and Presque Isle S.P
                         11; March 8; Presque Isle Hawk Watch at the Tom Ridge Center
                           6; March 11; over Dead Pond Trail
 
Lesser Black-backed Gull  3 adults; March 11; Lake View Landfill
 
Snowy Owl  1; March 9 & 10; private residence (ebird alert with photo included)
 
Short-eared Owl  1; March 8; Gull Point

Surf Scoter  up to 4; all week; off Beach 11 & Thompson Bay
 
Little Gull  1; March 19; Presque Isle Bay
 
Lesser Black-backed Gull  1; March 19; Presque Isle Bay
 
Long-eared Owl  2; March 16 & 17; pines
 
Short-eared Owl 1; March 15; Gull Point
 
Northern Saw-whet Owl  1; March 18; pines

Great Egret 5; March 26; Gull Point
 
Broad-winged Hawk 1; March24 (early); Presque Isle Hawk Watch at the TREC
 
Sandhill Crane 1; March 22; Presque Isle Hawk Watch at the TREC
                         1; March 27; Presque Isle Hawk Watch at the TREC 
 
Little Gull 1 adult; March 26; Leo's
 
Long-eared Owl  up to 4; March 23 to 27; pines

The only bird of note this week was an adult Little Gull that continues off Beach 11 or Misery Bay on Presque Isle S.P., Erie, Pa.
 
Great Egrets and the first Caspian Tern of the season was reported from Gull Point on Presque Isle S.P. a couple of days ago.
 
Also, anyone planning on venturing out to Gull Point may have to swim.  There now is only a 20 foot wide land-bridge connecting the mainland with Gull Point and much of the trail has been washed out to sea.  The lake level is presently about three feet above normal, so a storm could easily wash out the bridge separating the lake from Thompson Bay.  DCNR has plans to try and secure this bridge before it is lost.