Presque Isle Audubon
  • Home
  • Programs
  • Hog Island Scholarship
  • Bird Reports
    • Bird Gallery
  • Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archives
  • Conservation
  • About Us
    • Membership/Support
  • Contact
  • Festival
    • Festival Gallery
    • Sponsor the Festival
    • Festival Contact
  • Home
  • Programs
  • Hog Island Scholarship
  • Bird Reports
    • Bird Gallery
  • Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archives
  • Conservation
  • About Us
    • Membership/Support
  • Contact
  • Festival
    • Festival Gallery
    • Sponsor the Festival
    • Festival Contact
Picture

Categories

All
Christmas Count
Festival Of The Birds
Gull Point
Hawk Watch
Landfill Birds
Monthly Report
Waterbird Count

Checklist of Birds
Checklist of Butterflies

RSS Feed

October's Bird and Waterbird Report

11/12/2016

 
The following birds of note were reported from Presque Isle S.P., Pa.
 
American White Pelican  1; Oct. 11; found injured near I 90 and the Harborcreek exit. and taken to Tamarack Rehab. Center.  It is recovering and will be released later.  This is the first fall record in Erie County.
 
Jaeger species (Parasitic most likely); Oct. 13; Sunset Point (waterbird count)
Hudsonian Godwit  1; Oct. 11; Gull Point and Beach 10
Orange-crowned Warbler  1; Oct. 14; Gull Point
Lapland Longspur  7; Oct. 14; Gull Point
Little Gull  1; Oct. 19; Sunset Point, Presque Isle S.P. (Waterbird count)
                 1; Oct. 23; Sunset Point (WC)
A hummingbird believed to be Ruby-throated has been coming to a feeder all week in Albion.  We have no documented records past the end of September for Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  This is the same feeder that has hosted Rufous Hummingbird in the past.
Lapland Longspur  1; Oct. 22; Gull Point Trail
All three scoters have been seen frequently off Sunset Point and Gull Point.
Brant  1; Oct 24; Gull Point
Red-necked Grebe  1; Oct. 24; Sunset Point (Waterbird count)
                                 1; Oct. 26; Sunset Point (WC)
                                 1; Oct 28; Sunset Point (WC)
Parasitic/ Pomarine Jaeger  1; Oct. 25; Sunset Point (WC)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1; last seen on Oct. 27; Albion
Lapland Longspur  3; Oct. 26; Sunset Point (WC)
                               3; Oct. 30; Sunset Point (WC)
The first Snow Bunting of the season was seen at Gull Point; Oct. 30
Waterbird Report
Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 1, 2016         
Time: 0705 to 0805
Weather: Cloudy, light rain showers last ten minutes of watch, temp. 58 F, light ESE, waves two feet falling to one foot.
Comments:  Very little movement
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Green-winged Teal  1
Lesser Scaup  12 (one flock moving west)
Double-crested Cormorant  10
Other bird moving along the lake:
Bald Eagle  1 imm.

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 3, 2016         
Time: 0710 to 0840
Weather: Variably to mostly cloudy, temp. 55 F, light WNW, waves less than one foot.
Comments:  Light west movement of Lesser Scaup and the first Surf Scoters of the season moving west.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Canada Goose  1
Mallard  2
Green-winged Teal  1
Lesser Scaup  57
Surf Scoter  3
Double-crested Cormorant  48
Other bird moving across the lake:
Northern Flicker  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 8, 2016         
Time: 0720 to 0850
Weather: A cold front passed through during the watch.  Cloudy, moderate rain showers later, temp. 64 F falling to 58 F, wind W becoming NW to 25 mph, waves about one foot growing to 4 feet. 
Comments:  The passing cold front produced few birds.  There were a few small flocks of ducks moving east two miles or more offshore that were too far away to identify.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
American Wigeon  1
Lesser Scaup  12

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 9, 2016         
Time: 0715 to 0915
Weather:  Variably cloudy, temp. 55 F, wind N to 15 mph, waves two feet.  
Comments:  The cooler north wind moved a few birds this morning, mostly westbound Lesser Scaup.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Canada Goose  23
Mallard  1
Green-winged Teal  5
Lesser Scaup  71
Red-breasted Merganser  2
Common Loon  7
Double-crested Cormorant  3
Black-bellied Plover  2
Sanderling  1
Other bird moving along the lake:
Bald Eagle  1 adult

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 10, 2016       
Time: 0710 to 0910
Weather:  Partly cloudy, temp. 50 F, wind N to 10 mph, waves two feet.  
Comments:  A light waterfowl movement with most birds moving west, but all scoters were moving east.  Cormorants were moving across the lake from Canada.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Canada Goose  5
American Black Duck  3
Mallard  4
Blue-winged Teal  1
Northern Shoveler  5
Northern Pintail  7
Ring-necked Duck  10
Lesser Scaup  29
Surf Scoter  14
Red-breasted Merganser  16
Common Loon  1
Double-crested Cormorant  172
Other birds moving across the lake:
Merlin  1
Small Passerine  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 13, 2016       
Time: 0725 to 0955
Weather:  Cloudy, temp. 55 F, wind NW to 20 mph, waves four feet.  
Comments:  A moderate waterfowl movement with most birds moving west, but all scoters were moving east. Highlight was a distant jaeger pursuing a gull.  Behavior and size of the jaeger suggested Parasitic, which is what would be expected at this time of the year.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
American Wigeon  12
American Black Duck  4
Mallard  28
Green-winged teal  1
Ring-necked Duck  3
Lesser Scaup  155
Surf Scoter  9
White-winged Scoter  1
Red-breasted Merganser  7
Common Loon  11
Double-crested Cormorant  1
JAEGER sp.  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 14, 2016       
Time: 0715 to 0845
Weather:  Mostly clear, temp. 42 F, calm wind, waves less than a foot.  
Comments:  Very slow with the only notable movement was cormorants moving across the lake from Canada.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
American Black Duck  1
Green-winged Teal  1
Lesser Scaup  22
Surf Scoter  3
White-winged Scoter  1
Common Merganser  5
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Common Loon  3
Double-crested Cormorant  154
Other birds moving across the lake:
Merlin  1
Kinglet species  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 15, 2016       
Time: 0715 to 0815
Weather:  Clear, temp. 46 F, S wind to 10 mph, waves calm onshore.  
Comments:  Very little happening
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Ring-necked Duck  14
Lesser Scaup  11
Surf Scoter  1
White-winged Scoter  1
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Ruddy Duck  14
Common Loon  2
Double-crested Cormorant  5

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 16, 2016       
Time: 0725 to 0825
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, temp. 66 F, SW wind to 10 mph, waves one foot onshore.  
Comments:  Very little happening.  However, there were a few Bonaparte’s Gulls moving.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Lesser Scaup  40
Surf Scoter  5
White-winged Scoter  2
Common Loon  2
Horned Grebe  1
Double-crested Cormorant  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 17, 2016       
Time: 0720 to 0820
Weather:  Variably cloudy, temp. 64 F, light S wind, lake calm.  
Comments: Bonaparte’s Gulls were the only birds on the move with about 150 counted.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Mallard  7
Lesser Scaup  6
Common Loon  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 19, 2016       
Time: 0715 to 0845
Weather:  Clear, temp. 59 F, NW to 5 mph, one foot waves.  
Comments: Light waterfowl movement with all birds moving west.  There was a westward movement of Bonaparte’s Gulls highlighted by a basic I Little Gull. 
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Mallard  1
Northern Pintail  3
Lesser Scaup  47
Surf Scoter  3
White-winged Scoter  5
Black Scoter  2
Red-breasted Merganser  8
Common Loon  4
Horned Grebe  3
Double-crested Cormorant (one flock moving across the lake from Canada)
LITTLE GULL  1 
Other bird moving across the lake:
Small Passerine  1

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 20, 2016       
Time: 0735 to 0835
Weather:  Cloudy, light to moderate rain showers, temp. 57 F, N to 5 mph, one foot waves.  
Comments:  Very quiet on the lake today.  Even Bonaparte’s numbers were way down. 
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Lesser Scaup  18
Horned Grebe  2
Double-crested Cormorant  8

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 21, 2016       
Time: 0745 to 0845
Weather:  Cloudy, moderate rain showers, temp. 54 F, N to 25 mph, 4 to 5 foot waves.  
Comments:  Another very disappointing day considering the north wind and cooler temperatures.  It was definitely a dead sea.  Only a group of about 50 Bonaparte’s Gull on the move.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Lesser Scaup  14
Double-crested Cormorant  2

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 23, 2016       
Time: 0725 to 0955
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, temp. 53 F, NW to 15 mph, 3 foot waves.  Ving west 
Comments:  There was a nice westward movement of waterfowl mostly Lesser Scaup, and there was a good number of Surf and White-winged Scoters on the move. Highlight was a Little Gull in basic I plumage moving west with a moderate flight of Bonaparte’s Gulls.  Michael David assisted with the count this morning.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Canada Goose  1
Gadwall  5
American Black Duck  4
Mallard  23
Lesser Scaup  435
Surf Scoter  42
White-winged Scoter  28
Surf/Black scoter  10
Bufflehead  2
Common Goldeneye  3
Red-breasted Merganser  49
Ruddy Duck  1
Common Loon  17
Horned Grebe  3
Dunlin  20
LITTLE GULL  1 
Common Tern  4
Other birds moving along or across the lake:
Bald Eagle  1
European Starling  100 (in one flock moving across the lake from Canada)

​Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 24, 2016       
Time: 0735 to 0935
Weather:  Cloudy, temp. 53 F, NW to 25 mph, 3 foot waves.  
Comments:  Most birds were moving west.  Fewer birds today than yesterday.  Highlight was a Red-necked Grebe flying west not far offshore.  Roger Donn assisted with the count.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Canada Goose  5
Gadwall  10
American Black Duck  6
Green-winged Teal  18
Ring-necked Duck  2
Lesser Scaup  76
Surf Scoter  17
White-winged Scoter  3
Black Scoter  1
Surf/Black scoter  7
Long-tailed Duck  1
Red-breasted Merganser  13
Common Loon  7
RED-NECKED GREBE  1
Double-crested Cormorant  1
Other bird moving along the lake:
Bald Eagle  1

 
Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 25, 2016      
Time: 0730 to 1000
Weather:  Variably cloudy, temp. 46 F, NNW to 25 mph, waves 3’ to 4’.  
Comments:  The flight was light but fairly steady.  Most birds were moving west, except Red-breasted Mergansers which were mostly moving east.  Highlight was a distant jaeger chasing Bonaparte's Gulls.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
American Wigeon  5
American Black Duck  1
Mallard  11
Northern Pintail  11
Green-winged Teal  20
Greater Scaup  1
Lesser Scaup  115
Surf Scoter  5
White-winged Scoter  3
Surf/Black scoter  3
Long-tailed Duck  3
Bufflehead  1
Common Goldeneye  1
Red-breasted Merganser  88
Common Loon  13
Double-crested Cormorant  45
Common Tern  2
PARASITIC/POMARINE JAEGER  1
Other birds moving along the lake:
Bald Eagle  2

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 26, 2016       
Time: 0735 to 0935
Weather:  Variably cloudy, temp. 37 F, light NE wind, waves 1’.
Comments:  Birds were moving in all directions.  Cormorants were moving across the lake from  
Canada.  Highlights were a Red-necked Grebe moving east and a Merlin in pursuit of three 
Lapland Longspurs over the lake.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Green-winged Teal  13
Lesser Scaup  26
Surf Scoter  7
White-winged Scoter  19
Black Scoter  8 (one flock)
Surf/Black scoter  5
Long-tailed Duck  2
Common Goldeneye  1
Red-breasted Merganser  36
Common Loon  18
Horned Grebe  30
RED-NECKED GREBE  1
Double-crested Cormorant  1100
Dunlin  25 (one flock)
Other birds over the lake:
Merlin  1
LAPLAND LONGSPUR  3

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 27, 2016       
Time: 0745 to 0845
Weather:  Cloudy, moderate rain showers, temp. 44 F, ENE wind to 5 mph, waves 2’.
Comments:  Very slow with heavy cloud cover making for poor visibility.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Lesser Scaup  7
Surf Scoter  1
Surf/Black scoter  4
Hooded Merganser  2
Red-breasted Merganser  1
Horned Grebe  24

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 28, 2016      
Time: 0735 to 0935
Weather:  Mostly cloudy becoming partly cloudy, temp. 44 F, NW wind to 10 mph, waves 2’.
Comments:  Light movement with birds moving in all directions.  Highlight was a distant Red-necked Grebe moving west.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
American Black Duck  13
Mallard  2
Green-winged Teal  1
Lesser Scaup  91
Surf Scoter  8
White-winged Scoter  1
Surf/Black scoter  1
Long-tailed Duck  1
Common Goldeneye  2
Red-breasted Merganser  71
Common Loon  17
Horned Grebe  9
RED-NECKED GREBE  1
Common Tern  4
Other birds moving along the lake:
Bald Eagle  2

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 30, 2016      
Time: 0750 to 0850
Weather:  Cloudy, thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rain showers, temp. 53 F, calm wind waves less than one foot.
Comments:  One little wave of scaup moving west and not much else.  Roger Donn assisted with the count.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Green-winged Teal  1
Lesser Scaup  74
Surf Scoter  1
Red-breasted Merganser  21
Common  Loon  1
Horned Grebe  3
Double-crested Cormorant  7
Other birds flying along the lake:
Lapland Longspur  3

Location: Sunset Point, Presque Isle State Park
Date: October 31, 2016       
Time: 0740 to 0910
Weather: Partly cloudy to mostly clear, temp. 38 F, light ENE wind, waves one foot..
Comments:  Light movement with scaup moving west and Horned Grebes mainly moving east.  Highlight was an American Woodcock flying across the lake from Canada.
 
Waterbirds recorded:
Canada Goose  4
American Black Duck  1
Lesser Scaup  131
Surf Scoter  2
Black Scoter  2
Common Goldeneye  8
Red-breasted Merganser  12
Common Loon  5
Horned Grebe  50
Double-crested Cormorant  3
AMERICAN WOODCOCK  1
Common Tern  1

Jerry McWilliams
Erie, Erie County, Pa.
jerrymcw@aol.com

Categories

All
Christmas Count
Festival Of The Birds
Gull Point
Hawk Watch
Landfill Birds
Monthly Report
Waterbird Count


Comments are closed.

    Bird Gallery
    Bird Checklist
    Butterfly Checklist
    Wings, Sand and Song DVD

    RSS Feed

    Erie County Bird Reports
    from Jerry McWilliams
    Report your unusual bird sightings by email to: jerrymcw@aol.com
    Follow the Bird Reports
    by E-mail
    Fill in the form below and be sure to checkmark Bird Reports

    Subscribe to our mailing list

    * indicates required
    PI Audubon Society
    Email Format

    Links

    • PA Audubon
    • National Audubon
    • PA ebird
    • Cornell's All About Birds

    Categories

    All
    Christmas Count
    Festival Of The Birds
    Gull Point
    Hawk Watch
    Landfill Birds
    Monthly Report
    Waterbird Count

    Archives

    April 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    June 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Author

    Web site is maintained by Toni Kelly, web editor for PIAS

© 2013 - 2022 Presque Isle Audubon Society, 301 Peninsula Drive, Suite 8
Erie, PA 16505 - All Rights Reserved
Site designed and maintained by Toni Kelly