Weekly Bird Reports: March 17 - 23, 2014

Sandhill Cranes by Shawn Collins, © the photographer

The following birds of note were reported from Presque Isle S.P., unless noted other wise:

• Red-necked Grebe  7; all week; channel
  
• Cackling Goose  1 flying with 8 Canada Geese; March 21; Presque Isle Hawk Watch
  
• White-winged Scoter  6; all week; channel
  
• Black Vulture  1; March 18; Lawrence Park
  
• Sandhill Crane  2; March 18; Presque Isle Hawk Watch   9; March 18; Fairview Twp.
• Iceland Gull  1 first cycle; March 23; Leo's
  
• Lesser Black-backed Gull  up to 2 adults; Presque Isle Bay
  
• Glaucous Gull  up to 4 imm; all week; Presque Isle Bay
  
• Snowy Owl  1; March 19; junct. interstate 90 and Rt. 97
  
• Northern Shrike  1; March 18; south of Pine Tree Trail

Now that the ice is coming off of Presque Isle Bay and the inland ponds, thousands of ducks have filled in the open areas.  Best concentration of puddle ducks is in Thompson Bay where there were well over 200 American Wigeon and about that many Gadwall on March 23.  The gull numbers have picked up considerably as well.  At least a couple of dozen Bonaparte's Gulls were near the head of Presque Isle Bay on March 22 & 23.  The first Eastern Phoebe of the year was at Perry Monument on March 22.

Jerry McWilliams
Erie, Erie County, Pa.

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Hawk Watch