jeanettegirosky's Journal

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.

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.