Presque Isle State Park: Winter Waterfowl and More!
Date & Time: Saturday, December 5, 8:00am
Leader: Alex Busato, busatoalex67@gmail.com, 724-963-6612
Directions: -- Presque Isle State Park -- Take I-79 north to Erie. In Erie, take exit onto W 12th St./ Great Lakes Seaway Trail. In one mile, turn right onto Peninsula Dr. following the signs for Presque Isle State Park. Continue on the main park road until the end of the one-way section, turning left then immediately right to continue toward the point. We will meet at 8:00am at Budny Beach (Beach #10) near the trailhead of the Gull Point Trail.
Description: When it comes to winter waterfowl, few places in the state can hold a candle to the diversity and abundance seen at Presque Isle State Park, one of the best birding locations in all of Pennsylvania. Through some walks and driving stops, we will hope to encounter all manner of ducks, gulls, grebes, loons, and more throughout the park. Focal areas can include the Gull Point Trail (a flat, 3mi round-trip hike through wetland and beach habitats culminating at Gull Point), the Pine Tree Trail, and the North Pier Lighthouse, among many other locations. In addition to waterfowl, all 7 PA owl species could be encountered including the rare possibility of a Snowy Owl. Winter finches, snow bunting, larks, eagles, turkey, and woodpeckers are also likely, with chances to see much rarer species like Purple Sandpiper or Lapland Longspur.
This will be an all day event, from the 8:00am meeting time until sunset at approximately 5:00pm. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions in warm and wind-proof layers, and plan to pack lunch / snacks as desired. Following sunset, we may choose to organize a group dinner for those interested in the Erie area. Because of the distance of this location from our home area, please RSVP to Alex Busato (contact above) by Saturday, November 28th if you plan to attend to be put on a contact list for any important updates (weather-related cancellations). In addition, while for some this may be a suitable day trip, others may wish to seek overnight accommodations before/after for convenience or safety. Please do so at your own discretion. Likewise, carpooling opportunities are encouraged, and desire to do so should be mentioned in your RSVP.
***Note: Pennsylvania Waterfowl Hunting Season is open during this time. While the areas we will be in avoid hunters as much as possible, there is a small chance we may incidentally witness waterfowl killed in a hunt. Please consider this factor when deciding to attend, and wear appropriately visible clothing (blaze orange) as desired.