Season Firsts at Erie Marsh Preserve - 23 Mar 2026
Clouds, 32ºF and 20 mph winds greeted me this morning as I arrived at Erie Marsh Preserve in s. Monroe Co. at 8 am. My plan was to walk ~5 mi loop from the parking lot through the open marsh to the outer dike and back. I had hoped to do it in 2 hours. As I drove in a massive flock of 250 American White Pelicans flushed from Pond 2. I only had time to get pics w/ the 200-600mm lens from inside the car. A stiff wind greeted me as I got out of the car so I bundled up and headed out onto the main dike. This Mink was running toward me and I managed a few quick photos before it ducked into the rocks. This pair of Blue-winged Teal were my first of the year. They were swimming in the canal to my right and flushed as soon as they saw me. I was able to get a series of flight shots as they headed out and circled back past me and landed in the canal behind me. The ponds (1 - 3) were largely empty except for a few scattered rafts of ducks in the distance. My first Great Egrets flew by as I w...