Day 3 (Saturday, 9th May) Click here for map of Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee Tip to visitor centre
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With ourfirst visit to the point being on a Saturday, and Mother’s Day weekend at that,
we took no chances and bought a family pass the evening before. This meant we
could enter by the fast lane in the morning. As it happened, we were in the
queue at 5am, the gate opening time, and were first! It was still dark, and the
first shuttle to the point didn't leave until 6am, so we were only second in
the car park. Good choice though, since standing around picked up roding
American Woodcock. The first wave of eager birders was dropped off with us at
the point, and we all headed straight for the tip. Again, a good choice. The
temperature was mild, there was no wind, but for some strange reason a reverse
migration was happening. It was far from the spectacle we saw in 1995, but
impressive and enjoyable nevertheless. We stood with the growing crowds for a
couple of hours just counting up the birds. Passerine species were not massive
in variety, but the whole was almost constant. Ignoring the Red-winged
Blackbirds and Common Grackles which were abundant, in that order, Blue Jays
put in a good shift. Almost all were overhead, much like the majority of the
migrants, but some did stop off in the trees in front of us. Perhaps show
stoppers were the Red-headed Woodpeckers, which we had been told were numerous
in the park. Not so now, since quite a few left this morning for the South,
often perching before the journey. Warblers we could identify were low in numbers,
but included Blackburnian & Chestnut-sided. Poor old Gnatcatchers seemed to
make hard going of the whole affair, and often came back again for a short rest
before trying again.
After we had
feasted on this passage, we turned down the shuttle back to the visitor centre
and walked the couple of miles with birding on the way. This was also a good
choice. While almost all were common birds, they put on a good show, not least
a Chestnut-sided Warbler which rather liked the playback of its song! Amongst
the birds, the sight of a Raccoon curled up in a ball high in a tree was
impressive. Again, discarding the common birds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks stole
the show, but the regular Baltimore Orioles gave them a run for their money!
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Baltimore Oriole |
Blue Jay |
Brown-headed Cowbird |
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Northern Cardinal female |
Common Grackle |
Great Northern Diver |
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Grey Catbird |
Orchard Oriole |
Red-breasted Merganser |
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Red-headed Woodpecker |
American Yellow Warbler |
White-crowned Sparrow |
Tilden Woods
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Following
lunch (we actually found some overpriced burgers etc elsewhere in the visitor
centre but managed to avoid the temptation), a long awaited return to Tilden
Woods was on the cards. It was by this time that we realised that the predicted
thunderstorms were a little inaccurate - bright sunshine and mid 20's
temperatures were the actual fact. Perhaps even the reverse migrants this
morning had it wrong. In addition, last time we were here, the trail was kind
enough to provide an Eastern Screech Owl for us, and didn't disappoint this
time by repeating the feat. A trained telescope already in place and a small
gathering made locating the roost hole easy, and a short wait also found the
bird in said hole. The difference this time was that this was a rufous
individual. The trail was a lot more open than we remembered it, and the paths
in better condition. An enjoyable couple of hours here also totted up a few
more Warblers, including an elusive Mourning, and Bay-breasted & Myrtle.
While waiting for the Mourning Warbler to put in an appearance, a pool nearby
held Solitary Sandpiper and Ovenbird, while overhead an American Redstart was
the second for the area. Best for theatre was undoubtedly the duelling match
between two male Downy Woodpeckers. They were picked up at the canopy level,
but obviously had theatrical tendancies when they sparred very close to. At the
end of the walk, yet another pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were found with
the male singing.
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Gathering for the Screech Owl |
Eastern Screech Owl |
Northern Cardinal |
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Chestnut-sided Warbler |
Downy Woodpecker |
Mourning Warbler |
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Ovenbird |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
Scarlet Tanager female |
Hillman Marsh
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Another site
we had been looking forward to revisiting was here, since we had good luck with
crakes and bitterns last time out. However, much seems to have changed in the
intervening years, with a lot more open water and less mud fringing to the
edges. It only cost the princely sum of $5 to enter, but it may also have been
the excellent birding at Point Pelee that dumbed down our short time here. The
wader marsh did have waders, but they were generally difficult to make out in
the grass and weed covered drier areas. A highlight was provided by two
overflying Bald Eagles, the first a juvenile, and the second a superb adult.
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