Good morning, For yet another day, thundershowers greeted birdwatchers first thing this morning. Luckily, it stopped shortly after 8:00 a.m. With the warm front just starting to move through, temeperatures were definitely quite a bit milder than the past few days. Best of all quite a bit more bird song could be heard as well.
As soon as it cleared, the tip became quite active. Overall numbers were not exceptional, but it certainly was a significant increase from the past few days. Flocks of BALTIMORE ORIOLES could be seen flying over the tree tops towrds the tip. Also included were many more INDIGO BUNTINGS. However, only a few landed long enough to give decent looks. Scattered amongst these were numerous WARBLER species, as well as the odd male SCARLET TANAGER. Many were seen flying south, back off the tip. The identification skills of novice and expert birdwatchers alike were tested as dozens of tiny dots whizzed past the crowds near the tip. Some of the highlights reported thus far include: COMMON EIDER - (1 female) - Tip (m. obs) Red-headed Woodpecker - (1) - Tip (perched on driftwood on the beach!!) "Brewster's Warbler" - (1) - Tilden's Woods (singing Golden-winged song) Hooded Warbler - (1 male) - Tilden's Woods Orchard Oriole - (17) - between Visitor Centre and the Tip Golden-winged Warbler - (1 male) - Chinquapin Oak Trail Yellow-breasted Chat - (1) - Cemetery Sedge Wren - (1) -Tip area Northern Parula - (4) - Tilden's Woods, Woodland Nature Trail (WNT) & Tip Blue-winged Warbler - (1) - WNT Ovenbird - (29) - Tilden's Woods, WNT & bunkhouse Northern waterthrush - (8) - Tilden's Woods and WNT Winter Wren - (1) - Black Willow (late) Also reported yesterday afternoon: Sandhill Crane - (3) - over Visitor Centre Clay-colored Sparrow - (2) - Northwest Beach area Mourning Warbler - (1) - Tip area Golden-winged Warbler - (2 males) - Black Willow & Tilden's Woods Yellow-throated Vireo - (1) - Black Willow Northern Parula - (1 male) - Black Willow Golden-crowned Kinglet - (1) - Tilden's Woods (late) Brown Creeper - (1) - Tilden's Woods (late) An approaching cold front is expected to move in later tonight. In the meantime, the winds are from the south. Hopefully many new migrants will take advantage of this flow and flood into the Park for daybreak tomorrow. If you decide to come, don't forget your rain gear :) Good Birding, John Haselmayer, Karl Konze, Dave Martin, Pete Read, Alan Wormington Staff, Friends of Point Pelee ************************************************************************ Point Pelee National Park and the Friends of Point Pelee are pleased to present the 2003 Festival of Birds from April 26 to May 26. This years events include daily hikes, County Hot Spot Tours, "Birders Breakfast" and much. For more information, please visit www.wincom.net/~fopp/ or www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/on/pelee/ne/ne4_e.asp. Birders may also be interested in the free shorebird hikes offered by Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) at the new shorebird impoundment. - To contact the Friends of Point Pelee please call 519-326-6173, fax 519-326-7925 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] - For general park information, please call 519-322-2365. - To contact ERCA, please call 519-776-5209. ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Friends of Point Pelee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
