Good morning, The light NW winds overnight did little to bring in many new migrants to the Park. Birding was relatively quiet with scattered pockets of activity throughout. However, diversity of species is still good, with many of the more unusual species being reported.
The Woodland Nature Trail is attracting quite a bit of interest with the reports of: Worm-eating Warbler - (1) Acadian Flycatcher - (1) Cerulean Warbler - (1) Red-bellied Woodpecker - (1) Eastern Screech-Owl - (1) Further south, our first PROTHONOTARY WARBLER of the spring, a male, was reported south of the half-way stop. Further south still, near the Loop Woods, a HOODED WARBLER and MOURNING WARBLER were noteworthy. Also unusual was an immature RED-TAILED HAWK perched on a dead snag just south of the Tip Train stop, apparently oblivious of all of the birders streaming by. Nearby, two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS could be both heard and spotted up high in the trees. Also reported were: Orange-crowned Warbler - (2) - Tip area Canada Warbler - (1) - Tip area Philadelphia Vireo - (1) - Tilden's Woods More and more flycatchers are being seen throughout the Park, challenging everyone's identifiaction skills. In addition, both species of cuckoo are being seen regularly, if infrequently, dashing between trees. On some occasiions they offer great views. It is also worth noting that many of the trees in the Park are beginning to leaf out. If temeperatures continue to rise, it will not be long before it becomes more difficult to spot the birds. The LITTLE BLUE HERON was last reported yesterday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in a tree east of Loop Woods. It has not been seen today. Similarly the MISSISSIPPI KITE was last seen yesterday on the Park Bird hike around 4:00 p.m. After the initial sightings of the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in the morning, it was last seen just outside the Park sitting on a wire along Concession Rd. E (north dyke) at 3:50 p.m. Also written in the Bird Sighting Book for yesterday was a TRICOLORED HERON, apparently seen circling over the Pelee Days Inn at 5:15 p.m. Also of interest was a breeding plumaged LAPLAND LONGSPUR in a field north of Hillman Marsh C.A. and the orange RUFF along Muddy Creek at the north end of Wheatley harbour. If any of these bird reappear, we will provide additional updates. 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.
