Point Pelee Report for May 22 (Saturday) Potentially the most interesting birding news today continues to be the massive flooding of fields in all areas north of the Park. In the days ahead -- perhaps for a week or more -- these fields should play host to hundreds of shorebirds and various gulls, etc. We are approaching peak period for Whimbrel, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Plover, etc., so it is these species that should appear in numbers. Best areas should be fields along the North Dike Road (Concession E) or any fields between there north to the Hillman Marsh area.
Late yesterday (Friday) an Laughing Gull was found in a flooded field north of Hillman Marsh (Deer Run Road), presumably the bird that has been present at NW Hillman Marsh this past week.. At the Tip this morning, two Whimbrel flocks flying by totalled about 175 birds -- groups of 75 + 100. Also, a total of 34 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds flew south off the Tip up to 10:00 a.m. A late Hermit Thrush was present in Loop Woods at the Tip. A male Cerulean Warbler was on the Woodland Nature Trail. All areas of the Park are rich in bird song including many warblers such as Wilson's, Canada, Blackpoll, Tennessee and Mourning, etc. A Connecticut Warbler was singing just east of the Tip transit stop, perhaps the same bird as yesterday. Friends of Point Pelee John Haselmayer, Dave Martin, Ross Mackintosh, Pete Read, Alan Wormington ************************************************ The Point Pelee National Park Festival of Birds, 2004, runs from May 1 to May 31.Friends of Point Pelee offers 4 to 7 bird hikes per day including evening hikes Wed to Sat. Quest Tours and Bushnell sponsor county bus tours on May 8 and May 15. Visit www.wincom.net/~fopp
