This is the weekly birding summary for the Point Pelee Birding Area for the week ending June 5, 2008 compiled by Todd Pepper for the Friends of Point Pelee.
While it is draining rather quickly, the Holiday Beach Shorebird Impoundment continues to have a number of migrant shorebirds. Dunlin numbers have been reduced to a countable level of a couple hundred. There are also a couple dozen Least Sandpiper and a few each of Semipalmated Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Short-billed Dowitcher. A lone Marbled Godwit was observed on Monday and Tuesday, June 2nd and 3rd. The Mottled Duck was still observed up to the evening of June 3rd, either in the shorebird impoundment or the field of corn stubble to the west. Point Pelee National Park still recorded a number of migrant species over the week. A small flock of Ruddy Turnstone were noted at the Tip, as was a female Mourning Warbler. The DeLaurier Trail was quite active on March 31st and June 1st with at least 3 Olive-sided Flycatchers and perhaps up to 5 individual Willow Flycatchers. Three of the 5 were heard singing. While the other two were in close proximity to the singing birds they will need to go in the books as Trails Flycatcher. At least two pair of Black-billed Cuckoo, an irruptive breeding species at Point Pelee, were noted in the shrubby brush around the DeLaurier Trail indicating that they may stick around to breed. There were also more Eastern Towhees singing and chasing each other around DeLaurier than observed in either April or May. A revision is required to the number of Black Tern in the Marsh at Point Pelee. A previous report indicated 6 pair. Observations during this past week indicated up to 16 birds (including 4 nests) within the circle of the Marsh Boardwalk and another dozen could be seen hovering and diving over the south end of the Marsh for a total of 28 individuals within the Park at the same time. Todd Pepper Leamington, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
