*Friends of Point Pelee provide guided birding hikes throughout the Festival of Birds at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Proceeds from hikes support the Friends of Point Pelee and Point Pelee National Park. This submitted report is a service of the Friends of Point Pelee Hike Leaders.*
* * *Point** Pelee National Park** Migration Update for: MAY 6, 2011* Although no major migration occurred overnight several new birds for the year have been found throughout the park. The highlight of the morning has been a Kirtlands Warbler found and photographed by a few lucky birders in the “Post Woods” on a seasonal trail between the Sparrow Field and Woodland Nature Trail (WNT). It was later re-found at the North end of WNT and last seen flying North. No doubt there are many eager individuals out searching for it. Other rare or more uncommon warblers seen throughout the park include a Louisiana Waterthrush in the Post Woods, Prothonotary Warbler at the North East end of WNT, at least 4 individual Yellow-breasted Chats have been seen throughout the park and a Worm-eating Warbler was viewed by many birders yesterday afternoon along the Schuster’s Trail. Several other species of warblers have been noted including Orange-crowned Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Pine Warbler, Northern Parula and Black-throated Blue Warbler adding up to a total of at least 26 species seen today! The orange variant Scarlet Tanager has been seen regularly all of yesterday and this morning in the Tilden’s Woods near the cutoff to Chinquapin Trail. Nearby a Great Horned Owl chick was taking its first steps along a tree branch. A Dickcissel was heard singing in the WNT. At least 2 American Bitterns were heard singing along the DeLaurier trails. And a Red-throated Loon was seen off the tip this morning along with all three species of Scoter. All regularly occurring species of Thrush have been seen today. Indigo Bunting has been noted at several locations throughout the park as well as Red-headed Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo and Yellow-throated Vireo. A Merlin was seen near the West Beach parking lot and a late Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was nearby. A Clay-coloured Sparrow was found in the DeLaurier parking lot. Yesterday at least 1 Black Tern was seen on the far East side of the Marsh from the viewing stand. A Virginia Rail was heard calling nearby. Outside of the park 2 Wilson’s Phalarope were seen at Hillman Marsh along with a Peregrine Falcon. Several hundred shorebirds have been seen in the onion fields including 2 Long-billed Dowitchers along Concession E just North of the park. Other shorebird species included Dunlin, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper and Wilson’s Snipe. Good Birding, Hike Leaders: Pete, Karl, Todd, Justin, Marianne, John, Ellen, ALVAN and Jeremy FESTIVAL OF BIRDS APRIL 30, 2011 THROUGH MAY 23, 2011 Point Pelee National Park of Canada and Friends of Point Pelee For more information on the festival and archived Point Pelee Migration Reports, please check our www.festivalofbirds.ca FOLLOW the park on Twitter.com/PointPeleeNP<file:///E:/Point%20Pelee%20Migration%20Update%20-%20Template.doc> -- Janice Rogers, General Manager Friends of Point Pelee ~ Celebrating 30 years "Our Point is Pelee" www.friendsofpointpelee.com 519-326-6173 *Festival of Birds ~ April 30 though May 23, 2011 * *www.festivalofbirds.ca* <http://www.festivalofbirds.ca/>* * _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
