Hey Birders,
Well another day, a fair number of birds are around, but many are having a hard
time (likely an understatement) due to the weather and the lack of insects.
Many songbirds have been at or near the ground desperately feeding during the
entire day. At least 25 warbler species were seen on the island.
Acadian Flycatcher - 3 birds seen, all at Fish Point - was able to photograph 2
within a few feet of me!! The 3rd bird was briefly sitting on the road!
Prothonotary Warbler - 1 female and at least 1 male seen at Fish Point - same
female seen at the tip 2 days ago?
Hooded Warbler - 1 female banded at Fish Point
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 first-year bird in the fields - I've given up
keeping track how many birds I've seen, but it is likely 10-15 different
individuals now!
With the recent rains, the fields are filling up fast and shorebirds are
finding them. Today the first Semipalmated Sandpiper showed up. Other
shorebirds seen included; 70 Black-bellied, 2 Semipalmated Plovers, Killdeer,
Solitary, Spotted, 15 Least Sandpipers and 3 Ruddy Turnstones.
As I mentioned, songbirds seemed to be having a hard time, flycatchers and
pewee's in particualr seemed to be having the hardest time with the cool
weather. Driving around Fish Point, up to 10 birds could be seen sitting on the
road at a time. One pewee tried flying into my car, while another sat on the
hood trying to get warm!!! At one point I had 6 Blackburnian Warblers literally
at my feet eating insects on the west beach at Fish Point!!!! These were among
many encounters of this kind throughout the day!!
Interestingly I saw an American Kestrel with a Yellow Warbler in its talons!
Something I have never seen or heard of.
Number of species seen on the island since April 25th: 218
Good Birding,
Ken Burrell
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Pelee Island Heritage Centre West Dock, Pelee Island, Ontario, N0R 1M0 (519)
724-2291 "pimuseum" <pimuseum at hotmail.com> The Heritage Centre is open from
10 am - 5 pm daily. The foyer contains a 'sightings board' listing May bird
sightings (open 24 hours). Lighthouse Point is on the NE corner of the island,
Sheridan Point on the NW corner, Mill Point on the SE corner, and Fish Point on
the SW corner, due south of the West Dock.
Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO) continues its daily banding and
censusoperation. Visitors are welcome. For more information about PIBO please
visit: www.pibo.ca or call 519-724-2829.
Pelee Island can be reached by ferry leaving Leamington several times daily.
For times and reservations, call 1-800-661-2220.
_______________________________________________
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/
