Birding was excellent this morning with many expected warblers and other migrants low down giving wonderful views, including SCARLET TANAGERS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. HOODED, WILSON'S, and BLUE-WINGED WARBLER were at the tip, and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was at the tram stop. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was just north of tip tram stop and another was in Tilden's along with 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES. A WREN was in Sparrow Field, BREWSTER'S WARBLER at Sleepy Hollow, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW near Visitor Centre, and the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT for the third day is at the north end of Northwest Beach parking lot. A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was at north end of Redbud where it meets Woodland Trail. 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and a RUDDY TURNSTONE landed at the tip.
A highlight this morning was a WHITE-WINGED DOVE at the tip tram stop for about an hour, and was last seen flying north over Sparrow Field. Just outside the park this morning, 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS were on the flooded field beside Point Pelee Drive. Shorebirding is excellent at Hillman and in the general area. Yesterday afternoon 36 AMERICAN AVOCETS were in the shorebird cell at Hillman Marsh, and 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were on flooded fields on Seacliff Drive. We look forward to another great afternoon of birding as all the trails are very active. Good Birding, Festival of Birds Hike Leaders Pete Read, Karl Konze, Justin Peter, Jean Iron, Geof Burbidge, Emma Burbidge, Chris Earley, Dave Milsom, Bruce DiLabio, Jessica Linton, Jeremy Bensette, Tim Arthur, Gabriel Foley, Mike Kent, Alan Watson, Dylan White, Aaron Brisebois and Paul Pratt. The Festival of Birds runs from May 1 - 20. For a detailed schedule visit: www.festivalofbirds.ca For highlights and other updates follow us at www.twitter.com/PointPeleeNP The Festival is brought to you by Parks Canada - Point Pelee National Park and the Friends of Point Pelee. Hikes are generously supported by Quest Nature Tours. Shorebird Viewing Nights are brought to you in partnership with Ontario Field Ornithologists and Essex Region Conversation Authority and Pelee Wings Nature Store. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
