Southerly winds and warming temperatures brought in a good influx of migrants this morning. Activity was most evident at the Tip where many birds were observed flying south overhead. Participating in this movement were hundreds of ORIOLES. Also heard and observed in high numbers were INDIGO BUNTINGS. Mixed in were many rarer species, such as SUMMER TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK (female) and DICKCISSEL. Some of the other more noteworthy species reported from Tip area included EARED GREBE, SCARLET TANAGER, SEDGE WREN, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, RED-THROATED LOON (flyby), CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, and a leucistic RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Also giving excellent views were AMERICAN PIPIT, a very tired female BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and SAVANNAH SPARROW.
Since most of the action was at the Tip, not too many reports have come in from other locations in the Park. Those that have included an orange variant SCARLET TANAGER and HOODED WARBLER along the Redbud Trail, and another HOODED WARBLER at the very south end of the Botham Tree Trail. Also just south of the Visitor Centre was an "AUDUBON'S WARBLER" (or possibly the same bird reported in the past few days), another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and at least a couple GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES. Just outside the Park (on Road E), and AMERICAN BITTERN was spotted part way along next to the ditch. Also reported yesterday from the Park was a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (at Northwest Beach), an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (at the new "Cactus Field" along the Chinquapin Oak Trail), RUSTY BLACKBIRD, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (at Tilden's Woods), WORM-EATING WARBLER (at the Tip), and "LAWRENCE'S WARBLER" (along Redbud Trail). For those wondering whether the SMITH'S LONGSPURS are still being seen, a single female was last seen on Tuesday May 6 on Mersea Road 21, just north of Mersea Road 2. Good Birding, Festival of Birds Hike Leaders: Pete R, Karl, Todd, Justin, John, Sarah, Jean, Jeremy, Ken, Geoff, Ian, Chris, Dave, Peter M, and Claire The Festival of Birds runs from May 1-19 - for a detailed schedule visit www.festivalofbirds.ca For highlights and other update 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. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
