*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 FoPP Hike Leaders.*
* * *Point** Pelee National Park** Migration Update for May 5, 2010: * After a couple days of thin pickings in the Park, bird numbers and diversity rebounded dramatically today with the southwest winds. Yesterday, Tilden’s Woods had perhaps a half-dozen or so warblers present (many of which were far and few between). This morning, 20 species have already been reported and most are showing well with a little bit of effort. Highlights were CERULEAN WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS, HOODED WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA. Many BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS also moved in, along with another round of BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS as well as few more YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Also present and drawing much excitement was a brilliant male SUMMER TANAGER along with at least two or three male Scarlet Tanagers vying for attention. A female SCARLET TANAGER was not far off. Another male SUMMER TANAGER was reported further north in the Park, close to the Marsh Boardwalk. Other reports are also beginning to trickle in form elsewhere in the Park suggesting that this surge in activity is widespread. The highlights from the Woodland Nature Trail were a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and an early BLACKPOLL WARBLER. As well NORTHERN PARULA and several other species of warbler. A HOODED WARBLER was reported from the Dunes picnic area. Although bird numbers continued to remain relatively low close to the Tip (perhaps due to the area being more exposed to the winds) birders were rewarded with an adult LAUGHING GULL, and an unconfirmed number of WILLET (word of mouth report only) as well a s a lone AMERICAN PIPIT.A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW briefly paused at the tip tram stop before heading north up the road. Along Concession E (along the north dyke) a number of shorebird species were reported yesterday. This included WILSON’S PHALAROPE, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SOLITARY SANADPIPER, LEAST AND SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, along with many DUNLIN, LESSER YELLOWLEGS AND GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Further out in the field a small group of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS could be seen in the heat haze. Also keeping company along the road was and Eastern Fox Snake. No reports from the Hillman Marsh Cons. Area of any unusual shorebirds yet today. Three WHIP-POOR-WILL were reported calling from the group campground in the Park last night. Good Birding, Hike Leaders Pete, Karl, Todd, Justin, Marianne, John and Jeremy FESTIVAL OF BIRDS MAY 1 THROUGH MAY 16, 2010 Point Pelee National Park of Canada and Friends of Point Pelee For more information on the festival, please check out friendsofpointpelee.com<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/Point%20Pelee%20Migration%20Update%20-%20Template.doc> FOLLOW US ON Twitter.com/PointPeleeNP<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/Point%20Pelee%20Migration%20Update%20-%20Template.doc> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
