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 23, 2011 The stormy weather passed through early am., and so it did not hamper our birding enjoyment. A balmy breeze from the southwest prompted some birds to take orientation flights offshore. Mainly it involved blackbirds, orioles and indigo buntings as well as cedar waxwings which are again common in the Tip area. A couple of Red-headed Woodpecker flew off the Tip as well. Those on “Whimbrel Watch” were rewarded by 8:30 am with about 250 flying by in three flocks. A few Sanderlings came by also. Gulls at the Tip included a Lesser Black-backed sub-adult, as well as a Little Gull sub-adult, and a large number of Bonaparte Gull. A Red-throated Loon was noted flying by the Tip. The Tip was rather quiet for passerines this morning but warbler species included at least one Mourning, a Canada, and some Blackpoll. There were perhaps 10 species of migrant warblers. A few Philadelphia Vireo were seen. Further inland a Kirtlands Warbler was reported singing from the trail north of Sanctuary Parking lot. Tilden Woods had a few Blackpoll Warbler among about 10 species of warbler seen there. A male Prothonotary Warbler was singing and defending one of the nest boxes from a wren, at the southeast corner of Woodland Nature Trail. We noted several Canada Warblers along that trail as well as a Gray-cheeked Thrush. Several Scarlet Tanagers were noted. Many of the birds seen today have been local residents. The number of migrants is greatly reduced but spread throughout the Park. Outside the Park: Hillman Marsh last evening had a number of shorebirds including a Stilt Sandpiper and Red-necked and Wilson’s Phalarope. This morning, no report of that bird, but Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin and over 60 Whimbrel have been seen there. This is the last of the daily reports from Friends of Point Pelee. The Festival of Birds for 2011 officially ends today. Thanks to Jan Rogers and her team of dedicated volunteers for making our birding experiences so enjoyable. Thanks to all who submitted sightings for these reports. It was a great season with over 230 species reported in the Park and vicinity. Good Birding, Hike Leaders: PETE, Karl, Todd, Justin, Marianne, John, Ellen, Alvan and Jeremy See you all next year at the FESTIVAL OF BIRDS 2012 Thanks from 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 -- Janice Rogers, General Manager Friends of Point Pelee ~ Celebrating 30 years "Our Point is Pelee" www.friendsofpointpelee.com 519-326-6173 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
