Birders,
I had 6 species of warblers on April 20 at Point Pelee, including the
Black-throated Gray Warbler. The BTGW vocalized several times; the call
note suggested that of Black-throated Green but flatter and softer. I
first saw and then later relocated the BTGW in the rather high, arching
wild grape tangle near several cedars on the east side of the main, dirt
path to the tip approximately 20 metres south of the 90 degree boardwalk
turn and north of the Monarch Butterfly display. (This is maybe 80
metres northeast of the grape tangle at the south end of the seasonal
trail where Alan first found the bird on Monday.) I doubt that this
rarity will move on any time soon due to north winds which likely will
persist through the weekend. Other noteworthy migrants observed include:
Surf Scoter-5
Eastern Phoebe-7
Brown Creeper-10
Winter Wren-5
Golden-crowned Kinglet-5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-45
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-35
Hermit Thrush-2
Red-breasted Nuthatch-1 (Tip)
Brown Thrasher-1
Yellow Warbler-2 (1 male singing alternate song at Sparrow Field; 1
singing typical song at DeLaurier)
Yellow-rumped Warbler-25
Black-throated Green Warbler-1 (West Beach)
Pine Warbler-3 singing (Tip and Old Loop Woods)
Black-and-white Warbler-1 (DeLaurier)
Eastern Towhee-3
Field Sparrow-10
Chipping Sparrow-40
White-throated Sparrow-40
Swamp Sparrow-2
Rusty Blackbird-4
Purple Finch-2 (1 singing near Tip; female at White Pine)
Blessings,
Michael Carlson
Royal Oak, MI
Directions to Point Pelee National Park: From downtown Leamington,
proceed south on Erie Street to Seacliff Road, and turn left. Go approx.
1 km (passing several factories on your right) to the road after Seneca
Road, and turn right. You will pass a church, a golf course, a big bend,
a motel, and then up over a small bridge, past Pelee Wings Nature Store,
a bunch of cottages, Paulas Fish Place, another bend, and more
cottages. Stay on this winding road to the entrance gate at Point Pelee.
Continue straight (the only way you can go!) past the gate through a
number of bends and turns to a 90 degree left turn marked by a sign that
says Visitor Centre or Visitor Parking Lot. Turn left and park in the
large, paved parking lot. The trailhead to Tilden Woods is at the
northeast corner of the parking lot; the road west and south of the
Visitor Centre leads to a boardwalk and footpath to the tip.
