Point Pelee Report for May 11, 2005 (Wednesday): Clear skies and calm winds were not productive for new arrivals this morning, so overall numbers remain relatively low. Both yesterday and today the Tip area was relatively quiet for migrants such as warblers, but areas further north in the park were more active. This includes the entrance / Sanctuary Pond area where late yesterday there were individuals of Cerulean, Blackpoll, Pine and Cape May Warblers. Tilden's Woods Trail is very active this morning with many species of warbler including Prairie, Blue-winged and Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes, Yellow-throated Vireo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Highlights today include the following: Worm-eating Warbler -- one in the Loop Woods just east of the Tip train stop. Dickcissel -- feeding in thickets at the Tip, south of the Tip train stop. Clay-colored Sparrow -- west side of the Tip European Goldfinch -- at the Tip (then flew north); there have been multiple sightings of this species this spring in southern Ontario; all are considered escapees, perhaps originating from the reported massive release of caged birds near Chicago a couple years ago. Still present are the following -- Kirtland's Warbler -- north end of Northwest Beach Prairie Warbler -- north end of Blue Heron Picnic Area Birds seen late yesterday at NW Hillman Marsh (shorebird cell) include American Avocet (3), Willet (5), Franklin's Gull, Wilson's Phalarope, Clay-colored Sparrow, Short-billed Dowitcher (4) and a variety of other common shorebirds. An error appeared in yesterday's report. The Neotropic Cormorant was reported at Port Alma on May 9, not May 10 as posted. At Port Alma the location is the west side of town where you can look down the bluff and see the gas-pipeline docks. We have no further information on this sightings such as time of day, etc. The bird could reappear at Port Alma or it may return to Wheatley Harbour. Good Birding, Friends of Point Pelee John Haselmayer, Karl Konze, Ross Mackintosh, Dave Martin, Pete Read and Alan Wormington **************************** Point Pelee National Park of Canada and the Friends of Point Pelee brings you the Festival of Birds 2005, from April 30 - May 31. The Friends of Point Pelee offers daily birding hikes, including evening hikes from Wednesday to Saturday to May 21. Quest Nature Tours and Bushnell Performance Optics sponsor County Bus Tours on May 7 & 14. First Annual Fundraising Dinner, Friday, May 13 with guest speaker, Chris Earley. Visit www.pc.gc.ca/pelee or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] for more information. *********************************************
