*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 5, 2011 Sunny skies brought more birders to the Park this morning. Highlights reported so far included a Prothonotary Warbler found along the east side of the Tip. It didn’t stay visible for very long but those looking for it were rewarded by seeing Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler (with the orange crown visible!), Tufted Titmouse singing “Peter Peter Peter”, Canada Warbler, and several Indigo Buntings. Also seen flying past the Tip was 5 Black Terns and a Bobolink. For the second day in a row, another Prothonotary Warbler put on a show on in the Woodland Nature Trail (the boardwalk east of Post 16). Elsewhere along the WNT, a Northern Parula, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker and Eastern Towhee were observed. At the Visitor Centre parking lot, one group was lucky enough to see a Pine Siskin land at the top of a tree. When they found it in their binoculars, two other birds were visible next to it, a Warbling Vireo and Clay-colored Sparrow! At the transit loop, a male Orchard Oriole showed well for all those waiting to board the transit. Two Merlin were spotted from the parking lot. The Yellow-breasted Chat continues to be resident along the Shuster Trail, feeding in amongst the Staghorn Sumac. A White-eyed Vireo and Northern Waterthrush were seen along the slough closer to the parking lot. Tilden Woods hasn’t received as much attention today but initial reports indicate that the Hooded Warbler is still present. A little further north, along the Chinquapin Oak Trail, the orange variant Scarlet Tanager was re-spotted close to the Cemetery turnoff. Outside the Park today, eight Great Egrets were seen opposite the turnoff to Hillman Marsh Conservation Area. An Acadian Flycatcher was heard and seen singing in Tilden Woods yesterday (May 4). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was reported on the 4th from the Woodland Nature Trail. An adult male Blackburnian Warbler was a surprise find feeding in the beach grass between Sleepy Hollow and The Dunes. It gave wonderful close-up views from above. Also reported yesterday was a Black Vulture. It was observed just north of the Tip flying north. Later in the day, a Bald Eagle was spotted high up gliding north. With light NNW winds today, more raptors should make their way into the Park today. Other birds reported after yesterdays report were two Long-billed Dowitchersfrom the Onion Fields and the Snowy Egret at Big Creek (County Road 20 by Malden Centre). Good Birding, Hike Leaders: Pete, KARL, Todd, Justin, Marianne, John, Ellen, Alvan and Jeremy FESTIVAL OF BIRDS APRIL 30, 2011 THROUGH MAY 23, 2011 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<http://mail.google.com/mail/Point%20Pelee%20Migration%20Update%20-%20Template.doc> _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
