Birding Trip to Point Pelee National Park:

Birding Trip to Point Pelee National Park: May 3-8 2013

Friday May 3, 2013

We set out early Friday morning as it is a seven hour drive from Ottawa to Long Point, a birding hot spot on Lake Erie, on the way to Point Pelee. A beautiful spring day - a pleasant drive brought us to Backus Woods just outside Port Rowan. We braved a rough road with a huge muddy puddle to arrive at a birding trail recommended by the Long Point guide book. Although the woods were quiet, the trail was excellent and we enjoyed our hike. We did spot a flicker and heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker high up in the trees.

In the later afternoon we checked into the Bay House B&B, in town, right on the water. Although we were tempted to relax and enjoy the amazing gardens, we got right to birding. Here we saw a Carolina Wren. Nearby a neighbour had a modern martin house where several Purple Martins put on a show for us.

We walked to a local pub and explored the waterfront before supper. While enjoying fish and chips with local beer, we planned our visit to the Long Point Bird Observatory the next morning.

Bird List May 3

1. Red-winged Blackbird Trip Down
2. Ring-billed Gull
3. Great Blue Heron
4. Red-tailed Hawk
5. Canada Goose
6. American Crow
7. Turkey Vulture
8. Mourning Dove
9. Chipping Sparrow
10. American Robin
11. Red-shouldered Hawk
12. Common Grackle
13. Rock Pigeon
14. House Sparrow
15. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Backus Woods
16. Red-bellied Woodpecker (H)
17. Chipping Sparrow
18. Tree Swallow B&B
19. European Starling
20. Mute Swan
21. Song Sparrow
22. Carolina Wren
23. Tundra Swan
24. Ruddy Duck
25. Redhead
26. American Coot
27. American Wigeon
28. Lesser Scaup
29. Northern Cardinal
30. Rusty Balckbird
31. Purple Martin
32. American Goldfinch
33. Black-capped Chickadee
34. Barn Swallow
35. Killdeer
36. Sharp-shinned Hawk

Saturday May 4, 2013

After a pleasant breakfast featuring poached eggs, we birded a bit on site and then packed up for another travel day. Our morning would be at the nearby Long Point Bird Observatory Old Cut banding station. Luckily we were able to see a White-throated Sparrow being studied and banded. We then joined many other birders hiking the Observatory trails. As well we checked out the birder famous Lighthouse Cres. and Old Cut Blvd. The Yellow-throated Warbler was cooperative. As well, we saw Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped and Yellow Warblers. We also ventured down the road to Long Point Provincial Park to bird the roads near the sand dunes and at the closed campground.

We decided we could make a short visit to the Bird Studies Canada Headquarters property trails in Port Rowan. As in Backus Woods, there were not many birds but we had a good hike around the ponds and did see a Bald Eagle.

Then it was time to set out for the two hour drive to Wheatley Provincial Park where we had a campsite reserved for four nights. As we set up our tent a colourful Baltimore Oriole sang for us and a Red-bellied Woodpecker visited. There was a long footbridge beside our site that led to the day use beach. On crossing over we saw large numbers of huge spawning carp in the water, and many Tree Swallows flying overhead.

Bird List May 4

1. Common Grackle B&B
2. European Starling
3. Tree Swallow
4. Song Sparrow
5. Mourning Dove Old Cut Field Station
6. American Robin
7. Tree Swallow
8. White-throated Sparrow
9. Barn Swallow
10. Common Grackle
11. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
12. Black-throated Blue Warbler
13. Black-throated Green Warbler
14. American Goldfinch
15. White-crowned Sparrow
16. Black-capped Chickadee
17. Chipping Sparrow
18. Yellow-rumped Warbler
19. Baltimore Oriole
20. Yellow-throated Warbler
21. Northern Cardinal
22. Hermit Thrush
23. Double-crested Cormorant
24. Brown-headed Cowbird
25. Yellow Warbler
26. Black and White Warbler
27. Turkey Vulture
28. Purple Martin
29. European Starling
30. Great Egret
31. Eastern Towhee
32. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
33. American Crow
34. House Sparrow
35. Dark-eyed Junco
36. Bobolink BSC HQ
37. Eastern Kingbird
38. Savannah Sparrow
39. Northern Cardinal
40. Yellow-rumped Warbler
41. White-throated Sparrow
42. American Coot
43. Yellow Warbler
44. Song Sparrow
45. Tree Swallow
46. Bald Eagle
47. Turkey Vulture
48. Red-tailed Hawk
49. Baltimore Oriole Wheatley Prov Park
50. Yellow-rumped Warbler
51. Brown-headed Cowbird
52. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
53. Chestnut-sided Warbler
54. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
55. Downy Woodpecker
56. Yellow Warbler
57. Black-throated Green Warbler
58. Blue Jay
59. Belted Kingfisher
60. Barb Swallow
61. Eastern Kingbird
62. Wood Duck
63. Red-bellied Woodpecker
64. Mallard

Sunday May 5, 2013

The red sun rose slowly over Lake Erie. As we were camping, we were up early and started the day with perked coffee. Soon we started our birding day – we planned to hike the park trails. We were impressed by the trout lilies and marsh marigolds as we wound our way through the park. The weather was warm and we did sight some colourful migrant birds: Yellow-throated and Blue-headed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Chestnut-sided Warblers. After lunch we drove to the park office for ice for our cooler. We were surprised by our friends Colin and Hilda. They would be joining us for birding the next day but had decided to check at Wheatley to see us on their way from Kitchener to Point Pelee. We quickly loaded our ice and drove to our campsite where we birded together for awhile.

We ended our day with a warm campfire.

Bird List May 5

1. Tree Swallow Wheatley Park
2. Kingfisher
3. Canada Goose
4. Blue Jay
5. Red-winged Blackbird
6. Sharp-shinned Hawk
7. Yellow-throated Vireo
8. Northern Cardinal
9. Baltimore Oriole
10. Blue Jay
11. Wood Duck
12. Yellow Warbler
13. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
14. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
15. Chestnut-sided Warbler
16. Yellow-rumped Warbler
17. Eastern Phoebe
18. Blue-headed Vireo
19. Veery
20. Red-bellied Woodpecker
21. Eastern Kingbird
22. Brown-headed Cowbird
23. Warbling Vireo
24. Palm Warbler
25. Turkey Vulture
26. Mallard
27. Black-throated Green Warbler
28. Black and White Warbler
29. Magnolia Warbler
30. Downy Woodpecker
31. Black-capped Chickadee
32. Red-tailed Hawk
33. Great Blue Heron
34. Killdeer
35. Black-crowned Night-Heron

Monday May 6, 2013

Colin had pre-booked morning and afternoon guided bird tours at Point Pelee for the four of us. When we arrived we were greeted by some spectacular Orchard Orioles. At 8:30am we joined our guide, Alvan Buckley, and hopped on the Pelee shuttle bus for a ride to the tip.

The tip, the long point of land leading out into Lake Erie is a stopping point for migrating birds who cross the lake at night. Because of the warm weather, the migrating bird numbers were low – some would fly over the park and set down for a rest in other locations. As well, the insect numbers were still low. Apparently some birds arrived and found little food so reverse migrated to islands in Lake Erie.

First we checked out the ducks in Lake Erie, including Red-breasted Mergansers and Greater Scaup. Alvan did locate a Yellow Warbler and a Warbling Vireo and tired Red-eyed Vireo on the ground. As well, right at the windy tip we saw a number of gulls including a Glaucous Gull.

Our group walked back from the tip where a Rose-breasted Grosbeak put on a show for us.

Alvan tipped us off that there was a Hooded Warbler sighted in Tilden Woods near the park entrance. We were lucky to find it and get some very good views. As well we saw a pair of Brown Creepers.

After a picnic lunch we were ready for another tour at 1pm. Our guide was a well known local birder, Todd Pepper. He shared his passion for birding with us. We saw another Hooded Warbler, a Northern Waterthrush, a White-eyed Vireo, a Mississippi Kite, some Sandhill Cranes and a snake.

We had noticed an ad for a shorebirding event at the nearby Hillman Marsh later in the afternoon, so, after our tour with Todd, we headed over there (losing our way and resorting to the GPS which got us there eventually). Unfortunately, the ad had made an error in the date, but fortunately well known Ontario birder, Jean Iron, was at the Marsh and patiently pointed out many water birds in her scope.

All in all, it was a very satisfying birding day. We reviewed the day with Colin and Hilda over dinner at a Mennonite restaurant in Leamington. Soon we headed back to our campsite as we had an early birding tour booked with Tom Hince for the next morning.

Bird List May 6

1. Belted Kingfisher Wheatley Park
2. Canada Goose
3. Blue Jay
4. Red-winged Blackbird
5. Tree Swallow
6. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
7. Chipping Sparrow
8. Mourning Dove
9. Common Grackle
10. Brown-headed Cowbird
11. Orchard Oriole Point Pelee Alvan Buckley
12. Red-breasted Merganser
13. Barn Swallow
14. Greater Scaup
15. Red-bellied Woodpecker
16. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
17. Field Sparrow
18. Downy Woodpecker
19. Yellow Warbler
20. Bonaparte Gull
21. Double-crested Cormorant
22. Warbling Vireo
23. Baltimore Oriole
24. Yellow-throated Vireo
25. Blue-headed Vireo
26. Red-eyed Vireo
27. Great Black-backed Gull
28. Ring-billed Gull
29. Herring Gull
30. Northern Cardinal
31. Eastern Bluebird
32. Glaucous Gull
33. Black-throated Green Warbler
34. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
35. American Robin
36. Common Grackle
37. Purple Finch
38. Brown-headed Cowbird
39. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
40. Least Flycatcher
41. Cooper's Hawk On our own
42. Hooded Warbler
43. Brown Creeper
44. Carolina Wren
45. Broad-winged Hawk
46. Wood Thrush
47. House Wren
48. Turkey Vulture Todd Pepper
49. Red-tailed Hawk
50. Mississippi Kite
51. Purple Martin
52. White-throated Sparrow
53. Black and White Warbler
54. Northern Flicker (H)
55. Sandhill Crane
56. Nashville Warbler
57. White-eyed Vireo
58. Northern Waterthrush
59. Killdeer Hillman Marsh
60. Great Egret
61. Black-bellied Plover
62. Greater Yellowlegs
63. Least Sandpiper
64. Mute Swan
65. Forster Tern
66. Dunlin
67. Greater Scaup
68. Bonaparte Gull
69. Caspian Tern
70. American Golden Plover
71. Short-billed Dowitcher
72. Ring-billed Gull
73. Canada Goose
74. Green-winged Teal

Tuesday May 7, 2013

We were really looking forward to connecting with Tom Hince again. We had birded with him once before at Pelee as well as a memorable tour in south Texas. http://web.ncf.ca/ed143/Tom's%20tour.htm

We linked up with Tom, Colin and Hilda, and three other birders from Toronto at the Comfort Inn in Leamington at 6am. Bill was happy to find some coffee at the hotel. It seemed very early! We hopped into Tom’s van and soon arrived at Pelee. Because there was not much reported at the tip, we started at West Beach. In a tree near the beach, Tom pointed out an immature Orchard Oriole, olive and yellow, perched beside the chestnut coloured adult. At the beach we sighted several water birds - Red-breasted Mergansers, White-winged and Surf Scoters and Lesser Scaup. Other notables were a Veery and a Northern Mockingbird.

We hiked the Pelee Tilden Woods and Schuster trails finding many vireos, Black and White Warblers, and a Red-tailed Hawk. Then Tom treated us to a hearty break of coffee, tea, juices, cookies and snacks. Refreshed, we hiked more trails, this time seeing Black-throated Green Warblers, House Wrens and a Carolina Wren. A special sighting was a Black and White Warbler who was very cooperative about having his photo taken.

Tom drove us to the Sleepy Hollow Picnic Area for a scrumptious lunch. After lunch we birded on a shoreline trail along the Northwest Beach. Here we spotted an Eastern Towhee and some Magnolia Warblers.

It was sad to say goodbye to Tom – hope we can bird together again soon.

Here is Tom's ebird post. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14029428

We returned to Pelee Wings Nature store to buy souvenirs and Hilda checked out the binoculars. While inside, a Red-headed Woodpecker came to the feeder near the door.

We said our goodbyes to Colin and Hilda and returned to our campsite to photograph some wild flowers and the setting sun.

Bird List May 7

1. House Sparrow Leamington Tom Hince
2. Wild Turkey
3. Red-bellied Woodpecker Point Pelee Tom Hince
4. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
5. Yellow Warbler
6. Common Grackle
7. Northern Cardinal
8. Tree Swallow
9. Blue Jay
10. Red-winged Blackbird
11. Orchard Oriole
12. White-crowned Sparrow
13. Common Loon
14. Surf Scoter
15. Greater Scaup
16. Lesser Scaup
17. Mourning Dove
18. Eastern Kingbird
19. Spotted Sandpiper
20. Killdeer
21. Bonaparte Gull
22. White-winged Scoter
23. Red-breasted Merganser
24. Double-crested Cormorant
25. Northern Mockingbird
26. Golden-crowned Kinglet
27. Veery
28. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
29. Eastern Towhee
30. Gray Catbird
31. Barn Swallow
32. Great Blue Heron
33. Field Sparrow
34. Chipping Sparrow
35. Least Flycatcher
36. Indigo Bunting
37. Northern Harrier
38. American Robin
39. Baltimore Oriole
40. Downy Woodpecker
41. Black and White Warbler
42. Nashville Warbler
43. Black-throated Green Warbler
44. Warbling Vireo
45. Yellow-rumped Warbler
46. Swamp Sparrow
47. Sandhill Crane
48. Yellow-throated Vireo
49. Turkey Vulture
50. Broad-winged Hawk
51. Brown-headed Cowbird
52. Red-tailed Hawk
53. Chestnut-sided Warbler
54. Blue-headed Vireo
55. House Wren
56. White-throated Sparrow
57. White-eyed Vireo
58. Cooper's Hawk
59. Red-headed Woodpecker
60. Merlin
61. Black Tern
62. Magnolia Warbler
63. Purple Martin
64. Palm Warbler
65. Ovenbird
66. Blue-winged Warbler
67. Song Sparrow
68. Brown Thrasher
69. Carolina Wren
70. Lincoln's Sparrow
71. American Goldfinch
72. House Finch
73. Mallard Wheatley Park

Wednesday May 8, 2013

This was our drive home day. Before we left Wheatley, we did our favourite birding loop. This time we spotted a Baltimore Oriole popping into her nest. We also saw a Chipping Sparrow and Mourning Doves.

We decided to take Harbour Road from Wheatley to do a last birding check. Here we spotted three colourful Wood Ducks perched on a log in a stream near the road.

On the way home, we stopped for a break at a Hwy 401 rest stop and saw a Spotted Sandpiper in a pond beside. While scoping it, an OPP office pulled silently up and asked what we were doing. He seemed amused. Not a birder, we guess.

Hope we get back soon…

Bird List May 8

1. Mallard Wheatley Park
2. Wood Duck
3. American Robin
4. Red-winged Blackbird
5. Red-bellied Woodpecker
6. Common Grackle
7. Mourning Dove
8. Baltimore Oriole
9. Killdeer
10. Mallard Wheatley Harbour
11. Barn Swallow
12. Brown-headed Cowbird
13. Spotted Sandpiper Hwy 401 rest stop
14. House Sparrow
15. American Robin
16. Red-winged Blackbird
17. Canada Goose
18. Mallard
19. Yellow Warbler (H)