Point Pelee on Saturday

Yesterday I took a trip to the Pelee area to see what was around. With hurricane Matthew heading up the Atlantic shore, I figured that some things may show up in the area (I was right...I frigatebird was spotted near the Pinery. I might go if it is found again).

As expected, there were a number of Blue Jays moving through. I estimated at least 100 were seen along the north dike, and around 240 at the Sanctuary Pond. I also noted 8 Northern Rough-winged Swallows there was well.

A couple immature Bald Eagles hung out around the VC.

There was an impressive number of Turkey Vultures moving around as well. They prefer NE winds to help them migrate, but the winds were NW, so birders got to enjoy the sight of over 200 vultures swirling around in a massive kettle.

The tip was fairly quiet, but I still managed to see more species than what I saw on my big day back in May (I saw 29 on May 7th and 34 on October 8th). Raptor Migration is still in full swing with a number of Red-tailed Hawks, Sharpies, Coopers, Northern Harriers moving around. A high flying Peregrine (?) Falcon is my first one of the year.

A 'Gashawk' flew by as well :)

I was a tad surprised by the number of warblers I saw at the tip. I was expecting one or two species, but I ended up with five. Obviously Yellow-rumped was the most numerous (7), but I ended up with Palm (4), a stunning male Black-throated Blue (1), Magnolia (1), and Blackburnian (1).

Butter-butt

Maggie

Black-throated Blue

Dark-eyed Juncos are starting to arrive, and I saw about two dozen around the tip. White-throated Sparrows are starting to show up too.

There were dozens of Monarchs at the tip. I even saw a few flying far out on the lake while looking through the scope at some gulls.

Dragonflies were numerous, and I saw both Red and Black Saddlebags, Meadowhawks, and Common Green Darners.

Black Saddlebags

I saw four species of gulls, most of them out over the lake. I wasn't able to find a Little Gull hidden among the Bonies.

juvie Herring

There was a group of three Common Loons being attacked by the gulls far out in the lake. It was interesting watching the birds dive under the water as the gulls flew at them. I think that the loons were bringing up some food that the gulls wanted, so they took it from them. I also saw two species of grebe...Horned and the uncommon Red-necked.

yes, there is a loon out there

New England Aster was the most common wildflower. Cabbage Whites and Sulphurs love them.

After lunch, it was off to DeLaurier. A number of Sparrows and a couple Palm Warblers frequented the grassy areas. A Prairie Falcon was seen earlier, but I had no luck finding it.

They closed off the observation tower on the trail, but at least I heard my first and only Gray Catbird of the trip. Blue jays were moving through in large numbers.

So were Golden-crowned Kinglets.

The Marsh Boardwalk was next.

Green Frog

There wasn't much around to photograph, but I added a few new species for the day list such as Wood Duck, Belted Kingfisher, and Swamp Sparrow.

More Palm Warblers were around as well.

I wanted to try to see the Snowy Egret at Big Creek, so I said good bye to the park and that's where I went. It wasn't there, but I saw 21 Great Egrets, my third species of grebe for the day, and a (domestic) Muscovy Duck!

The middle one had me fooled!

Pied-billed Grebe

Hillman Marsh was the last stop. I didn't get there until quarter after seven, so it was becoming dark, but I could still make out a few birds. The shorebird cell is quite nice at dusk.

Canada Geese and ducks such as Mallards and Scaup were coming in for the night.

Shorebirds included Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, and a peep of some sort. It was dark by this point, so I made the shorebird ID by ear.

No owls yet, but in another month a couple species will come to roost.

It was a great day, I ended up with 55 species, and I can't wait to go back!

A Little Trip to Kettle Point

Yesterday I took a quick trip to the Kettle Point area just to see what was around. The winds had changed from NW to W just before I left, so I was a little disappointed, but I figured that a west wind is better then a south wind for the lake watch.

Plenty of Turkey Vultures are still around. I kept hoping one would be an eagle, but none showed up!

The first bird I noticed at the KP marsh was a Great Egret. It is getting a tad bit late for them. and by the end of the month, or perhaps in a couple weeks, most of them will have left until spring. This may be one of the last egrets I see for a few months (though I'm hoping that the Snowy Egret in Essex doesn't leave until I have a chance to see it this coming weekend!)

You are almost guaranteed to see the (sadly) ever present Mute Swan if you go in the Spring-Fall months. There was a couple juvies with them, so the are evidently breeding in the area.

I counted five Pied-billed Grebes. Hopefully in a few weeks Red-necked will start showing up.

The highlight of the day was a probable Parasitic Jaeger (or it could be another species...please comment if you know!). It was sitting on the water 300-350 meters out. I managed to get a few distant photos, but they don't show too much detail. It was different from other gulls nearby, and just had a pelagic look to it (or what I think is a pelagic look, I have no experience with jaegers!)  Tell me what you think!

There were a number of Ring-billed Gulls, and a few Herring.

Double-crested Cormorants were around in small numbers (compared to the few thousand in Hamilton).

I got a lifer butterfly as well....Common Buckeye!

Next weekend I'll be in the Pelee area (if you couldn't tell from my comment regarding the Snowy Egret). Hopefully I'll see some more gulls and jaegers, along with some good passerines.