May 2, 2022 Our Day at Point Pelee

 Today's  weather forecast called for sun and cloud.  Unfortunately the day was mainly cloudy.   It was cool but comfortable.  We had gloves and a hats on.  There was a slight wind.  Here are photos of us at the Tip or on the seasonal trail leading to the Tip.

We started our birding on the Woodland Trail and found several groups of White crowned Sparrows.  We also saw the first of a couple of Swainson's Thrushes.  On the Redbud footpath yesterday's reports indicated some good birds were seen here.  Today on Redbud we had a Warbling Vireo.  Back onto  Woodland Trail we found a Least Flycatcher.  We noted that most of the birds that we see, are not singing.  The Red winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles make up most of the forest sounds with their numerous calls.  Further on this trail we had a Great crested Flycatcher.  We had House, Carolina, and Sedge Wrens today on the Woodland Trail.

The Woodland Trail has several wooden boardwalks called bridges A to F.  Here we searched for the Prothonotary Warbler in the shallow dark water.  We found a Northern Waterthrush walking along the water which was nice.  We were not lucky this morning: no Prothonatary.  

When we were done Woodland Trail we had lunch in the car.  It was too cool to eat outside.  We needed to warm up just a bit.  Joining us for lunch was a Grey Catbird who frequently came around to the small bush in front of the car.  From the car we viewed a beautiful Baltimore Oriole at the entrance of Tilden Woods.  

After lunch we took the tram to the Tip.  I (Barb) told Jane and Susan that I was not taking my camera this afternoon, so we were going to see some really nice birds.  That usually works.  We walked the west and east side of the Tip and walked down onto the spit.  We took a selfie photo to mark the occasion.  Reports had a Willet and Sanderlings here on the beach but there were people and dogs around on the beach, so no birds were found.  

On the water was a Great Laker.

We could also see a cruise ship on the water nearby. We met some ladies at the Visitor Center who were from the cruise ship and were touring the park.  At the tip tram stop we met an OFO fellow. We spoke with him and he was wearing a Viking Cruise ship jacket.  He works for Viking and leads the birding excursions for the cruise line.  There is no dock big enough for this cruise ship of 300 passengers (not including staff).  The passengers doing the on-land tours are transferred by zodiac to the shore and boarded a big charterr bus that we saw several times going through the parking lot.  The guide boarded the cruise ship at Cobourg and would continue down to Detroit.  The cruise ship was going as far as Duluth, Minnesota.  That is one sweet gig.  

On to Sparrow Field Footpath.  We walked to the west side and a couple were looking at a cedar tree and there was a beautiful Yellow breasted Chat.  The yellow of the bird was a neon yellow.  The Yellow breasted Chat is a big bird.  It used to be called the biggest of the warblers.  Just recently the Yellow breasted Chat has been assigned it own classification and it is no longer a warbler.  Need to do some research on this someday.....  Many photos were taken.   Here is Susan's photo of the Yellow breassted chat.  Just a beautiful bird.

 We walked on the west beach for a distance and we saw a huge raft of ducks in the distance in the water.  We walked toward the raft and one of us estimated 4 or 5 thousand.  The raft of birds started to take off and fly near us, still far away and landed.  In this group we saw mostly Red breasted Mergansers, Bonapart Gulls and several Cormorants in the group.  It was an impressive asssembly.  

Sparrow Field Footpath leads on to Last Post Footpath, where several birds were reported.  There were few birds found here but the forest and forest floor were really pretty, in were in all shades of green.  Mother Nature at its best.  We were back on Woodland Trail and going over the many wooden boardwalk/bridges.  It was between A and B bridges that we saw the Prothonotary.  We enjoyed seeing this spectacular bird.  It gave us great views.  This is Susan's photo of the  Prothonotary Warbler.

Shortly after we left the boardwalk/bridges section of the trail, we saw two birders.   They were watching movement in the horsetails.  We joined them in peering in quietly and were rewarded with views of a Sedge Wren.  We could only see bits of the bird as it worked its way along but it was a Sedge Wren.  We were really happy.  When we left the Visitor Center, a photographer told us there was a White eyed Vireo in the coniferous trees in front of the Visitor Center.  We closely watched the bird so we could see the white iris of the bird.  Another good bird to end the day!

Even with some slow periods during the day today, we did end up seeing some really special birds.  

Today we did not bird until dusk tonight, which we usually do.  We were back at our motel in the daylight!  

Another day of excellent birding for us.  We ended the day with 125 species seen so far on our trip and 67 bird species seen today.