Backyard ... Whip-poor-will??!?! + Pelee Wed May 10th photos

On Saturday May 13th, I had spent the day birding at Pelee and was particularly exhausted in the evening. Taking a nap in my room with the window open, I heard the familiar "Peent" of the local American Woodcock. I went to the window to take in the sounds, and to look if I could see the timberdoodle display, when to my amazement, an Eastern Whip-poor-will burst out into loud song! My mind was absolutely blown. I went downstairs to go out on my back porch and took the following video with my cell phone to document the occurrence. 

On another note, I went out to Pelee on Wed May 10th. Kit joined me as we often attempt to car-pool because we both have a 1-hour drive to pelee from Windsor. Wednesday gave lots of first year birds to look at. Some highlights were good looks at Prothonotary, Cape May,  Magnolia as well as Yellow throated Vireos. Most people mentioned that while Wednesday was good, Tuesday seemed to be the best day of the week with more birds and more rarities in the mix.  Below is a photo dump!

My son is beckoning me to help him with legos so I'm going to cut this short!

Good Birding,

Dwayne

Soggy, Sedgy Saturday - Sedge Wren at Point Pelee

Point Pelee Sedge Wren

Its been about two weeks since I went to Pelee so I was very excited to get out and do some birding today. Of course, the weather has been brutally cold and rainy lately and birds were scarce at Pelee today. Still, there were some great birds to see. Of note was a Sedge Wren that has been hanging around the tip of Point Pelee for the last few days. I had briefly seen and heard Sedge Wrens at Carden Alvar in the past but this is perhaps my first chance to really see / photograph the bird well. I had to stand around and wait perhaps an hour to get just a brief glance at this little wren. Hearing it call from the grasses and brush piles of Sparrow Field was really nice - and made the wait a little more bearable.

Other good birds today included singles of about 9 species of Warblers, several thrushes were noted as well as a generous number of Red headed Woodpeckers.

It was great to see many birding friends at Pelee. There was a memorial bench and plaque dedicated to Alan Wormington unveiled near the visitor center entrance at about 11am today. Many people were present to remember a friend and mentor that left us too early.

Good Birding,
Dwayne

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