Birding Peche Island

 I did a quick two-hour kayak trip to Peche Island today. It was exciting to get out there for the first time in many months. It was birdy. No lifers or un-expected species but a nice listing of birds. Some firsts for the year etc.

 Wood Ducks were seen as well as Hooded Mergansers and Mallards. Many Canada Geese were around as well as some swans.

First Belted Kingfisher of the year. Two were seen. Many Northern Flickers were heard. Two Bald Eagles were seen, as well as a Sharp Shinned Hawk. Turkey Vultures glided overhead as well.

My first non-wintering Warbler of the year. This Yellow-Rumped Warbler was a welcome sight. I had a hard time pish-ing him into view from a thicket of branches.

Only one or two Yellow Bellied Sapsucker were seen. It was amazing how many trees were tapped for sap though. Its funny how much more observant I am this year than last. Last year I saw 4 YBSS all year. This year, I must be close to twenty just in the last week! This bird is a keystone species making life better for many other species. For example, I have read once that the sap-wells give food for Ruby throated Hummingbirds. Even today, I saw an Eastern Comma butterfly feeding off the sap, as well as many flies and insects. Incredible. (See this article about how pileated woodpeckers are keystone species as well)

 This Eastern Comma butterfly was enjoying the sap-tapped tree. The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker got a really nice flow from this tree. Drops of sap were pouring out.

 Tree Swallows were everywhere.

Bonapartes Gulls were flying by the Windsor Shoreline at Kayak Cove as I was leaving. About 50 flew right by me. I took several photos and even saw a juvenile BGs with the classic "M" pattern on its wings and back. Almost easily confused with the Black Legged Kittiwake we saw earlier in Jan this year, minus the black bar across the back of its neck.

Good Birding,
Dwaynejava

Birding Point Pelee and Hillman Marsh

 

I headed out to Point Pelee this morning with the intention of being home in 5 hours. 2 hours of commuting to and from Windsor and one hour each for Delaurier Trail & the tip of Point Pelee and one hour at Hillman. I was hoping to see some early spring migrants such as Eastern Meadowlarks or Eastern Bluebirds but no such luck today. I did see the great horned owls near the Park entrance (no big surprise .... it lives there).

I started at Delaurier Trail, which is one of my favorite paths to walk at Point Pelee. I just love walking on the wooden pathways that cross over the flooded sloughs and channels. It was generally quiet though when I walked it though. Ander's Footpath was a little quiet as well, with the exeption of an Eastern Phoebe and some common blackbirds. The tip of Point Pelee did not seem very birdy to me today either. Just a few gulls and common birds around. East beach had some nice looks at Red breasted Mergansers and distant flotillas of ducks that I did not have the time nor optics to scan :-).

Some birds seen out at Point Pelee today include:
Great Horned Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Swamp Sparrow
Common Merganser
Red Breasted Merganser
Common Grackles
Northern Flicker
... as well as the typical regulars one would normally see.

After Point Pelee, I then proceeded to Hillman Marsh for about an hour. I ran into an excellent birder, Richard C. who had a fantastic scope that gave breathtaking views at some of the great birds at Hillman Marsh. I would almost say Hillman Marsh was a little better bird-wise today than Point Pelee.

My first looks at male Green Winged Teals.  This was a target species for me today.

Only the second time I've seen Wilson's Snipe. Many (7-9) were around Hillman today.

Hillman Marsh Birds Include:

Wilson's Snipe (several... 7 at one point)
Greater Yellowlegs (one)
Green winged Teal
Gadwal
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
Mallards
American Coot
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring billed Gulls

Tree Swallows
Killdeer

One G-Yellowlegs, a Killdeer, and 7 Snipe in the background!

Lots of gulls (Bonapartes Gulls) on the Hillman Shorebird Cell

There are three Wilson's Snipe on the left and one on the right

Tree Swallows were flying over the shorebird cell at Hillman this morning

I hope to bird these areas every weekend from April to May this year. Good times!

Good birding!
Dwaynejava