This morning was cooler with an easterly breeze and overcast. We headed out to Crown Marsh as the recent track closure had been lifted. A digger had been along the track with works done to an area that had been awkward to cross. No doubt the works were being done to aid access by wildfowlers that had started to arrive at Long Point. Some of the scrub adjacent to the track had been damaged by the digger but there were still flocks of Palm Warblers and the occasional Song Sparrow in the scrub. A flock of 16 Pectoral Sandpipers managed to hide out of view and only took off after we had walked past them.
We then went to the Obs and were told that a Connecticut Warbler had been trapped earlier, luckily Reg re-found it in one of the nets and we managed to see it in the hand. More volunteers were on station at the obs and as always everyone was very welcoming.
Photo of Connecticut Warbler
From there we went to the campsite and managed to locate an area of sheltered dogwood scrub and mixed low trees that were just full of warblers, flycatchers and the odd thrush. It was totally overwhelming and incredible, there was so much movement you just didn't know where to look. We spent around two hours in this small area getting wonderful views of the feeding birds. Eventually we pulled ourselves away feeling drained by the wonderful experience and had lunch.
After a brief nap and despite the rain showers that had started we headed out to Big Creek where a small flock of Sandhill Cranes were showing well. The water had covered most of the mud but there was a flock of seven feeding Stilt Sands amongst the Green-winged Teal and a small number of hirundines foraging over the reeds including two Tree Swallows and a Bank Martin.
From there we headed to the Canada Birding headquarters were a wedding event was being held but we were able to get to the sheltered viewpoint overlooking Lake Erie. Some of the guests were outside smoking cannabis which is legal in Canada.
Reg then mentioned doing a recce along the Lakeside Road were Chris had indicated that it might be a good place for Horned Lark and Buff-bellied Pipit. We managed to find a good looking stubble field that seemed to have wet ditches and on scanning we picked up a small flock of distant waders heading towards us. They turned out to be American Golden Plovers and formed a flock of 19 birds which landed and foraged in the field before being flushed by a Merlin.
