Long Point Sunday 20th September

Today was a similar sequence of visits to yesterday but we went to the campsite first and missed out Crown Marsh. The day remained dry, overcast with a strong NE breeze so we focused on the southern edge of the campsite and gradually picked up flocks of warblers high amongst the shaking leaves in the tall trees. Warblers and flycatchers were also occasionally lower and the best tactic was to just stop at a good vantage point where gradually part of a flock would move through some shrub vegetation. We ended up back at the sheltered tree line and had another incredible warbler spectacle as Yellow-rumped, Cape May, Wilson's, Northern Parula, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Palm, Tennessee, Magnolia and Chestnut-sided warblers foraged and chased each other within feet of where we were standing. There were also several Eastern Wood-peewees, red-breasted and White Breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creepers and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-throated Green warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Eastern Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood Pewee

Green Darner

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Northern Flicker

Northern Parula

Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Our next stop was the Obs, where the team were just processing a Rose-breasted Grosbeak which we saw in the hand as it was biting Chris the handler. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The road adjacent to the old lighthouse just beyond the obs boundary proved productive with more flocks of warblers and flycatchers moving through. We also had our first red-tailed Hawks of the trip with one over the obs and another over our accommodation.

Red-tailed Hawk

After lunch and a snooze we checked Big Creek for waders and then moved on to the Birding Canada headquarters after which we drove a few of the side roads near Lakeside Road looking for American Kestrels. We encountered a foraging group of six but none allowed close approach. Reg then had an opportunity to look at a flock of Canada Geese, whilst I ignored them, there are just too many at Dungeness and they are a nuisance species there. Anyway, he determined that the race we were looking at (he was looking at) was Todd's. In the end, even I took a few photos of them, and I haven't deleted them!!

Another excellent day.

Long Point Saturday 19th September

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.

Palm Warbler

Song Sparrow

Cedar Waxwing

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. 

Philadelphia Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Yellow-belied Flycatcher

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood Pewee

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-capped Chickadee

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier

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.

Sandhill Cranes and Double-crested Cormorants

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.

American Golden Plovers

American Golden Plovers

American Golden Plover