[NatureNS] POINT PELEE trip report; incl. Prothonotary Warbler

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Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 21:45:28 -0300
From: James Churchill <jameslchurchill@gmail.com>
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Had a fantastic time in Point Pelee NP, Rondeau PP and area (Ontario) 26-30
May. Thanks to all for the great recommendations.

We came in on the end of a thunderstorm and several days of significant
rainfall and were lucky enough to see some neat migrant fall-outs...the
trees were dripping with migrants - literally thousands of: RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDS, CEDAR WAXWINGS. SWALLOWS (Bank, Barn and Tree in order of
abundance; these covered every field and stretch of beach in the Leamington
area), and BALTIMORE ORIOLES.

We had great intentions of keeping a good *abundance list, but this quickly
defaulted to a *species list, as it was virtually impossible to keep track
of numbers of individuals. As one who finds it impossible not to tune-in to
every ambient bird song (whether while birding, driving, having
conversations with people...) it was a strange mix of elation and panic.

In addition to the usual suspects, there were lots of highlights for us
Nova-Scotianers:
(check out http://www.birdsontario.org/atlas/maps.jsp?lang=en for some
context for these species)

- PROTHONOTARY WARBLER defending a nest box from HOUSE WRENs (Pelee,
Woodland Trail)
- highest density and abundance of BALTIMORE ORIOLES we had ever witnessed
(hundreds)
- dozens of ORCHARD ORIOLES
- BROWN THRASHERSs
- RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERs
- RED-HEADED WOODPECKER  (Rondeau)
- WOOD THRUSH
- dozens of WILSON'S WARBLERs
- INDIGO BUNTING
- NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
- HOUSE WRENs
- dozens of WARBLING VIREOs
- FIELD SPARROW (Rondeau)
- BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Rondeau)
- TUFTED TITMOUSE (Rondeau)
- TENNESSEE WARBLER
- several GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERs
- EASTERN TOWHEEs
- several BLACKPOLL WARBLERs
- YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
- SCARLET TANAGER
- MOURNING WARBLER

The highlight was one short stretch of the "Woodland Trail" in Point Pelee
NP where, within 300 m, we had a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER,
MOURNING WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and a pair
of HOUSE WRENs.

The very last species of the trip, which gave us a reasonable 100 for the
weekend, was heard as we were ascending the stairs to the Dash-8 at the
Windsor (ON) airport...an EASTERN MEADOWLARK singing, with guts, just off
the tarmac...

Cheers,
James.

-- 
James Churchill
Kentville, Nova Scotia
jameslchurchill@gmail.com
home: (902) 681-2374

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Had a fantastic time in Point Pelee NP, Rondeau PP and area (Ontario) 26-30=
 May. Thanks to all for the great recommendations.<br><br>We came in on the=
 end of a thunderstorm and several days of significant=20
rainfall and were lucky enough to see some neat migrant fall-outs...the tre=
es were dripping with migrants - literally thousands of: RED-WINGED BLACKBI=
RDS, CEDAR WAXWINGS. SWALLOWS (Bank, Barn and Tree in order of abundance; t=
hese covered every field and stretch of beach in the Leamington area), and =
BALTIMORE ORIOLES. <br>


<br>We had great intentions of keeping a good *abundance list, but this qui=
ckly defaulted to a *species list, as it was virtually impossible to keep t=
rack of numbers of individuals. As one who finds it impossible not to tune-=
in to every ambient bird song (whether while birding, driving, having conve=
rsations with people...) it was a strange mix of elation and panic.<br>


<br>In addition to the usual suspects, there were lots of highlights for us=
 Nova-Scotianers:<br>(check out <a href=3D"http://www.birdsontario.org/atla=
s/maps.jsp?lang=3Den">http://www.birdsontario.org/atlas/maps.jsp?lang=3Den<=
/a> for some context for these species)<br>
<br>- PROTHONOTARY WARBLER defending a nest box from HOUSE WRENs (Pelee, Wo=
odland Trail)<br>- highest density and abundance of BALTIMORE ORIOLES we ha=
d ever witnessed (hundreds)<br>- dozens of ORCHARD ORIOLES<br>- BROWN THRAS=
HERSs <br>
- RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERs<br>
- RED-HEADED WOODPECKER=A0 (Rondeau)<br>- WOOD THRUSH <br>- dozens of WILSO=
N&#39;S WARBLERs<br>- INDIGO BUNTING<br>- NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD<br>- HOUSE W=
RENs<br>- dozens of WARBLING VIREOs<br>- FIELD SPARROW (Rondeau)<br>- BLUE-=
GRAY GNATCATCHER (Rondeau)<br>
- TUFTED TITMOUSE (Rondeau)<br>- TENNESSEE WARBLER<br>- several GREAT-CREST=
ED FLYCATCHERs<br>- EASTERN TOWHEEs<br>- several BLACKPOLL WARBLERs<br>- YE=
LLOW-BILLED CUCKOO<br>- SCARLET TANAGER<br>- MOURNING WARBLER<br><br>The hi=
ghlight was one short stretch of the &quot;Woodland Trail&quot; in Point Pe=
lee NP where, within 300 m, we had a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER,=
 MOURNING WARBLER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and a pai=
r of HOUSE WRENs.<br>
<br>The very last species of the trip, which gave us a reasonable 100 for t=
he weekend, was heard as we were ascending the stairs to the Dash-8 at the =
Windsor (ON) airport...an EASTERN MEADOWLARK singing, with guts, just off t=
he tarmac...<br>
<br>Cheers, <br>James.<br>

<br>-- <br>James Churchill<br>Kentville, Nova Scotia<br><a href=3D"mailto:j=
ameslchurchill@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">jameslchurchill@gmail.com</a><b=
r>home: <a href=3D"tel:%28902%29%20681-2374" value=3D"+19026812374" target=
=3D"_blank">(902) 681-2374</a><br>

<br>

--20cf305b117a56a1fd04a51489d0--

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