More from Pelee Island

Spent most of today again on Pelee Island with Ken.  We racked up another decent list considering the persistent cool temperatures and north/east winds putting a damper on migration.  New birds for me for the year were Sora (Fish Point first thing), Ovenbird (singing at Sheridan's Point), Black-and-white Warbler (along west shore road), and Red-headed Woodpecker (along west shore road).  You can have a look at the full eBird checklist for the day.

The highlight of the day was again one of the Yellow-throated Warblers that have been present since Ken arrived.  Ken heard the second one just before we saw this one at the pump house:

Here are some other photos of actual birds from the island today.

You know it's slow when...

Some nice and close Red-breasted Mergansers today

Ken claims there are "lots" of pheasants this year but I didn't see that many

Decent numbers of Hermit Thrushes this weekend

A few vultures around

A woodcock camouflaged with its surroundings

young eagle

And a few non-birds:

Fox Squirrel

Fair numbers of Question Marks and Red Admirals today

Syrphid to identify...

Got a couple more shots from the plane too:

Middle Point

Lighthouse Point and Scudder

Point Pelee

I'm back on solid land so hopefully things don't get too crazy this week...

Welcome to the Island

I made a quick trip down to Pelee Island to visit with Ken and do some birding for the weekend.  As expected based on the weather the birds have been slow but lots of new stuff for me for the year (about 30 year birds in the last two days).  The best bird was one of the Yellow-throated Warblers that Ken has had near his cottage for the last few days.  Here's our eBird checklist for today.  Be sure to check out Ken's blog to follow sightings on the island this spring.

The ferries that normally service Pelee Island are both broken down/ being maintained so right now service is only by plane, which was actually quite a nice and quick (15 min!) way to get to the island.  I took advantage of the flight and snapped some pictures of the island from the air.

View of Essex Sewage Lagoons from the air

Lighthouse Point (NE part of island)

trail at Lighthouse Point (summer)

the lighthouse (summer)

Lighthouse Point from the air (Point Pelee in the distance)

Sheridan Point and the Pelee Club from the ferry a couple years ago

The municipal campground (centre of east shore of island)

Middle Point (Brandon Holden's least favourite spot) in the distance

West dock, where the ferry would normally drop me off!

Fish Point sign (SW part of island)

Fish Point from the air

Fish Point interpretive sign

 And I couldn't resist some Pelee Island scenery from a couple summers ago:

Lightning over Lighthouse Point

Sunset from Lighthouse Point

 And a Pelee Island post wouldn't be complete without a Fox Squirrel from the island today:

 With a little luck I'll have some bird pics to post tomorrow!