My first day's birding since arriving in Canada. Staying at Kingsville, it is half an hour's drive to the famed migration site of Point Pelee. I arrived at 7:15 to blue skies and a brisk NW wind, far from ideal conditions as less likely to cause a fall of migrating birds. However, it was an opportunity to get to know the area which is a long peninsula stretching out into Lake Erie.
After parking near the visitor centre I concentrated on a couple of nearby trails, including the Tilden Woods. Both White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows were near the parking lot as were Red-winged Blackbirds, though it soon became apparent that the latter were just about everywhere, the commonest bird today.
Warblers were a bit thin though Yellow was most visible, followed by several each of Yellow-rumped and Black and White, plus singles of Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat and Palm Warbler.
Downy Woodpecker gave close views and have a call very similar to our own Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. A Red-headed Woodpecker also showed well.
Swamp Sparrow was seen in the wetter spots.
Later, I took the shuttle down to the point and walked back through the woods. Near the point a Field Sparrow became the fourth sparrow of the day, the birds bright pink bill and white eye-ring aiding identification.
Other notable birds included a Grey Catbird, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, and Hermit Thrush, the rusty-red tail of the latter being a key id feature. There seemed to be a small passage of Turkey Vultures.
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| White-throated Sparrow |
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| Swamp Sparrow |
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| Yellow Warbler |
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| Northern Waterthrush |
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| Black and White Warbler |
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| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
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| Red-headed Woodpecker |
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| Downy Woodpecker |
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| Field Sparrow |
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| Hermit Thrush |
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| Hermit Thrush |
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| Blue-grey Gnatcatcher |
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| American Robin |
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| Red-winged Blackbird male |
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| Red-winged Blackbird female |
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| The 'point' |
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