Monday 11 March 2013

Point Pelee update after 2 days

I'll make this one short and sweet, and I'll do a longer writeup (with photos) when I get home tomorrow.

The spring like conditions of Point Pelee is certainly a welcome change! Yesterday the temperature was as high as 16 degrees Celcius in parts of southwestern Ontario, and today was close to double digits (though with a healthy dose of rain). Walking around today, it certainly felt and looked like a typical day in April! No snow, relatively warm air temperature, south winds, flooded fields (that were full of ducks), thousands of blackbirds, and thousands of Ring-billed Gulls everywhere.

Some highlights so far:
-1 Common Raven near London on the drive down
-34 Greater White-fronted Geese in the onion fields yesterday (a new Point Pelee bird for me, and the first time I had seen more than 1 at a time). Thanks for the text, Kory! There were only 5 in the fields today, so maybe the big group has left.
-8 migrant Eastern Meadowlarks included 5 in Sparrow Field and 3 in the onion fields today
-1 adult white morph Snow Goose today in the onion fields, another new Point Pelee bird for me. Thanks, Alan!
-2 Iceland, 2 Glaucous, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls today, both at the tip and in the fields. Iceland Gull was my 3rd new Point Pelee bird so far this trip!
-huge numbers and diversity of ducks. New arrivals include Wood Ducks (19 today), Northern Shovelers, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, etc. So far, no rare ducks have been located! With the growing numbers of wigeon and teal, it seems only a matter of time until a Eurasian Wigeon or Common Teal drops in. 2 Long-tailed Ducks flying by the tip this morning were nice to see.
-first migrant aerial insectivores!!!! 2 Tree Swallows yesterday. Spring is here!!!
-at least 4 American Woodcocks peenting and displaying last night (plus hooting Great Horned Owls, and a Long-eared nearby)
-a group of 8 Cackling Geese off of the Couture Dyke yesterday

So to recap, we've had a great diversity of species, including some relatively early migrants. I have managed to pick up 3 new birds for my Point Pelee list, so that means I am even closer to passing Alan's all time Point Pelee list. A matter of time! ;)

Tomorrow I will probably do some birding around here for the morning, then work my way back along the lakeshore.

7 comments:

Alan Wormington said...

Certainly possible, if you live to be 105!

Anonymous said...

I thought you were only 95 though?

Blake A. Mann said...

Seems like 95 anyway. lol.

Alan Wormington said...

Except for the important part---I feel like 25!

Michael said...

Man is 95 But Looks 55
Alan reveals 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors.

Alan Wormington said...

I know who you are, I can tell from the shadows!

Unknown said...

Thank you for this. I have to be in Ottawa the week after Easter so was thinking of spending the long Easter weekend in either the Ottawa or the the Pt. Pelee area. Seeing what you've seen and your description of the weather has convinced me to come to your neck of the woods for those 4 days. As much as I like the Ottawa-Gatineau area, it's still winter there and I have had enough of that here in Saskatchewan. Kevin in Regina.