One Day in May
For me, every day is a day to celebrate birds and the more than human world. The powers that be (Cornell) have nominated May 9 to be Global Big Day or World Migratory Bird Day ( every May and October) and I try to do a Big Day on those 2 days annually.
Today I thought I'd go to Point Pelee National Park, a place that is known for migratory birds and unique ecosystems. The tip is the southernmost point in Canada, and birds will stop on their way to and from their breeding grounds. This time of year is also the Birding Festival and so I was excited to meet like minded people and seeing old friends.
The drive in (I left at 4:30 am) was extremely foggy and though the forecast was better than the Tuesday previous where I was registered for a Bird walk that showed 100% chance of rain, so I birded closer to home, the start of the day did not look promising. I was treated to much bird song as I made my way south through Merlin, Tilbury and finally Wheatley. I stopped off at Kopegaron Woods by 7:30 am which is an awesome old growth forest that quite often has spectacular birds, it was pretty quiet but I stopped to use the provided out house.
Good news at the park gate, my Discovery Pass that I bought last April has been extended 6 mths because of the free admission last summer, so I didn't have to buy another pass, good til Nov.
I probably should have gone straight to Pelee as the VC at the park was full and I had to park at Delaurier Homestead parking lot. Apparently the lot was full at 6am! Those keen birders! I walked on the road to the VC and got onto the tram where I noticed one of the best ornithologists in Ontario sat in the back..Jean Iron! I was pleased to see her as I knew her work and have gone on a few of her outings. We walked from the tram to the tip and she pulled out her scope. There were quite a few new young birders and it was nice to talk to them about the birds and the landscape. There was a tour there and they had the Black Headed Gull in their scope, we saw it for ourselves soon after. Jean was generous in sharing looks at the birds. There were a group of juvenile Bald Eagles at the very tip so there was not a lot of waterfowl there. The BHGU was in the group of Bonapartes Gulls on the spit. These gulls are native to Eurasia and is indeed a rare bird, a lifer for me. The Brits in the group guffawed at our enthusiasm as they are a very common species in the UK. The gull is a bit bigger than a Bonie with a chocolate brown head instead of black and bright red bill and legs.
I continued looking out at the woods along the beach were they were many sparrows and RWBB and a lone RBNU. We made our way back to the tram where many Barn swallows gave us good looks. There were some people doing their 100 species checklist and we talked about the birds they had yet to see, many of these birders have stayed multiple days, I will do that one day!
I really enjoy Visitor Centres wherever I go and Point Pelee has one of the best. I love the sightings maps and talking to the naturalists, some I only know from the Whatsup. I love the Nature Nook and usually will buy a t shirt, the Friends of Point Pelee are awesome volunteers and they look after us birders with Birders breakfasts and lunch, they were even handing out little veg packs for free!
After lunch I rested for a bit, and realized that it had gotten hot out! I shed my coat and hoodie and went back into the Nature Nook to purchase a giant tote bag to fit all of my stuff, I was walking back and I really didn't want to be uncomfortable. The VC parking lot can be very productive for birds and so I sat and did a bit of a watch. Many Baltimore Orioles put on a show, but no real rarities. Last year I got a good look and pic of a Yellow Billed Cuckoo, no such luck this year. I started the long walk back to the car when I noticed a small car was pulling up beside me. It was a sweet volunteer named Sue who asked if I wanted a ride...I said sure! I hopped in and we whizzed off to Delaurier. I was happy to be back to the car where my phone battery pack was so I could recharge my phone. I walked around a bit and ran into a couple of ladies that I had met in the morning and they encouraged me to go to Cactus fields to see the Yellow Breasted Chat. I had tried to access the field from the Tilden Woods trail but I w as unfamiliar with it. It was easier to access it f rom the White Pine parking lot, just walk across the road, go a few metres to a footpath and follow the hordes of people! I have always wanted to see this bird,, but the opportunity just never came up. We all watched and waited as we heard its distinct loud call, bopping around the underbrush. Then after what seemed like forever it popped up and everyone exclaimed. Of course I couldn't get on it being vertically challenged, someone pointed it out to me and it was very obvious, I took a few snaps and was happy, and left the bird alone. Seeing the gorgeous male Chat was the highlight of the day for me. From having someone find it, identify it and give a location, it all came together. The bird was busy foraging and did not seem bothered by his audience. There seemed to be 2 so maybe they will breed here, the habitat is good for it.
I never look at my photos until I get them on my phone so I was pleasantly surprised by the detail in the photo, I assumed it would be very backlit, one for the camera!
I went back to the car and continued on to the Marsh Boardwalk. It was pretty crowded, this area is popular with tourists but not very birdy. There was nothing of note, but the Map turtles were abundant. I walked with a very lovely group of amateur naturalists, the Ottawa field naturalists.
It was after 2 so I thought I'd leave the park for Hillman Marsh. There was an OFO event there from 3 to 5 with Jean Iron that I wanted to partake in. Again the parking was crazy and I parked parallel on the roadway and walked in. There were not much waterfowl compared to my outing in April with OFO. There were 4 Short billed Dowitchers and some Dunlin. There were also some lovely Caspian and Forsters Tern, as well as Common. The wind was coming up with gusts from the w at 56 km/hr. The sky was darkening and I looked at my phone for weather, severe thunderstorm alert. I had seen lightening and I didn't really want to be in an open field during a thunderstorm so I high tailed it. As I was walking out (It was a good 15 minute walk) I let people know about the coming thunderstorm, they continued. I heard later that they all had to take shelter.
I left the area and realized that my phone had appeared to have died. The rain was coming hard and heavy and as I rely too much on Google maps, and with no phone, I was left to my own devices. I headed due north which took me a different way than what I'm familiar. I got to Wheatley rd. which I recognized then before you knew it I was in Merlin and I had to stop because of the golf ball sized hail! I made my way north and ended up in downtown Chatham where I went to a Subway shop, got a sub for dinner and asked for help. The young man directed me to Hwy 40 which I'm very familiar with, through Wallaceburg and then when I got to Petrolia line I knew where I was and headed home to a very happy dog and sunshine.
I was exhausted and sore (my fitbit says I took 26,000 steps!) but relieved that my phone came back to life when I got home! Lesson learned, don't rely on technology!
All in all a good day out! I didn't hit all of my targets, I wanted to get Cattle Egret, Fish Crow. Black Necked Stilt but didn't get them that day (I ended up getting BNST at Strathroy Sewage Lagoons today where there is a breeding pair!) I was happy with the experience ! I may go back again during my holidays upcoming, we will see!
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