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Nature Link

With Blake Mann

May migrants and rarities

Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Big numbers of migrant birds have not yet been reported. Some birds may be held back due to the cool northeast winds. For some reason, we have been getting steady easterly winds this year, with no end in sight. Southwest winds would be more normal for this time of year. Easterly winds tend to keep big numbers of migrants at bay south of the Great Lakes.
However, this past week has brought in a good variety of birds, including some rarities. On Tuesday May 13, both Point Pelee and Rondeau had some good reports. Each had a Mississippi Kite (normal for Pelee, but unusual for Rondeau). Pelee had a Little Blue Heron, and Rondeau birders turned up a female Blue Grosbeak and a Lark Sparrow. As well, Pelee turned up an uncommon Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow and later a Henslow's Sparrow. Rondeau hosted a LeConte's Sparrow, and uncommon and elusive species.
On May 14, Rondeau's second record Fish Crow was reported along the south beach.
The Rondeau Blue Grosbeak female was still present at the time of this writing. She constantly patrols a small area along the south point beach. Obviously she is looking for a male companion.
On Saturday May 17 evening, the endangered species, a Kirtland's Warbler was reported on the north west beach at Point Pelee. Usually at least one of these shows up at Pelee each May.
Farther afield, at Presque Isle, a White-winged Dove conveniently showed up at a birder's feeder, and stayed several days to the delight of listers and "chasers".
A Eurasian Collared Dove showed up at the Marysville Church near Peterborough. Pelee also reported one of those in mid-week, while Alan Wormington reported a brief sighting at Rondeau on May 8. This species is becoming more and more common.
While I was birding at Brander Park, Port Lambton on the evening of May 14, I turned up an extreme rarity. I concluded that I saw a male Virginia's Warbler. Only about four other sightings have been confirmed in the province over the years. The last one was at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory in August 2001. It was banded there after being caught in the banding nets. The Virginia's is closely related to the common Nashville Warbler.
On Sunday May 18 many of the migrants had departed, and no new ones had arrived. The usual haunts were quite void of birds. Until this unusual weather pattern breaks, a big influx of new migrants will not occur.
Next weekend is the FON Annual Conference in Port Elgin. It coincides with the Huron Fringe Birding Festival at MacGregor Point Provincial Park near the village. This provincial park is an excellent birding park, and one of my favourite stops. I plan on attending, so hopefully the birds will make a showing.
The attached photo is of some Dunlin at Rondeau Park a few years ago. They are a common shorebird that migrates through in big numbers.