Long Point to Point Pelee or The Kirtland's Twitch..

After an early breakfast at the motel in Simcoe we met in the car park where some Common Loons were seen flying overhead. Then we drove towards Long Point, stopping when a Sandhill Crane was spotted feeding in a roadside field and we managed some reasonably close views.

Sandhill Crane

Once at Long Point Observatory it was much busier and a complete contrast to yesterday with a big fall of Myrtle Warblers immediately apparent. 

Myrtle Warblers

Sifting through all the activity revealed a female Pine Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler amongst the highlights. Walking the trails we also found Northern Parula, Blackburnian, Magnolia, Nashville, Tennessee and Orange-crowned  Warblers, a Veery, Ruby-throated Hummingbird on a feeder, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Cedar Waxwing, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee, American Bittern in flight, and a flyover Bobolink.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Northern Cardinal

Drove up to the picnic area but didn’t find much new although Warbling Vireo and yet more waxwings were seen, although their numbers were greatly reduced, plus carpets of White-throated Sparrows. 

White-throated Sparrow

Just up the road we called in to an overlook and scanned the reedbed where 2 Sandhill Cranes could be seen in the distance, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebe, Caspian and Forster’s Terns and a Swamp Sparrow were found, with a Belted Kingfisher seen as we were leaving.

Then it was time to set out on the 2.5 hour drive Point Pelee, where en-route a quick check of the ABA Rarities Round-up revealed at least one and possibly two Kirtland’s Warblers were present there. So we eventually arrived at 3.30pm and drove to the Visitor Centre, catching the next tram down to the tip. After a bit of a run-around, seeing Wilson’s Warbler, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, and Blue-headed Vireo we made it to the right spot where the bird had been seen only to find just two photographers waiting for it. 

Brown Thrasher

We spread out and over the next hour noted numerous Palm Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Brown Thrasher before we picked up the Kirtland’s Warbler in a conifer right beside the trail. 

The rare Kirtland's Warbler

Over the next half an hour the bird gave point-blank views and we soaked up the whole experience of seeing such a rare bird – and celebrated a successful twitch. Leaving here we walked up to the tram stop and found a mixed feeding flock with 3 more Black-and-white Warblers, Nashville, Common Yellowthroat, Myrtle and a cracking Blackburnian Warbler to end an excellent day.

Driving in and out of Pelee also produced a Red-headed Woodpecker and Wild Turkey.

Canada Day 2: Long Point and Port Rowan Wetlands

An early departure from Niagara saw us calling in to a great diner in Simcoe for breakfast just as they opened, with a Bald Eagle having already being seen on the drive so far. 

Bald Eagle

Then, with our lunchtime sandwiches from Tim Horton’s and our first Chimney Swifts, we drove with much anticipation to Long Point Bird Observatory and our first day of migrant hunting. Upon arrival, a quick check revealed nothing much of interest in the banding station so we hit the trails and in quick time found Myrtle, Palm, Black-throated Green & Black-and-White Warblers, plus a Warbling Vireo. 

Warbling Vireo

We didn’t walk very far but just hung around the same area for quite a while and new birds kept appearing all of the time and we had Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Baltimore Oriole, and both White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows.

Baltimore Oriole

White-throated Sparrow

We walked along the street to the Provincial Park which was closed  but saw a flyby American Bittern, as well as American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and a few Northern Cardinals. With nothing else on offer we returned to the Obs and checked out the feeders which were attracting Downy Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Blue Jay, and a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Cedar Waxwings

Our picnic lunch was consumed a few kilometres back along the road at a picnic site set in some very large trees. An amazing flock of 100+ Cedar Waxwings was feeding here and further scrutiny produced Hermit Thrush, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Carolina and Northern House Wrens, Brown Thrasher, 4+ Warbling Vireo and an Orchard Oriole. Returning to the Obs it was very quiet although from an overlook across the marsh we saw Great Blue and Green Herons, Eastern Phoebe, and yet more Yellow Warblers.

It was now late afternoon and as the skies darkened and rain splattering the windshield we drove the short distance to Port Rowan Wetlands seeing a Belted Kingfisher along the way. The wetlands held a great little area of lagoons, marsh and reeds where Song Sparrows fed along the water’s edge, a flock of 6 Buffleheads displayed, and numerous Tree Swallows flew low overhead. 

Tree Swallow

Buffleheads

Best of all was a Virginia Rail that after calling for a while scuttled incredibly close to look at us before walking away across an open area and out of view. Wow! 

Virginia Rail

If that want enough, a Sora Rail was also seen, along with Pied-billed Grebe, Killdeer, and a Beaver… Nice!

Beaver

Driving between sites today also produced Northern Harrier, Merlin, 2 more Bald Eagles and a Cooper’s Hawk.

Canada Day 1: Niagara Falls

After a seven hour direct flight we reached Toronto at 11.30am and literally whizzed through Immigration and baggage reclaim and were soon at the Hertz Rental Desk picking up our 7-seater minivans. The route to Niagara Falls was relatively simple and after checking in at the Howard Johnson Motel we drove just down the road and parked up opposite the falls. A pleasant couple of hours was spent walking alongside the river and viewing what is considered to be one of the modern day Wonders of the World – Niagara Falls. 

It is a pretty cool place and the hundreds of other visitors here this afternoon must have thought the same thing. Birds aren’t numerous here but we did see Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-billed and American Herring Gulls, Common Terns and a Peregrine Falcon along the river. Passerine interest was headlined by several Grey Catbirds in the trees bordering the car park, along with Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch and others. I did like the close views of a perched Northern Rough-winged Swallow as well. So a gentle introduction to the birdlife of Ontario and we just can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring….

Waders and Wacky Races

Left early doors and drove in darkness back to civilisation and drove to Willcox where we surprisingly found Twin Lakes & Cochise Lakes quite easily. Well, what a great place this was to bird and I only wish we had more time as these two lakes were choc full of birds. The good thing is you can drive right the way around and make the best use of the light as the sun was still quite low and in our eyes to begin with. But as soon as we pulled up we could see Wilson’s Phalaropes everywhere and I guesstimated around 100+ with birds spinning in circles literally everywhere you looked. But do you have any idea how difficult it is to get a photo of this bird spinning 360 degrees at 90 mph...? There were also a few Red-necked Phalaropes mixed in with them as well....

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's Phalarope

Red-necked Phalaropes 

Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's Phalarope

It’s a bit tricky to get good pics here as you’re not that close to the birds but they are feeding up avidly on their northward migration and really should be left alone. So here’s a few photo’s from our brief visit as I’ve still got 400+ miles to go to get to the Grand Canyon for an early evening visit… Crazy huh..?

Yellow-headed Blackbirds

We also saw flocks of Yellow-headed Blackbirds here, Western Meadowlark, Horned Lark, Western Kingbird, Brewer’s Sparrows etc. 

American Avocets

Shorebirds were amazing and we racked up Long-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated, Least and Western Sandpipers, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe and Willet. 

Long-billed Dowitchers

Willet

There was also Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Shoveller, Mexican Mallard, and a female scaup that had the right headshape for a Greater Scaup……

We literally had to tear ourselves away from here and hit the road, a long journey via Tucson and Phoenix before driving through the desert before getting to Flagstaff. And then on to the Grand Canyon, arriving around 5pm where we found it to be a bit on the chilly side but the views were worth all the driving. 

The majestic Grand Canyon

The forecast was for heavy rain tomorrow so this was our best shot and seeing the canyon in all its glory. And what a place huh? So that's pretty much my story of my first visit to Arizona. The following day we nailed Pinyon Jay before heading to the airport and flying home. 

As for me, well it's Canada and the migration spectacle up next....