CANADA Point Pelee and Michigan, USA MAY 2007 TOUR NEWS Leader: Dave Milsom

Birdfinders 2007 group came, saw, and almost beat the record! The group total of 237 species tied the best ever total obtained on this tour. The first morning saw the group at the tip of the famous Point Pelee National Park. But there was barely any tip remaining after the fierce winter storms of 2007. Nevertheless, many great sightings occurred as a wave of warblers foraged close to the end of the point. At day’s end, 21 warbler species had been seen including Kentucky, Cerulean and Prairie. Other good finds were both cuckoo species, a young Great Horned Owl at the nest, a Common Nighthawk perched on a branch, Red-headed Woodpecker, all 5 possible thrushes attainable plus four vireo species. It would be hard to beat the first day but day 2 was another full of highlights: Hooded and Blue-winged warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Cooper’s Hawk at the nest, Alder Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Green Heron, Lincoln’s Sparrow and Marsh and Sedge Wrens were all new. However, the main highlight had to be the amazing American Woodcock display at dusk. The remaining days at Pelee, Rondeau Provincial Park and Hillman Marsh were all very productive. New birds included Yellow-breasted Chat, Mourning, Prothonotary, Cape May, Tennessee, Golden-winged and Orange-crowned warblers, Cattle Egret, Bald Eagle, Bufflehead, Canvasback, American Golden Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Willet, Solitary Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Chuck-wills Widow, Acadian Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Clay-colored Sparrow, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, Pileated Woodpecker and Eastern Screech-owl.

On day 7 we left Canada for Michigan. Stops near the Mackinac Bridge separating lakes Huron and Michigan were very good for ducks and waterbirds. On reaching Whitefish Point on Lake Superior, the weather gradually worsened over our three days there but we still managed some great finds. Best was a male Spruce Grouse displaying at our feet! On the beach at Whitefish Point we discovered a Piping Plover. Several raptors were added to the list. At Seney Wildlife Refuge, we added Sharp-tailed Grouse, Osprey, Ring-necked and Black Ducks, as well as Trumpeter Swan on the nest. At Raco Airfield Upland Sandpipers showed well. A major thrill was a pair of Barred Owls calling continuously and giving good views at Ackerman Corners. The restaurant feeders here also provided our first Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and Pine Siskins, plus a nearby Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. At Grayling, we enjoyed fabulous views of a male Kirtland’s Warbler. Another great Michigan spot was Nayanquing Marsh, where American Bittern and Yellow-headed Blackbirds put on a show, while Sora and Virginia Rails ran around our feet!

Returning to the Pelee area, additions to our list included Least Bittern and King Rail at St Clair NWA, Sanderling and Wilson’s Phalarope, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided flycatchers, Tufted Titmouse, Connecticut Warbler, and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Our final two days at Long Point (prior to our visit to Niagara Falls) added Lark Sparrow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-shouldered Hawk, Whip-poor Will and Hudsonian Whimbrel.