Another Day At Point Pelee

Fiery Skipper

It looked good for birding and butterflying at Point Pelee today (Sunday), so that is where I went.  I got there early to look at birds.  Flocks of warblers were steady right from the V. C. parking lot to the Tip.  Most numerous were Blackpoll (several dozen).
Some bird photos from today:

Palm Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Unco-operative Northern Parula

Chestnut-sided Warbler

At the Tip, flybys were minimal, but it was nice to sit there for a while.  Shorebirds included Sanderling (several), Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper (2).

I walked back West Beach Trail and found lots of butterflies, even in the wind!  It was obvious that there was a big influx of Fiery Skippers.  I had 34 by the time I was done, but that was surpassed by a count of 72 by Alan Wormington from West Beach P. L. to Tip alone.  The old record count was only 38 according to Alan's chart.
The south end of NW Beach parking lot was good with at least 4 Gray Hairstreaks there, a couple of Checkered-skippers, a Variegated Fritillary (first spotted by Henrietta O'Neill) and  many Fiery Skippers.

It  is all in timing, as when I got home, I found out the Alan Wormington saw a Funereal Duskywing--only the third park record!  (I"m used to it!)

Some of my totals:
Fiery Skipper
> 12-West Beach trail Serengetti Tree to about half way stop
> 8-near Black Willow
> 4-old maintenance
> 10-old parking area NW Beach (conservative estimate)

> Common Checkered-Skipper
> 2-NW Beach

> Gray Hairstreak
> 1-old maintenance
> 4-NW Beach

> Variegated Fritillary
> 1-NW Beach
Some photos from today:

Common Checkered-Skipper

Variegated Fritillary