Birding Through Midges

Today I went down to Point Pelee for a change.  As usual, something decent showed up at Rondeau--a Fish Crow.  At least I did not need that one for there as we saw the first Rondeau record May 20, 2000.
Photo here courtesy of P. Allen Woodliffe:

Fish Crow, Rondeau P.P. 29 May 2011

(photo by P. Allen Woodliffe)

It was a decent day weather wise.  The weather forecast was totally wrong for today and rain did not come.
Midges were very thick today and annoying, but there were some birds and butterflies to look at.
At the Tip lots of gulls were around including two Lesser Black-backed. 

Note Herring Gull with lure dangling from mouth

Two non-breeding type Common Loons were off the west side.  The only shorebirds were a single Ruddy Turnstone and about 15 Sanderlings.
I heard a Clay-colored Sparrow singing at the Tip.  Looking in the book later I see one was reported yesterday as well.  Speaking of sparrows, Steve Pike and I saw a Field Sparrow with a white tail on West Beach Trail.  Could not get a photo though.
Even better was a Grasshopper Sparrow.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Steve Pike with his keen eye, spotted an Olive Hairstreak in a Red Cedar.  First time I have managed a photo of one.

Along West Beach Trail Steve thought he heard a Yellow-breasted Chat.  I was not convinced, but later I went back and there definitely was one making some noise.

I tallied about 15 species of warblers, mostly Blackpoll.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Butterflies were out including Tiger, Giant and Spicebush Swallowtails, Orange Crescent, Eastern Tailed-Blue, Orange and Clouded Sulphurs, Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, American Lady and Monarch.

Almost forgot, I spotted a Hoary Bat just hanging around....