I met up with Steve Pike and Marianne Reid at De Laurier first thing. Many birds were flying over, especially warblers. We then headed to the VC, meeting up with Jeremy Hatt to get the first tram to the Tip.
The first bird of interest was a waterthrush just south of the solar panel. Not sure what species as we never got definitive views. Maybe a Louisiana?
At the Tip we could see hundreds of gulls. As we stepped out onto the sand, Steve spotted a phalarope. Obviously a Red! This creature was working the sand and not bothered by our presence. In fact it walked right up to us for stellar shots.
Steve spent considerable time sitting on the sand at the surf-line as this bird came right up to him. An incredible experience!
Phalarope vs. Pike
At one point the phalarope looked up as if a predator was approaching. It then hunkered down in a depression. Neat to see!
Can you see me?
Ironically, we talked about Red Phalarope on the way to the Tip and that Jeremy needed that one. Turns out it was his 300th Ontario bird for 2012! A nice bird for the 300 mark.
Other shorebirds at the Tip included Sanderling, a Ruddy Turnstone and a juv Golden Plover.
Quite a few hawks moving today, but nothing of note.
We worked our way up to Sparrow Field, noting some Common Gray-Hairstreaks.
Ian Woodfield joined us and we searched for White-M Hairstreaks. After a while, Marianne and I spotted one at the same time on goldenrod. It was the crappiest-looking one anyone has seen!
However, it was a lifer for Marianne, so it did not matter.
We had lunch in the Red Bus---nice to have a Green Goddess again!
We checked for shorebirds behind the Day's Inn. There were quite a few, but we had to walk out onto the mudflat to see them at the north end. Two Red-necked Phalaropes were here.
We later checked Blue Heron area and found an Ovenbird for the day. Quite a few warblers were in the trees at the parking lot.
A check of Northwest Beach area revealed more Gray Hairstreaks and Common Checkered-Skippers.
Lots of Monarchs today!
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