Pelee and Larus Vegae

It was a day to go to Point Pelee.  I met up with Mike Nelson and Kevin McLaughlin for Tip watching, and as we arrived at the Tip, the "Vega" Gull was quite obvious.  I had heard about it during the week and thought it would be neat to see.  Although regarded as a subspecies of the Herring Gull, some consider it a full species.  Gulls of North America, Europe and Asia (Olsen and Larsson) treats it as a full species.  Likely some day it will be a full species in North America!

The Vega Gull is so obviously different-looking when you get a look at it for a number of reasons.  Later on it took flight, so we got to see the underwing.
Lots of gulls were present.  A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls included, but only a handfull of Bonaparte's.  Not much else was on the lake.  I did see one distant Common Loon and a few scaup in the duck department.

I decided to walk up East Beach as it was out of the wind and warm.  Lots of landbirds were along the way, but mostly kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Quite a few Palm Warblers, a few Redstarts and a Tennessee among a few Blackpolls.

I saw two Yellow-billed Cuckoos at one point just south of Sparrow Field.

The only shorebirds were a Wilson's Snipe and a Spotted Sandpiper.  The snipe I first heard only as it got off the beach.  I turned to see it flying south.  Not one I really expected along the beach at that point!
Quite a few raptors were flying today including a couple of Osprey, Broad-winged Hawks, Harriers, lots of Sharpies and a couple of Cooper's, 2 Peregrines, and a large group of lingering Turkey Vultures.  One TV stood out!

First thing this morning I stopped at De Laurier.  It is always a good spot at first light to get things that fly over. Lots of Pine Siskins were moving as well as a flock of 7 or 8 Red Crossbills.  Crossbills have been in the news lately, so watch (or listen) for them!

On the way home, I stopped briefly at St. Clair NWA.  Roosting Great Egrets have been reported lately, and about 100 were visible when I was there.  One had a green wing tag on both wings (35P).  Those were banded at Chantry Island this summer.  More egrets will come in later in the day.  Up to 178 were reported by Chip Weseloh a day or two ago.
St. Clair seems to be a good roosting area for them.  I remember seeing lots when I first started birding and thought it was cool.  I recall seeing about 75 once, then later around 100.  One time I found a Snowy Egret amongst them many years ago!