Birding Philly Style

Clear, crisp skies and a full moon greeted us early this morning.

With many migrants still pouring through, I went down to good 'ole Rondeau this morning.  I met up with Steve Charbonneau again, starting at south point trail.  It was evident a good number of warblers, flycatchers, and vireos were around.  We found up to 17 species of warblers, most of the flycatchers (except Olive-sided) and all of the vireos except White-eyed (where did they go....again?).

We then started seeing "bunches" of Philadelphia Vireos.  There were in groups of two to eight at a time it seemed.  Frankly we have never seen so many on one walk.  We saw about 35 on south point trail alone!  But that was where most of the birds were, as we only added about five more elsewhere.  One must wonder how many in total were in the park today.  I enjoyed it as the philly is my favourite vireo.

Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were numerous as one would expect at this date.  One was even way out the south beach.

A goodly number of warblers were around especially Blackburnian, Black-throated Green and Wilson's.  A couple of Northern Parula were nice to see as well.

Parula in the morning shadows

We ended up walking way out the south beach.  Found Least Bittern in the usual spot.  A few shorebirds were around including these.

(did not realize a Robin was going through!)

It was a big day for Black-bellied Plover as at least 200 were at Erieau on the rocks, and several hundred more elsewhere including the sand islands off the marsh.  Lots of Ruddy Turnstones were about too, and I counted at least 30 at Erieau.

Thrushes have moved out for the most part but I spotted a late Hermit Thrush on tulip tree trail.  Only a couple of Swainson's Thrushes and a Gray-cheeked were seen today.
The Acadian Flycatcher was working its territory on spicebush trail, but little else was there.
It seemed most of the birds were on south point trail today.  Although it was very cold first thing this morning, it warmed up nicely by afternoon.

Lots of maggies today!

Blenheim Lagoons had nothing new, only more Semipalmated Sandpipers and lots of swallows (all usual species).