Fall Birding at Point Pelee and Tip Watches

Sunday, I decided to head down to Point Pelee for some leisurely birding.  An OFO field trip led by Jeremy Hatt was scheduled.  Turns out it was only me and one other fellow on the outing!

Before meeting Jeremy at the VC, I stopped by De Laurier parking lot.  This spot is often a good place to start first thing in the morning as many things can be flying over.  You have a nice open area to look at the sky.  And, you never know what may be around the parking lot.
Chipping Sparrows seemed to be the order of the day, as I counted over 70 in one flock!

Many more were added during the day.

After meeting at the VC parking lot, we walked to the Tip since the tram does not run until 10 a.m. this time of year.
Golden-crowned Kinglets were constant all the way to the Tip.

Upon arrival, we met up with some other familiar birders.  A moderate SW wind was stirring, somewhat good for a Tip watch.

Several White-winged Scoters were on the move.

Later on, Jeremy spotted a jaeger moving down the east side.  True to fashion, it got the gulls stirred up.  Although somewhat distant, we got decent views of the 'Arctic Skua' as it rounded the Tip and headed on west.
We concluded it was a Parasitic.

Pelee has been good for jaegers so far this season, at least the times I have been there.  For whatever reason, they always come down the east side!  I have seen all three species there this fall.  We still have some good days ahead for more Tip watches.

Point Pelee is much farther for me to drive but there is nothing like the "Tip".  I would rather go to Rondeau, but it is geographically different and has not really produced so far this season (in reference to lake watches).  The recent Purple Sandpiper was certainly a highlight at Rondeau, as yet again I was in a different direction when a decent bird shows up!  (Local birders can thank me, lol).  Seeing good birds is all about being in the right place at the right time (luck), or so it seems.

The Tip watches are always interesting and fun.  Here is a view from October 2016.

Of course, there were the lots of good times in the past with the legendary Alan Wormington.

(submitted photo)

This day, an Eastern Meadowlark briefly alighted in a tree at the Tip.  We could not make it into a Western though!

Throngs of tourists started to arrive, so we headed back to the VC.  Next walk was along Shuster trail where we found some action at the intersection of Shuster and Tilden's.  Along the trail we found Blue-headed Vireo, a couple of Blackpoll Warblers and a Black-throated Green among others.

Timid Blackpoll

It seemed to be a decent hawk day as we saw a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks and several Red-tailed among others.

A colourful caterpillar caught my eye at one point.  Turns out it was a Brown-hooded Owlet moth.

After parting ways, I checked out De Laurier trail, then moved over to west beach trail where there was a good movement of butterflies.
Sulphurs were in big numbers and a few Common Buckeyes were on the move.  American Painted-Lady was also seen.

Although it was a somewhat quiet day for birds, it was nice to be out with birding friends.