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Field Guides Tour Report
Point Pelee Migration Spectacle 2013
May 11, 2013 to May 18, 2013
Peter Burke


Spring warblers are a Pelee highlight, and Blackburnian was one of the stars of the show. (Photo by participant Sue Carr)

The spectacle of spring migration at Point Pelee is reliable in that every year is different -- from the birds to the weather.

This year was no exception as we experienced unusually cold temperatures as well as pleasantly warm and sunny conditions. Our trip began pleasantly enough but quickly declined to intermittent snow and hail squalls on our second day! However, this led to some fantastic birding, culminating with a splendid male Cerulean Warbler right at ground level in Rondeau.

As our week progressed, the temperatures climbed and the birding fun grew with a memorable reverse migration off of the tip of Point Pelee, consisting of a nice diversity of species. All those warblers for which Pelee is so famous -- Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Canada, Cape May, Hooded, and more -- put on a great show. And we took advantage of all the great things Pelee has to offer, with exciting mornings at the tip, casual strolls along winding nature trails, and quiet evenings when you feel like you have the park to yourselves.

And let's not forget the other exciting sites we birded: the lonely and rustic Carden Plain with its grassland and wetland species like Upland Sandpipers and American Bitterns; Rondeau Provincial Park, where we enjoyed Yellow-throated Vireos, ground-feeding warblers and bird-filled feeders; Old Cut banding station which allowed us to see many species up close and personal; and Backus Woods with its towering Carolinian forests and plethora of wildflowers. Even the urbanized shoreline of western Lake Ontario provided excitement -- Red-necked Grebes allowed point blank viewing, and a pair of nesting Fish Crows marked a historic first nesting for Canada.

I hope you enjoyed all of these experiences and fondly recall the great camaraderie of the group when you read through the triplist. It was a pleasure to travel and bird with all of you, and I hope we get to see you again soon on another exciting Field Guides adventure!

--Pete


KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant


BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) – seen throughout the tour
MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor) – small numbers at Hillman marsh, Long Point marsh and along Lake Ontario
WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa) – some beautiful looks at pairs sitting in trees near nesting cavities


Continuing on the warbler theme, this Kirtland's Warbler was a real show-stopper! (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

GADWALL (Anas strepera) – observed at Hillman Marsh and along Lake Ontario.
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) – observed daily in small numbers.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) – a pair on Canal Lake our morning on the Carden Plain.
REDHEAD (Aythya americana) – two males at Hillman marsh
LONG-TAILED DUCK (Clangula hyemalis) – breeding and winter plumaged males and females along Lake Ontario.
COMMON GOLDENEYE (Bucephala clangula) – three birds, including a full male, at Colonel Sam Smith Park in Toronto.
HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus) – a flyby female/young male at the rail marsh on the Carden Plain.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator) – many small flocks at the tip of Pelee and also along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis) – a singleton at Colonel Sam Smith Park.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
RUFFED GROUSE (Bonasa umbellus) – drumming birds heard on the Carden Plain only.
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) – many birds, including displaying toms at Pelee
Gaviidae (Loons)
COMMON LOON (Gavia immer) – A wonderful pair offered superb viewing on Canal Lake in the Carden Plain.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
RED-NECKED GREBE (Podiceps grisegena) – these birds have been recently encouraged to breed on floating tires along the north shore of Lake Ontario where we saw a couple of pairs at Burloak Park.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
AMERICAN BITTERN (Botaurus lentiginosus) – some stellar viewing of sining males, both days on the Carden Plain in the scope. Great birds!
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias) – seen almost daily.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – a small number around the marshes of Pelee.
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) – two flypasts; one in Orillia and one near Rondeau.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura) – seen daily
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) – nesting birds along Canal Lake in Carden and many nesting structures in the area.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus) – a male seen flying near Wheatley Harbor.


It wasn't all warblers, of course -- this Rose-breasted Grosbeak wasn't too shabby either. We encountered the species regularly on the tour. (Photo by participant Sue Carr)

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus) – a quick look at a flying bird in Leamington during a grocery run!
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii) – One soaring down to the tip during lunch at the Visitor's Centre at Pelee
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – Nesting birds just north of our hotel at Pelee.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis) – seen almost daily.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola) – Super views of a feeding bird at the rail marsh on the Carden Plain. Leisurely, long looks as the bird fed right in front of us. Sure beat the bird that quickly scrambled across the road just minutes before!
SORA (Porzana carolina) – A calling bird at the rail marsh on the Carden Plain.
Gruidae (Cranes)
SANDHILL CRANE (Grus canadensis) – A line of birds flying down Long Point while we watched from the dyke at Big Creek.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola) – We saw hundreds of these smartly dressed shorebirds in the fields near our hotel at Pelee and along the road to Rondeau.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus) – Several at Hillman Marsh
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) – commonly seen
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) – nice views of the field marks at Hillman Marsh.
UPLAND SANDPIPER (Bartramia longicauda) – A little persistence and we were rewarded with fine views thanks to Skip spotting what turned out to be four birds along the roadside at Carden.


This female Eastern Whip-poor-will was day-roosting quietly near the tip of the Point, no doubt after a long northward crossing. (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres) – good numbers accompanying the plovers in fields north of the hotel at Pelee
SANDERLING (Calidris alba) – two birds at Wheatley were smartly dressed in breeding plumage.
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – a few in the shorebird habitat at Hillman
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina) – great views of these charming shorebirds at Hillman.
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus) – a couple of small groups at Hillman were showing off their breeding colors and gave us a chance to go over field marks of Dowitchers
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata) – a number of birds displaying and sitting on fenceposts on Carden Plain.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Scolopax minor) – flashlight views at point blank was the reward for persisting with this species!
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BONAPARTE'S GULL (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) – hundreds of birds at Pelee in various plumages
LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) – A first summer bird at the tip of Pelee on a couple of days
LAUGHING GULL (Leucophaeus atricilla) – this is a rare visit from a maritime species to Ontario! A wonder opportunity to compare to Boneparte's Gulls at the tip of Pelee.
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis) – common throughout the trip
HERRING GULL (AMERICAN) (Larus argentatus smithsonianus) – less common than Ring-billeds but still many birds at Pelee, Wheatley and near Orillia at Mara Provincial Park. We also observed a first cycle Glaucous X Herring Gull hybrid at Wheatley Harbour
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus) – at least two birds at the tip of Pelee on separate days; both immatures.
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus marinus) – a small number of immatures at the tip of Pelee
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia) – several seen on a few days, at Orillia, Pelee and Lake Ontario shoreline
BLACK TERN (Chlidonias niger) – breeding plumaged adults at the tip of Pelee on a few days in small numbers
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo) – hundreds at the tip of Pelee and a nice side by side comparison with Forster's at Hillman
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri) – a nice sized group at Hillman and Wheatley harbour
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – throughout the tour


This male Cerulean Warbler offered amazing views at Rondeau. (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura) – widespread and daily
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) – a single bird flushed off the forest floor in Backus woods that only a couple people saw
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus vociferus) – a roosting bird at the sparrow field on our last day at Pelee; great scope views!
Apodidae (Swifts)
CHIMNEY SWIFT (Chaetura pelagica) – migrants were noted overhead at Pelee on a few days
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris) – we caught up with a couple of birds feeding on flowering shrubs at Pelee
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon) – a couple of birds near the water at Pelee
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) – somewhat distant but satisfactory views of a first year bird on our last day at Pelee; another was seen by a couple of people our first day at Pelee
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes carolinus) – our views of birds at the Rondeau feeders were the best!
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius) – we brought in a territorial male at Carden but also saw a nice female at Pelee, quite late for a migrant
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Picoides pubescens) – seen most days
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus) – a few birds at Rondeau and Backus woods.
NORTHERN FLICKER (Colaptes auratus) – the territorial displays of two males at Rondeau were very entertaining; also seen on a number of other days
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus) – two flypasts and a couple of drumming birds were all we could come up with this year
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – seen on many days during the tour in suitable breeding habitat
MERLIN (Falco columbarius) – a young, very brown pale bird at the sparrow field at Pelee could have belonged to the prairie subspecies richardsoni
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – a bird flying over the road near Colonel Sam Smith park seemed to have something in its talons; probably a locally breeding bird
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus virens) – a couple of these late arriving flycatchers were seen on our last two days.


Common and lovely: Yellow Warbler (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

ALDER FLYCATCHER (Empidonax alnorum) – we studied an empid near the sparrow field that seemed best to fit this species to me
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Empidonax traillii) – two singing birds behind the hotel when we were looking for Woodcocks at Pelee
LEAST FLYCATCHER (Empidonax minimus) – quite a good number of migrants still lingering at Pelee offered us great looks
EASTERN PHOEBE (Sayornis phoebe) – singles at Carden and Pelee
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus crinitus) – we got a decent response from a bird in Backus Woods that offered up all the field marks
EASTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus tyrannus) – seen throughout the trip with our best views the first day at Carden
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) – Ontario's small breeding population is centered on the Carden Plain; we saw an adult at the Cameron Ranch our first afternoon flipping around some hawthorns near a cattle pen. This eastern subspecies, migrans, is now extirpated from many surrounding states
Vireonidae (Vireos)
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons) – a single during the reverse migration at the tip of Pelee was bested by a pair at Spicebush trail in Rondeau that came right in close
BLUE-HEADED VIREO (Vireo solitarius) – a number of observations at Pelee of this handsome vireo
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) – good studies of this bird at Pelee
PHILADELPHIA VIREO (Vireo philadelphicus) – a couple of birds at Pelee
RED-EYED VIREO (Vireo olivaceus) – this common forest bird was just beginning to arrive in numbers
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata) – both breeding birds and first summer returning migrants were seen throughout the tour
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – common and widespread
FISH CROW (Corvus ossifragus) – this was an unexpected surprise! The first nest of Fish Crow in Canada was recently discovered in Oakville Ontario along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. We stopped by and saw the male attending the female on the nest. Although we didn't hear any calls we could see that the birds did appear rather petite and long tailed.
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris) – Some fine views of a male near Simcoe; otherwise commonly flushed along agricultural fields in the south
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) – several at Hillman marsh
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis) – seen in small numbers most days at Pelee
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor) – common throughout tour
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) – a wonderful colony along the Lake Ontario shoreline at Burloak Park


This Red-necked Grebe was on a nest built in a tire at Burloak Park. (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) – widespread and common
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – just a couple of birds at the rail marsh in Carden at a Pelee
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE (Poecile atricapillus) – low numbers throughout tour, as they are feeding nestlings
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) – higher than normal numbers of late migrants at Pelee
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis) – fine views at the Rondeau feeders; these eastern birds are different vocally than the western birds
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana) – a territorial male was enticed out at Carden Plain
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon) – common at Pelee
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris) – heard at the rail marsh at Carden and also seen at Big Creek marsh
CAROLINA WREN (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – Brief views and a number of singing birds at Pelee
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea) – seen in low numbers at Pelee and a nest being built at Colonel Sam Smith park
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) – higher than normal numbers of late migrants; seen most days
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis) – a few on Carden and around Long Point
VEERY (Catharus fuscescens) – well seen at Pelee and also in the hand at Old Cut banding station
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus) – seen most days at Pelee; a very common migrant that is good at skulking
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) – a singleton banded at Old Cut
WOOD THRUSH (Hylocichla mustelina) – nesting birds at Rondeau and a bird banded at Old Cut gave us nice views; also heard on breeding sites around Backus Woods
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius) – abundant breeder
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) – widespread and seen most days in low numbers
BROWN THRASHER (Toxostoma rufum) – great views of singing birds on Carden
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) – common and widespread
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum) – small flocks at the tip of Pelee indicated that the later spring migrants were starting to appear
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
OVENBIRD (Seiurus aurocapilla) – a singing male at Carden gave us some good views but the bird banded at Old Cut offered even better ones. Heard occasionally while at Pelee and Backus Woods


Fish Crow was not known to breed in Canada until this year! (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

WORM-EATING WARBLER (Helmitheros vermivorum) – One of the hardest warblers to spot at Pelee, we got onto a reported bird when Joseph called it out and it eventually popped up not far from the group for a few seconds. This species breeds in the US only and occurs as a vagrant at Pelee
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia motacilla) – A breeding male offered decent, prolonged views in Backus Woods. This is also a southern breeder at the very northern limits of its range.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis) – A cooperative male in Carden gave great views below eye level just as the first of the snow/hail arrived! We heard a couple more at Pelee/Backus/Rondeau
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora cyanoptera) – One female at Rondeau was bested by a male at St. Williams forestry station that we fought through the mosquitos for!
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (Mniotilta varia) – seen most days, many of them females, indicating that the males had passed through earlier
TENNESSEE WARBLER (Oreothlypis peregrina) – A small number of these warblers, including a bird feeding on the ground at Rondeau
NASHVILLE WARBLER (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) – Decent numbers at Pelee gave great looks at all the field marks. Last year we saw none at Pelee!
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas) – widespread and seen most days in low numbers
HOODED WARBLER (Setophaga citrina) – A couple of males at Pelee and Rondeau, as well as in Backus Woods where this is a common breeder.
AMERICAN REDSTART (Setophaga ruticilla) – We saw both sexes and first spring males throughout the trip
KIRTLAND'S WARBLER (Setophaga kirtlandii) – With an increasing population due to expert management by the Michigan DNR, this species has recently been taken off the endangered species list, and thought to be over 2000 individuals. The first spring male we saw was consistent with annual sightings of spring migrants at Pelee for the past decade. What a great sighting!!!
CAPE MAY WARBLER (Setophaga tigrina) – Several spanking males with the Kirtland's Warbler made for quite a memorable event
CERULEAN WARBLER (Setophaga cerulea) – with point blank ground views of a male at Rondeau, we couldn't have had it any better for this species! A singing male in Backus was nice to hear up close.
NORTHERN PARULA (Setophaga americana) – some excellent views of this small warbler throughout our time at Pelee.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER (Setophaga magnolia) – this handsome warbler was seen on many days, mainly males.


Laughing Gull loafing at the tip was an unexpected sighting. (Photo by guide Peter Burke)

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER (Setophaga castanea) – At least two different males were seen at Pelee -often giving us strained necks in the process!
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER (Setophaga fusca) – unforgettable views of several males at the tip of Pelee, along with numerous other sightings during the trip
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia) – as abundant as they were, we always had a bright spot with us in the form of a Yellow Warbler!
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica) – we had fantastic views of many males throughout the trip
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Setophaga caerulescens) – it took a little while but we finally came across a male at the tip of Pelee, and a female at Rondeau
PALM WARBLER (Setophaga palmarum) – only a few of these birds were still around - it is an earlier warbler migrant and most had gone through
PINE WARBLER (Setophaga pinus) – a very cooperative male at Backus woods offered super views; heard a couple of other spots near long point
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Setophaga coronata) – seen on many of the days of the tour in low numbers
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (Setophaga virens) – many satisfying views of this species throughout the trip
CANADA WARBLER (Cardellina canadensis) – a singing male during lunch was quite cooperative for the group
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla) – a single male at Rondeau our second day was the only bird of the trip
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
EASTERN TOWHEE (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) – a very cooperative male at Carden and a small number of other birds at Pelee and Long Point, mainly heard
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina) – small numbers throughout the trip
FIELD SPARROW (Spizella pusilla) – great views at Pelee on the lawn while we ate dinner and along the beach
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus) – from the comfort of the van we went over the finer details of grassland sparrow identification with this bird near Long Point


Can't resist one more warbler: Northern Parula! (Photo by guide Peter Burke)re Burke)

SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis) – our last morning was reserved for studying Savannah Sparrow while looking for Bobolinks
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum) – One bird along the east beach near the tip of Pelee posed for many of us while Susan got a few photos of it
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia) – widespread and common
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii) – furtive and skulking, we played with a few Lincoln's Sparrows in the undergrowth of Pelee
SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana) – the rail marsh at Carden gave us a neat opportunity to really see the finer details of this species
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Zonotrichia albicollis) – heard on Carden and seen at Pelee and Old Cut but most migrants had already passed through
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia leucophrys) – very good numbers of this species were passing through Pelee; we even caught up with a gambelli subspecies during one of our lunch stops
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Junco hyemalis) – a rather late female plumaged bird at Rondeau
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
SCARLET TANAGER (Piranga olivacea) – we actually saw a female before coming across a small number of beautifully colored males at Pelee.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis) – common in the south
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus) – widespread and abundant, we saw this bird every day at Pelee, Rondeau and Long Point. Some pairs had begun nest building
INDIGO BUNTING (Passerina cyanea) – a few males on the green dandelion covered lawns of Pelee's picnic areas were show-stoppers. A small number were seen during the reverse migration at the tip.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
BOBOLINK (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) – it took until the final day to catch up with this species and the cold, windy conditions probably had to do with the lack of birds on territory this year.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus) – widespread and abundant
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna) – fairly common at Carden, we saw a good number both days
COMMON GRACKLE (Quiscalus quiscula) – widespread and abundant
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater) – widespread and abundant in the south
ORCHARD ORIOLE (Icterus spurius) – exceptionally abundant at Pelee, we saw then in numbers daily.
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (Icterus galbula) – Abundant breeder and migrant at Pelee, we also saw them in a curious reverse migration one day at the tip.
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
PURPLE FINCH (Haemorhous purpureus) – A beautiful male came in close for viewing at Carden
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus) – Several at Old Cut in along the Lake Ontario shoreline
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) – A single at the feeders at Rondeau
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Spinus tristis) – Low numbers throughout the trip
EVENING GROSBEAK (Coccothraustes vespertinus) – a couple of high flying birds at Carden that didn't give us much to see!
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) – common around human habitations and farms

MAMMALS
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus) – a young of the year at Old Cut
PLAIN EASTERN CHIPMUNK (Tamias striatus) – several at Backus Woods
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis) – Common and abundant in both black and gray forms
RED SQUIRREL (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) – one at Old cut
MUSKRAT (Ondatra zibethica) – several at Big Creek dyke
NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE (Erethizon dorsatum) – one in a tree at Carden
NORTHERN RACCOON (Procyon lotor) – a couple at Pelee
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) – several seen along roadsides


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Also seen on the tour:

Midland Painted Turtle

Eastern Garter Snake

Five-lined Skink

European Cabbage White


Totals for the tour: 169 bird taxa and 8 mammal taxa