People of the Point

Not all visitors to Point Pelee National Park are birders. Many come just to enjoy its beauty and to see the most southern tip of land in Canada. The sandy point was much longer but was washed away in a storm a few years ago. Water has a way of remodelling the landscape over and over again. I stood here and watched the waves lap in two directions. I imagined I was standing on a map of South Africa or South America and was watching the movements of two great oceans as they met around a point of land. I remember travelling as a school girl from Durban, South Africa to Montreal, Quebec in a Norwegian freighter ship. The trip around the bottom of Africa was rough and I recall being sick. The rest of the four week trip seemed smooth in comparison, but perhaps I was just used to the roll of the waves by then.


My husband stood near the previous site of a marine rescue station that was built on the west side of the point. Lake Erie is relatively shallow and the currents are treacherous in this area. Many shipwrecks have occurred during fierce storms and the brave men of the rescue unit would set out in bad weather to save stranded seamen. There were a number of historical plaques at the Leamington marina and harbour with details of some of the more famous shipwrecks which happened between Pelee Point and Pelee Island.


I often wondered why Grandma used to visit Jack Miner's for spring birding rather than Point Pelee. In her day most of the land was privately owned and cottages, farms, fisheries, hotels and even a school occupied the point. On May 29, 1918 the point was designated as a National Park, but it took many years for the government to acquire all the private land and gradually transform it to a nature sanctuary. The human history of the area is described in more detail on this site. These cultivated daffodils were blooming where a person once lived but the land has been allowed to return to a naturalized state.


The sensitive, shifting land of the point is no longer accessible by car and no camping is allowed anywhere in the park. This tram travels within 500m of the point three times an hour during the day and the area must be explored by foot or bicycle.


And that is a good thing indeed!

Point Pelee Life Birds

At the Point Pelee National Park visitors' centre, a number of items are available for purchase including bird checklist booklets for about $2.00. I grabbed one as we were about to leave and did not take it out of the bag until we were on the way home. The title read, "Liste d'oiseaux" and I quickly realized I had picked up the French version. My high school French was not adequate for reading bird names and I couldn't even guess what sittelles, troglodytes and roitoletes might be. There is even an alouette, the topic of a song we sang in school, but I cannot remember what it means. So my bird list for the weekend is scrawled in pencil on the paper bag from the store and I am not sure if it is complete.

Going through my pictures helped me identify some birds I was uncertain of in the field and these four were all new to me. The number one bird I wanted to see was a Red-headed Woodpecker and it was one of the first we saw at the point. It flew past and stayed in the top of a tree for at least ten minutes so I had lots of time to watch it through binoculars. It was smaller than I expected, but very beautiful with its distinctive red, white and black colouring.

We heard people talking about the Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and saw several. They are not much larger than a Kinglet and are just as active. I waited quite a while to get this picture. Pelee birders are in one of two groups based on their primary gear;-a camera or a pair of binoculars. Those looking for good pictures must be very patient and wait for birds to come into the open. They are trying for a few good shots, not an extensive list. The other birders are out to see as many different birds as possible and they move about fairly quickly. I took a few pictures, but really enjoyed using my binoculars.


This Black-throated Green Warbler was very friendly, but I am not sure who named it as it was distinctly yellow. Other warblers we saw were Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Blackpoll, Pine and Palm Warblers. Experienced birders identified many more and I have added the list of birds reported at the park while we were there at the end of this post.


White-eyed Vireos were one of the easiest birds to find on the point and I was fortunate to get one clear photograph. Vireos and Thrushes were really the birds of the day.

Last evening, along a trail near home, I saw my first Ovenbird. We were walking along the river and a steep embankment was on one side. I detected some movement and saw this plain little bird in a nest under a thicket. It emerged and started singing and what a voice it had! So much of birding is knowing where to look and how to listen for the distinctive sound each bird makes. Standing on the tip of Point Pelee was like being in the centre of a great orchestra. Many different bird songs were audible and even if I had been unable to identify a single one, it was still a very enjoyable experience.
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Subject: Point Pelee Migration update - April 25,2009
From: Sarah.Rupert AT pc.gc.ca

Apr 25th- It's been another great day here at the Point, there are hundreds of new migrants in the park today and some great highlights. At the tip this morning, birders were treated to an easy to see Brewster's Warbler. As well, there was a Grasshopper Sparrow seen along the West side of the point and then later found along the West Beach footpath, approx 300 m north of the Tip shuttle loop. Blue-headed vireos are numerous in the park and White-eyed vireos have been reported from several locations. Red-headed Woodpecker was also noted at the Tip this morning, as well as Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. A Northern Parula was found at the Cemetery and a Scarlet Tanager was noted along seasonal birding footpath north of Pioneer. A Vesper Sparrow was found feeding on the newly seeded lawn in front of the washrooms at Pioneer as well. This afternoon, there was a lot of bird activity along the road between White Pine and Black Willow Beach - the bike trail along this section has afforded great looks at many species - Pine Warblers are numerous in the area and easy to find. A Henslow's Sparrow was just reported along the roadside (on the east side of the road, opposite the Black Willow beach entrance sign).
The Hooded Warbler spotted along the Woodland Nature Trail was found again this afternoon. Outside the park, 15 American Avocets were spotted by Dean Ware at the Hillman Marsh shorebird cell. There are many different species of duck present there as well, viewing is often best at the end of the day.

Subject: Point Pelee Migration update - Sunday April 26, 2009
From: Sarah.Rupert AT pc.gc.ca

Hello Birders

We've enjoyed another lovely day here at Point Pelee and there continues to be good bird activity in the park.
This morning, 4 species of vireo were noted at the Tip (White-eyed, Blue-headed, Warbling and Red-eyed). A very early male Blackpoll Warbler was also seen by many observers this morning. The Brewster's Warbler found yesterday continued to be seen again today. Two FISH CROWS were noted calling and flying NE over the Tip this morning.
Blue-winged Warblers were found in several locations in the park, including the along the road between West Beach and White Pine and on the Woodland Nature Trail. Grey-cheeked thrushes were also noted (very early) along the Woodland Nature Trail, as were Red-headed Woodpecker and NorthernWaterthrush. A Northern Waterthrush was also hanging out around the boardwalk in Tilden's Woods and two Pine siskin were noted at the East Road exhibit along the same trail. Cape May Warbler was a noteworthy sighting from DeLaurier this morning and reports coming in this afternoon have suggested that birding along the west side of the park, on the footpaths north of white Pine have been fruitful.

Looking forward to what tomorrow may bring!
Good Birding!
Sarah Rupert
Sr. Park Interpreter, Interpretive Program Coordinator
Point Pelee National Park

Pelee Marsh

The Marsh Boardwalk is a one kilometer trail which is close to the entrance of Point Pelee National Park. We stopped here first and looked out at a huge expanse of cattails that extended as far as the eye could see. The floating boardwalk is a most interesting extension into this marsh that otherwise would only be accessible by boat.

During the summer season, canoes are available for rent and fishing is allowed with a special license. We walked this area twice on the weekend and it was my husband's favourite spot in the park. He usually goes fishing for spring lake trout on Manitoulin Island the last week of April but the trip did not happen this year. Many fish were visible in the shallow water and he identified sunfish, bass and carp by sight. He was sure there were pike there as well.


We saw Painted Turtles sunning on various logs and roots and there was evidence of muskrat trails in the rushes. Water lilies and other aquatic plants were starting to grow toward the surface. Frogs were plentiful and while we saw only one garter snake, water snakes are also present in the area. I was surprised that there were few water birds other than several American Coots, a few Canada Geese and Mallard Ducks. A Raven and two Turkey Vultures flew overhead and Great Blue Herons were seen in the narrows closer to the roadway. We saw four Blue-winged Teal ducks the first day in a ditch north of the marsh. Red-winged Blackbirds were numerous and we saw one Marsh Wren near the observation tower.


The observation tower was most interesting because of the nesting Barn Swallows in the underparts of the structure. I have seldom seen these birds in a perched position but they rested on the tower and it was possible to get quite close to them. I like the composition of the picture Tim took above the marsh.


This nest was decorated by a very savvy pair of Barn Swallows who have a future in interior design. Most of the other nests were plain mud cups. I wonder who donated the feathers?

There were many benches along the boardwalk and it would have been pleasant to sit out for half a day in the fresh breeze and sunshine. If this had been the only trail in the park it would have been worth the admission price.

But there was far more to explore as we drove toward the point...

Saturday Hike with Neil Taylor

Slide show of still pictures taken today

"Homer Watson Park offers a wonderful experience for the novice or the enthusiastic naturalist of any age. The park is rich in flora and fauna. Spring ephemerals such as Spring Beauty, White Trout Lily, Blood Root, Hepatica, etc., are abundant. Join Neil at his neighbourhood park, a special natural area, for an all morning walk on Saturday or an afternoon hike on Sunday. Wear sturdy footwear for the varied terrain. Binoculars and cameras are recommended..."

I have walked many trails in our region, but have never joined a guided group before today. Cheryl D., who comments regularly on this blog, invited me to join her for a hike sponsored by the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists. Neil Taylor, a retired teacher and enthusiastic nature lover who lives nearby led the group. I still have to go through my pictures to label them before I forget all I learned today. But for the benefit of any in the group who may stop by here, I have put a slide show together of some of my photographs. I believe my knowledge of spring wildflowers increased about 500% today! I will be posting individual edited pictures on my Flickr site. We also saw a number of birds including a couple of Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Great Crested Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler (heard), Great Blue Heron, as well as the usual suspects. One is never too old to benefit from a good teacher. Thanks Neil!

Friday Flowers: Canada's 42nd Parallel

Point Pelee in southwestern Ontario is a sandy spit of land on the north shore of Lake Erie near the town of Leamington. It is the most southern point in Canada and is equal in latitude to the northern border of California, Rome and Barcelona. Because it is surrounded by water, the temperatures are even more moderate than other locations on the 42nd parallel in North America. The 20 square kilometer area includes Carolinian forest, grassland, marshes, and beach where some of Canada's rarest plants and animals are found. Point Pelee National Park at 15 square kilomemters, is one of our smallest national parks but it is a very popular destination for birders and naturalists.

Onion fields just north of the park

Leamington is a farming community of about 30, 000 people where large, fertile fields and numerous greenhouses are found on the very flat landscape. It is known as the tomato capital of Canada and there is a large Heinz factory in the town. There are beautiful parks along the lake shore and within five minutes of touring around I knew this was a place where I could live contentedly. Leamington is a three hour drive southwest of our home and is only 30 km or so from Detroit MI. I would guess that spring here is about 7 to 10 days ahead of us. The warmer climate is excellent for growing vegetables, fruit and flowers.

Spring Beauty, Tilden Trail

There are several parking lots in the park adjacent to various trails. Near the entrance is a large marsh and a 1 kilometer boardwalk. There are several beach trails and a homestead trail where farms once operated. Near the visitor's interpretive centre are some woodland trails and a trolley runs from here to the 42nd parallel on the southern point every 20 minutes.

42nd parallel

The point is a particularly interesting birding area during spring migration as thousands of birds land here after flying north across Lake Erie. The trees here were full of bird song and movement but it was also interesting to look in the ground to see what was growing upward. Early butterflies and other insects flew about and I saw my first snake of the season.

Painted Lady butterfly in a wild violet patch

I finally had an opportunity to see the early spring flower known as Dutchman's Breeches. I have never seen any around our home and was happy to note they were the most abundant blooming plant in the park at the end of April. Other wildflowers seen included Spring Beauties, Mayapples and Violets. We only explored a fraction of the park and I am sure there were many other blooming plants in various habitats. I talked to a man who lived in the area and came here every day throughout the year. He and his wife purchase a seasonal pass to the park each winter and enjoy all seasons on the trails. Because it is flat and relatively small, it is an ideal place for seeing many things without an excessive amount of walking.

Did I mention I could live here?

Happy May Day!!

Good Parents

Raising a family is life's most challenging undertaking. While we may be equipped with basic instincts for the job, the variables are many and the outcome uncertain. Most parents are loving and attentive with their offspring although our human array of emotions, learned behaviours and cultural influences greatly impact the final product. Good parents are not perfect parents but they do their best.


It is hard to believe that the Canada Goose was on the verge of extinction at the turn of the 20th century. Through the efforts of Jack Miner of Kingsville, Ontario, they were protected and have made an amazing comeback. Most would consider Jack's efforts too successful. Grandma D. used to visit Jack Miner's bird sanctuary in the spring*. It is a short distance from Point Pelee and I would have liked to stop there this past weekend to see where Grandma birded. However, Point Pelee National Park was more than enough to explore in two days.


One does not have to travel far to find Canada Geese. There are many in the city and now is the busy season of caring for newly hatched goslings. One cannot find more attentive parents. Both male and female, who mate for life, are actively involved in guarding the nest and caring for their large broods. They can be very aggressive with their posturing and hisses when you approach their young. As annoying and dirty as geese can be in our parks, trails and golf courses, their offspring are very cute indeed.


These birds continue to be protected and our municipality tries to control their numbers by oiling eggs and transporting city geese to outlying areas. Because they are common and easily recognized, they are popular with many children and adults alike.

As well as trying to be a good parent, I am also trying to be a good citizen and have just finished filing our income tax returns. The tax deadline in Canada is April 30th so my Point Pelee pictures and posts had to take a back burner for the time being. Spring is a busy time of year for everyone it seems!

*Follow this link to an older post about Grandma's visits to Lake Erie.

Birds, birds and more birds!

Hermit Thrush at Point Pelee

My husband and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary yesterday. We went away for the weekend to Point Pelee, the most southern tip of land in Canada. Many birds migrate through this point, crossing Lake Erie northward in the spring and southward in the fall. A small archipelago is in the area providing places to rest on the long journey across the lake. I will be featuring some posts on this interesting spot but have to organize my thoughts and pictures first. We saw so much in such a short time.

Fox Sparrow in my yard today

After work today, I noticed a couple of unusual birds with spotted breasts in our yard. I assumed they were a pair of thrushes and went out after dinner to take a closer look. I got two good identifying shots and to my surprise realized I had two different species digging in my garden at the same time;- a Fox Sparrow and a Hermit Thrush! These birds confused me before and they confused me again.

There were many thrushes on Point Pelee this weekend and I identified a Hermit Thrush and a Wood Thrush. I find these birds to be quite elusive and was surprised to see one so visible in our yard.

Hermit Thrush in my yard today

Spring migration is in full swing. We have had several warm days with a southerly wind and the birds are coming north in large numbers. Our birding forums are buzzing with sightings and pictures. When I got home my Google reader had 120 new posts up in the past three days. It must be an inspiring time for many bloggers. I will read through the list, but cannot catch up on commenting. I am sure many of you find yourselves in similar situations and want to be outdoors as much as possible now that spring is here.

More to come...

Friday Flowers: Barren Bush?

We walked along the trails in a nearby bush this week and scuffed through the dry fallen leaves. The trees remain leafless although their buds are enlarging, awaiting a warm day or two to burst out and turn the forest to a soft green. In mid-summer, this area is overgrown with a ground cover of leafy plants along with plenty of mosquitoes. The canopy is full and filters out most of the sunlight. I was looking for spring wildflowers and had to look closely to find them amongst the dead leaves.

Blue Cohosh, Bloodroot,
Red Trillium, Trout Lily

Along the south edge of the woods we found a few plants that were already flowering. In a couple of weeks the ground will be completely covered with Trilliums, Trout Lilies and Jack in the Pulpit blooms.

The north section of the bush is growing at a noticeably slower pace, but green shoots are beginning to grow up around old stumps and trees. Fungi and mosses are plentiful and most interesting to look at although I have not learned to identify them yet. This is one of my favourite spring spots even though birds other than woodpeckers are quite scarce here. These flowers wait fifty weeks for a half month of beautiful floral display. I don't want to miss it.

"Come, gentle Spring! Ethereal Mildness! Come."
James Thomson