About 800 miles off course
“It’s a birding mecca!” exclaimed my husband Steve when he suggested we go to Point Pelee National Park in Ontario.
It would be our first birding adventure since my broken ankle accident in Zion National Park six months earlier, which included surgery–a plate, six screws and two pins–and I was still in physical therapy. I hadn’t been doing a lot of walking and this would be my first big trip. Steve, bought me a great compact stool I could Steve could sling over his shoulder so I could use when I needed to sit and rest.
So in May we were birding Point Pelee at the peak of Spring Migration and the place was practically wall to wall birders. Not only that, but it seems as though there were gobs of warblers everywhere too. Blackburnian, Black and White, American Redstart, Black-throated Blue, Nashville, Cape May, Northern Parula. And not just warblers, but also Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole and the lovely Summer Tanager, all of which are just a handful of what we saw.
We had taken the shuttle from the Visitor’s Center up to the Point-about a 2-mile drive–and we started to meander our way back on foot. I was tired and used my stool from time to time and even huddled under a fir tree as it began to rain while Steve, with binoculars in hand, wandered around looking for a good bird. After about a mile, the shuttle stopped and picked us up on its way back to the Visitor’s Center. As we were getting off the shuttle we heard the rumblings from other birders about a Bell’s Vireo that was spotted at the point.
A Bell’s Vireo? “That’s about 800 miles off course,” Steve explained to me. He was game to go back up to the point, but I just wanted to rest. And get a hot dog. Steve stayed on the shuttle and I climbed off and as I made my way to the concessions I thought, “A Bell’s Vireo? I don’t know what that is, but I think I’ll be sorry I missed it.” And so I turned back around and got on the shuttle just as the driver was closing the door. I sat next to Steve and he was pleasantly surprised to see me. (Points for me, which I’ll save to cash in later.)
Once the shuttle stopped at the point, it seemed as though all the birders were rushing a Bon Jovi concert. I swear, I saw a senior citizen push someone out of her way. They all speed-walked to the tree where the bird was, and of course, everyone–even the senior citizens–are faster walkers than me nowadays.
As I approached the area where all the birders were congregated, I couldn’t resist taking this photo:
I wonder what I would do if I was 800 miles off course. Usually an error like that is something you don’t want to advertise or make known. But in this case, this bird’s “over reaching” brought a lot of joy to people. It’s not like most of them hadn’t seen the Bell’s Vireo before. It’s that they know it’s rare in this neck of the woods. I don’t know where this poor fella is going to find a mate here. I still wonder if he wised up and went back to Ohio.
And here’s the interesting thing about birding that I’ve learned. There are some who are like, “meh,” when they see the usual or common. But then there are others who are still fascinated by both the ordinary and the extraordinary.
I hope that one day when I’m 800 miles off course I can draw excitement from others. In the meantime, I’ll be happy to draw excitement just by being ordinary.
And here are other photos from our Point Pelee trip.
Wow! I haven’t been to Point Pelee in years and didn’t really appreciate it as a kid. You’ve taken some absolutely beautiful pictures. Thanks for giving me a chance to slow down. :>
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That was my first trip to Point Pelee and to Pelee Island. (We stayed a night on the island) and I’m eager to go back. My husband is actually from Ontario and I’m from the U.S., so it was a real treat for me. Glad you enjoyed the photos!
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I live a couple hours away from there. If you end up back to this part of the country again make a detour to Alymer. The swans migrate through and rest there. There’s actually a count posted outside the park and duing migration it can get into the hundreds daily. Warning though – you may leave with lens envy (I sure did!)
http://www.naturallyelgin.org/AylmerWildlife.html
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Thanks for the suggestion and the link! I’m sure we’ll be back. I just got my resident Visa for Canada. Hooray!
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I am learning about birding and I actually enjoy it!!!!! You have a gift for writing and photography!
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Aw shucks. Thanks Juliana! Glad you enjoyed it.
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There are a lot of beautiful pictures here. Being based in Phoenix, it’s always a treat to see the deciduous warblers, and it looks like you guys were swimming in them!
The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is my favorite bird, and I still don’t have a picture of it. Coming away with this many great shots of so many different birds from one trip is pretty incredible. You must have a natural gift.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Laurence. Now if those warblers would just be still! They’re about as difficult to shoot (w/camera, natch) as hummingbirds.
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Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for your comment which I liked it a lot. I love the pictures in your blog!! They are impressive. The Scarlet Tanager and Red-bellied Woodpecker are great shots, I however think that the Woodpecker is poorly named, unless you tell me they are diamophic? I will easily called it Scarlet-naped Woodpecker!! I like that woodpecker.
Now, interesting how much you know about my home area! Actually what used to be known as Lake Hannington is Lake Bogoria, and not Lake Baringo, though the two are very close to each other that someone can easily mistake them. They are 36 km away from each other. Lake Bogoria is a purely alkaline lake while Lake Baringo is semi-alkaline.
Both lakes are important bird areas, with Bogoria hosting the largest population of both Lesser and Greater flamingo. High alkalinity in its water favors the formation of blue-green algae (spirolina) which form the major diet of Lesser Flamingo.
Contrary to Lake Bogoria, Baringo is a birding paradise with over 500 species ever recorded. Other than its bird life, the lake provides a home to over 300 hippos and an unknown number of Nile crocodiles. There are five species of Fish with Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis being endemic to this wetland.
It is my pleasure to warmly invite the Hanningtons to go birding at Lake Hannington!!!!
Cheers and have a great birding week.
Birding Jo!
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I’m glad you had a great time in my native province, your ankle notwithstanding! Love the pictures of all the birders craning their necks for a look at the Bell’s Vireo; too funny to think of the senior pushing someone out of the way for a look!
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Gillian, so glad you found the post! I know I’ll be back to your province, in fact next Spring, though just to Toronto. I wish I could have gotten a good photo of the Vireo, but it was flitting around too much and the sun wasn’t in a great position.
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