May 16, 2011 Cool wet morning at Pelee

Rain persisted today with north winds and there was some movement overnight. We arrived at the tip early and observed a small number of land birds, mainly warblers and flycatchers flying in off the lake and landing on the trees near the tip. Some individuals were just clear of the waves as they made there way to land. During an hour we observed 9 species of warblers including Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Canada, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Bay-breasted and numerous Least and 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Unfortunately due to the cool temperatures few insects were around and treetop species were forced to forage at eye or ground level in search of food. I picked up a dead Red-eyed Vireo near the Tram stop which had starved to death. With this cool wet weather there will be a shortage of food for these insect eaters and likely more dead birds. One of the unfortunate aspects of bird migration.

Rough waters off the tip at Pelee.

Despite the cool wet weather, birders began gathering at the tip early.

A group of Barn Swallows tried to keep warm with 6 or 7 birds in one nest.