For our visit to Long Point we stayed at the cheap but rather grotty
Queensway Motel in Simcoe, about a half hour drive away from the birding
areas. Simcoe had various places to eat and we found the Barrels italian
restaurant next door to the motel to be good. In hindsight we would have
preferred to stay in Port Rowan which is much closer to Long Point and
quite picturesque, but with limited accommodation.
Long Point, Point Pelee and Rondeau are all very well known birding destinations
and we found that we could easily find out where to go to see target birds
from other birders and park staff. However, we did find two guides particularly
useful, if a little out of date - A Birder's Guide to Point Pelee (and
surrounding Region) (Hince, T. 1999, ISBN: 0-9685310-0-8) and A
Birding Guide to the Long Point Area (Skevington, J. et al. 1990).
Both contain details of all the sites and trails we visited and were available
to buy at the visitor centres. We also took A Bird-Finding Guide to
Ontario (Goodwin, C. 1995, ISBN: 0-8020-6904-5) though we found it
to be of limited use for the sites we visited.
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer |
4 flew over the viewing platform at Big Creek National
Wildlife Area on 24th. |
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus |
Common and regularly seen along Lake Erie. |
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis |
1 from the viewing platform at Big Creek National Wildlife
Area on 24th. |
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias |
Seen at various locations but particularly Hillman Marsh. |
Great White Egret Ardea alba |
Common around Hillman Marsh. |
Green Heron Butorides virescens |
1 at Port Rowan Cemetery, Long Point on 23rd and 5 there
on 24th. |
Black-crowned Hight Heron Nycticorax nycticorax |
1 seen in flight near Port Rowan, Long Point on 22nd. |
Mute Swan Cygnus olor |
1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th. Several offshore opposite
the Big Creek National Wildlife Area, Long Point. |
Canada Goose Branta canadensis |
Common, including several pairs with large broods. |
Wood Duck Aix sponsa |
Small numbers seen in wet forest areas. |
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos |
A few at Hillman Marsh on 17th. |
Gadwall Anas strepera |
A pair at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
American Wigeon Anas americana |
1 male at Hillman Marsh on 17th. |
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata |
1 male at Hillman Marsh on 17th and 18th and a pair
at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors |
1 male at Hillman Marsh on 17th and 18th and 2 males
and 1 female at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca |
1 male at Hillman Marsh on 18th. |
Lesser/Greater Scaup Aythya affinis/marila |
2 seen at great distance on Lake Erie on the north side
of the road by the Big Creek National Wildlife Area, Long Point on
23rd. |
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra |
1 female flew south at Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator |
Small numbers seen offshore at Point Pelee tip most
days. |
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis |
1 male at Port Rowan Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura |
Seen daily at Point Pelee and also seen around Hillman
Marsh. |
Osprey Pandion haliaetus |
1 over at Point Pelee tip on 18th and 19th. |
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis |
1 male at St. Williams Forest Station, Long Point on
22nd. |
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus |
Singles seen occasionally at Point Pelee. |
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii |
2 were seen as part of a small movement of raptors south
over Point Pelee on 19th. |
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus |
4 at Hillman Marsh on 16th. At least 5 were seen as
part of a small movement of raptors south over Point Pelee on 19th. |
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus |
Several (mainly immatures) seen as part of a small movement
of raptors south over Point Pelee on 19th. At least 1 at St. Williams
Forest Station, Long Point on 23rd. |
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis |
Several formed part of a small movement of raptors south
over Point Pelee on 19th. 1 at Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. 2
at Backus Woods, Long Point on 23rd. |
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
1 adult at Big Creek National Wildlife Area, Long Point
on 22nd. 1 adult at Port Rowan Cemetery, Long Point on 23rd. |
American Kestrel Falco sparverius |
1+ over at Point Pelee tip on 19th and 1 on wires along
highway 59 near Bachus Woods, Long Point on 23rd. |
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus |
1 over Hillman Marsh on 17th and 1 over Point Pelee
tip on 19th. |
Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus |
1 heard at Hillman Marsh on 18th. |
American Coot Fulica americana |
1 at Big Creek National Wildlife Area, Long Point on
23rd. |
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola |
Good numbers seen around Hillman Marsh on 16th and 18th. |
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus |
Common. |
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus |
Common at Hillman Marsh. |
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus |
2 at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes |
1 at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria |
1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th. |
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia |
1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th. 4 at Sleepy Hollow, Point
Pelee on 19th. Several at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres |
5 at Point Pelee tip on 17th, 3 at Hillman Marsh on
18th and 1 at Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Sanderling Calidris alba |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Red Knot Calidris canutus |
1 adult summer at Hillman Marsh on 18th. |
Dunlin Calidris alpina |
Common at Hillman Marsh. Also 6 at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons
on 23rd. |
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis |
2 at Hillman Marsh on 18th. |
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla |
Common. Many at Hillman Marsh on 17th and 18th, Jarvis
Sewage Lagoons on 23rd and on the beach at Hasting's Drive, Long Point
on 24th. |
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla |
1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th and 2 there on 18th. 8 at
Jarvis Sewage Lagoons on 23rd. |
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus |
1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th and 18th. |
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus |
3 at Hillman Marsh on 18th. |
American Woodcock Scolopax minor |
2 seen in display flight over the car park at the DeLaurier
Trail, Point Pelee on 17th. 1 at St. Williams Forest Station, Long
Point on 22nd. |
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor |
A pair Hillman Marsh on 18th and a pair at Jarvis Sewage
Lagoons on 23rd. |
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus |
3 three light adults flew south quite close inshore
at Point Pelee tip on 17th. Apparently this sighting is the first
ever spring record for Pelee. |
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla |
1 offshore at Point Pelee tip on 17th. |
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia |
Seen at various points along Lake Erie and particularly
abundant at Hillman marsh. Predominantly first summer birds with 2
adult summer birds seen at Hillman Marsh on 18th. |
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla |
1 adult summer at Hillman Marsh on 17th. |
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis |
Common and seen daily around Point Pelee and Hillman
Marsh. Predominantly first summer birds. |
Herring Gull Larus argentatus |
Common along Lake Erie. |
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus |
7 at Point Pelee tip on 17th. |
Black Tern Chlidonias niger |
1+ offshore at Sleepy Hollow, Point Pelee on 18th and
2 at Big creek National Wildlife Area, Long Point on 23rd. |
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia |
2 at Point Pelee on 17th. |
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri |
Common at Point Pelee tip and Hillman Marsh. |
Feral Pigeon Columba livia |
Common. |
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura |
Common. |
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus |
Several seen most days at Point Pelee tip (4 was our
highest daily count) where birds were often very confiding. Also 1
at Rondeau visitor centre feeders on 20th. |
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus |
Seen most days at Point Pelee tip (up to 3 was our highest
daily count) and like Black-billed, where often confiding. Also 2
seen at Sleepy Hollow, Point Pelee on 19th and 1 at Bachus Woods,
Long Point on 23rd. |
Eastern Screech-Owl Otus asio |
1 seen roosting in trees at Point Pelee on 16th. |
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor |
1 heard calling over Leamington town centre on the evening
of the 16th. At Point Pelee: 2 over the DeLaurier Trail car park on
17th and 18th. 1 male flying around over the visitor centre car park
at midday and 2 seen roosting in trees during the day along the Shuster
Trail on 19th. In the Long Point area: 1 at St. Williams Forest Station
on 22nd and a male at Jarvis Sewage Lagoons 23rd. |
Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus |
A pair seen very well at dusk over the clearing at St.
Williams Forest Station, Long Point on 22nd. |
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica |
Seen daily in small numbers at Point Pelee at Rondeau. |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris |
A surprisingly difficult bird to catch up with, most
often seen flying past at great speed at Point Pelee tip. However,
a female was seen well at Hillman Marsh on 17th and at 4 were seen
at Rondeau on 20th, including at least 1 male at the visitor centre
feeders. |
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon |
1 over Pigeon Bay Cottages, Kingsville on the 16th and
2 over Point Pelee tip on 18th. |
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
A few were seen at Point Pelee tip most days and a pair
were at Rondeau visitor centre feeders on 20th. |
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus |
1 at the tip and another on the Tilden's Woods Trail,
Point Pelee on 19th. A pair at Rondeau visitor centre feeders on 20th. |
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens |
Fairly common. Particulary easy to see at Point Pelee.
A pair was also seen at the visitor centre feeders at Rondeau on 20th. |
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus |
1 seen at the visitor centre feeders at Rondeau on 20th. |
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus |
1 at Pigeon Bay Cottages, Kingsville and 2 at Point
Pelee on 16th. 1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th. 1 at Point Pelee on 19th. |
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 17th. |
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens |
1 seen at Point Pelee tip on 18th. Many others heard. |
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 18th. |
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus |
2 along the DeLaurier Trail, Point Pelee on 17th. 1
at Point Pelee tip on 18th. 1 at Backus Woods, Long Point on 23rd. |
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris |
1 seen at Point Pelee tip on 21st. 1 caught and ringed
at Old Cut Field Station, Long Point on 22nd. |
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe |
Several on the Tulip Tree Trail, Rondeau on 20th. 1
at Wilson Tract, Long Point on 22nd. |
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 19th and 1 there on 21st. 1
at Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. 1 at Backus Woods, Long Point
on 23rd. |
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus |
Fairly common. |
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus |
Frequently seen at Point Pelee. |
Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus |
2 at Point Pelee tip on 19th. 1 on the Tulip Tree Trail
and 1 on the Spicebush Trail, Rondeau on 20th. 1 at Point Pelee tip
on 21st. 1 at Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. |
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus |
1 at Point Pelee on 16th and 1 at Point Pelee tip on
21st. |
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus |
Common. Seen daily at Point Pelee and sites around Long
Point. |
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons |
1-2 males at Point Pelee tip on 18th. |
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 17th. 1 on the DeLaurier Trail,
Point Pelee on 18th. 1 on the Tilden's Woods Trail on 19th. 1 on Tulip
Tree Trail, Rondeau on 20th. |
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata |
Common. Large numbers seen daily at Point Pelee with
many heading south off the tip. |
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos |
Uncommon. |
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris |
1 high over Point Pelee tip on 17th. 2 at Hillman Marsh
on 18th. 1 near Backus Woods, Long Point on 23rd. |
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica |
Common. |
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
Fairly common. |
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx
serripennis |
Fairly common. |
Sand Martin Riparia riparia |
Fairly common. |
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor |
Common. |
Purple Martin Progne subis |
Fairly common, especially at Point Pelee. |
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapilla |
1 on the DeLaurier Trail, Point Pelee on 18th. 1 on
the Tulip Tree Trail, Rondeau on 20th. 1 at Backus Woods, Long Point
on 23rd. |
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor |
2 on the Tulip Tree Trail, Rondeau on 20th. |
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis |
1+ at the Rondeau visitor centre feeders on 20th. |
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus |
1 at Point Pelee on 17th. |
House Wren Troglodytes aedon |
Fairly common. |
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes |
1 seen in the woods at Old Cut Field Station, Long Point
on 22nd. |
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula |
1 on the DeLaurier Trail, Point Pelee on 18th. 1 at
Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea |
Common at Point Pelee with many also birds seen heading
south off the tip. |
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis |
2 near the South Point Trail, Rondeau on 20th. A few
at Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. |
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus |
Often seen in well wooded areas. 1 caught and ringed
at Old Cut Field Station on 24th. |
Veery Catharus fuscescens |
Often heard singing in dense woodland. 2 seen at Point
Pelee on 16th and 1 seen there on 18th. |
Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus |
4 seen at Point Pelee on 16th. 1 at Old Cut Field Station,
Long Point on 23rd. |
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina |
After some time searching 1 was seen well on the Spicebush
Trail at Rondeau on 20th. |
American Robin Turdus migratorius |
Abundant. |
Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis |
Fairly common. |
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos |
1 seen by the cafe at Rondeau on 20th. |
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum |
1 at the DeLaurier Trail car park, Point Pelee on 17th.
1 at Sleepy Hollow, Point Pelee on 19th. 2 on the South Point Trail,
Rondeau on 20th. |
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum |
Abundant with up to 700 seen at Point Pelee tip on 18th. |
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris |
Common. |
Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina |
2 at Point Pelee on 16th. 1 at Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 16th. 1 at Point Pelee tip and
1 on the DeLaurier Trail, Point Pelee on 17th. 2 at Point Pelee tip
on 18th and 1 at Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata |
1 male along the DeLaurier Trail, Point Pelee on 18th.
1 at Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. 1 caught and ringed at Old
Cut Field Station, Long Point on 24th. |
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus |
1 male around the clearing at St Williams Forest Station
and 1 male Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. 1 male along the minor
road just south of Backus Woods, Long Point on 23rd. |
Northern Parula Parula americana |
1 at Hillman Marsh on 17th. 1 male at Point Pelee tip
on 18th. |
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia |
By far the most numerous wood-warbler. Several nests
were also seen. |
Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica |
Common and seen at Long Point, Point Pelee and Rondeau. |
Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia |
Very common with good numbers seen at Point Pelee. Also
seen at Rondeau and Long Point. |
Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina |
1 male on the Woodland Nature Trail and a female on
the Shuster Trail, Point Pelee on 19th and a male on the Tulip Tree
Trail, Rondeau on 20th. |
Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca |
Fairly common and seen at Long Point, Point Pelee and
Rondeau. |
Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens |
1 male at Point Pelee tip on 19th. 1-2 males at Old
Cut Field Station, Long Point on 24th. |
Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea |
1 male at Point Pelee tip on 17th. |
Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens |
Fairly common and seen at Long Point, Point Pelee and
Rondeau. |
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata |
3 seen, all at Point Pelee tip: a female on 17th, a
male on 18th and 1 on 21st. |
Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum |
2 birds seen on Point Pelee tip on 16th. |
Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus |
1 late bird seen and photographed on Point Pelee tip
on 19th. |
Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor |
1 singing male seen well at St. Williams Forest Station,
Long Point on 22nd (at the junction of the sand track and Norfolk
Twp. East 1/4 line S.W.). |
Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata |
Fairly common at Point Pelee. |
Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea |
Fairly common. |
Kirtland's Warbler Dendroica kirtlandii |
1 well-watched 1st summer male seen well singing near
the visitor centre at Point Pelee on 18th. This bird showed exceptionally
well beside the path and saved us a lengthy detour into Michigan. |
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia |
1 female at Point Pelee tip on 16th. 1+ along the DeLaurier
Trail, Point Pelee on 17th. 1 at Point Pelee tip on 21st. |
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla |
Fairly common and seen at Long Point, Point Pelee and
Rondeau. |
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea |
1 male seen well singing on the Tulip Tree Trail, Rondeau
on 20th. |
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivora |
1 seen and photographed on Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas |
Fairly common. |
Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia |
1 male on the DeLaurier Trail, Point Pelee on 18th.
1 on the Tulip Tree trail and 1 male on the South Point Trail, Rondeau
on 20th. 1 male seen at Point Pelee tip on 21st. |
Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis |
1 1st summer bird seen at Point Pelee on 18th. 2 seen
on Point Pelee tip on 21st. |
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis |
2 seen at the southern pond at Backus Woods, Long Point
on 23rd. |
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus |
1 seen in the woods at Old Cut Field Station, Long Point
on 22nd. |
Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis |
Uncommon but regularly seen. |
Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina |
1 singing male at St. Williams Forest Station, Long
Point on 23rd. |
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla |
Fairly common at Point Pelee and Old Cut Field Station,
Long Point. |
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens |
1 seen at Sleepy Hollow, Point Pelee on 19th. |
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea |
Seen often at Point Pelee. Also 1 male seen at Backus
Woods, Long Point on 23rd. |
Summer Tanager Piranga rubra |
1 1st summer male at Point Pelee tip on 21st. |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus |
Fairly common. |
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea |
Fairly common, especially at Point Pelee. |
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis |
Seen often at Point Pelee and Long Point. |
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus |
1 on the South Point Trail, Rondeau on 20th and another
at St. Williams Forest Station, Long Point on 22nd. |
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina |
Fairly common. |
Clay-coloured Sparrow Spizella pallida |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 16th. 1 at Point Pelee tip on
21st. |
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla |
1 at Point Pelee tip on 16th. |
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus |
2 in a field beside the Norfolk Twp. East 1/4 line S.W.
road (just north of the Highway 24 junction), near St. Williams Forest
Station, Long Point on 22nd. 1 at Wilson Track, Long Point on 22nd. |
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis |
1 in a field beside the Norfolk Twp. East 1/4 line S.W.
road (just north of the Highway 24 junction), near St. Williams Forest
Station, Long Point on 22nd. |
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia |
Seen infrequently. |
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii |
1 on the Spicebush Trail, Rondeau on 20th. 2 at Point
Pelee tip on 21st. 1 caught and ringed at Old Cut Field Station, Long
Point on 22nd. |
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana |
1 along the Shuster Trail, Point Pelee on 19th. |
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys |
Seen occassionally at Point Pelee tip. |
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis |
1 on Point Pelee tip on 19th. |
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula |
Common at Point Pelee. |
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius |
Several seen daily at Point Pelee. |
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus |
2 males heading south high over Point Pelee tip on 17th.
1 female at Point Pelee tip on 21st. A pair at Wilson Track, Long
Point on 22nd. 1 male at Port Rowan Sewage Lagoons, Long Point on
23rd. |
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus |
Abundant. |
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula |
Abundant. |
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater |
Very common at Point Pelee. |
House Sparrow Passer domesticus |
Common. |
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis |
Fairly common. |
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus |
1 male on the feeders at Rondeau visitor centre on 20th. |
If you want a larger trip list then this can easily be achieved by visiting
nearby wetland sites such as St. Clair National Wildlife Area, one of
the sewage lagoons or by combining this itinerary with a visit to Algonquin
Provincial Park about seven hours to the north. Overall we cannot recommend
this trip enough and think you will return just as hooked on North American
birds as we now are.
If you would like further details on any of our sightings or wish to
give feedback on this report please email us at