Pelee Island, Birding and Wildlife!

Southernmost Inhabited Point in Canada!

I joined a Worldwide Quest Trip to Pelee Island from May 7-10. Our hosts were the keepers of the Wandering Dog Inn, a delightful place to stay! Mike Kent was the leader of our enthusiastic group!

Pelee Island Map

After brief introductions, we went on a short bird walk down the road which was adjacent to the James Duncan Memorial Tract. Many Baltimore Orioles lined the route.

I saw a new (to me) squirrel species on the island. The Eastern Fox Squirrel is quite common, but this was the only photo I was able to take. They are a little larger than our Grey Squirrel. Above, the tail, eyes and head of the squirrel are visible if you look carefully.

The first of many Barn Swallows we saw.

Blue Phlox was in full bloom.

White-crowned Sparrow

Barn Swallows were busy with nest preparation at the Wandering Dog Inn.

A pair of Barn Swallows appear to be discussing the next steps.

Outside of my room, I spied a Brown-headed Cowbird sitting on a Swallow nest. She may have been just laying an egg, but I noticed her sitting there for several hours. This is odd behaviour as Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and don't incubate their own eggs. They are North America's most common "brood parasite." Female Cowbirds put all their energy into producing eggs, often as many as 3 dozen in a summer. By laying her eggs in the nests of other species, the host bird raises the Cowbird's offspring, often to the detriment of the nest builder's young.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/overview

Tennessee Warbler, found just outside the Wandering Inn.

Florian Diamante Nature Reserve Wetland and Viewing Blind.

A 62-acre wetland surrounded by a 1.6 km clay berm provide habitat needs for many creatures including Gray Fox, Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Ash, Lake Erie Watersnake, Blue Racer and Wood Duck. The former farm land previously drained the water from the area, but tile drainage has been removed to allow the water to remain. Visitors can walk a perimeter trail and view birds from behind a blind.

https://www.peleeisland.com/2020/10/15/returning-to-nature-wetland-restoration-project-on-pelee-island/

Viewing Blind

A  Western Cattle Egret had been reported on the island earlier in the day. When we returned to the wetland for an evening visit, the bird circled the water a few times before settling down in the plants. The egret is in the centre of the highly cropped photo.

4 Great Egrets also moved around within the wetland before heading to some trees to roost for the night.

Once dusk made it difficult to see, we headed back to the Inn. Hundreds of Swallows also chose to spend the night at the wetlands.

An interesting tree cavity.