Long Point Day 2

Long Point; Old Cut

We were initially going to be at Old Cut just for a few hours before we were shipped off to the Tip where we would spend the next few days. As it happened though we got to enjoy most of the morning at Old Cut before we were shipped out. We got to see a number of the warblers we had seen on the previous day up close in the hand, as well as get to better know some of the other volunteers. I did my first ringing (Banding!) with a few birds, first bird being a Marsh Wren. We finally began our voyage at around 11.00, just a few hours later than anticipated.

Ringing: Marsh Wren, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird,

-White-eyed Vireo

-Brown Thrasher

Highlights

Carolina Wren - Probably the Wren highlight of the trip was getting to ring this bird. It was the only one we saw during our stay. The distinct markings on the face and the large size make it stand out from the other wren species.

Black-throated Blue Warbler - Not a lifer but a really nice bird to see in the hand, especially given that the one I got to ring was an adult male. A really stunning bird, among a plethora of really nice warblers; Cape May Warbler was another exciting species to see up close whilst a Blackburnian Warbler was a new species for us.

Species List:

Long Point; Old Cut: Black-throated Blue Warbler, Veery, Marsh Wren, House Wren, Carolina Wren, American Redstart, Nashville Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Blackburnian Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Common Grackle, Green Heron, Baltimore Oriole, Canada Goose, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, Eastern Kingbird, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Hermit Thrush, White-eyed Vireo,

Long Point; The Tip

Our first afternoon at the Tip was exciting, exploring a new area of Long Point and seeing plenty of new species. Initially we were dropped off on the far side to the accommodation so took a slow walk round via the Tip itself. Once we arrived at the lodge we settled in before then heading out again. This time we headed west along the beach from the accommodation. This turned out not to be the right path for the best birding but we got a few nice bits and pieces anyway.

-Summer Tanager

-Turkey Vulture

-Raccoon

-Orchard Oriole

-Spotted Sandpiper

-Black-throated Blue Warbler

Highlights

Summer Tanager - This scarce species was not one we could be sure that we would see. It wasn’t quite as stunning as an adult male, but as our first tanager it was still pretty exciting. We were not sure if there was more than one as we later saw one, albeit in the same plumage, feeding on a decaying carp. It actually seemed to be eating the flesh of the fish, but can’t be sure.

Racoon - Possibly my most wanted mammal for the trip. We had searched so hard to try and find one but had been promised that we may see one at the Tip, as one fed under the feeders at night. What we did not get told is that you could find it sleeping up trees right outside the front door. To say my reaction to my first racoon experience was ‘excitable’ would have been an understatement!

Species List:

Long Point; The Tip: Red-headed Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sand Martin, Peregrine, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Palm Warbler, Forsters Tern, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, American Goldfinch, Common Tern, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, House Wren, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Warbling Vireo, Double Crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Belted Kingfisher, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Racoon, Painted Terrapin,