You usually hear a Black-and-white Warbler before you see one.
That squeaky wheel song starts somewhere up in the trees, and suddenly everyone nearby is craning their neck trying to figure out where the sound is coming from. This bird was no different. We first picked it up high overhead during my Songbirds of Pelee workshop as it worked its way through the canopy searching for insects.
At the same time, a Blue-headed Vireo started singing not far away.
That’s spring migration at Point Pelee in a nutshell. Constant decisions. Stay with the bird you already have, or gamble on something else that might be better. Both birds were too far and too high to make great images, but honestly, I was grateful to even have the choice. Anyone who has birded Point Pelee on a slow day will understand that feeling.
A few photographers peeled off toward the vireo, but those who stayed with this Black-and-white Warbler were rewarded pretty quickly. I had a pretty good feeling the vireo would stick around longer, while the Black-and-white Warbler would be much less predictable. Experience helps with those decisions sometimes.
The bird eventually worked its way down lower and suddenly started creeping down this old twisting woodland vine, completely out in the open at eye level, doing exactly what Black-and-white Warblers are famous for doing. They really do behave more like tiny nuthatches than warblers, climbing along bark and branches searching for insects.
The pose, the clean background, the soft light, the open view, and that beautifully textured vine all came together for a few seconds before the bird disappeared right back into the clutter.
I also loved the little orange fungi growing on the vine. Tiny details like that often help complete an image and give it a stronger sense of place, rather than just becoming another bird-on-a-stick photograph.
This is exactly why patience matters so much during migration photography at Point Pelee.
The loudest or rarest bird is not always the best photographic opportunity. Sometimes the best images happen when you simply stay put, trust your instincts, and let the situation develop naturally.
Join me next May for my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop and experience the unpredictability, excitement, and incredible photographic opportunities of spring migration at one of the best birding destinations in the world.
The best moments often happen fast — and I’ll help you be ready for them.
Only two spots currently remain.