Spring migration at Point Pelee can be magical.
Blackburnian Warblers are usually right at the top of the trees, where they’re just close enough to tease you and just far enough away to ruin the shot.
Not this one.
Right after a downpour during my Songbirds of Pelee workshop, this male dropped down low and landed on a clean perch in beautiful soft light. No harsh shadows, no blown highlights, no messy background — just one of those rare moments where everything comes together naturally for a few seconds.
The rain actually helped. The woods quieted down, the light softened, and the birds started feeding lower than they had been earlier in the morning.
You still have to be ready, though. Moments like this don’t last long. A couple of quick movements, a clean angle, good light, and then it’s over.
That’s spring migration photography at Point Pelee — frustrating one minute, incredible the next.