Blue-headed Vireo perched on a bare branch during spring migration at Point Pelee National Park, showing its blue-grey head, bold white spectacles, yellow flanks, and soft creamy background. — **Blue-headed Vireo** (Vireo solitarius, Viréo à tête bleue, BHVI) from my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE WORKSHOP at Point Pelee National Park of Canada in Leamington, Ontario, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a1 Mark II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 20,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Blue-headed Vireo at Point Pelee During Spring Migration

Christopher Dodds June 5, 2026

Some migration mornings at Point Pelee start quietly. Then one cooperative Blue-headed Vireo appears down low, and suddenly, fifty birders and photographers are gathered around a single bird, enjoying the moment.

American Bittern swimming low in calm water near the Marsh Boardwalk at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, creating a reflection and wake as it crosses open water. — **American Bittern Swimming Through the Marsh at Point Pelee** (*Botaurus lentiginosus,* Butor d'Amérique, Avetoro lentiginoso, AMBI) Image created while scouting for my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a1 Mark II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 8,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

American Bittern Swimming at Point Pelee: A Rare Marsh Photography Moment

Christopher Dodds June 3, 2026

Most photographers are thrilled just to see an American Bittern. Watching one swim across open water is even rarer. This unusual behaviour photographed from the Marsh Boardwalk at Point Pelee offered a glimpse into a secretive marsh bird that spends most of its life hidden among reeds and cattails.

Brown Thrasher perched on a lichen-covered branch during spring migration at Point Pelee, Ontario, surrounded by soft green forest background. — **Brown Thrasher on Lichen-Covered Perch at Point Pelee** (*Toxostoma rufum,* Moqueur roux, Cuitlacoche rojizo, BRTH) Image created during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A1 Mark II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4 X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 20,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Brown Thrasher at Point Pelee During Spring Migration

Christopher Dodds May 28, 2026

This Brown Thrasher briefly stepped onto a beautifully lichen-covered perch beside the trail at Point Pelee National Park while feeding young hidden deep inside a nearby brush pile. The moment lasted only seconds, but having my manual exposure already locked in made it possible to react instantly before the bird disappeared back into the cover.

**Black-throated Blue Warbler** (*Setophaga caerulescens,* Paruline bleue, Reinita azulada, BTBW).April 30, 2026, while scouting for my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4 X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Black-throated Blue Warbler — A Great Start to Spring Migration at Point Pelee National Park

Christopher Dodds May 1, 2026

After Julie and I made the long, uneventful drive from Montreal to Point Pelee to scout for my upcoming private client days, the free Sony photo walks, and my Songbirds of Pelee workshop, we were rewarded pretty quickly.

We had this Black-throated Blue Warbler all to ourselves for a good stretch. Spectacular breeding plumage, exactly where it should be during migration—low and slow, out in the open, working the branches for insects.

The park was quiet. We only saw a handful of other photographers.

This is what makes Pelee special this time of year. These birds have just crossed Lake Erie, they’re tired, they need to refuel, and for a brief window, they let you in.

No chaos, no crowd—just time to watch, anticipate, and be ready.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Join me at Point Pelee next May for the Songbirds of Pelee workshop and experience world-class spring migration birding at its best.