Spring migration at Point Pelee National Park is already legendary for small songbirds arriving low and slow after crossing Lake Erie. In my recent post about photographing an American Redstart during spring migration, I touched on the magic of warbler fallout and how understanding bird behaviour can completely transform your photography.

But there was another moment — one that pulled me into the shadows and reminded me why I chase light as much as birds.

This Prothonotary Warbler wasn’t perched out in the open, nor was it offering a classic pose against fresh spring greens. Instead, it moved quietly along the edge of a dark, still pool, gleaning insects from wet bark, its golden head briefly mirrored in the water below. The surrounding bark—layered with texture and shadow—formed a natural frame, and the stillness of the moment became its own kind of light.

Photographing it was less about reacting and more about waiting, watching, and blending. The bird wasn’t high, wasn’t bold — but it was present. And when I found the light as it dipped into the pool, the reflection emerged like a second subject: a mirror image capturing both behaviour and environment in a single frame.

Moments like this are exactly why spring migration at Pelee is so special. It’s not only the abundance of species — the Redstarts, Blackburnians, Bay-breasteds — but the quality of opportunity that comes when birds aren’t fleeing but settling. They arrive tired, intentional, and yes, sometimes reflective — literally and metaphorically.

You can read the full story of this encounter, and see how light and shadow played a role in making this image come alive, in my earlier post:

👉 Light and Shadow — Capturing a Prothonotary Warbler’s Reflection
https://www.naturephotographyblog.com/blog/light-and-shadow-capturing-a-prothonotary-warblers-reflection

Why this matters for your photography

This kind of moment isn’t random. It’s the result of:

Being in the right place at the right time – Point Pelee during peak spring migration
Reading bird behaviour – noticing when songbirds are low and deliberate
Understanding light and environment – letting shadows and reflections work for you
Mastering in-camera exposure – catching subtle tones without over or underexposing

When you align those elements, you find pictures you didn’t even know you were looking for.

Few spots left — join me at Point Pelee

If these kinds of experiences speak to you — American Redstarts moving low after crossing Lake Erie, Prothonotary reflections in shadowed pools, and the subtle art of seeing before you shoot — there are still a handful of spots left in my Songbirds of Pelee Bird Photography Workshop, May 7–11.

We’ll explore:

Photographing warblers and other songbirds during spring migration
Ethical fieldcraft and how to read bird behaviour
Mastering in-camera exposure for fast-changing light
Working thoughtfully during warbler fallout days

📸 Limited spaces remain.
👉 Learn more and book here:
https://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com/songbirds-of-pelee-photo-tour

Spring migration won’t wait — neither should your opportunity to photograph it.

Chris