Juvenile White-winged Crossbill perched on a stinging nettle plant against a soft yellow-green background. The bird's distinctive crossed bill and white wing bars are visible as it feeds among the seed heads in natural habitat. — **Juvenile White-winged Crossbill on Stinging Nettle** (*Loxia leucoptera,* Bec-croisé bifascié, Piquituerto aliblanco, WWCR) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @705mm ISO 40,000, f/8 @ 1/2,500s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Juvenile White-winged Crossbill on L’île aux Perroquets During the Deluxe Atlantic Puffin Workshop

Christopher Dodds June 6, 2026

A Juvenile White-winged Crossbill continued to surprise participants on my Deluxe Atlantic Puffin Workshop by remaining on L’île aux Perroquets for a second day. Far from its typical boreal forest habitat, this nomadic finch provided rare photography opportunities on a small treeless island off Quebec's North Shore.

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.

Yellow-throated Vireo perched on a branch at Point Pelee National Park during spring migration. Bird photograph captured during Christopher Dodds' Songbirds of Pelee wildlife photography workshop. — **Yellow-throated Vireo at Point Pelee During Spring Migration** (*Vireo flavifrons*, Viréo à gorge jaune, Vireo gorjiamarillo, YTVI) from my SONGBIRDS OF PELEE GALORE WORKSHOP Point Pelee National Park of 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 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 2,500, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Photographing a Yellow-throated Vireo at Point Pelee During Spring Migration

Christopher Dodds June 4, 2026

Yellow-throated Vireos are often heard long before they're seen, and even more rarely photographed well. During my Songbirds of Pelee workshop, this bird spent time feeding at eye level in Tilden Woods, giving us outstanding views and excellent photography opportunities during spring migration at Point Pelee.

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-and-white Warbler Creeping Down a Woodland Vine at Point Pelee** (*Mniotilta varia,* Paruline noir et blanc, Reinita trepadora, BAWW) Image created during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4 X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Black-and-white Warbler Creeping Into the Open at Point Peleed

Christopher Dodds May 27, 2026

You usually hear a Black-and-white Warbler before you see one. During my Songbirds of Pelee workshop, this bird worked high overhead while a Blue-headed Vireo sang nearby, forcing photographers to make the classic Point Pelee migration decision — stay put or chase the next bird. Patience paid off when the warbler suddenly crept down a twisting woodland vine, completely out in the open at eye level.

Male Wilson’s Warbler perched on a rain-soaked branch holding an insect in its bill during spring migration at Point Pelee, Ontario. — **Wilson’s Warbler with Insect Prey During Spring Migration** (*Cardellina pusilla,* Paruline à calotte noire, Reinita de Wilson, Cardellina pusilla, WIWA) 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 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Rain, Reflexes, and a Wilson’s Warbler at Point Pelee

Christopher Dodds May 22, 2026

A gloomy forecast, steady rain, and fast reflexes came together perfectly during my Sony-sponsored Point Pelee photo walk when this Wilson’s Warbler briefly landed with a beak full of insects while refuelling during spring migration.

Male Blackburnian Warbler perched low on a clean branch at Point Pelee during spring migration after a rainstorm, photographed during Christopher Dodds’ Songbirds of Pelee photo workshop. — **Blackburnian Warbler Down Low at Point Pelee** (*Setophaga fusca,* Paruline à gorge orangée, Reinita gorjinaranja, RTHU) Image created during 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 2 X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 5,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Spring Migration Magic with a Blackburnian Warbler

Christopher Dodds May 21, 2026

Spring migration at Point Pelee can be magical. After a downpour during Christopher Dodds’ Songbirds of Pelee workshop, this male Blackburnian Warbler dropped down low onto a clean perch in beautiful soft light. Rarely does one of these stunning warblers give photographers such a clean, eye-level opportunity during the chaos of spring migration.

**Ruby-throated Hummingbird During Spring Migration at Point Pelee** (*Archilochus colubris,* Colibri à gorge rubis, Colibrí gorjirrubí, RTHU) Image created during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a1 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4 X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

When Loose Framing Works — Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Pelee

Christopher Dodds May 20, 2026

Every spring at Point Pelee, photographers battle branches, fresh leaves, and chaotic backgrounds as they try to isolate tiny migrating birds. Sometimes, though, all that clutter comes together perfectly. This Ruby-throated Hummingbird, photographed during my Songbirds of Pelee workshop, perched for only a few seconds before disappearing back into the foliage, creating a loose, elegant composition that beautifully captures the feeling of spring migration.

Louisiana Waterthrush standing on a moss-covered log in shallow water along the flooded trails of Tilden Woods during spring migration at Point Pelee National Park. Captured naturally during Christopher Dodds’ Songbirds of Pelee workshop. — **Louisiana Waterthrush** (*Parkesia motacilla,* Paruline hochequeue, Reinita charquera de Luisiana, LOWA) Image created during 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 25,600, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Louisiana Waterthrush in Tilden Woods During Spring Migration at Point Pelee

Christopher Dodds May 19, 2026

The Louisiana Waterthrush drew a steady stream of photographers into Tilden Woods during spring migration this year, and for good reason. It’s a striking little warbler constantly working the flooded trails and tangled swamp edges looking for food. Seeing it was easy enough. Photographing it cleanly was another story entirely.

If you tried, you already know.

Tilden Woods can be brutally difficult photographically — branches everywhere, messy reflections, bright water highlights, cluttered … READ MORE

**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.

Atlantic Puffin flying with a beak full of capelin in warm golden light, photographed in the Mingan Archipelago, Quebec by Canadian wildlife photographer Christopher Dodds. — **Atlantic Puffin in Flight with Capelin — Golden Light** (*Fratercula arctica,* Macareux moine, Frailecillo atlántico, ATPU) Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Loaded for the Burrow — Atlantic Puffin with Capelin in Golden Light

Christopher Dodds April 27, 2026

A puffin loaded with capelin cuts through golden light — a split-second moment that captures the intensity of feeding season in the Mingan Archipelago.

Northern Gannets SPOONING

Christopher Dodds May 19, 2022

Here is an image from 2013 that I have looked at so many times! It is extraordinary how affectionate Gannets can be!

There is still a couple of spots available for my June Gannets trips due to unvaccinated participants who decided to postpone another year.

Join me for the ultimate immersive bird photography workshop! We start each day onboard a 28-foot Zodiac Hurricane under the bird-filled cliffs of Bonaventure Island. We’ll be photographing diving Gannets, Common Murres, Razorbills, Harlequin Ducks, and Black Guillemots while getting close to Grey Seals and Whales. After our daily Zodiac adventure, it’s off to the colony with the park staff transporting our gear on their Kawasaki Mule, making our walk an easy and pleasant one!

Learn more about gannets galore and sign up here