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.