Rondeau Bird Report Monday May 21, 2007
I apologize for the late posting.
With the end of the Victoria Day weekend, our Friends of Rondeau Spring
Birding Program is winding down for the season. Migrants seemed oblivious
to such human-oriented timetables, and continued to arrive in good numbers
and considerable variety.
The stars of the weekend were two American White Pelicans that arrived on
May 19. Seen briefly on May 19 and intermittently on May 20, the birds were
feeding with a large flock of gulls, terns, cormorants and mergansers off
South Point Trail. The pelicans were observed roosting for the evening on a
sandbar offshore of the Rondeau marsh by John Lamey. He noted both birds
again in the same location on the afternoon of May 21. I was unable to
locate them at dusk on May 21, but the lighting was rather poor at the time.
The best viewing location for the roosting site is the commercial fishing
dock in Erieau. Directions: in Erieau follow Mariners Road to the 3-way
stop, turn left, and then right again and proceed to the dock. This site
has an unobstructed view of Rondeau Bay, the sandbar at the mouth of the
bay, and the marsh. Look north towards the central portion of the marsh
where the cormorants are roosting.
Also in the same vicinity on May 20, John observed a Cattle Egret, just west
of Erieau. Parking is off Erieau Road at McGeachy Pond. Cross the road, and
walk a short distance east to the berm along the old RR embankment. There
is a gate across but birders are welcome to walk in a short distance and
scan the onion fields on the left (northwest) side. This same location
recently yielded a flock over 200 American Golden and Black-bellied Plovers.
Note also that Cattle Egrets sometimes follow the plough, and there has
been considerable agricultural activity in the area recently.
At Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, there was a White-rumped Sandpiper on May 21.
The Wilsons Phalarope seen earlier was still present.
We had a significant influx of flycatchers on May 20 and 21. Of the large
number of enigmatic Empidonaxes, the vast majority said tchebec, and were
deemed Least. Yellow-bellieds were also seen around the park, as well a few
newly-arrived Alders and a small number of Acadians. Eastern Wood-Pewees
were plentiful throughout the woods, and several large Olive-sideds caught
flies at Harrison Trail and at the Pony Barns.
Warblers put on an excellent show this weekend, with good numbers and high
diversity. A total of 25 species were seen on May 20 21. As birders
waited for a good look at the Prothonotarys on the boardwalks along Tulip
Tree Trail, they were treated to views of a male Cerulean, numerous
Blackburnians, assorted other warblers, and a Northern Waterthrush almost at
their feet. I just received a report that 3 observers saw the Kirtlands
Warbler again on Spicebush Trail on May 21 at 6:00 p.m. All three observers
have seen Kirtlands before in Michigan. It was once again seen from
Boardwalk D, as described previously. Other species of note in the park
included Golden-winged, Orange-crowned, Northern Parula, Cape May, a late
Pine, Mourning, Wilsons (common) and Hooded.
Other songbirds which put on a good showing included tanagers and vireos.
While Scarlet Tanagers were still sparse, Summer Tanagers were present in
good numbers. There were a surprising 2 or 3 molting first-year males on
the Tulip Tree Trail alone on May 21, plus 4 similar birds on other trails,
for a total of at least about 7 in the park this weekend! White-eyed Vireos
were seen at South Point Trail and Harrison Trail.
I am advised by Blake Mann and other birders in the area that the European
Goldfinch reported May 20 is far more likely to be local escape than a hardy
transatlantic vagrant. Pity.
On behalf of the Friends of Rondeau, I would like to express our thanks for
the strong support for this springs birding program. Participants in the
hikes and the evening program, as well observers who supplied records for
the sightings book and sightings boards are much appreciated. Especially
welcome were the rare bird reports, detailed observations and photographs
supplied by birders who visited the park. I have enjoyed renewing
acquaintances with birders I have met across the province over the years and
also meeting new birding friends.
Good birding, and I look forward to seeing you again soon on Rondeaus
nature trails.
Steve LaForest
Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide
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