Rondeau Bird Report – Thursday May 15, 2008
Good morning birders. Despite the chilly dawn, there were some warblers up and about. Early birders found two Kentucky Warblers. One was along Rondeau Road 500 m north of the Spicebush Trail parking lot, and the other was some distance off the road along Bennett Ave. After lying low for a day, as Worm-eating Warblers are wont to do, the bird that has been present on Spicebush Trail for some time put in another appearance. Other good birds included a Hooded near the Pony Barn, and another on South Point Trail. There was also a Blue-winged on Tulip Tree Trail, and a Yellow-breasted Chat and a Mourning Warbler on South Point Trail. The most productive trail for warblers this morning was Spicebush. In addition to the chat, an Orchard Oriole was sighted at South Point Trail. Other good passerines late yesterday at Tulip Tree Trail, during a monsoon-style downpour, included a Philadelphia Vireo, a Blue-winged Warbler and a Gray-cheeked Thrush. Outside the park yesterday, 40 Ruddy Turnstones were seen in the fields near Erieau, and 3 Willet were on Rose Beach Line just northeast of the park entrance. Atypical for the Rondeau area, a Long-tailed Duck drake was seen in the same area yesterday afternoon. Observers who visited later in the afternoon did not see the Willet. Please note that the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons are temporarily inaccessible. The gate has been inadvertently locked with a keyed padlock. Those people who attend my hike on Friday May 16 at 1 pm will be given access, but otherwise, the lagoons will remain inaccessible for the time being. I will include updates on the status of the locked gate as soon as information is available. Good birding. Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 I will lead a guided bird hike twice daily May 3 to 19 (fee $5), as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am & 1 pm; Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 am & 7 pm; Friday 7:30 am. All of the 7:30 am and 1 pm hikes listed above will meet at the Visitor Centre. The 7 pm hikes will meet at the entrance to the Marsh Trail. A second hike on Friday at 1 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a birders' brunch for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups & treats) daily from 7 - 11 am. Directions: To reach Rondeau PP, take exit 101 from Highway 401 and drive South 16 km on Chatham Kent Road 15. Follow the signs to the park. The Bird Sightings Book, Bird Sightings Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open 7 am to 5 p m from May 3 - 19). To reach the Centre from the park gate, travel 6 km South on Rondeau Road to Gardiner Ave. and follow it around the bend to the parking lot. For the shorebird / duck site near Erieau: from the entrance to Rondeau PP, drive north ~1 km to Kent Bridge Road (Chatham-Kent 15), turn left and go 4.8 km to Talbot Trail (Chatham-Kent Road 3, formerly called Hwy 3), turn left and go 15.9 km (through several twists and turns, and through Blenheim) to Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent Road 12), turn left and go ~7 km to McGeachy Pond C.A. The birds were seen in the fields in this vicinity. For the Long-tailed Duck and the Willets, from the Rondeau PP gate, go northeast on Rondeau Road past Kent Bridge Road (Chatham-Kent 15). The road continues northeast, but is here called Rose Beach Line. The bird was seen along the shore here. _________________________________________________________________ Try Chicktionary, a game that tests how many words you can form from the letters given. Find this and more puzzles at Live Search Games! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/207_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
