Hello Ontbirders. I apologise for any repeats or difficulties due to technical email problems with this posting.
Birders made the best of a cool gray day on the trails of Rondeau. We are still favoured with a limited degree of leaf-out compared with the frustrating canopy of inland locations. Who but a birder would pray for less leaves and wish to delay the onset of spring? The bird of the day was an adult LAUGHING GULL, seen on the pier near the Park Store at 8:30 am. It flew off, and was last seen flying northwest over Rondeau Bay. Afternoon additions to our warbler list included GOLDEN-WINGED at Tulip Tree Trail, WILSON’S at the Pony Barn and a BREWSTER’S hybrid at South Point Trail. The PROTHONOTARY on Tulip Tree Trail was reliable all day well into the late afternoon at the nest boxes on Tulip Tree Trail. Bennett Road, Harrison Trail, Spicebush Trail and Tulip Tree Trail all yielded good species lists. The warbler tally for the park reached 25 species today. Late migrants included a DARK-EYED JUNCO on Harrison Trail and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER on Tulip Tree Trail. At Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, there was a very interesting sighting of a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. I hope that additional observers will have an opportunity to observe and report on this bird. The EARED GREBE continues to be seen there, with some luck and patience. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Saturday May 2 to Monday May 18, inclusive (fee $5), as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm; Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 am and 7:00 pm; Friday at 7:30 am. All of the 7:30 am and 1:00 pm hikes listed above will meet at the Visitor Centre. The 7:00 pm hikes will meet at the entrance to the Marsh Trail. A second hike on Friday at 1:00 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a Birders' Breakfast for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups and treats) daily from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Visitor Centre. More information on the park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' website: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca. Birders and photographers are asked not to play recordings of bird calls to attract birds in the park, as this can interfere with nesting activities and/or other vital behaviours. DIRECTIONS: Take exit 101 from Highway 401 and drive South 16 km on Chatham Kent Road 15. Turn right and follow the signs to the park. The Bird Sightings Book, Bird Sightings Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open 7:00 am to 5:00 pm from May 2 – 18). Please note that Rondeau Road is presently closed (to protect snake populations) between Bennett Rd. and the Visitor Centre. To reach the Visitor Centre from the park Gate, turn left (west) on Rondeau Ave., then right at the traffic circle onto Lakeshore Rd. and go 6 km South to Gardiner Ave., then turn into the parking lot. Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 _________________________________________________________________ Create a cool, new character for your Windows Live™ Messenger. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9656621_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
