Hello Ontbirders. The Rondeau Provincial Park spring birding program will run from Saturday May 1 through to May 24, Victoria Day. There will be daily Bird Hikes and a Birders' Breakfast / Lunch.
Good warblers this morning included an Orange-crowned on South Point Trail, and several Mournings on South Point and at the Maintenance Loop. An influx of warblers last night included a large number of American Redstarts. Many flycatchers also arrived in the park, including many Least Flycatchers, and a number of Willow. Alder Flycatcher was also observed. Other interesting songbirds included Yellow-throated Vireo on South Point and Tulip Tree Trails, a number of Orchard Orioles on these same two trails, and Scarlet Tanager on South Point Trail. Cedar Waxwings were noted for the first time in a while, on South Point Trail. Non-passerines included both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos at the Maintenance Loop, and a perched Whip-poor-will on South Point Trail. Whip-poor-will were calling yesterday evening near the park gate, and American Woodcock were performing display flights at a number of sites. A boat trip with the Friends of Rondeau yesterday afternoon featured sightings of 2 Willet on the southeast beach, 40 Black-bellied Plovers flying over, 10 Caspian Terns and 200+ Bonaparte's Gulls. At the nearby Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, two Red-necked Phalaropes were seen yesterday. Near dusk, I saw 3 phalarope species circle around Pond #5 and then fly off. Other shorebirds observed were 16 Least Sandpipers. Waterfowl included 9 Ruddy Ducks, 6 Wood Ducks, 1 Lesser Scaup and 1 American Wigeon. Other waterbirds included 2 Amercan Coots and 2 Pied-billed Grebes. I have not received any further reports regarding the female Yellow-headed Blackbird, dspite some searching. BIRDING ETIQUETTE Birders and photographers are cautioned regarding the importance of following proper birding etiquette within Rondeau Provincial Park. Please refrain from any use of electronic devices or tapes to call birds, which harass our wildlife, while in the park. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and compliance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Bird Hike schedule has been changed slightly from last year. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Saturday May 1 to Monday May 24, inclusive (fee $5), as follows: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm Tuesday and Friday at 7:30 am and 7:00 pm; Wednesday 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 Wednesday at 1:00 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. New for this year, permits for the Sewage Lagoons will be available from the Rondeau Visitor Centre 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. There will also be a special new program on Saturday May 15, at 7:00 pm. This evening presentation will focus on spring migration at Rondeau. Tickets are available from the Visitor Centre. Please note that there will be no bird hike at 1:00 pm on this day - Saturday May 15. The birding competition is 24 consecutive hours during the weekend of May 7th-9th. For details on this bird-a-thon, contact 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. Directions for park: 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 1 - 24. To reach the Visitor Centre from the park Gate, travel 6 km South on Rondeau Road to Gardiner Ave., then follow it around the bend to the parking lot. Directions for Sewage Lagoons (courtesy of Irene Woods): Blenheim is on #3 H [Talbot Rd]. in Chatham-Kent. Take # 3 H West out of Blenheim, about 1 km. You will see a car wash at the corner of Lagoon Rd., turn right [ North]. Go about 1/2 km. and you will see a small locked gate [ see below]. Enter at this gate only. Please park on the lagoon side of the road--only. Permit required (available from Rondeau Visitor Centre, etc.) Good birding! Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 _______________________________________________ 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/
