Hello Ontbirders. The sun was shining and the birds were singing at Rondeau today. The highlight continues to be the Yellow-throated Warbler at #17372 Lakeshore Road. It was seen today at 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 pm. A good variety of other songbirds were present in the vicinity, including an array of variously-plumaged Orchard and Baltimore Orioles.
Other good warblers included a Prairie in the campgrounds (at site #799), Blue-winged and Yellow-breasted Chat on South Point Trail, Cerulean on Tulip Tree Trail and Hooded Warbler on Spicebush Trail. The pair of Cooper's Hawks on Tulip Tree Trail may have selected another nesting location, but they are still busily terrorizing the neighbourhood. Stay tuned! Among other raptors, a late Rough-legged Hawk was seen over the Visitor centre. Rusty Blackbirds were squeaking about the woods on Tulip Tree Trail and on South point Trail. We only just learned that a Grasshopper Sparrow was seen on South Point Trail on May 2. On the Marsh Trail, intrepid cyclist Jack Gingrich observed a range of marsh birds, such as American Bittern, Common Moorhen, American Coot, and good numbers of Sandhil Cranes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rondeau Provincial Park welcomes birders! We have morning coffee and snacks waiting for early birders. Our Bird Hikes and Birders' Breakfast start Thursday May 5 and go through to Victoria Day. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Thursday May 5 to Monday May 23, 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; as well as 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. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a Birders' Breakfast/Lunch 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 14, at 7:00 pm. Peter Middleton of Quest Nature Tours will give a presentation entitled "Gardens and Birds." He will focus on how to do your gardening ecologically. Tickets are available from the Visitor Centre. A second special presentation that day will be offered by renowned birder and nature photographer Jean Iron. She will be giving us an in-depth look at northbound shorebirds. You had better pay attention, too - this is an interactive program and there WiILL be a test afterwards! Contact the Visitor Centre for additional information. The Big Birding Competition is 24 consecutive hours during the weekend of May 7th - 8th. 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. Good birding! Steve Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
