Hello Ontbirders.
The day turned out much better than the forecast at Rondeau today. After 2 weeks, the Yellow-throated Warbler continues to dine at feeders at #17372 Lakeshore Road. Birders are welcome to visit, and may check the feeders in the backyard if the bird is not in its usual haunt in the front feeder. A total of 20 species of warblers were reported in the park today. Highlights included Blue-winged on Maintenance loop, Spicebush, and Tulip Tree; Orange-crowned on South point Trail; Northern Parula on the Marsh Trail and Spicebush; Hooded on South Point Trail and Tulip Tree; Canada on Lakeshore Road, and our first Prothonotary on Tulip Tree. Many of the trails reported a good variety of warblers today. Other noteworthy songbirds included White-eyed Vireo on South Point Trail, Yellow-throated Vireo on the Maintenance loop, Sedge Wren on South Point Trail, Lincoln’s Sparrow near the Visitor Centre and Vesper Sparrow near the South Point Trail parking lot. On the Marsh Trail, my hike will be checking out the avifauna this evening. I will provide an update tomorrow. Visitors to the Blenheim Sewage lagoons yesterday reported sizeable flocks of a variety of ducks today. We have had no further reports of the Eared Grebe or Eurasian Wigeon seen there earlier. Water levels in the ponds are high, so the only likely spot for shorebirds would be the sprinkler system area. Elsewhere in the local area, the Ridgetown lagoons had 2 Least Sandpipers. A flooded field to the south had a mixed flock of about 30 Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs. A big thank you to all of our loyal birders who take the time to report their sightings to us, and help to make these reports as comprehensive as possible! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 WILL 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/
