Hello Ontbirders. After post-dawn fog and drizzle, Rondeau birders had a good day on the trails this morning.
A total of 23 species of warbler have been seen so far today. There has been an obvious influx since yesterday with the weather systems passing through, as MOURNING WARBLERS, WILSON'S and CANADAS are now being reported from many locations around the park. Among those on people's "most-wanted" lists were the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on South Point Trail (past post #7); and PROTHONOTARY on Bennett Road at the deer exclosure. Other sought-after warblers included BLUE-WINGED on Bennett Road and Spicebush Trail; NORTHERN PARULA on Spicebush, South Point and Tulip Tree Trails; a late PINE on Lakeshore Road; BLACKPOLL in the Campgrounds and on South Point Trail; NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on Maintenance Loop, at Pony Barn, on Spicebush Trail and on Tulip Tree Trail; and MOURNING on Bennett, in the Campgrounds, on Spicebush Trail and on Tulip Tree Trail. We have not yet received any reports today of the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER or the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. As for other songbirds, highlights included WHITE-EYED VIREO on South Point Trail; YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on Bennett Road and South Point Trail; PHILADELPHIA VIREO on Spicebush Trail (just arrived yesterday); SCARLET TANAGER on Bennett Road, Spicebush Trail, and South Point Trail; and ORCHARD ORIOLE on South Point Trail. Unusual in the park were BOBOLINK and AMERICAN PIPIT, both on South Point Trail. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS arrived today, with reports from Maintenance Loop and South Point Trail. I would like to thank all of the birders who have taken the time to report their sightings to us, and help to make these Ontbirds 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. Please join the Friends of Rondeau for 'AN EVENING IN THE FOREST' on Saturday May 14 at 7:30 pm. PETER MIDDLETON will present 'GARDEN & BIRDS'. Coffee & dessert will be served after the presentation. Tickets are $10 a person and all proceeds are used to support birding activities in Rondeau. Contact the Visitor Centre for tickets and additional information. Another presentation that day at 3:00 pm will be offered by birder and nature photographer Jean Iron. She will be giving us an in-depth look at northbound shorebirds. Contact the Visitor Centre for additional information. Good birding! Steve Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
