Hello Ontbirders. Rondeau has had reports of 25 species of warblers today. The rarest of these was a Yellow-throated, still visiting a site on Lakeshore Road near the Visitor Centre.
Birders looking for the Yellow-throated are asked NOT to visit the site before 8:00 am, are reminded to show proper respect for property and privacy, and to park at the Visitor Centre NOT along the road. Groups visiting the site should be of small size – NO large groups, please. The Yellow-throated has also visited the feeders at the Visitor Centre. Good warblers today included Golden-winged and Blue-winged, both on South Point Trail. Other warblers of interest included Orange-crowned, Blackpoll, Northern Waterthrush, Northern Parula, Wilson’s and Canada, all on South Point Trail. Blackburnians were in good numbers. These and many other songbirds must have moved in overnight on the south winds blowing across Lake Erie. Our best birding trail continues to be South Point. The treetops were abuzz with warblers and other songbirds this morning in a mini feeding frenzy of activity. There were 2 Yellow-throated Vireos along the trail, as well as one on Lakeshore Road just south of Gardiner. A Bobolink at South Point was also a good bird for the park. In the raptor department, an adult Golden Eagle flew over the Pony Barn area at 10:30 am, headed east to west. Thank you to everyone who has supplied Rondeau birding information for this report. Good birding --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Bird Hikes and Birders' Breakfast start Friday May 4 and go through to Victoria Day. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from May 4 to May 21, 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. Bird hikes for absolute beginners will be led by Ric McArthur on Saturdays at 10:00 am, meeting at the Visitor Centre. 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. The Centre will be open daily up to May 21, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. All proceeds from the Festival of Flight go to support nature programs in the park. The Big Birding Day Competition is 24 consecutive hours during the weekend of May 11th - 12th. For details on this bird-a-thon, contact the Visitor Centre. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new birding companions during my sixth spring season at Rondeau! More information on the park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' website: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca. 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, Bird Checklists and other relevant information are to be found at the Visitor Centre. 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. 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
