Hello Ontbirders. Despite the early showers, birding at Rondeau was busy this morning on South Point Trail and on the Maintenance Loop.
Our warbler tally was 24 species for this morning. Highlights included the Yellow-throated, Orange-crowned, Northern Parula, Cerulean, Mourning, Hooded, Wilson’s and Canada. A Great Egret and 2 Bald Eagles flew over South Point Trail at 8:30 am. A adult male Summer Tanager was observed on Tulip Tree Trail near the Visitor Centre parking lot at 10:30 am. An Acadian Flycatcher was seen and heard well yesterday on South Point Trail, about 2 km south of the parking lot on GARDINER Rd. (NOTE – this is not the parking lot on Lakeshore Road). Little Gull was noted offshore of the light beacon yesterday on South Point Trail. Birders and photographers are reminded that they are NOT to use electronic playback devices to attract birds in the park. We appeciate your cooperation. If birders encounter problems in this regard, please contact park staff, and wardens will be notified promptly. Outside the park, approximately 100 Black-bellied Plovers were observed yesterday off Erieau Road about 1 km north of McGeachy’s Pond. Merci beaucoup to all those who have provided sightings information for this report! Today at 1:00 pm, I will lead an outing at the Blenheim Lagoons. I will report on sightings there in an upcoming posting. 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. 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/
