Hello again everyone, Just a follow-up to my original post regarding the Townsend's warbler that I refound this morning near Rondeau Park. It was last seen reliably on Sunday, November 26 by many observers. That day, it was seen by itself, not with the traveling flock and it spent quite a bit of the time feeding in the oaks, as well as some of the usual cedars. On Monday, 10 of us searched for 6 hours unsuccessfully. The past two days, my son and I checked the area for a couple of hours each morning but we could not find it. We did, however, hear a couple of chip notes each day that we were sure belonged to the warbler. I believe we were the only people looking for the bird these two days. The weather the past few days did not help - it was warm and sunny and there were flying insects everywhere. Usually, this warbler spends a lot of its time buried in the cedars, catching spiders or insects deep within the boughs. The usual traveling flock never did materialize either morning. This morning, it was still 8 degrees but cloudy. I arrived at the corner of Second and Centre Streets at 8:50 where the warbler was originally found by Jim Burk almost three weeks ago (Nov 11). There were numerous chickadees, kinglets, creepers, nuthatches and titmice working the cedars and I finally heard the familiar chip of the target bird. At 8:55, I located the Townsend's in the "usual" cedar - the one that Jim had found it in. Mike Bouman arrived after I texted him and we were able to follow it as it moved slowly, with the flock, north along Centre Street until we lost it at the corner of Fourth and Centre Streets. In fact, the entire traveling flock vanished to the north. After a bit of unsuccessful searching, we left the area. For those of you who may be coming tomorrow or the next few days to add it to your winter list, here are some points to consider:
1. This bird seems to be more easily found when it is a bit colder and it is traveling with the mixed flock. 2. It seems to be most reliable at the corner of Second and Centre Streets, especially between 8:00 and 9:30 am. 3. The neighbours have been incredibly friendly to the multitude of birders visiting this area and we would like to keep it that way. Please be considerate to stay along the edges of the roadways when searching for this bird. In the past, many people have parked right at the corner where the warbler is often seen but I would recommend that we change this. There are small parking areas at the east end of Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Streets. Each has enough room for 2 or 3 cars and it is not a long walk from any of them to the regular corner. There is also ample public parking on the main road to the park at Rondeau Joe's restaurant, less than a 5 minute walk to the corner of Second and Centre Streets. 4. Other good areas to check are at the end of Third and Fifth Streets, in the cedars near the parking areas where it has been seen often. 5. The blackpoll warbler first found on November 12 has not been seen since last Sunday but is probably still present in the area. It is most often seen at the east end of Third Street in the cedars above the 40 km/hr sign, as well as the cedars on the south side of Third Street 100m west of here. 6. The forecast here calls for sunny skies, light NW winds and 3 degrees tomorrow morning. 7. I will be there by 8:00 tomorrow morning (Dec 1) to assist in the search. Good luck to any winter listers coming and I will see you tomorrow. Directions: Take Hwy 401 and get off at exit 101 - Kent Bridge Road. Follow this road south towards Rondeau Park for 15 km. Turn right at Wildwood Line toward Rondeau Park. Bates subdivision is on the left side of the road, before you enter the park. Again, parking is best at the end of Second, Third, Fourth or Fifth Streets. Steve Charbonneau On Thu, Nov 30, 2017 at 9:25 AM, Steve Charbonneau < [email protected]> wrote: > Hi Everyone, > Good news from the Rondeau area this morning for winter listers. I was > finally able to relocate the Townsend’s warbler in Bates subdivision at > 8:55 this morning after three days of nobody seeing it. I’ll post more > details later this afternoon. > Steve > > Sent from my iPhone -- *Steve CharbonneauErie Beach in Chatham-Kent* _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
