Birders: indeed the Great Kiskadee was intermittently cooperative this afternoon along the north end of the Marsh Trail of Rondeau. I saw it briefly at 3 p.m. and it disappeared for exactly an hour, whereupon it put on a decent show for about a dozen birders at 4:03 p.m. Reluctant to leave given the very nice viewing conditions, the few of us that remained a bit longer were treated to another showing at 4:45 p.m. At that point the bird was observed heading north, perhaps to seek out its roost tree.
A bit more detail, including photos of both the Great Kiskadee and the Hudsonian Godwit at Keith McLean Conservation Area immediately north of Rondeau, can be seen on my blog: https://pawsnaturenuggets.blogspot.com/2018/10/great-kiskadee-and-hudsonian-godwit.html P. Allen Woodliffe Chatham ________________________________ From: ONTBIRDS <[email protected]> on behalf of Steve Charbonneau via ONTBIRDS <[email protected]> Sent: October 18, 2018 6:21 PM To: ontbirds Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Great Kiskadee YES!! Hi again everyone, Just a quick update on the great kiskadee for anyone who is still wanting to look for it. This morning, Mike Bouman and I were birding in the area and got a text from Pilar Manarome at Rondeau saying that Jon Wild (a park worker and birder) was 99% sure that he had seen the great kiskadee along the marsh trail near its original roost tree. This is a willow across from the third cottage, just 100m up the trail. He was walking his dog at the time and didn't have binoculars. It was calling often but he lost sight of it. The bird has not been seen since the morning of September 15th, despite a thorough search for a couple of days after and the occasional casual look since. Mike and I were able to relocate the bird near the fourth cottage about 45 minutes later. It was calling often, fed on grapes and sat high in the trees nearby soaking up the rays of the sun. It also had a quick bath in the slough on the bayside. After a few birders got great looks, it made its way down the trail to its feeding area just past the S curve (this is about 250m along the trail). It called from this location throughout the late morning and all afternoon. It would hunt tadpoles from the wet, marshy area right beside the trail, often perching at eye level in the branches of the dead ash trees that have been cut down. This was a favoured location for the first few days it had been found. I last heard from someone who saw the bird at 4:00 this afternoon. At least 25 people saw the bird today, including the "BC 5". Thanks to Jon and Pilar for getting the word out and I am very happy to admit that I was wrong about its demise! Steve Take exit 101, Kent Rd 15 off the 401 follow signs to the park. Note East bound cannot get off at exit 101, use either Blenheim or Ridgetown exits. Also Toronto bound traffic cannot get on the east bound lanes at 101, use the Ridgetown exit. On Thu, Oct 18, 2018 at 10:15 AM Steve Charbonneau < [email protected]> wrote: > Mike Bouman and I are watching the Rondeau great Kiskadee now on Water > Street near the entrance to Marsh Trail. 10:15 October 18. > 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 _______________________________________________ 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
