Greetings all, A fine group of 27 birders met at Rondeau Provincial Park on Saturday May 3 for the annual OFO field trip. This year, Maris Apse and myself teamed up to lead the group. Maris and I met Friday evening to do some pre-scouting, and found that the east side of South Point Trail, and the beginning of Tulip Tree Trail were the hotpsots. Between us we found 16 species of warblers previous to the trip. Total bird species seen with the group was 86, including 14 warbler species. Some other excellent birds were found during the day. We started on Tulip Tree Trail and spotted several warblers including a Northern Parula. We could not spot the Kentucky Warbler which was seen the day before (and after we walked the trail!!). We then headed down to south point trail (end of Lakeshore) to where there was good activity. Some of the warblers included killer looks at a female Hooded (thanks Larry!), male Blackburnian, Bluewinged, male Black-throated Blue and Palm. We did not find the female Cerulean or Chestnut-sided which I had Friday evening. A Lincoln's Sparrow made a brief appearance among the hundreds of White-throated Sparrows. A Yellow-breasted Chat was heard, but not seen. Blue-headed Vireos were common. Some Red-headed Woodpeckers were flying about. For lunch we stopped at the visitor centre and some had brief looks at a possible hybrid ChippingXClay-colored Sparrow at the feeders. After lunch we headed to Marsh Trail, and noted Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs on the mudflats. There was also a Spotted Sandpiper and a couple of Least Sandpipers. Our highlight was the discovery of a Grasshopper Sparrow along the edge of the trail. At the new viewing tower we noted a lonely Dark-eyed Junco. A Marsh Wren was in the cattails as we left the tower. Several ducks (mostly Greater Scaup) were in the Bay. The next stop was behind the Maintenance Compound where it was quite birdy. We noted an Ovenbird there. We finished the outing on Bennett Ave., where we noted two Great-Crested Flycatchers and a pair of resident Eastern Phoebes. It was an excellent day with the weather (a bit cool though), and for the numbers of birds for the early days of May. A big day in the area could have revealed 120 species!
________________________________ Blake A. Mann Wallaceburg, Chatham-Kent, Ont. email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Blake Mann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
