Report for May 9, 2003 (Friday): With these cool and wet conditions, the number of migrants that are present appears to be declining each and every day. However this will, of course, change dramatically when winds switch around to the south. Yesterday the most active areas were the start of Marsh Trail and Spicebush Trail.
There was no subsequent sighting of the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE after seen at 8:00 a.m. yesterday (May 8) along Lakeshore Road south of the Visitor Centre. Also yesterday, American Redstart and Canada Warbler were reported, both the first of the season. A Prairie Warbler was present yesterday at the start of Marsh Trail. Orange-crowned Warblers are being reported from several locations. Just outside the park gate at the intersection, the famous flowering crab tree is now in bloom. This tree is always an easy place to see Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore & Orchard Orioles, and (soon) Cape May Warbler. The Blenhein sewage lagoons have a good variety of ducks including many Ruddy Ducks. There is limited habitat for shorebirds, although a field adjacent to the north side had thousands of gulls including hundreds of Bonapartes Gulls. In the grassy meadow at the north side of the lagoons, a Western Meadowlark was present on Monday May 5 (Steve Charbonneau). Note that a free permit is required to visit the site, available from the town office in downtown Blenheim. Alan Wormington, Friends of Rondeau ************************************************* DAILY BIRDING HIKES WITH AN EXPERT (free): May 1-19 and May 23-26 inclusive Each day there is a morning hike at 7:30 a.m. -- meet at the Visitor Centre. Each day there is also an afternoon OR evening hike, as follows: Mondays: 1:00 p.m. in the Park - meet at the Visitor Centre Tuesdays: 1:00 p.m. at the Blenheim Sewage Ponds - map available at the V.C. Wednesdays: 6:00 p.m. in Ridgetown -- meet at the Native Trail, Scane Road just south of Golf Course Line Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. in the Park -- meet at the Visitor Centre Fridays: 7:00 p.m. on Marsh Trail -- meet at parking lot Saturdays: 1:00 p.m. in the Park -- meet at the Visitor Centre Sundays: 1:00 p.m. in the Park -- meet at the Visitor Centre For Additional Birding Events at Rondeau, visit the Friends website at www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ [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.
