Rondeau Bird Report – Wednesday May 14, 2008 - evening
Hello birders. The Rondeau warbler list for today totalled 22 species. Highlights included Cerulean on Tulip Tree Trail, and Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue–winged and Hooded on Spicebush Trail. The best areas were for warblers were Tulip Tree Trail, Pony Barn and Spicebush Trail. Other good passerines at the Pony Barn included Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Orchard Oriole, Tufted Titmouse, and Indigo Bunting. Our first Philadelphia Vireo and a Gray-cheeked Thrush were seen on Tulip Tree Trail. Scarlet Tanagers were reported from Harrsion Trail and Pony Barn, while Orchard Orioles were seen at Spicebush Trail and Pony Barn. On the Marsh Trail Tuesday evening, we had a variety of wetland birds on the evening hike. American Woodcock, Whip-poor-will, American Bittern, Sora, and Sandhill Cranes were all singing and calling. Common Moorhen, a species that has become very uncommon in the park, was seen on the Marsh Trail south of the gate at the south end parking area. The Trail is generally only accessible by bicycle, or by attending my marsh hike on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm. Outside the park today, 40 Ruddy Turnstones were seen in the fields near Erieau, and 3 Willet were on Rose Beach Line just northeast of the park entrance. Unusual for the local area, a Long-tailed Duck drake was seen in the same area this afternoon. Obervers who visited later in the afternoon did not see the Willet. Also outside the park, shorebirds and ducks were seen near McGeachy Pond C.A. Black-bellied Plover (5), American Coot (3), and Redhead (2) were reported there. Good birding. Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 I will lead a guided bird hike twice daily May 3 to 19 (fee $5), as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am & 1 pm; Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 am & 7 pm; Friday 7:30 am. All of the 7:30 am and 1 pm hikes listed above will meet at the Visitor Centre. The 7 pm hikes will meet at the entrance to the Marsh Trail. A second hike on Friday at 1 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a birders' brunch for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups & treats) daily from 7 - 11 am. Directions: To reach Rondeau PP, take exit 101 from Highway 401 and drive South 16 km on Chatham Kent Road 15. Follow the signs to the park. The Bird Sightings Book, Bird Sightings Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open 7 am to 5 p m from May 3 - 19). To reach the Centre from the park gate, travel 6 km South on Rondeau Road to Gardiner Ave. and follow it around the bend to the parking lot. For the American White Pelican, from McGeachy Pond C.A. (see above), continue southeast on Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent 12) into the town of Erieau. At Nichols Ave., turn ~~left and follow Kerr Ave. to the end of the road at the fishing boat docks. Look north into Rondeau Bay and marsh. Most sightings at this location have been late in the day. I saw the birds there from 8:10 – 8:25 pm on May 11. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was also seen in this area on May 12. It may also be worthwhile to check the Government Dock at the end of Mariner's Road for gulls. For the shorebird / duck site near Erieau: from the entrance to Rondeau PP, drive north ~1 km to Kent Bridge Road (Chatham-Kent 15), turn left and go 4.8 km to Talbot Trail (Chatham-Kent Road 3, formerly called Hwy 3), turn left and go 15.9 km (through several twists and turns, and through Blenheim) to Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent Road 12), turn left and go ~7 km to McGeachy Pond C.A. The birds were seen in the fields in this vicinity. For the Long-tailed Duck and the Willets, from the Rondeau PP gate, go northeast on Rondeau Road past Kent Bridge Road (Chatham-Kent 15). The road continues northeast, but is here called Rose Beach Line. The bird was seen along the shore here. _________________________________________________________________ Try Chicktionary, a game that tests how many words you can form from the letters given. Find this and more puzzles at Live Search Games! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/207_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
