Hello Ontbirders. The Rondeau Provincial Park spring birding program will run from Saturday May 1 through to Victoria Day. There will be daily Bird Hikes and a Birders' Breakfast.
Our Blue Grosbeak is still being seen regularly in the campground near campsite #67. It has also been seen at site #69. Observations range from 6:40 am to 7:30 pm. The bird is a first year male, showing considerable blue on the rump and tail. Visitors are reminded that only campers are permitted to drive into the campground. DIRECTIONS: After you enter the park, drive about 1 km, the turn left on Rondeau Avenue. Drive to the first road on your right, Harrison Trail, turn and park on the roadside in this vicinity. Just before / west of Harrison, there is a small path that leads north into the campground. Walk past sites #63, 64, 65 and 66 to site #67. Please be careful to STAY OFF OCCUPIED CAMPSITES AND DO NOT DISTURB CAMPERS. Photographers are asked NOT TO USE FLASH, as this is disturbing both the bird and the campers. Let's all employ a little common sense - if we scare the bird off, no-one will get to see it OR photograph it!!! A total of 22 species of warblers have been reported so far this morning. The highlight was a Yellow-breasted Chat apparently on territory on South Point Trail past post #7. Also on South Point Trail were a Hooded Warbler and a Mourning Warbler. On Tulip Tree Trail, an Orange-crowned Warbler was observed. Other songbirds of note included a Yellow-throated Vireo on the Maintenance Loop, Orchard Oriole on South Point Trail and Scarlet Tanagers on Spicebush and South Point Trail. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was noted on the Maintenance Loop, and a Black-billed Cuckoo was seen at the Visitor Centre. Reports from Blenheim Lagoons indicate a good variety of shorebirds and waterfowl there. Recent highlights include 3 Wilson's Phalaropes and 2 dowitcher sp. Outside the park, the Cattle Egret at the intersection of Erieau Road at Bisnett seems to have moved on. Our last report is from Friday May 7, about mid-way between the former site and the town of Erieau. BIRDING ETIQUETTE Birders and photographers are cautioned regarding the importance of following proper birding etiquette within Rondeau Provincial Park. Please refrain from any use of electronic devices or tapes to call birds, which harass our wildlife, while in the park. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and compliance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Bird Hike schedule has been changed slightly from last year. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Saturday May 1 to Monday May 24, inclusive (fee $5), as follows: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm Tuesday and Friday at 7:30 am and 7:00 pm; Wednesday at 7:30 am. All of the 7:30 am and 1:00 pm hikes listed above will meet at the Visitor Centre. The 7:00 pm hikes will meet at the entrance to the Marsh Trail. A second hike on Wednesday at 1:00 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. New for this year, permits for the Sewage Lagoons will be available from the Rondeau Visitor Centre The Friends of Rondeau will provide a Birders' Breakfast for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups and treats) daily from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Visitor Centre. There will also be a special new program on Saturday May 15, at 7:00 pm. This evening presentation will focus on spring migration at Rondeau. Tickets are available from the Visitor Centre. Please note that there will be no bird hike at 1:00 pm on this day - Saturday May 15. The birding competition is 24 consecutive hours during the weekend of May 7th-9th. For details on this bird-a-thon, contact the Visitor Centre. More information on the park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' website: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca. Directions for park: Take exit 101 from Highway 401 and drive South 16 km on Chatham Kent Road 15. Turn right and follow the signs to the park. The Bird Sightings Book, Bird Sightings Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open 7:00 am to 5:00 pm from May 1 - 24. To reach the Visitor Centre from the park Gate, travel 6 km South on Rondeau Road to Gardiner Ave., then follow it around the bend to the parking lot. Directions for Sewage Lagoons (courtesy of Irene Woods): Blenheim is on #3 H [Talbot Rd]. in Chatham-Kent. Take # 3 H West out of Blenheim, about 1 km. You will see a car wash at the corner of Lagoon Rd., turn right [ North]. Go about 1/2 km. and you will see a small locked gate [ see below]. Enter at this gate only. Please park on the lagoon side of the road--only. Permit required (available from Rondeau Visitor Centre, etc.) Good birding! Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
