Good evening Ontbirders. The Blue Grosbeak at Rondeau has been seen regularly visiting a feeder on campsite #67 up to at least 6:30 pm today. It has also been seen at site #69. Observations range from 6:40 am to 7:30 pm. After consultation with Peter Burke and other birders, and reviewing the available photographs, it appears that this bird is an adult female (Not a first-year male, as I previously posted). The bird shows considerable blue on the rump and tail, but almost none elsewhere. 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 not to disturb the campers in the area. Photographers are asked NOT to use flash, as this is disturbing both the bird and the campers. Good birds this afternoon included a Clay-colored Sparrow on South Point Trail past post #7 and a Hooded Warbler across from the Gardiner Ave. deer exclosure. There was an obvious influx of migrants into the park today. Warbler reports included sightings of "a number of Blackburnians on South Point Trail", for example, instead of just the occasional individual. There were so many Yellow Warblers that 23 were seen on a muddy patch of shoreline near the Park Office. White-crowned Sparrows have also arrived in larger numbers, with flocks of a dozen or two reported from South Point north to the park gate. 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. My afternoon hike today visited the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons near the park. Many of the shorebirds seen earlier had apparently departed. We saw ~80 Dunlin and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs. Waterfowl included Ruddy Duck, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck and an American Wigeon. Other waterbirds observed were Pied-billed Grebes and a Black Tern. In the songbird category, 5 Bobolinks were found. 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. No vehicle access. Permit required (available from Rondeau Visitor Centre, etc.) Many thanks to Peter Burke, who is just as helpful now as he was during my tenure at Presqu'ile! Good birding! Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 s.m.lafor...@gmail.com _______________________________________________ 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/
