Hello Ontbirders. In the Rondeau area, a PIPING PLOVER was found yesterday at Erieau by Drew Monkman. It was seen at 5:00 pm about 1000 feet from the breakwater. The bird was with 3 Semipalmated Plovers.
DIRECTIONS: >From Hwy 401, take exit #90, go southeast on Chatham-Kent Regional Road #11 about 10 km to hwy #3, turn right (west) and go 5 km to Erieau Road, turn left (southeast) and go about 10 km to Erieau, continue through town, bearing right until you reach the breakwater. In the park itself, what birders are looking for is a few good warblers. One of these was a Brewster’s in a very interesting plumage on South Point Trail. Other noteworthy birds included Northern Parula at Pony Barn and on South Point Trail; Blackpoll on Maintenance Loop, at Pony Barn and on South Point Trail; Northern Waterthrush on South Point Trail; Mourning on South Point and Tulip Tree Trails; Wilson’s on South Point Trail; and Canada on Maintenance Loop, at Pony Barn and on South Point Trail. Among the non-warbler passerines, there was a molting male Summer Tanager on South Point Trail. An adult male Orchard Oriole was singing at the South Point Trail parking lot. A Red-headed Woodpecker has been seen regularly entering a cavity in the general vicinity of the Visitor Centre. Thank you to everyone who has supplied Rondeau birding information for this report. Good birding --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Bird Hikes and Birders' Breakfast start Friday May 4 and go through to Victoria Day. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from May 4 to May 21, 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; as well as 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. Bird hikes for absolute beginners will be led by Ric McArthur on Saturday at 10:00 am, meeting at the Visitor Centre. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a Birders' Breakfast/Lunch for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups and treats) daily from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Visitor Centre. The Centre will be open daily up to May 21, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. All proceeds from the Festival of Flight go to support nature programs in the park. More information on the park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' website: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca. Directions: 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, Bird Checklists and other relevant information are to be found at the Visitor Centre. 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. 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
