Rondeau Bird Report – Monday May 19, 2008
Good morning birders. Our warbler total for this morning was 22 species, including Cerulean, Worm-eating and Prothonotary. There were 2 Ceruleans – a male at Bennett Road and a female at the Maintenance Loop. Both of these birds were in the same area yesterday. The Worm-eating was still in its usual haunt, on Spicebush, where it has been lurking quietly since May 10. Other warblers included a Blue-winged at the Pony Barn, an Orange-crowned on Harrison Trail, and a Blackpoll at South Point Trail. The best trails today were South Point and the Pony Barn. Nonpasserines were noteworthy. In the marsh, observers saw an impressive 5 American White Pelicans yesterday. On the beach at South Point, there were both Dunlin and Ruddy Turnstones today. Near the park, good birds were reported from Bates Pond, just outside the main gate. Five Semipalmated Plovers were there this morning, along with a Sandhill Crane. A female Red-necked Phalarope was found there yesterday at ~3 pm. Also present yesterday were ~50 Dunlin, 4 Short-billed Dowitcher, a Least Sandpiper and a Sora in full view. While checking unsuccessfully for the phalarope in the late afternoon, I saw a Peregrine Falcon swoop through. It seems that this bird was present in the park area for most of the day yesterday. My last hike of the season will be at 1:00 pm today. I would like to thank the Friends of Rondeau for this wonderful opportunity for birding at one of Ontario’s best hotspots. The Friends and the park staff have all been very hospitable to Carolyn and I during our visit. A final thanks to the park birders for all of their support, for adding records to the Bird Sightings Book and the Sightings Boards. See you in May 2009! Good birding. Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 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 Bates Pond at Kent Bridge Road and Rondeau Road - from the park gate, drive ~1 km north to Kent Bridge Road. The pond is on the northeast corner of this intersection. Please take care to park safely, as this is a busy road with very narrow shoulders. We have received reports that the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons are once more inaccessible, as of Sunday May 18. Apparently, the gate is now locked with a padlock, so that even birders with a permit and the correct combination for the combination lock cannot get in. _________________________________________________________________ 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 ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org 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
