Twenty-eight birders braved the threat of rain and met at Rondeau Provincial Park on Saturday May 1 for the annual OFO field trip, which was led by Blake Mann and Maris Apse. The total of bird species seen was 74, including 13 warbler species. Rain held off for the most part and did not get in our way.
Noisy Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were very common in the park as were Red-headed Woodpeckers-a bird of "special concern" in Ontario. We started on Tulip Tree Trail and spotted several warblers including a Cerulean Warbler, a couple of Tennessee and some Black-and-whites. Swainson' s and Hermit thrushes rustled about. A Wood Thrush sang in the woods. The next stop was behind the maintenance buildings where we saw a Palm Warbler, a Solitary Sandpiper and three White-crowned Sparrows. We then walked the fairly quiet Spice Bush Trail where some of us saw a Northern Waterthrush. For lunch, we stopped at the visitor centre. At the feeders, a bright Baltimore Oriole didn't need sun to show its colour. A Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpecker fed at the same feeder and Ruby-throated Hummingbird made a brief appearance. We then headed down to South Point Trail (end of Lakeshore) where we had killer looks at a male Blackburnian, a Yellow and a Black-throated Green Warbler. A Blue-headed Vireo landed over our heads. Both a Brown Thrasher and a Gray Catbird gave great mimic performances. An Eastern Towhee sang in the open, a few feet from the path. Two Indigo Buntings flew around in the bushes. From the beach we could see a Common Loon, Forster's Terns flying by and many Red-breasted Mergansers Only 2 butterflies--a Cabbage-white and a Red Admiral were seen. Spring flowers were in abundance: red and white trilliums, trout lilies, Dutchman's breeches and yellow and purple violets to name a few. Sandra Eadie Toronto, ON, Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED]
