Rondeau Bird Report – Monday May 5, 2008 Greetings Ontbirders, The
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher adult male discovered in the park at 11:15 am was
present until shortly after 1:30 pm. It then flew north out of the park. It was
next found in a tree in a field about 1 km to the north of the park gate. The
field is at the northeast corner of Wildwood Road (the continuation of Rondeau
Road outside the park) and Kent Bridge Road. Birders passed along word that it
had been seen up to about 4 pm at that location. I have received no further
information as of sunset on Monday. Other sightings of note: Warblers: 20
species (including Blackpoll seen just outside the park). The ‘best’ birds were
Cerulean, Kentucky, Hooded, Blue-winged, and Orange-crowned, as well as the
Prothonotary seen daily at the Pony Barn. Black-throated Blue was a new
arrival. Other Passerines: The Harris’s Sparrow is reliable, even singing at
times, at the Visitor Centre, along with Lincoln’s Sparrow and an excellent
variety of feeder birds. White-eyed Vireo and Orchard Oriole were seen on South
Point Trail. Nearby locations outside the park have also yielded good results,
with a Cattle Egret seen yesterday at the Blenheim Lagoons. The
"Scissor-tailed" site had Sora, Great Egret, Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Solitary
Sandpipers and Northern Shovelers. Good birding. Steve LaForestFriends of
Rondeau Bird Guidec/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 I will lead a
guided bird hike twice daily May 3 to 19 (fee $5), as follows: Monday,
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am & 1 pm; Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 am & 7
pm.; Friday 7:30 am. All of the 7:30 am and 1 pm hikes listed above will meet
at the Visitor Centre. The 7 pm hikes will meet at the entrance to the Marsh
Trail. A second hike on Friday at 1 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage
Lagoons. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a birders' brunch for a small
donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups & treats) daily from 7 - 11 am. There will
also be a special program, on Saturday May 10 at 7 pm - an evening presentation
about the spring migration at Rondeau:An Evening in the Forest with LaForest
(contact Visitor Centre re tickets) Directions: Take exit 101 from Highway 401
and drive South 16 km on Chatham Kent Road 15. Follow the signs to the park.
For the field where the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was last seen, stop where
Kent Bridge Road ends at Wildwood Road (where you would have to turn right to
continue to Rondeau Provincial Park). The field is northeast of this
intersection. Please note that Kent Bridge Road can be busy here, and drivers
are advised to find a safe place to park nearby. The Bird Sightings Book, Bird
Sightings Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor
Centre (open 7 am to 5 pm 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
_________________________________________________________________
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 [email protected]
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
