Rondeau Bird Report – Sunday May 11, 2008
Good morning birders. A large flock of shorebirds was reported in the Rondeau area yesterday afternoon. Blake Mann, Steve Charbonneau and Mac MacAlpine saw 2 Marbled Godwits, 1,000 Black-bellied Plovers and a small number of Ruddy Turnstones in the onion fields off Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent Road 12). The two American White Pelicans in the area have been seen flying over the marsh and South Point Trail. Later in the day, they have sometimes been seen from the Government dock in Erieau (see directions below). Our warbler tally for the morning was 21 species, including Worm-eating at Spicebush Trail and a Mourning Warbler New for today) at the Pony Barn. The Prothonotarys seem to have settled in at Tulip Tree Trail, with a pair seen there on Friday and today. Another bird was seen at the Pony Barn. The best trails were Spicebush, Pony Barn and Black Oak. Other interesting sightings include a Peregrine Falcon and Yellow-throated Vireos at two locations. Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/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. 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 the shorebird site near Erieau, from the entrance to Rondeau PP, drive north ~1 km to Kent Bridge Road (Chatham-Kent 15), turn left and go 4.8 km to Talbot Trail (Chatham-Kent Road 3, formerly called Hwy 3), turn left and go 15.9 km (through several twists and turns, and through Blenheim) to Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent Road 12), turn left and go ~7 km to McGeachy Pond C.A. The birds were seen in the ploughed onion fields to the left of the road in this vicinity. For the American White Pelican, from McGeachy Pond C.A. 9see above), continue southeast on Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent 12) into the town of Erieau. At Nichols Ave., turn right and then make a quick left on Mariner’s Road. Follow along to the end of the road at the docks. Look north into Rondeau Bay and marsh. Most sightings at this location have been late in the day. _________________________________________________________________ If you like crossword puzzles, then you'll love Flexicon, a game which combines four overlapping crossword puzzles into one! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/208_______________________________________________ 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
