Hello Ontbirders, New arrivals at Rondeau this afternoon included a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO at the Maintenance Loop. We saw a Great Egret at Bates Marsh, immediately outside the park. Bates Marsh is located at the northeast corner of Chatham Kent Road 15 and the road into Rondeau Park. In the park, but most readily viewed from the docks at Erieau were large flocks of shorebirds. This afternoon, we saw an impressive ~450 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS as well as 40 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 10 DUNLIN, 2 distant DOWITCHER SPECIES and 19 WHIMBREL. We also saw ~50 FORSTER'S TERNS. Irene Woods reported an additional ~80 WHIMBREL. I would appreciate receiving messages concerning observations at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons and other Rondeau area birding locations (e.g. Erieau) for posting on Ontbirds and to forward to the local Bird Records Committee. ___________________________________________________ I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Saturday May 2 to Monday May 18, inclusive (fee $5), as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm; Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 am and 7:00 pm; Friday at 7:30 pm. 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. The second hike on Friday at 1:00 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a Birders' Breakfast for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups and treats) daily from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Visitor Centre. More information on the Park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' web site: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca Birders and photographers are reminded not to play recordings of bird calls to attract birds in the Park, as this interferes with nesting activities and other vital behaviours. 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 Boards, and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm from May 2 - 18), 6 km south of the Park Gate. Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide
c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
