Hello Ontbirders. The Rondeau Provincial Park spring birding program will run from Saturday May 1 through to Victoria Day. There will be daily Bird Hikes and a Birders' Breakfast.
Rondeau's warbler tally for this morning stands at 19 species (plus one hybrid) and counting. The tally is somewhat reduced from yesterday's impressive 28 species (including a Kentucky Warbler that didn't make the posting deadline). Highlights on South Point Trail included 2 Yellow-breasted Chats singing at each other (past post #7), a Mourning Warbler (also near post #7) and a Hooded Warbler. A Blue-winged Warbler was observed on Lakeshore Road 200 metres north of the parking for South Point. On Tulip Tree Trail, a Brewster's Warbler was seen during a tour by Quest. Overall, the most warbler activity was seen on Spicebush Trail. The best bird there was a Golden-winged Warbler, seen in the far corner from the entrance. At the Marsh Trail, a Sora and a Redhead were recorded yesterday evening. Near the park, there was a nice variety of shorebirds which had apparently just arrived at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. Highlights included 1 Wilson's Phalarope, 10+ Least Sandpiper and a large number of Dunlin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Bird Hike schedule has been changed slightly from last year. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Saturday May 1 to Monday May 24, inclusive (fee $5), as follows: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Thursday at 7:30 am and 1:00 pm Tuesday and Friday at 7:30 am and 7:00 pm; Wednesday at 7:30 am. 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. A second hike on Wednesday at 1:00 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. New for this year, permits for the Sewage Lagoons will be available from the Rondeau Visitor Centre 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. There will also be a special new program on Saturday May 15, at 7:00 pm. This evening presentation will focus on spring migration at Rondeau. Tickets are available from the Visitor Centre. Please note that there will be no bird hike at 1:00 pm on this day - Saturday May 15. The birding competition is 24 consecutive hours during the weekend of May 7th-9th. For details on this bird-a-thon, contact the Visitor Centre. More information on the park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' website: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca. Directions for park: 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 Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open 7:00 am to 5:00 pm from May 1 - 24. To reach the Visitor Centre from the park Gate, travel 6 km South on Rondeau Road to Gardiner Ave., then follow it around the bend to the parking lot. Directions for Sewage Lagoons (courtesy of Irene Woods): Blenheim is on #3 H [Talbot Rd]. in Chatham-Kent. Take # 3 H West out of Blenheim, about 1 km. You will see a car wash at the corner of Lagoon Rd., turn right [ North]. Go about 1/2 km. and you will see a small locked gate [ see below]. Enter at this gate only. Please park on the lagoon side of the road--only. Permit required (available from Rondeau Visitor Centre, etc.) Good birding! Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768 _______________________________________________ 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/
