Hello Ontbirders. The Rondeau Provincial Park spring birding program will run from Saturday May 1 through to May 24, Victoria Day. There will be daily Bird Hikes and a Birders' Breakfast.
Our Blue Grosbeak continues to be seen regularly in the campground near campsite #67. It has been seen this morning flying around this general area of the campgrounds, just to the north of Rondeau Avenue. Sightings range 6:40 am to 7:30 pm. The most recent report was 10:15 am today. The bird is an adult female, showing considerable blue on the rump and tail. Visitors are reminded that only campers are permitted to drive into the campground. DIRECTIONS: After you enter the park, drive about 1 km, the turn left on Rondeau Avenue. Drive to the first road on your right, Harrison Trail, turn and park on the roadside in this vicinity. Just before / west of Harrison, there is a small path that leads north into the campground. Walk past sites #63, 64, 65 and 66 to site #67. Please be careful to stay off occupied campsites and do not disturb campers. Photographers are asked not to use flash, as this is disturbing both the bird and the campers. We have had no further reports of the Yellow-throated Warbler seen yesterday at 11:30 am on Harrison Trail within 100 m north and south of the Group Campground. An impressive total of 27 species of warblers have been seen in the park this morning. Highlights include a Prothonotary, a Hooded and a Mourning on Rondeau Road midway between Spicebush Trail and Gardiner Ave. On South Point Trail, the Yellow-breasted Chat has been singing on territory just past post #7 for about a week. Orange-crowned Warbler and a Louisiana Waterthrush were seen early at the Pony Barn. Canada Warbler was observed on Harrison Trail near the Pony Barn. Our best warbler site was the Pony Barn - Harrison Trail area. The rush of activity this morning began just after the weather cleared. Numbers have picked up substantially today. Our most cooperative songbirds are 2 Clay-colored Sparrows on the front lawn of the Visitor Centre. Lincoln's Sparrows were seen on Harrison Trail and at the Pony Barn. As for the non-passerines, a Great Egret was observed flying over Harrison Trail near Pony Barn and a Sandhill Crane was seen over the main gate. A Wilson's Snipe was found on South Point Trail past post #7. Outside of the park, 3 Short-billed Dowitchers were seen in a field north of #18097 Erieau Road, on the west side, on May 13. BIRDING ETIQUETTE Birders and photographers are cautioned regarding the importance of following proper birding etiquette within Rondeau Provincial Park. Please refrain from any use of electronic devices or tapes to call birds, which harass our wildlife, while in the park. Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and compliance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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/
