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 early this morning in this general area of the campgrounds, just to the north of Rondeau Avenue. Sightings range 6:40 am to 7:30 pm. 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 campgrounds. DIRECTIONS FOR BLUE GROSBEAK: 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. An total of 24 species of warblers have been seen in the park this morning. Highlights include a Prothonotary on Tulip Tree Trail, Blue-winged on Spicebush and at Pony Barn, Orange-crowned at South Point Trail, Cerulean on South Point Trail, and Hooded on Maintenance Loop and South Point Trail. The Yellow-breasted Chat that has been singing regularly apparently on territory just past post #7 on South Point Trail for over a week has not yet been reported today. Our best warbler sites were the Pony Barn - Harrison Trail area and South Point Trail. Numbers continue to increase for many species. Other songbirds include a Clay-colored Sparrow near Harrison Trail at Rondeau Ave. Orchard Oriole has been sighted in the campgrounds. A late Dark-eyed Junco was noted on South Point Trail. As for the non-passerines, our first 2 Common Nighthawks were seen on the Marsh Trail yesterday evening. Some park birds are more easily observed from the dock in the village of Erieau. From there, you can look north to sandbars that are part of Rondeau Provncial Park. Good birds seen yesterday evening in this vicinity include 24 Short-billed Dowitchers, 4 Dunlins, 2 Great Egrets, 8 Ruddy Turnstones and 22 Whimbrel in several flocks. 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/
