Hello Ontbirders. The Rondeau Yellow-throated Warbler continues to be seen at the bird garden / feeder area at the Visitor Centre. It was seen there at 8:10 am. It has also been reported at its usual haunt at #17372 Lakeshore Road. Birders are welcome to visit, and may check the feeders in the backyard if the bird is not in its usual site in the front feeder. New for this morning are sightings at feeders at other cottages on Lakeshore Road - at #17284, and also at #17288 Lakeshore Road (this latter site at 12:30 pm).
Our warbler tally for this morning was 20 species. Highlights included Golden-winged Warbler in the bird garden / feeder area at the Visitor Centre; Blue-winged on South Point Trail; Northern Parula on Bennett Road and Maintenance Loop; Hooded on South Point Trail and Tulip Tree Trail; and Canada on South Point Trail. Also of note was the reliable White-eyed Vireo on South Point Trail, Yellow-throated Vireo on the Maintenance loop, and Scarlet Tanagers at South Point Trail and Tulip Tree Trail. For nightjar aficionados, supporters of the Common Nighthawk faction have won their bets and may collect their winnings. The bird on Harrison Trail yesterday was definitely a Common Nighthawk. Whip-poor-will fans will be pleased to note that birds were calling yesterday evening. Other non-passerines included a very cooperative Merlin perched for an extended period on South Point Trail near post #6. A big thank you to all of our loyal birders who take the time to report their sightings to us, and help to make these reports as comprehensive as possible! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rondeau Provincial Park welcomes birders! We have morning coffee and snacks waiting for early birders. Our Bird Hikes and Birders' Breakfast start Thursday May 5 and go through to Victoria Day. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from Thursday May 5 to Monday May 23, 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; as well as 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. The Friends of Rondeau will provide a Birders' Breakfast/Lunch 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 14, at 7:00 pm. Peter Middleton of Quest Nature Tours will give a presentation entitled "Gardens and Birds." He will focus on how to do your gardening ecologically. Tickets are available from the Visitor Centre. A second special presentation that day will be offered by renowned birder and nature photographer Jean Iron. She will be giving us an in-depth look at northbound shorebirds. You had better pay attention, too - this is an interactive program and there WILL be a test afterwards! Contact the Visitor Centre for additional information. The Big Birding Competition is 24 consecutive hours during the weekend of May 7th - 8th. 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. Good birding! Steve Steve LaForest Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
