Hello Ontbirders. After a cool start, Rondeau warmed up to a nice sunny spring day with a warbler count of 24 species. The highlight was once again the Yellow-throated, seen regularly at a cottage on Lakeshore Road just north of the Visitor Centre.
Birders looking for the Yellow-throated are asked NOT to visit the site before 8:00 am, are reminded to show proper respect for property and privacy, and to park at the Visitor Centre NOT along the road. Groups visiting the site should be of small size – NO large groups, please. Other good birds in the warbler flock included a Blue-winged on Rondeau Road; Northern Parula on Rondeau Road, Maintenance Loop, and South Point Trail; Pine Warbler on South Point Trail; Blackpoll on South Point Trail; Cerulean on the Maintenance Loop; as well as Mourning, Hooded and Wilson’s – with all of these latter three on South Point Trail. Tennessee Warblers were particularly common, and were heard “revving up their little engines” all over the park. As for other passerines, a Summer Tanager was reported on the Maintenance Loop. Scarlet Tanagers were found in a number of locations. On South Point Trail, a striking Orchard Oriole male in first year plumage sang persistently. We have had no further reports of the Blue Grosbeak female found yesterday on South Point Trail by Tony Beck. Thank you to everyone who has supplied Rondeau birding information for this report. Good birding --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Bird Hikes and Birders' Breakfast start Friday May 4 and go through to Victoria Day. I will lead a guided hike twice daily from May 4 to May 21, 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. Bird hikes for absolute beginners will be led by Ric McArthur on Saturday at 10:00 am, meeting at the Visitor Centre. 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. The Centre will be open daily up to May 21, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. All proceeds from the Festival of Flight go to support nature programs in the park. More information on the park's nature programs and the Friends of Rondeau is available at the Friends' website: www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca. 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 Board, Bird Checklists and other relevant information are to be found at the Visitor Centre. 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. 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
