[Ontbirds]Rondeau - Sharp-tailed Sp, Worm-eating, Pelican

[Steve LaForest]

Rondeau Bird Report – Monday May 12, 2008


Good morning birders.


The Worm-eating that arrived May 10 on Spicebush Trail is still present, and has been well seen by a number of patient observers.  Other interesting warblers include Blue-winged on Spicebush Trail, and Golden-winged and Hooded on Tulip Tree Trail.


A Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow has been seen all morning at the Pony Barns.  As usual for this species, it is being very secretive.  Good numbers of Sedge Wrens have been reported recently from the Marsh Trail.
 

Shorebirds observed in the Rondeau area yesterday included Lesser Golden-Plover and Ruddy Turnstone.  These birds were in the onion fields off Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent Road 12), near McGeachy Pond C.A.  I did not receive any additional reports of the large flock of Black-bellied Plovers with 2 Marbled Godwits seen in that area on May 10.


The two American White Pelicans in the area have been seen flying over the marsh and South Point Trail.  The most reliable way to see them is to drive to the fishing dock in Erieau later in the day (see directions below).  Others who checked yesterday at 2 pm were unsuccessful, but I saw them from the dock at 8:10 pm.  These are presumably the same two birds seen here at about this date last year.


Steve LaForest
Friends of Rondeau Bird Guide
c/o Rondeau Visitor Centre (519) 674-1768


I will lead a guided bird hike twice daily May 3 to 19 (fee $5), as follows: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 7:30 am & 1 pm; Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 am & 7 pm; Friday 7:30 am.  All of the 7:30 am and 1 pm hikes listed above will meet at the Visitor Centre.  The 7 pm hikes will meet at the entrance to the Marsh Trail.  A second hike on Friday at 1 pm will meet at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons.  The Friends of Rondeau will provide a birders' brunch for a small donation (coffee, tea, bagels, soups & treats) daily from 7 - 11 am.


Directions:


To reach Rondeau PP, take exit 101 from Highway 401 and drive South 16 km on Chatham Kent Road 15. 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 am to 5 p m from May 3 - 19).  To reach the Centre from the park gate, travel 6 km South on Rondeau Road to Gardiner Ave. and follow it around the bend to the parking lot.


For the shorebird site near Erieau, from the entrance to Rondeau PP, drive north ~1 km to Kent Bridge Road (Chatham-Kent 15), turn left and go 4.8 km to Talbot Trail (Chatham-Kent Road 3, formerly called Hwy 3), turn left and go 15.9 km (through several twists and turns, and through Blenheim) to Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent Road 12), turn left and go ~7 km to McGeachy Pond C.A.  The birds were seen in the ploughed onion fields to the left of the road in this vicinity.


For the American White Pelican, from McGeachy Pond C.A. (see above), continue southeast on Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent 12) into the town of Erieau.  At Nichols Ave., turn ~~left and follow Kerr Ave. to the end of the road at the fishing boat docks.  Look north into Rondeau Bay and marsh.  Most sightings at this location have been late in the day.  I saw the birds there from 8:10 – 8:25 pm on May 11.


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