[Ontbirds]Rondeau - 25 Warblers, incl. Proth. & Worm-eating

[Steve LaForest]

Rondeau Bird Report – Monday May 12, 2008 - evening


Good evening birders.


Our warbler tally for today was 25 species.  Birders were kept busy rushing from site to site with many notables to chase for those all-important year lists.  Foremost among these “flying jewels” was the Worm-eating that has been present since May 10 on Spicebush Trail, and was seen on and off all day.  Other good warblers included Blue-winged (3 trails), Golden-winged, Prothonotary (2 sites), Orange-crowned, Hooded and Mourning.  The best trails were Spicebush, Bennett Road and Tulip Tree.


The Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow at the Pony Barn was seen in the morning during the inclement weather, but (apparently) decided to clear out when the rain stopped.  Observers were able to get some close-up photos as it skulked about in the brush pile.  A Fox Sparrow at the Pony Barn was very late.


Other Carolinian species besides the Prothonotary Warbler and the ubiquitous Carolina Wren put in an appearance.  An Orchard Oriole visited the feeders at the Visitor Centre, and a White-eyed Vireo fixed birders with its unusual stare at the Pony Barn.  Red-headed Woodpeckers are once again nesting on Tulip Tree Trail, probably in the same tree.  There also seem to be at least two pairs active along South Point Trail.
 

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 the birds from the dock at 8:10 pm.  I have not yet heard back from birders who planned to visit the docks this evening.
 

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.


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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