[Ontbirds]Rondeau - Prothonotary, Louisiana W, Shorebirds

[Steve LaForest]

Rondeau Bird Report – Friday May 16, 2008 - evening


Good evening birders.


Many birders were out on the trails today, adding more birds to their year lists.  Warbler species totaled 21 species.  Highlights included Prothonotary (3 birds in 2 sites), Worm-eating, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-winged and Hooded (2 sites).  Observers also reported Cape May, Canada, Blackpoll and Wilson’s (at its favoured spot near the Pony Barn).


Other good sightings of passerines included a pair of Summer Tanagers on Spicebush Trail, a number of Scarlet Tanagers, and an Acadian Flycatcher at the Pony Barn.


Outside the park today, there was a good variety of shorebirds and waterfowl at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons.  Sightings there included Northern Shoveler (2), Bufflehead (1), Ruddy Duck (~20), Horned Grebe, Short-billed Dowitcher (2), Dunlin (10), Black Tern (2) and American Coot (1).  Please note that the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons are once more fully accessible.  A permit is required.


Black-bellied Plovers were also on the move.  I saw 40 at the onion fields near McGeachy Pond, and 20 at Erieau.  At the wetland on Kent Bridge Road at Rondeau Road, there were 6 Short-billed Dowitchers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 25 Dunlin and 1 Greater Yellowlegs.

 
Good birding.


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 Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, from Rondeau park entrance, take Chatham-Kent 15 (Kent Bridge Road) north ~6 km to Chatham-Kent Road 3 (Talbot Trail, formerly Hwy 3).  Turn left and take Talbot Trail ~11 km to Blenheim (where it turns south).  Continue 3 km to Lagoon Rd. Turn right.  The lagoons are a short distance north on the right side.  


For Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, from Hwy 401, take exit 90 and follow Chatham-Kent Road 11 (Communications Road) south for 10 km to Blenheim.  Turn right on Chatham-Kent 3 (Talbot Trail, formerly Hwy 3) and go ~3 km to Lagoon Road.  Turn right and go a short distance north to the lagoons on the right side.


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 fields in this vicinity.


For Erieau - from McGeachy Pond C.A. (see above), continue southeast on Erieau Road (Chatham-Kent 12) into the town of Erieau and follow the signs to the government dock.  A large number of gulls, including many Bonaparte’s Gulls, are visible here.  Shorebirds may be seen on the docks, on the shore or flying by.


For the wetland at Kent Bridge Road and Rondeau Road - from the park gate, drive ~1 km north to Kent Bridge Road.  The wetland is on the northeast corner of this intersection.  Please take care to park safely, as Kent Bridge Road is a busy route with very narrow shoulders.


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