[Ontbirds]Rondeau Warblers - Yellow-throated warbler etc

[Steve LaForest]

Rondeau Bird Report – Saturday May 17, 2008


Good morning birders.


A Yellow-throated Warbler was reported at the Pony Barn today at about 12:00 noon.  Other birders are currently returning to the site to find the bird.


Our other headliner this morning among the warblers was a Yellow-breasted Chat at the Pony Barn.  An Orange-crowned and a female Cerulean at the Maintenance Loop were also significant.  Northern Waterthrushes were very cooperative on Tulip Tree Trail, providing excellent views and photographic opportunities.  We have only had a few Bay-breasted reported so far – another one was seen on Spicebush Trail today.


Other interesting sightings of passerines included an Eastern Bluebird near the Visitor Centre and an Acadian Flycatcher at the Pony Barn.  A Pine Siskin at the Visitor Centre feeders was rather a surprise.


In the Rondeau area, outside the park, there were reports today of shorebirds at Bates Pond.  Tallies included 63 Dunlin, 19 Short-billed Dowitchers, 1 Least Sandpiper, and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs.  I also saw a Solitary Sandpiper and a Greater Yellowlegs there yesterday evening.


Yesterday, I observed a good assortment of shorebirds and waterfowl at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons.  Highlights 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 now fully accessible.  A permit is required.


There are also other good shorebird sites in the area.  For Black-bellied Plovers, I saw 40 at the onion fields near McGeachy Pond, and 20 at Erieau.

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


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