ONTBIRDS for Friday, May 16, 2008

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Time   [Ontbirds]Kingston area birds to May 16, 2008   Peter and Jane Good   8:21am   [Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, May 16 th, 2008   Cheryl Edgecombe   10:44am   [Ontbirds]Point Pelee Bird Report May 16 Townsend's Warbler, Mississippi Kite, Laughing Gull   Janice.Sarkis(AT)pc.gc.   12:21pm   [Ontbirds]Rondeau - Prothonotary X3, Worm-eating, Acadian F   Steve LaForest    9:28am   [Ontbirds]Pelee Island May 16th   peleeisland museum    4:45pm   [Ontbirds]Snowy Plover - Blue Grosbeak - Long Point   Stuart Mackenzie    5:06pm   [Ontbirds] White-tailed Peregrine at Presqu'ile, Rt Loon at Wicklow, Brighton Wetlands   Doug McRae    10:06pm   [Ontbirds]Rondeau - Prothonotary, Louisiana W, Shorebirds   Steve LaForest    8:01pm

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Subject: [Ontbirds]Kingston area birds to May 16, 2008
From: "Peter and Jane Good" <goodcompany(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 16 May 2008 8:21am

Despite the fact that many local birders spend a lot of time at Prince
Edward Point this time of year there has been a considerable number of
sightings in the more immediate Kingston area. The movement of Brant has
started with a single flock of 2000 birds over Camden East last Sunday and
another 1200 at Lemoine Pt. on Wednesday. There were N. Shovelers at the
Amherstview sewage lagoons and at the KFN property on Amherst Island. The
lagoons also had a male Ruddy Duck on Sunday.

All three local terns were reported this week; 2 Caspian and 9 Black at the
lagoons on Sunday and 2 Common on the Cataraqui River on Wednesday. All the
expected herons are back; a Least Bittern at Collin's Creek last Friday, a
Black-crowned Night-Heron at Hillview Marsh on Sunday and a Green Heron at
Gananoque yesterday. The shorebird migration is barely underway; a Lesser
Yellowlegs at the lagoons along with a few Least Sandpipers, more Least at
the Wilton Creek and on Amherst Island, 6 Dunlin on Amherst Wednesday and
the resident Wilson's Phalarope now number about fifteen.

Lots and lots of warblers: 2 Am. Redstart on Amherst last Saturday, a Canada
at Little Cat on Sunday, another at Lemoine Pt. on Wednesday along with
Bay-breasted, N. Parula, and 2 Lincoln's Sparrows. Most of the
White-throated Sparrows seem to have moved on but White-crowned are still
abundant. It seems to be a good spring for Orchard Orioles with 2 seen on
Amherst last Saturday and another at Lemoine Pt. on Wednesday.

The finch movement continues with a Pine Siskin at Elginburg on Wednesday
and two pair of Evening Grosbeaks, the first at Elginburg last Friday and
the second out Montreal Street on Saturday. Other arrivals that will stick
around include Chimney Swift, Whip-poor-will, and Common Nighthawk. Another
sighting of note was a Peregrine Falcon on Amherst last Saturday.

Cheers,
Peter Good
Kingston Field Naturalists
613 378-6605

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Subject: [Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report -
         Friday, May 16 th, 2008
From: "Cheryl Edgecombe" <cheryle29(AT)cogeco.ca>
Date: 16 May 2008 10:44am

On Friday May 16th, 2008, this is the HNC Birding Report:

WHITE-EYED VIREO
CERULEAN WARBLER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

Ruffed Grouse
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Green Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole

Another busy week of birding in the Hamilton Study Area.  Twenty-eight
species of warblers reported in the week including two not so common
warblers CERULEAN and PROTHONOTARY Warblers.

We'll start east and work our way around the lake.  On Tuesday of last week
a male CERULEAN WARBLER was seen and heard at Rhododendron Gardens located
just west of Mississauga Road off Lakeshore Road.  Other warbler species
seen here Tuesday and Wednesday were Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula,
Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Blackburnian, Black-throated
Blue, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Pine, Bay-breasted,
Black-and-white , American Redstart, Mourning Warbler, Louisiana
Waterthrush, Canada and Wilson's Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Veery,
White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole.

At nearby Rattray Marsh located at the end of Bexhill Drive in Mississauga,
a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was found last Saturday at the edge of a flooded area
of woodland adjacent the north end of the marsh. On Wednesday a cruise
around this great location yielded a variety of migrating birds including
Common Tern, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested
Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo and Red-eyed Vireo, House Wren, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Tennessee, Nashville,
Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped,
Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Pine, and Bay-breasted Warbler,
American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Baltimore Orioles and Indigo Bunting.

Down at Bronte Bluffs a few migrating warblers seen on Saturday included
another male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER singing loudly working its way around the
park.  Other species seen here included Black-throated Blue, Black-throated
Green, Black-and-White and many Yellow rumped Warblers.

Surprisingly Shell Park and Paletta/Shoreacres have been quiet this week.
Shell Park had little activity and the Shoreacres list included Horned
Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Least Flycatcher,
Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Swainson's Thrush, WHITE-EYED VIREO (last reported Monday), Black-throated
Blue Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler (last seen Saturday) Yellow Warbler,
Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting.

Another hotspot this week has been Fifty Point Conservation Area.  A couple
of searches of the area bordering the large trout pond have yielded a
spectacular number of species this week.  Its worth a check of this area on
a regular basis as the diversity this week has been good.  Included in this
weeks findings were Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula, Yellow
Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped,
Black-throated Green, Palm, Blackpoll, Black and White Warbler, American
Redstart, Ovenbird, and Hooded Warbler, Common Yellowthroat.  Yesterday,
Least Flycatcher, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush, Veery, Blue-winged
Warbler, Brewster's another male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and Orange-crowned
Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow were additions to this list.

Shore birding spots are hard to come by here in the Hamilton Study area.
The Grimsby and Smithville Sewage Lagoons are both high however a couple of
other sites have been productive for shorebirding this week.  The wet fields
next to the Rockton Berry Farm produced Semipalmated Plover, Greater and
Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Least, Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper and
Dunlin.  Still in the Flamborough Area at the back of Christie Conservation
Area on Middletown Road just south of Hwy 5, Semipalmated Plover, a number
of Least Sandpipers and a Solitary Sandpiper were seen on the large mudflat
exposed here.  A small storm water pond located on Upper Middle Road between
Burloak and Appleby Line in Burlington had Semipalmated Plover, Least and
Spotted Sandpiper.

In the odds and sods department this week, a Green Heron was seen at the
McCormack Trail last weekend, another one seen by a large pond on Safari
Road. A Bald Eagle is nesting in Caledonia at the end of McClung Road with
two eaglets in the nest. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was reported from
Merrick Orchard in the Dundas Valley.  Bobolinks are being seen and heard at
Rock Chapel and at Bronte Creek Provincial Park.  Up at Courtcliffe Park in
Carlisle, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird, and Willow Flycatcher were
birds seen this week.  A Ruffed Grouse was drumming in the Halton Forest
last evening.  A Yellow-throated Vireo was seen on Captain Cootes Trail at
the RBG.  An Osprey was seen fishing on the Grand River just south of
Cambridge, probably nesting somewhere along it.

That's the news for this very busy week.  Please keep reporting your
sightings.

Good Birding,
Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC Hotline
905-381-0329

_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Point Pelee Bird Report May 16 Townsend's Warbler,
          Mississippi Kite, Laughing Gull
From: Janice.Sarkis(AT)pc.gc.ca
Date: 16 May 2008 12:21pm

Friends of Point Pelee provides daily updates of sightings within Point
Pelee National Park during the Festival of Birds May 3 through May 19, 2008

An unsubstantiated report of a Townsend's Warbler has been made and many
people are searching the Loop Woods. It was reported heading south towards
the Tip.

A Mississippi Kite has been seen in various locations throughout the south
end of the Park.

At least one of the Laughing Gulls reported over the last few days has been
seen at the Tip this morning.

The Kirtland's Warbler from yesterday has not been reported yet today.

A good number of migrants are been seen in the Park. Much of the action has
been at the Tip and the west side of the Park.

At the Tip
People are reporting many species of warbler this morning. Of special
interest were a Blue-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler and Blackpoll
Warbler. As mentioned above there has been a report of a Townsend's Warbler
in the Loop Woods. Also noted, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting,
Yellow-throated Vireo, among other species. As well, there were fly-by
reports of Ruddy Turnstone. And the Laughing Gull was seen offshore.

West Beach
Many species have been found along the west side, from the Tip up to a
point even with the group campgrounds. Most activity reported from the West
Beach parking lot and north. Philadelphia Vireo, Canada Warbler and
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher were some of the highlights. Some 20 species of
warbler were reported.

Dunes
Some good activity on the west side, with Yellow-throated Vireo also being
reported there.

Post Woods
A number of species including a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Tram Road to Tip
Seen from the road, halfway from the "halfway tram stop" to the Tip tram
loop, a male Hooded Warbler.

Good Birding,
Hike Leaders, Pete, Ross, John, Dave, Karl, Justin, Kim

Janice Rogers, General Manager
www.friendsofpointpelee.com

_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Rondeau - Prothonotary X3, Worm-eating, Acadian F
From: Steve LaForest <stevelaforest(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 16 May 2008 9:28am

Rondeau Bird Report – Friday May 16, 2008

Good morning birders.

As usual, warblers were the headliners at Rondeau this morning.  Our reliable
Worm-eating seen on Spicebush Trail since May 10 was still present today.  A
Louisiana Waterthrush was also reported there this morning, as well as a
Prothonotary.  A presumed pair of Prothonotarys was seen on Tulip Tree Trail,
their usual nesting site.  Along Gardiner Avenue, just west of the Visitor
Centre, a Hooded gave good views.  Typically a harbinger of the last phase of
warbler movement, a Blackpoll was found this morning on Spicebush Trail.

Other songbirds moving through added a splash of colour.  In addition to the
brilliant Scarlet Tanagers, there was a bright red male Summer Tanager in full
plumage, as well as a female, at the Spicebush Trail.  At the Pony Barn, an
Acadian Flycatcher was seen again.

On the Marsh Trail yesterday evening, we had excellent views of American
Bitterns in flight, as well as excellent ‘hearings’ of Sedge Wrens.  Numerous
American Woodcock were performing their elaborate aerial ballet, and the
nightjars were “whip-poor-will-ing” incessantly.

Outside the park yesterday, there was a good variety of shorebirds and waterfowl
 at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons.  Please note that the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
are once more fully accessible.  A permit is required, and local birders would
much appreciate it if visitors would add their records to the sightings book
there.

 
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.

_________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Pelee Island May 16th
From: peleeisland museum <pimuseum(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 16 May 2008 4:45pm

Migrants from yesterday and today include WILSON'S WARBLER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER,
lots of SCARLET TANAGERS, and CAPE MAY WARBLERS.  A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
continues to hang around the tip area of Fish Point.  A PINE SISKIN and some
GOLDEN-PLOVERS were observed on the south end of the island and a late
BUFFLEHEAD was also seen.  Pelee Island Heritage Centre West Dock, Pelee Island,
 Ontario, N0R 1M0(519) 724-2291 "pimuseum" <pimuseum at
hotmail.com>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There will be daily bird hikes on Pelee Island from May 1 until May 20 inclusive. Cost is $5.00. Meet at the Fish Point parking lot at 9 a.m. Check into the Heritage Centre for details on best birding areas and current rarities. The Heritage Centre is open from 10 am - 5 pm daily. The foyer contains a 'sightings board' listing May bird sightings (open 24 hours). Lighthouse Point is on the NE corner of the island, Sheridan Point on the NW corner, Mill Point on the SE corner, and Fish Point on the SW corner, due south of the West Dock. Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO) continues its daily banding and census operation. Visitors are welcome. For more information about PIBO please visit: www.pibo.ca or call 519-724-2829. Pelee Island can be reached by ferry leaving Leamington several times daily. For times and reservations, call 1-800-661-2220.  
_________________________________________________________________
If you like crossword puzzles, then you'll love Flexicon, a game which combines
four overlapping crossword puzzles into one!
http://g.msn.ca/ca55/208_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Snowy Plover - Blue Grosbeak - Long Point
From: Stuart Mackenzie <s_a_mackenzie(AT)yahoo.ca>
Date: 16 May 2008 5:06pm

Hello Everyone,

This afternoon around 17:00 a male Snowy Plover was discovered in the Long Point
 Provincial Park.  It was approximately 1km east of the park's west boundary.
There are large yellow posts marked with letters - the bird was nearest to post
E.  The bird is quite cooperative and can usually be found within 20m of the
shoreline.  *** PLEASE *** DO NOT PASS THE EAST BOUNDARY OF THE PROVINCIAL
PARK***  Lands beyond this point are off limits to the public and you could be
charged with trespassing.

Migrants today at Long Point were few and far between.  A stark contrast to the
masses of migrants that were here on Wednesday.  Having said this there was
still about 15 species of warbler in the Old Cut woodlot including Hooded,
Blue-winged and Northern Parula.   For details on this past weeks migration and
weekly summaries throughout migration seasons check out the Long Point Bird
Observatory Sightings Board @
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbosight

Highlights from this past week include:

Trumpeter Swan
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Blue Grosbeak - an after second-year male was banded at one of our remote field
stations on May 16.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
  
Good Birding,

Stu

Long Point is situated on the north shore of
lake Erie, in Canada.  From Highway 401 or Highway 3, come south on
Highway 59 to the north shore of Lake Erie. Highway 59 becomes Erie Ave. and
ends at the Long Point
Provincial Park.   

Stuart A. Mackenzie
Landbird Programs Coordinator
Long Point Bird Observatory/Bird Studies Canada
PO Box 160, 115 Front Rd.
Port Rowan, Ontario
N0E 1M0
Old Cut Field Station: 519 586 2885
BSC Headquarters: 519 586 3531
Mobile: 519 820 6040
Fax: 519 586 3532
s_a_mackenzie(AT)yahoo.ca; lpbo(AT)birdscanada.org

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_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: [Ontbirds] White-tailed Peregrine at Presqu'ile, Rt Loon at
         Wicklow, Brighton Wetlands
From: Doug McRae <rdmcrae(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 16 May 2008 10:06pm

Greeting all,

A mix of things from a few spots today.

Bill Gilmour and I saw a really odd looking Peregrine which flew west  
over Bill's Bayshore Rd. cottage on the Presqu'ile peninsula around 5  
p.m. today.  We didn't get a long look but the bird was first seen  
wheeling in tight circles, giving good views of the back, then flew  
past overhead.  The bird showed a clearly white uppersurface to the  
tail, and the entire back and wings were noticeably paler and greyer  
than usual.  The face, underside, including the underside of the  
tail, all appeared to show the usual markings of an adult Peregrine  
but perhaps a bit paler than typical but nothing like the  
uppersurface.  It will be interesting to see if anyone else  
encounters this bird and can get a better look or pictures.

I also made a stop at Wicklow Beach, (which is located on the north  
shore of Lake Ontario between Grafton and Colborne - from Hwy. 2,  
take Wicklow Beach Rd. south to the lakeshore where it swings east  
and becomes Lakeport Rd. - this is about 500 m west of the Public  
Boat Launch) and scanned the calm water offshore.  There was one Red- 
throated Loon fairly close to the west, along with 8 Common  
Goldeneye, and 450+ Red-breasted Mergansers visible far offshore, and  
a female Hooded Merganser that came from the swampy woods to the  
north.  There was also a large Blanding's Turtle sunning itself on a  
log in the same woods on the north side of the road (Part of the  
Haldimand Conservation Area).

Finally, the Constructed Wetland at Brighton had small numbers of  
shorebirds including 1 Solitary (in lagoon on the north side of  
road), 9 Dunlin, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 9 Semi Plovers, 16 Least  
Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, as well as a Northern Pintail, both  
teal,the nesting Osprey,  and the Trumpeter Swan mixed with Mutes.   
The Wetland will be open again to the public on Sunday from 9 a.m.  
till noon, and will be staffed by myself, Maureen Campeau and Rod Lee  
since Keith "Tiny" Lee (no relation), who has selflessly given his  
time and good nature to helping birders access the lagoons, is taking  
a real vacation for a week!  If you have any questions, please feel  
free to contact me.

Cheers,

Doug McRae

Doug McRae Nature Services
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
Canada K0K 1H0
613-475-5014
rdmcrae(AT)sympatico.ca

Directions:

For Wicklow, see above

For Presqu'ile, take the Brighton exit from Hwy 401 south into town,  
then follow the Ontario Parks signs.  For the Constructed Wetland,  
take the Brighton exit from Hwy 401 and follow Hwy 30 south through  
two traffic lights, and continue south (now Prince Edward St.) over  
the railway tracks.  The main road will soon begin to swing into a  
long left curve, while a secondary street (Cedar St.) continues  
straight south.  Take the main road swinging to the left (now Cty.  
Rd. 64) and watch for the constructed wetland on the right, just as  
you complete the long curve.  Please park well off the road and do  
not drive into the lagoon.

_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]

Subject: [Ontbirds]Rondeau - Prothonotary, Louisiana W, Shorebirds
From: Steve LaForest <stevelaforest(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 16 May 2008 8:01pm

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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