First Week, err, Last Weekend of May

Even though there is one week left in May, at times it seemed like the first week of May today. FINALLY we had some numbers of birds to look at. All month the birds were only coming in dribs and drabs with no real numbers. The variety was there if one worked hard enough to find them. Today the numbers of birds made birding simply enjoyable. Although a bit cool, the sun was out for a change.

We started on south point trail and came across quite a few warblers, flycatchers and thrushes. The later warblers were in good numbers but we also saw Yellow-rumped and several Palm Warblers. White-crowned and Lincoln's Sparrows were still present as were quite a few Red-breasted Nuthatches. Even a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets were around.

Most notable on the beach was a Willet. I was able to get reasonably close to photograph it.

There were birds all over the park, but later Steve Charbonneau and I walked up the south end of Rondeau Road finding many warblers. Blackburnian and Black-throated Green were in big numbers. A few Scarlet Tanagers caught our eye, including an orange variant.

We saw or heard all six vireo species, all the usual thrushes including one Hermit. Swainson's thrushes were in big numbers.

Lots of Least flycatchers were in and possibly a couple of Alder on south point trail.

Northern Waterthrushes were on tulip tree trail, and at least one has been singing there all month. Perhaps it is considering nesting nearby.

A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was building a nest on TTT.

After I left the park, I headed over to Erieau. An excellent choice that was! Upon arrival, I found John Lamey already there scanning shorebirds and gulls. Most notable were Red Knots. These are getting harder to find every year, and sometimes I miss them. Other times I only see them in the fall. Nice to see them in spring!

There were hundreds of shorebirds along Rondeau's south beach including several hundred Black-bellied Plover with Ruddy Turnstones, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Sanderling. I think I also saw a Semipalmated Plover among them. Quite a number of Whimbrel were out and about as well.

Gulls were there by the hundreds, but nothing unusual in that department.

At Blenheim Sewage Lagoons, I noted a few ducks including Redhead (two males and a female). I could not find the Wilson's Phalaropes, as three were reported yesterday.

I guess I'll have to go back tomorrow and take advantage of the situation. The weather will be very nice, and the tree leaves still have not fully come out yet, helping in the bird spotting situation.