Some early morning birding today. I had hoped for more flycatchers today, but they seemed to have not come in much yet. Steve and I eventually heard an Olive-sided Flycatcher near the Gardiner deer exclosure--a usual spot. We looked for Acadian, but to no avail. No Alder either!
A good number of warblers were still around including lots of Tennessee and Blackpoll. More Mourning Warblers were in as expected.
The lake was very quiet first thing this morning, but activity picked up after lunch. The Long-tailed Duck was still in the same spot as it was more than a week ago.
After lunch I decided to walk out the south beach. On south point trail I came across a latish Blue-headed Vireo--one of those "in between" types (!). There is fabulous habitat for shorebirds and other things. At the beginning of my walk I noticed a white-winged gull far out in a feeding frenzy of gulls and cormorants. It later came in closer and I could see it was an Iceland Gull. Often we do get an Iceland (or glaucous) this time of year.
Iceland Gull!
Three Horned Grebes were swimming together as well.
Horned Grebes
Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover
The only ducks other than Red-breasted Mergs were two pairs of American Wigeon.
Two Savannah Sparrows were way out the beach.
The habitat sure has changed out there just in the past year with severe erosion and wash-overs.
Butterflies today included the first Hobomok Skippers.
Hobomok Skipper
While eating my lunch at the VC parking lot I noticed a duskywing flying up the edge. It was on the move, but it appeared to be a Juvenal's Duskywing. Believe it or not, it the the only duskywing that I have ever seen in Rondeau Park! They are simply scarce there. It would not settle down, so I could not obtain a photo.
Bilobed Looper Moth
Lots of Tiger and Spicebush Swallowtails were out today.
I swung around by Ridgetown lagoons. Shorebirds included a couple of Semipalmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, Dunlin and a single Short-billed Dowitcher.
Thank you for this wonderful site. My husband and I are planning to go to Rondeau tomorrow. This would be our first time there. Do you have any suggestions on what would be a good time to go as well as what part of Rondeau would be best for birding?
ReplyDeletemany thanks
Dear anonymous,
ReplyDeleteTry to get there as early as possible. Birds are most active just after sun-up. South Point Trail is best first thing in the morning as it is rather open where you can see birds. (go to south end of Lakeshore Rd.).
Secondly, try maintenance yard area.