Calm After the Storm: Some Birding at Rondeau Park

Rondeau Park was on the radar today.  We finally got a sunny day without wind!  Yippie!

First target bird was the White-winged Dove along Lakeshore Road.  I was away the weekend it was discovered and last weekend was a lost cause.

It was doing its usual thing atop a shiny chimney arranging sticks.  This is the fourth year in a row it has taken summer vacation at Rondeau Provincial Park.

I met up with Steve Charbonneau at south point trail.  Boots are essential on this trail as many parts are still flooded. 
The ducks love it though!

Wood Ducks on the trail

We even saw a Red-breasted Merganser, of all things, swimming on the trail, but I was not quick enough with the camera.

There was severe erosion on the south beach last weekend.  The trail essentially ends here!

I remember when the shoreline was way out from here.  Amazing how large trees completely disappear!

Many trees came down in the storm.

Winter Wrens, Fox Sparrows and Brown Creepers were in plentiful supply today.

Sparrow of the Swamp

Yellow-rumped Warblers were difficult to find, but I ended up with eight.  No other warblers have been reported yet in the park!

Kinglets were fairly plentiful.

The lake was calm, but lots of Horned Grebes were still around.  This week has seen a remarkable number.  Steve had at least 483 the other day!

Not many loons were around today.

Near the visitor centre, Mike Irwin and I were surprised to see a Virginia Rail a the start of the Tulip Tree trail.  It was at the "Swainson's Stop" (where I found the Swainson's Warbler way back in 1995).
It was well-hidden.

I continued down Harrison until it became flooded.  I came across a Mourning Cloak.

It was not until yesterday that I came across my first butterfly of the year, an Eastern Comma at Port Lambton.  Probably latest date to get the FOY butterfly.

Later on, I walked a little ways out the marsh trail.  At the start, I came across a Northern Mockingbird--first for the year.  Seems these birds are harder to find than they used to be, at least in these parts.

I did check Ridgetown Lagoons on the way home, but nothing of note was there.

Lonely Tree Swallow