Rondeau Watch, Kite Flying, Smoky on the Thames

 It was down to Rondeau this foggy morning.  It was one of the more humid days of this summer!  I can do without these hot and humid days.....

I started with a lakewatch at dog beach.  There was much gull action, but no rarities in view.  Most were Bonaparte's (several hundred), compared to the previous day where less than a dozen were seen!

Steve joined me early on.  He spotted a jaeger (a novelty for Rondeau) way out, but I never got on it.  A different wind for tomorrow, so will try again!

I checked out south point trail, then the north end of Harrison Trail.  Thrushes were once again the theme of the day.  Seems they are extremely abundant this fall!  Many were still giving the calls much like their nocturnal flight calls.  One can distinguish the difference between Gray-cheeked and Swainson's.

There were not a lot of warblers today though.  Vireos, including Philadelphia, were in good numbers.

Not a good photo!

It was about 11:30 by the time I was done in the park.  I had been itching to go see the Swallow-tailed Kite at Orwell in Elgin county, so today was the day to go!  It was a little over an hour drive from Rondeau, but upon arrival at the site, it was soaring above the road!  No wait here!

It was a really neat bird to watch as it hunted over the area.

A year ago, I saw the one outside Point Pelee, so it seems to be a yearly thing.

I took a scenic route back, and stopped by Wardsville Woods for a walk.  Not much in the way of birds, but a few butterflies were flying.

Common Checkered-Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Further west, I briefly stopped at the Tecumseh Monument park east of Thamesville.  Viewing was limited along the river due to the high water level (too much rain this past week!).  I saw several Smoky Rubyspots, but no American Rubyspots.

Just as I was leaving, I caught sight of an Elusive Clubtail, but was unable to get a photo.  They are around this time of year, and some have been seen around Florence and Shetland recently.

Early May Update

This past Friday I headed down to Rondeau to do some serious birding.  I spent three days there and in the area.  Some decent birds were seen, but the quantity was not there yet.  Weather was fairly good except for a violent storm Friday afternoon which swept through southwestern Ontario.  It was not too bad along the lake, but places inland suffered worse.
A large White Pine came down along Lakeshore Road severing the hydro lines.  It took a long time to get things back up to speed.

Many first-of-year birds were seen over the course of the few days.

Hooded Warbler

Orchard Oriole

There were still tons of Swainson's Thrushes and other thrushes from the big fallout a couple days previous.

South Point trail has not been checked too often since it is still mostly flooded.  The times we did check, there were very few birds.

Solitary Sandpiper on SPT

Some hybrid warblers in the form of Brewster's were seen.  We had one singing a Blue-winged song at maintenance.  Even though it essentially looked like a Blue-winged, I did not like the wing bars.

Later on I thought I came across a Golden-winged, but the head was all wrong.  I was not able to get a proper photo of these two birds though.

Saturday was a nice day.
Just off Bennett Road, we encountered 3 Prothonotary Warblers in a battle for territory.  They were continuously chasing each other and very active.  As a result, this is the only photo I could get!

A female Cerulean Warbler was putting on a show at the NE corner of the park for many to see.

Summer Tanagers have made a good presence this year not only in Rondeau, but many spots.  This species seems to be becoming quite regular in spring migration.
Rondeau has had four or five, and sometimes two were seen together.  There was one in the campground I got to see.

In the evening, a very yellow individual was found near the start of the marsh trail.  It was taking advantage of wasps near an old cottage.

Saturday afternoon we went to the Blenheim Lagoons to see Long-billed Dowitchers and other shorebirds.  These dowitchers are somewhat uncommon in spring migration.

The evening was quiet pleasant, and after seeing the Summer Tanager, I started walking the marsh trail.  To my delight, I found the Kentucky Warbler that was seen earlier in the afternoon.

Josh Bouman joined me for a walk out marsh trail.  It was fairly productive with several warblers seen, including another female Cerulean.  Some early Blackpoll Warblers (inc. females!) were also in the mix today.

We also got 2 each of American and Least Bitterns.
At the parking lot just before leaving, a Common Nighthawk circled overhead to finish the day.

Sunday produced some decent birds.  After checking south point trail, we walked out marsh trail.  A nice male Prairie Warbler was singing atop a tree, but it did not stay long.
We encountered a weird warbler which appeared to be a Nashville (?), but very yellow in the face, chin and bill.  Perhaps it got into something? I was never able to get a decent photo.

In the afternoon, I found eight Willets circling the north end of the park on the lake.

Two Clay-colored Sparrows were nice to get at Dog Beach.

In the evening, I once again found the Kentucky Warbler on the lawn near marsh trail.

Monday was very quiet.  I took a long walk around the block, so to speak.  I found my second White-eyed Vireo of the trip along Gardiner.  There seems to be quiet a few around this spring of this declining species.

I left for over two hours thinking I would not return.

However, word was out that 5 American Avocets were at Keith McLean CA.  Back I went!  Luckily, they were still present along with at least 18 Willets.  They were fairly distant.

This spot should perhaps be checked more often!

Flycatchers to Thrushes at Rondeau

Birding was rather good at Rondeau this morning.  Although it was frosty overnight, the weather was good and lots of birds were around.  As well, hardly another birder in sight!  It is only the 23rd of May, so birds can be plentiful at this date.

The goal today was to add some missed birds to the year list.  Just before 6 a.m., I heard Acadian Flycatcher in the usual spot near spicebush trail.
I met Steve at south point trail at sunrise and we started walking to be greeted by a singing Connecticut Warbler.  It was close to the trail, but we did not make an effort to try and see it.  Its waterthrush-like song was quite obvious.
Several Mourning Warblers were heard along the way, but I do not think we actually saw one!  With the leaf-out, some birds were difficult to see.

Blackburnian Warbler

A few Alder Flycatchers were singing, and all the other usual flycatchers were seen or heard.
More Blackpoll Warblers were in as expected and we saw the first female of the year.

The lake was dead once again as it has been most of the month!  At least here.

We then travelled up to tulip tree trail to look at Prothonotary Warblers.  It was noted that many thrushes were in, and in fact it was one of the better days this year.  Lots of Gray-cheeked were seen.

Travelling up Rondeau Road, we found the Acadian Flycatchers beside the road.  Both the female and male were singing and seen well.
Photos taken in the shaded forest.

From maintenance to south of pony barn had a few birds, including one of the day's target birds, a singing Olive-sided Flycatcher.  It was too early and cool for a quick three beers.

More thrushes were seen and at one point I remarked to Steve that we just need a Hermit.  Strangely, just 2-3 minutes later, a reddish-tailed bird was hopping on the trail in front of us.  There is the Hermit!

For some reason, this bird gave us considerable concern.  We watched it for a good 15 minutes but Bicknell's came to mind.  It did not seem like a typical Hermit at the time, but maybe it just was.  For whatever reason, we tried to make it Bicknell's.
Almost a year ago, a Bicknell's was found at Point Pelee!

Here are a couple more photos of the thrush.

We had not seen Hermit Thrush in about two weeks, but sometimes there is the late migrant.  However, it is a good time for Bicknell's....

Later we checked out Blenheim Lagoons, and found the usual shorebirds, including at least 5 White-rumped.  No sign of the Wilson's for us, but they were reported today.

It was noon and I wanted to go over to Hillman Marsh, as there is always something there.  I arrived to find the two Avocets still there, plus a lone Whimbrel that never moved the whole time I was there.
Plover kept coming and going, but I still cannot find a Willet!

Ducks were scarce today, but a male Redhead and a female Ring-necked were there with Mallards and a couple of Blue-winged Teal.

There was yet another Adam Pinch sighting!

Later in the day is better, but that does not fit my schedule.

Tomorrow is another day...