Wow... I started birding 11 months ago, I started right after the ``May rush`` of 2009 ... and waited a year to see warblers. What would be the odds that the last 4 weekends had crappy weather? To add insult to injury, the weekdays have been unseasonable warm, so I get my first May birding experience with full 'leaf-out'!!!
Getting into Rondeau is expensive... $15 ??? Why so much??? I will have to send Rondeau Rick an email asking why so much!?!?!
Ok, enough complaining... I actually had a great day at Rondeau. I walked Spicebush Trail as soon as I arrived at the park... twice! Then I drove the the visitor center, and walked Tulip Trail. This second trail was absolutely beautiful, but not birdy at all. I did see an Baltimore Oriole, an Epidomax Flycatcher (Least, Alder, Willow... they are all so similar, you need to do an autopsy to differentiate them!) , and a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. I also photographed a White Crowned Sparrow behind the visitor center. I also met Blake at the nature center at this point.
First Lap around Spicebush...
YellowWarbler
Tennessee Warbler
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
American Redstart
Black Throated Green
Second Lap....
Blackburnian Warbler (lifer)
Black and White Warbler
Palm Warbler
Canada Warbler (lifer)
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
(This Canada Warbler was awesome... a fleeting 5 seconds... then gone!)
Third lap...
Black Throated Blue (lifer)
Chestnut Sided Warbler (lifer)
Ovenbird (lifer)
Veery
(What a treat to see this CSW... I had to walk away from it!!!)
I was thinking about how some Ontbirder emails lately have been pitting Rondeau vs Point Pelee... I kinda felt after today that Rondeau may be a little better. But really, there are too many variables to really say for sure. Rondeau is absolutely beautiful.
Seeing five new lifers today (Canada, Blackburnian, Chestnut & Ovenbird along with a Least Flycatcher) was really a nice treat. There are a few warblers that I would still like to add,,, Bay-Breasted, Wilsons, a male Hooded Warbler... overall though... I really felt like I got a solid Saturday Morning birding session on.
Good Birding!
Dwayne
I did see Hooded, Bay-breasted and Wilson's today. The latter two tend to be plentiful later, so stand by!
ReplyDeleteI talked to a friend at 6:00 this evening and they had many warblers inc. Golden-winged, Prairie, Blue-winged that I did not see today.
The birds were moving around quickly today, so each time was different.
Rondeau and Pelee are geographically different, so there will be some gains or losses!
Back tomorrow!