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SETTLING IN
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday was actually a decent day for birding. Lots of birds were at Rondeau Park. The most numerous warbler was Blackpoll, as expected. Some of these can be seen well into June. The latest I have ever seen one was June 22!
The biggest challenge at Rondeau was water. Every trail had some deep puddles and South Point Trail was virtually flooded. Some parts had 15+ cm of water! Modern-day birders have never seen that much water at Rondeau. Back in the early 1970’s it was worse with most of the trail was under water according to the veterans.
Sunday the weather was beautiful. The weather forecast was absolutely wrong as it was supposed to rain! Are we starting that again? We will take it as it has rained almost every day during May setting new rainfall records. No wonder Rondeau was half under water.
Best bird of the week in the area was a Fish Crow. Not much to look at as it resembles our everyday American Crow. The call notes are what gives this black bird away. Allen Woodliffe and Keith Burk managed to find one at South Point parking lot Sunday morning. Photo here is courtesy of Allen Woodliffe.
Shorebirds were few and far between for most of May, but the later part revealed bigger numbers. In about three weeks we will see the first fall migrants! Non-breeders and failed nesters will start heading south already. Where did the spring go?
Now that birds are settled in, butterfly enthusiasts will be out. It was be a tough year for butterflies and a far cry from last year for variety and numbers. With the warmer weather more are showing up.
On Sunday I ventured down to Point Pelee and in my travels with a friend, we saw an Olive Hairstreak. It is a tough one to find in Ontario as you find them only at Point Pelee in a small area and the Kingston area. It is the first time I have managed to get a photo of one, as seen here.
The first butterfly count in the general area is Pinery/Port Franks on June 25.
