May 10
In addition to the Spicebush Trail, we spent time on several other trails at Rondeau in search of birds. The park offers a range of habitats that support different species. Some areas are more open woodland.
Other trails involved walkways through wet woods.
On our wildflower walk on the Spicebush Trail, we came across only a few birds. A House Wren was singing constantly, making its presence known.
Yellow Warblers called from many locations and Tree Swallows soared overhead and occasionally landed.
When we stopped for a picnic lunch, we watched Barn Swallows constructing their mud and stick nest under the eaves of a park washroom facility.
We later saw another Barn Swallow gathering mud for nest contruction.
From the covered picnic pavilion, we had good views of an Eastern Bluebird and a Chipping Sparrow high in a neighbouring tree.
We were hoping to see warblers and, despite the challenges, photograph a few. Most warblers have travelled from much farther south and are on their way to the boreal forest to nest. They’ve stopped in Rondeau to refuel in preparation for their long journey and are frantically feeding on the insects that emerge in the spring. Warblers are in constant motion as they grab at insects and avoid being a target for predators.
Here are some of the photos Glenn managed to capture on the South Point and Tulip Tree Trails.
Blackburnian Warbler. Photographs don’t always do justice to the striking bright orange throats of these birds.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are sometimes easier to capture, but this one was moving fast.
This acrobatic Cape May Warbler emerged only briefly from behind leaves.
This is all we saw of this Black-throated Green Warbler…
We had not seen a Veery since our very first guided bird walk in High Park, almost 10 years ago. This year, we came across several during our time at Rondeau. Veerys are a type of thrush that forage on the ground and nest near the ground in damp, dense deciduous forests. They may nest in Rondeau or move farther north to nest.
Pileated Woodpeckers nest in the park. It is always a thrill to see these prehistoric-looking birds. This bird’s red “mustache” indicates that it is a male.
There was a great deal of excitment about a male Scarlet Tanager that had been seen fairly reliably along one trail. We kept an eye out and were finally rewarded to find the bird moving through the high branches. Again, these photographs don’t really capture the intense red of this stunning bird.
Turkey Vultures are not beautiful birds, but they perform an essential ecosystem cleaning service by consuming carrion that otherwise could spread disease and bacteria in the environment.
The drive through the park is always a treat.
At the end of the day, we had a view of Northern Map Turtles basking at a dock in the late afternoon sun.
May 11
The following day, we were ready to hit the trails and confront the challenges of photographing warblers again.
On a lightly wooded trail in the morning, we found a few birds perching in the open – male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, American Robin, male Yellow Warbler – and a Northern Flicker foraging in the grass.
Also moving through the grass, Glenn spotted this Eastern Garter Snake. We hadn’t seen one with this colour pattern before.
On this trail, Glenn’s hat acquired a sign of impending good luck. We hoped it augured well in our search for warblers!
Happily, we found a few!
Black and White Warblers forage on the trunks of trees, much in the way of nuthatches. We saw several throughout the day on both the Tulip Tree and Bennett Ave Trails.
A Black-throated Blue Warbler moving constantly in the underbrush.
Northern Parula and Nashville Warblers hiding in the leaves.
We caught sight of Blackburnian and Magnolia Warblers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a shy Swainson’s Thrush, but not long enough for good photos. Veerys again made an appearance. Our lunchtime bird this day included an Eastern Phoebe.
Many of Rondeaus trails travel through woodland slough or swamp. These watery woods attract several species of birds.
White-throated Sparrows foraged under the damp leaves.
We often see Common Grackles foraging along river banks or in wet wooded areas. Although they can be a nuisance in residential areas, there is no denying how splendid their plumage is.
Prothonotary Warbler
The most sought-after bird along the Tulip Trail is the Prothonotary Warbler, an endangered species in Canada. The park is one of only two locations in Canada where these birds breed. According to Cornell’s “All About Birds” website, Prothonotary Warblers breed in flooded bottomland forests, wooded swamps, and forests near lakes and streams that are at least 250 acres in size. They winter in eastern coastal areas in South and Central America, Mexico and the southern US. They arrive in Ontario in late April to early May and nest in holes in dead trees or nest boxes, usually near or above standing water.
We had travelled the Tulip Trail several times over our days at Rondeau without a sighting. On our final day there, with our energy flagging, we decided to sit quietly and wait in the area that is often frequented by the warblers. Our wait was rewarded as we first heard and then saw the approach of a bright saffron male. We later caught of glimpse of a female in the far distance. Passersby stopped to watch as the male spent several minutes exploring the area below the boardwalk. We were able to pass on some information about the significance of the birds and their presence at Rondeau.
It was a perfect way to end our time on the Rondeau trails!
Osprey Update
The Ospreys have remained on the nest through wildfire smoke, heavy rain, and flood-lit evening baseball games with blaring music and announcements. We still are awaiting evidence of young being fed on the nest. To date, the pair continues to take turns on the nest. The male regularly delivers fish and remains close by when he’s not out fishing. Here are the two on adjacent light towers.
This short video shows the male preparing a fish for delivery to the female.
Peonies!
Peonies have been late in blooming in this year’s cool spring. They have finally arrived in the cut flowers from the Wandering Bee and in the gardens at Eldon House. No, they are not native…
Woodstock
While Woodstock was the joyous music event in 1969, the year ended rather sadly with the stabbing at a Rolling Stones concert at Altemont.
Here is my playlist for Woodstock.
