Rondeau and Erieau

On the family day holiday, my husband and I drove over to Rondeau Provincial Park. What a beautiful, sunny day!

We headed to Tulip Tree trail with hopes of seeing a pileated woodpecker.  The pileated stayed hidden, but we did see tufted titmouse, white breasted nuthatch, black capped chickadee, downy woodpecker, and red bellied woodpecker.  The titmice were very vocal, both calling and singing! The Essential Field Guide Companion (1) tells me that titmice sing year-round. They search tree trunks for insect larvae, and are able to open seeds and acorns by holding them with their feet and whacking them with their bill! I just bought this book (Essential Field Guide Companion by Pete Dunne) and it is great to learn more about the birds we're seeing.

Tulip Tree trail is short (1.4km) and much of it on boardwalks over a low-lying forest. Perhaps this will be a good place for prothonotary warblers in a few months?

tulip tree samaras

We saw several tulip trees (Liliodendron tulipifera) both from the visitor centre parking lot and along the (appropriately named) Tulip Tree trail. These tulip-shaped structures remaining on the tree are the fruit, known as samaras.  The tree will flower in June, but the flowers can be difficult to see because the tree is so tall. It is the tallest of the Carolinian tree species found in our area (2).

This red-bellied woodpecker appeared to be foraging around on the ground.  We just started birdwatching in May, and this behaviour was new to us.  

Red-bellied woodpecker

We took a walk through the campground area where we heard a blue jay that seemed to be quietly singing a finch's song!  We also happened upon several dark eyed juncos and 3 yellow-rumped warblers.

Rondeau campground

After leaving Rondeau, we drove over to Erieau and scanned the marina where we saw hundreds of American Coots.  I find them fun to watch with their laughing call and their distinctive white bills!

American Coots

A wonderful day!

References:


(1) Dunne, P. (2006). Pete Dunne's essential field guide companion: a comprehensive resource for identifying North American birds. New York. Houghton Mifflin.


(2) Waldron, G. (2003). Trees of the carolinian forest: a guide to species, their ecology and uses. Ontario. Boston Mills Press.