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- Cooper's Hawk - photo by Ric McArthur
The stuff of a chickadee's nightmare, Coopers Hawks are fast-flying songbird predators. A careful observer may spot one during the summer, but their attraction to bird feeders (and the birds feeding at them!) in the winter makes this an even better time of year to observe this species.
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- Rondeau's Sloughs - photo by Ric McArthur
The flooded forests of Rondeau provide important habitat for many rare species, including the endangered Prothonotary Warbler.
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- Canada Goose - photo by Ric McArthur
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- Green Heron - - photo by Ric McArthur
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- Young House Wrens - photo by Ric McArthur
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- Red-headed Woodpecker - photo by Ric McArthur
A stunning bird, the Red-headed Woodpecker is a common sight at Rondeau but is declining throughout most of its range. Look for this species in the Campground and along the eastern side of the park in open oak savannah habitat.
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- Western Tanager - photo by Kyle halloway
A visitor from the west, this species sometimes makes an appearance at Rondeau during the spring migration, as this one did in Spring 2011. Their eastern cousin, the Scarlet Tanager, is a more common sight in the forests of Rondeau during the spring and summer.
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- Butterfly Weed - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
This vibrant wildflower blooms in early summer in open, sandy areas. A relative of Common Milkweed, this species is an important nectar source for many butterfly species.
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- Christmas Fern - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
An evergreen fern, this species was once used to decorate during the holiday season. Look for the fronds in the Beech-Maple forest on the west side of the Rondeau Peninsula.
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- Great Blue Lobelia - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
A beautiful species that flowers later in the summer in sunny, damp places such as the forest at the corner of Rondeau Rd and Water Street.
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- Sandhill Cranes - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
The distinct call of this large crane species is usually the only sign that it is present. Lucky observers may catch a glimpse of Sandhill Cranes as they fly over the park in spring and summer, or as they guide their chicks through the marsh in late spring and early summer.
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- Pectoral Sandpiper - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
Many species of sandpiper can be found feeding along the edges of Rondeau Bay and Lake Erie during the spring and fall migrations.
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- Question Mark Butterfly - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
A common species, the Question Mark is named for the shape of the white markings on the wings, not visible in this photo.
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- Yellow Birch - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
Yellow Birch seedlings often take root on rotting stumps, where competition from other tree species is low. As they grow, the stumps rot away leaving a tree on stilts like the one pictured here.
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- Six Spotted Tiger Beetle
This iridescent predator is usually quick to fly away when startled, Watch the trail ahead of you as you cycle or walk down the Harrison or South Point trails, where this species is often common during the summer months.
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- Maidenhair Fern - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
A delicate looking species of mature forest, Maidenhair Fern are common throughout the damp forests of Rondeau. Look for them in spring along the Spicebush and Tulip Tree trails.
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- Southeast Beach - Photo By Allen Woodliffe
The Rondeau Peninsula is a Cuspate Sandspit, formed by erosion and deposition. The Rondeau Peninsula was first named "Pointe aux Pins" for its abundance of Eastern White Pine. Eastern White Pine can be found growing along the eastern side of the park.
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- Grey Treefrog - Photo By Scott Taylor
The bird-like call of the Grey Treefrog can be heard in Rondeau starting in late spring. Able to change the colour of its skin, the Grey Treefrog has excellent camoflauge. Sometimes this species is attracted to lights at night because of the abundance of insects.
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- Tulip Tree - Photo By Scott Taylor
The Tulip Tree is the largest tree species in eastern North America and is restricted to the Carolinian region of Canada. Some of the Tulip Trees in Rondeau are over 200 years old! Look way up (with binoculars) for the showy flowers of this species in mid June.
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- Sunrise on Lake Erie - Photo By Scott Taylor
Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the Great Lakes by surface area, and the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world! A great place to swim in the summer, the lake supports large fisheries and huge populations of wildlife.
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- Sunset on Rondeau Bay - Photo By Scott Taylor
Rondeau Bay is an excellent place to canoe, kayak, windsurf, fish, and kite-board. In addition to being an excellent recreational water body, the bay is home to many species at risk, it provides a resting stop for migrating waterfowl in the spring and fall, and it acts as a nursery for many fish species that can be found in Lake Erie.
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- Fowler's Toad - Photo By Scott Taylor
This endangered species spends the day buried in sand along the beach, or in the dunes. At night, the Fowler's Toad emerges and hunts for small insects and other prey along the shoreline. Driftwood is important habitat for this species and should not be removed from the beach.
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- Eastern Hognose Snake - Photo By Scott Taylor
This secretive species is rarely spotted at Rondeau. A predator of toads, the Eastern Hognose Snake is also an excellent actor that will first attempt to scare a potential predator away by flattening out its neck and hissing. If that does not work, this species will try another act: they will roll over and play dead!
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- Bronze Frog - Photo By Scott Taylor
A common species in Rondeau, the jug-o-rum call of the Bronze Frog (formerly, the Green Frog) sounds like a plucked loose bango string, and echoes across the marsh in early summer.
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- Switchgrass at sunrise - Photo By Scott Taylor
An important sand-stabilizing species, Switchgrass grows in sandy, open areas throughout the park.
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- Cylndrical Blazing Star - Photo By Scott Taylor
This beautiful species is an important nectar source for migrating Monarch Butterflies. Look for it in open sandy areas along the eastern side of the park in late August,
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- Hairy Puccoon - Photo By Scott Taylor
This dune and savannah species flowers in late spring in sandy, open areas throughout Rondeau.
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- Bald Eagle - Photo By Robert Taylor
A nesting pair of Bald Eagles can be found in Rondeau. Look for this species while you're traveling the Marsh or South Point Trails.
