Sightings for Monday December 31st

Monteal, Ile Notre Dame: Townsend's Solitaire (Solitaire de Townsend) was in Jardin Floralies in front of the Casino de Montreal on Ile Notre Dame – P. Bannon

http://www.pbase.com/pbannon

Sightings for Sunday December 30th

Monteal, Ile Notre Dame: At noon a Townsend's Solitare (Solitaire de Townsend) was seen and photographed in Jardin Floralies in front of the Casino de Montreal on Ile Notre Dame - D. Millar

Mirabel, Rang Ste-Marie: 6 snow buntings, 10 + Gray partridge (Perdrix grise)
Rang Ste- Dominique: 25 + Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges) 15 + Gray partridge (Perdrix grise)
Route 50 to the airport: 1 Rough-legged hawk (Buse pattue) – C. Kling www.pbase.com/hootpix

Ste-Catherine: 2 Northern pintail (Canard pilet), 3 Gadwall (Canard chipeau), Hooded merganser (Harle couronné), 2 Ring-billed gulls (Goéland à bec cerclé), 2 American wigeon (Canard d'Amérique), Greater scaup (Fuligule milouinan)

Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Red-bellied woodpecker (Pic à ventre roux), Tufted titmouse (Mésange bicolore), 2 Songsparrow (Bruant chanteur), Northern flicker (Pic flamboyant), 2 Dark-eyed junco (Junco ardoisé), 20 Common redpolls (Sizerin flammé)

Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois, Montée Saint-Joseph: Northern shrike (Pie-grièche grise), Red-winged blackbird (Carouge à épaulettes), 4 Brown-headed cowbird (Vacher à tête brune)
Beauharnois dam: Iceland gull (Goéland arctique), Glaucous gull (Goéland bourmestre) Northern goshawk (Autour des Palombes) on the roof of the Kruger building - Sébastien Rioux

Sightings for Saturday December 29th

St. Clet: After completing our (mostly residential) Hudson CBC area on Saturday, 29 December, at around 3 p.m. a group, consisting of A. Craig, G. Desnoyers, E. Marshall and myself, went out into the fields west of St. Clet and were lucky enough to spot a beautiful adult Snowy Owl (Harfang des neiges) sitting on a fence post at the back of a farm between 3e Rang and ch. Ste-Marie about half way between St. Clet and Ste. Justine-de-Newton. Close enough to the road for good views with binoculars – J. Bacon

Mont Saint-Hilaire: Gyrfalcon -white phase (Faucon Gerfaut) - S. Duval

Sightings for Thursday December 27th

Montreal, NDG: 10:30 - 11:15 Great Horned Owl (Grand-duc d'Amérique) being mobbed by crows in the square bisected by Royal between Draper and Hampton, Côte St-Antoine and NDG Avenue. Tremendous ruckus. The owl changed trees. Its tormentors followed. About 11:15 the owl few off toward SW (Shebrooke andCavendish) the crows close behind - S. Arthur

Mont Saint-Hilaire, la falaise Dieppe: Gyrfalcon -white phase (Faucon Gerfaut) - D. Pinaud & H. Gadenne

Sightings for Wednesday December 26th

Chateauguay, rue Higgins: Tufted titmouse (mésange bicolore)

St-Stanislas-de-Kostka, pont St-Louis de Gonzague (bridge): Long-tailed ducks (harelde kakawi)

Beauharnois, St-Louis river bridge: Wood duck (canard branchu)

Ste-Étienne de Beauharnois: rang des 20, 100’s of Starlings (étourneaux), along with a 100 Cowbirds (vacher à tête brune), and a Yellow headed blackbird (carouge à tête jaune mâle) - Daniel Ouellette

Monreal Botanical Gardens at the First Nations Garden: Carolina wren (troglodyte de Caroline), 1 Pine siskin (Tarin des Pins), near the Insectarium, 13 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des Sapins) - Lucette d'Amours. Coopers hawk (épervier de Cooper), European goldfinch (chardonneret élégant) - Jacques Héneault

Sightings for Tuesday December 25th

Beauharnois, St-Louis river bridge: Wood duck (Canard branchu) photo - Régis Fortin

Sightings for Friday December 21st -6C

Terrebonne, Île des moulins: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) - Georges Lachaîne et Élaine Presseau

Monreal Botanical Gardens at the First Nations Garden: Carolina wren (troglodyte de Caroline), 20 Common redpolls (Sizerins flammés), 5 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des Sapins) - Lucette d'Amours

Sightings for Wednesday December 19th

Monreal Botanical Gardens at the First Nations Garden: Carolina wren (troglodyte de Caroline) - J.-S. Guénette

Sightings for Tuesday December 18th -12C

Boucherville, 26 rue Jean-Cadieux: European Goldfinch (Chardonneret elegant) - P. Casavant

Preliminary Results from the Montreal Christmas Bird Count

The Montreal Christmas Bird Count is history. Fortunately we managed to squeek it in between the major snow falls.

Given the irregular nature of the weather in recent years, I am thinking of having a back-up plan for next year, should the weather forecast indicate the kind of conditions we are experiencing today.

The unofficial total this year was a very low 61. At this date I do not have the detailed results from Kahnawake, but I doubt that the total will change. I set out below the count totals for the last 10 years:
1997 67
1998 64
1999 71
2000 64
2001 71
2002 72
2003 69
2004 75
2005 68
2006 69

I will be submitting a complete report, hopefully within a week, once I havethe Kahnawake data, and the results from all our feeder-watchers.

This year we had a record 16 teams, including the aforementioned team fromKahnawake, led by Jean-Sebastien Guenette.

In the interests of those of you who might want to venture out in the next day or two, here are some of the highlights of this year’s count:
Verdun: Barrow’s Goldeneye (2) male & female, from the lookout just west of the Douglas Hospital Harlequin Duck (1), probably an immature male, also from the Douglas lookout. Gray Partridge (10), thanks to Pierre Bannon: on Rang St. Regis, St-Isadore
Mew Gull (1), 2nd winter, on the ice above the old power dam berm at Parc des Rapides in Lasalle
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), at the Higgins feeder in Chateauguay.
Tufted Titmouse (1), at Sara-Jane Hills feeder in Longueuil Carolina Wren (1), also at Sara-Jane’s feeder
Purple Finch (1), at Mount Royal Park

Counts for all our teams were generally lower than average; preliminaryresults of those with higher counts were as follows:
Bob Barnhurst (St. Lawrence River, north side), 32
Guy Zenaitis (Nun’s Island and Expo Islands), 30
Felix Hilton (Chateauguay/South Kahnawake), 29
David Smith (Kahnawake/Cote Ste. Catherine), 28
Jeff Harrison (Lasalle-Angrignon-Montreal West), 28
Jean-Sebastien Guenette (North Kahnawake), 27
Sheldon Harvey (Laprairie-Candiac), 26
Marie-Anne Hudson (Verdun-NDG-Hampstead), 24

A brief exmination of the results shows that there were many species/families that we might normally expect to get, that were not recorded this year including: RB Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Goshawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Glaucous Gull, Any owls, other than Screech Owl, Horned Lark, Winter Wren, GC & RC Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Bohemian and Cedar Waxwing. No warblers of any kind Rusty Blackbird, Common Grackle.

Only one bird, Pine Siskin, was recorded in count week which was not recorded on count day. Hopefully a few of the species listed above might still be recorded before count week ends at midnight on Tuesday December 18th.

I would like to thank all our leaders for their hard work, and especially David Smith who came forth at very short notice to pinch hit for Peter Mitchell and then John Hodges, to lead the Kahnawake-Cote-Ste-Catherine area, and of course all who ventured out, in less than ideal conditions, to participate. A special thanks to Lance and Andree for the frustrating job of counting crows (2,483) at the roost, and to Marie-Anne and her team for doing such an excellent job in Verdun-NDG-Hampstead.

Finally I would like to thank Sheila Arthur for hosting our social/compilation which went off without a hitch. I would also like to thank Eve Marshall and Victoria Dickenson for providing major dishes which were greatly appreciated by those who came to our after-count event. Hopefully I haven't forgot anyone else!?

Have a Merry Christmas

Jeff Harrison

Sightings for Saturday December 15th -15C

Mirabel, rang Ste-Marie north of autoroute 50: Snowy owl (f) (Harfang des neiges) perched in a tree behind 15365. Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges)
Rang St-Dominique: 10 Gray partridge (perdrix grise)
rang Giroux: 5 Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges), Lapland longspur (Bruant lapon)
rang Giroux & chemin Dupuis intersection: House with many feeders 100+ Black-capped chickadees (Mésanges à tête noire) - Paul Fortin http://www.sitesdobservationdesoiseauxduquebec.ca/

I went on the Montreal Christmas bird count, in the north-east corner of Chateauguay. The day started off at -19C and only warmed to -15C. 27 species were found, mostly at Refuge Faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard, or on rue Higgins.

American Crow (Corneille d'Amérique), Common Raven (Grand Corbeau), American Black Duck (Canard noir), Mallard (Canard colvert),Common Merganser (Grand Harle), Ring-billed Gull (Goéland à bec cerclé), American Goldfinch (Chardonneret jaune), American Tree Sparrow (Bruant hudsonien), Black-capped Chickadee (Mésange à tête noire), Blue Jay (Geai bleu), Brown Creeper (Grimpereau brun), Brown-headed Cowbird (Vacher à tête brune), Common Redpoll (Sizerin flame), Dark-eyed Junco (Junco ardoisé), Downy Woodpecker (Pic mineur), Hairy Woodpecker (Pic chevelu), Northern Flicker (Pic flamboyant), Red-winged Blackbird (Carouge à epaulettes), European Starling (Étourneau sansonnet), House Finch (Roselin familier), House Sparrow (Moineau domestique), Song Sparrow (Bruant chanteur), Red-tailed Hawk (Buse à queue rousse), Northern Shrike (Pie-grièche grise), Mourning Dove (Tourterelle triste), Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sittelle à poitrine rousse), White-breasted Nuthatch (Sittelle à poitrine blanche) – T. Long

Sightings for Friday December 14th -3C - 7cm Snow

Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, rang des 30: Gyrfalcon (Faucon gerfaut), Northern flicker (Pic flamboyant) - Sébastien Rioux

Deux-Montagnes: White-winged scoter (macreuse brune) Common merganser (grand harle), 5 Canada geese (bernache du Canada)

Sainte-Marthe sur le lac: 2 Merlins (faucons émerillon), Green-winged teal (sarcelle d'hiver), Common redpoll (sizerin flammé)

Mirabel, rang Ste-Marie: Snowy owl (Harfang des neiges), Snow buntings (bruants des neiges), 6 Gray partridge (perdrix grise) - Sylvie Vanier

Sightings for Thursday December 13th -11C

Ile-Ste-Hélène: Long-tailed ducks (Hareldes Kakawi), White-winged scoter (Macreuse Brune), Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), 2 Double-crested cormorant (Cormorant à aigrettes) near the (pont) Jacques-Cartier bridge. Near the Pavillon du Canada 2 American robins (merles d'Amérique), Woodpeckers – Downy & Hairy (pics - mineur et chevelu) - Jacques Héneault

Hemmingford: Wild turkeys (dindons sauvage) 40 in a field after the farm at 534 chemin Fisher. 12 at 290 chemin James Fisher - Luc Laberge

Sightings for Wednesday December 12th -3C

Île Charron: Barred owl (Chouette Rayee), Great horned owl (Grand-duc) - Chuck Kling www.pbase.com/hootpix

Boucherville, rue Lorraine: American pipit (Pipit d'Amérique), Snow buntings (bruants des neiges), 2 Lapland longspurs (bruants lapons) - Jacques Héneault

Monreal Botanical Gardens: Carolina wren (troglodyte de Caroline), European Goldfinch (chardonneret élégant), Pine grosbeaks (durbecs des sapins) - Sylvie Vanier

Sightings for Tuesday December 11th -1C

Boucherville, chemin Lorraine: American pipit (Pipit d'Amérique) - Michel Bertrand

Ile Ste-Hélène: 3 Long-tailed ducks (Hareldes Kakawi), White-winged scoter (Macreuse Brune), 1 Double-crested cormorant (Cormorant à aigrettes), 2 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or) - Lucette d'Amours

Montreal Botanical Gardens: Red-breasted nuthatch (sittelle à poitrine rousse), Common redpoll (sizerin flammé). - Carolina wren (troglodyte de caroline) (photo) in the First Nations Garden - Georges Néron

Alain Goulet and I went on an owl searching mission today at 3 sites:Boucherville, Iles-de-Boucherville and Boise Papineau.
A Barred Owl (Chouette Rayee) was seen next to the road just inside the entrance of Iles-de-Boucherville. We were able to get excellent views of it roosting and actively hunting over the field to the right. 2 more were seen further in the Park while walking through conifer groves - one was half asleep and the other was quite active. We have been conservative in suggesting that the third may have been the same bird as we saw near the entrance, even though it was over 1km away.
Another Barred Owl (Chouette Rayee) was seen at Boise Papineau (North of the railway tracks) and maybe the same bird that Chuck reported earlier. At Boucherville a possible Northern Saw-whet Owl (Petite Nyctale) was heard by Alain.
A few of the other species seen throughout the day include: American Goldfinch, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Commmon Merganser, American Kestrel (roosting on light pole at the Iles-de-Boucherville off ramp), Peregrine Falcon (roosting on the Pie IX Bridge), Pine Grosbeak, Am. Tree Sparrow, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco etc. - Andrew Plimer

Sightings for Monday December 10th -4C

Laval, Bois Papineau: Barred owl (Chouette Rayee), Roughed grouse (Gelinotte huppee) - Chuck Kling www.pbase.com/hootpix

Montreal, Île Sainte-Hélène: Long-tailed ducks (Hareldes Kakawi), White-winged scoter (Macreuse Brune), 2 Double-crested cormorants (Cormorants à aigrettes) - Diane Demers

Mirabel: Snowy owl (Harfang des neiges) on the roof of an old barn. 110+ Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges), 8 Gray partridge (Perdrix grises), Rough-legged hawk (buse pattue) - Lucette d'Amours

Sightings for Sunday December 9th -10C

Laval, Boisé Papineau: Eastern screech owl (Petit-duc maculé), American tree sparrows (Bruants hudsoniens), Purple and House finch (Roselins pourpré et familiers) etc. - Daniel LeBlanc

Terrebonne, Île des moulins: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) - Daniel LeBlanc

Saint-Barthélemy, St-Jacques near Montée Ouest: Snowy owl (Harfang des neiges) photo
Montée Ouest near the train track: Short-eared owl (Hibou des marais) photo
Also in the area 6 Roughlegged hawks (Buses pattues), 65 Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges) - Georges Lachaîne et Élaine Presseau

St-Louis de Gonzague at the bridge: 2 Common loons (plongeons huards), 3 Red-necked grebes (grèbes jougris), 9 Hooded mergansers (harles couronnés), 4 Ring-necked ducks (fuligules à collier), 4 Snow geese (oies des neiges), 1 Kingfisher (martin-pêcheur), 2 Double-crested cormorants (cormorans à aigrettes) - Daniel Ouellette

Melocheville dam: Long-tailed ducks (hareldes kakawis), Common loon (plongeon huard), Greater scaup (fuligule milouinan), Iceland gull (goéland arctique) - Daniel Ouellette

17 birders 32 species
St-Hubert airport: Red-shouldered hawk (buse à épaulettes)
chemin de la Savane and Montarville: 5-6 Rough-legged hawks & Red-tailed hawks (Buses pattue, à queue rousse) 2 Song sparrows (bruants chanteur)
chemin de la Savane: Gray partridge (perdrix grise)

Varennes, chemin du Lac Danielle Paquette Rusty blackbird (quiscale rouilleux), 2 Red-winged blackbirds (f) (carouges à épaulettes), Cowbirds (vachers à tête brune)

Also seen on trip Northern shrike (pie-grièche grise), 2 Coopers Hawks (éperviers de cooper) 3 Ravens (grand corbeau) 2 American kestrels (crécerelle d'Amérique)

Other observations of note: 2 coyotes , 1 Fox (renard), 1 Muskrat (rat musqué) - André Provost Membre du C.O.L. Longueuil

Terrebonne, Île des moulins: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) Gulls 160 Great black-backed, 78 Herring, 1 Glaucous (Goélands - marins, argentés, bourgmestre) - Stéphane Guimond

Boucherville, chemin Lorraine: American pipit (Pipit d'Amérique), Rough-legged hawk (Buse pattue) - Michel Bertrand

Sightings for Saturday December 8th -3C - sunny

Laval at the corner of Mtée Champagne and boulevard Dagenais: Red-shouldered hawk (Buse à épaulettes) - Élaine Presseau, Georges Lachaîne

Île Sainte-Hélène: 6 Long-tailed ducks (Hareldes kakawi), 3 Hooded mergansers (Harles couronnés), 1 Common loon (Plongeon huard), 1 Pied-billed grebe (Grèbe à bec bigarré), 1 Double-crested cormorant (Cormoran à aigrettes), 1 Great blue heron (Grand Héron), 1 Glaucous gull (Goéland bourgmestre), and a mixed group of about 50 American goldfinch and Common redpolls (Chardonnerets jaunes et de Sizerins flammés) - Pierre Bannon

Varennes: montée de Baronnie: Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges), 5 Rough-legged hawks (Buses pattues), Cowbirds (Vachers à tête brune) - Pierre Bannon

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - December 8th, 2007

Mild temperatures and short periods of blowing snow marked yesterday's outing in the Casselman area, east of Ottawa Ontario. I led our group to the following good habitats: open water and feeders in Casselman and open agricultural areas near Ste-Rose, and our eagle-eyed participants (11) did the rest , finding 30 species between 8:30 and noon. Species # 31 was a COMMON RAVEN seen enroute to Casselman by one party, and species # 32 was a BALD EAGLE I observed flying over St-Isidore as I was heading home after leaving the group.

Our species of the day was the EVENING GROSBEAK of which 24 were seen mainly at feeders. Runner up was the GRAY PARTRIDGE of which 10 were well observed in the Ste-Rose area. Other noteworthy birds (for this locality) included alone RING-BILLED GULL, a single SONG SPARROW and 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS.

The Snowy Owl I found on Thursday could not be re-located on Saturday despite extra efforts by a few individuals after the main group had left. I could not even find it on Friday, the day before the trip, but it was there as this fine photo (http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/image/90057287/original ) by Wilson Hum of Ottawa attests.

Thanks to all participants for coming out on Saturday and for being so keen-eyed and enthusiatic, and to co-leader, Martin Bowman, who could not be present physically but was with us in spirit.

I managed to take a few photos of some participants in action but only one is good enough to publish on my blog; I hope to be able do this sometime tomorrow here: http://jacquesbouvier.blogspot.com

The list of the other species and their numbers follows: Canada Goose 4, American Black Duck 1, Mallard 3, Common Merganser 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Rough-legged Hawk 6 (5 light/1dark), Small falcon sp. 1, Rock Pigeon 100+, Mourning Dove 5, Downy Woodpecker 1, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Blue Jay 30, American Crow 12, Horned Lark 3, Black-capped Chickadee 15, White-breasted Nuthatch 3, European Starling 24, American Tree Sparrow 3, Dark-eyed Junco 5, Snow Bunting 100+, Northern Cardinal 2, House Finch 5, Common Redpoll 6, American Goldfinch 6, House Sparrow 30

Jacques

http://www.jacquesbouvier.ca

Sightings for Friday December 7th -9C

Montreal Botanical Gardens: 17 species including 20 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des sapins), 2 Common redpolls (Sizerins flammés), 1 european goldfinch (Chardonneret élégant), 1 Rough-legged hawk (Buse pattue) - Lucette d'Amours

Terrebonne, Île des moulins behind the administration building: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) - Marcel Harnois

Saint-Mathias, boat dock: Coopers hawk (Épervier de Cooper), 4 Mallards (Canards colvert), 5 Hooded mergansers (Harles couronné), 250+ Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada). On the ice of the Richelieu river: Gyrfalcon grey form (Faucon gerfaut) feasting on a Mallard (Canard colvert) - Gilles Ethier

Chambly, below the rapids: 122 Mallards and Black ducks (Canards colvert et noir), 17 Ring-billed gulls (Goélands à bec cerclé), 1 Great black-backed gull (Goéland marin), 3 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), 4 Common mergansers (Grands harle) - Gilles Ethier

Sightings for Thursday December 6th -7C - sunny

Terrebonne, Île des moulins behind the administration building: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) - Marcel Harnois

Montreal, Jacques-Cartier dock at the Old Port of Montreal (Vieux-Port de Montréal): Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Pic maculé), two trees over a Downy woodpecker (Pic mineur)Pont de la Concorde (bridge): Peregrine falcon (Faucon pèlerin) - Stéphane Guimond

Mirabel, rang Ste Marie 1 Snowy owl (Harfang des neiges), 1 Rough-legged hawk (very dark) (Buse pattue), 3 Horned lark (Alouette hausse-col), 60+ snow bunting ( Bruant des neiges) - Jean De Marre

Sightings for Wednesday December 5th -5C

Îles de Boucherville, Île Charron near the bridge of petite rivière: Great horned owl (Grand duc), Barred owl (Chouette rayée), American kestrel (Crécerelle d'Amérique) - Jean De Marre

Sightings for Tuesday December 4th -5C - 4cm snow

Îles de Boucherville: Great horned owl (Grand Duc d'Amérique) - Sylvain Sabourin

Montreal Botanical Gardens: Carolin Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) at the First Nations Gardens - Lucette d'Amours

Terrebonne, Île des moulins behind the administration building: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) - Richard Prévost

Sightings for Monday December 3rd. -5C 30cm snow

Saint-Mathias, rang des Épinettes: 40 Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges), 25 Horned larks (Alouettes hausse-col), Lapland longspur (Bruant lapon) - Gilles Ethier

Sightings for Sunday December 2nd

Chambly, Chambly basin: Common loon (Plongeon huard), Snow geese (Oie des neiges), Canada geese (bernaches), Ducks – Black, Mallard, Lesser scaup, Greater scaup, Bufflehead, Common goldeneye, Hooded merganser, Common merganser, (Canard noir, colvert, Petit Fuligule, Fuligule milouinan, Petit Garrot, Garrot à oeil d'or, Harle couronné, Grand Harle), Bonaparte’s gull, (Mouette de Bonaparte), Coopers hawk (Épervier de Cooper) - Don-Jean Léandri - Red-breasted merganser (Harles huppé) - Gilles Ethier

Terrebonne, parc St-Malo in (old)Vieux-Terrebonne: Harlequin duck (Arlequin plongeur) - J.C. Charbonneau

Beauharnois dam: Gulls - 2 Iceland, 200 Ring-billed, 300 Herring, 35 Great black-backed (Goélands arctique, à bec cerclé, argenté, Goéland marin,) Peregrine falcon (Faucon pèlerin) - Don-Jean Léandri

Ste-Catherine (Récréo-Parc): Ducks – Long-tailed, Gagwall, Black, Mallard, Pintail, American wigeon, Green-winged teal, Greater scaup, Common goldeneye, Hooded merganser, Common merganser (Harelde kakawi, Canard chipeau, noir, colvert, pilet, d'Amérique, Sarcelle d'hiver, Fuligule milouinan, Garrot à oeil d’or, Harle couronné, Grand harle), Canada geese, (Bernache du Canada), Double-crested cormorant (Cormoran à aigrettes), Great blue heron (Grand Héron) - Don-Jean Léandri

LaSalle, Lachine rapids: Iceland gull (Goéland arctique), Ducks - Northern pintail, Black, Mallard, Commmon goldeneye, Common merganser, Hooded merganser (Canard pilet, noir, colvert, garrot à oeil d'or, Grand Harle, Harle couronné) -Don-Jean Léandri

Chateauguay, rue Flanagan: Coopers hawk (Épervier de Cooper) - T. Long

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - December 1st, 2007

Apologies, everyone, for this late report for our trip last Saturday (Dec 1) to Cap St Jacques. The trip was a bit of a non-event in that only Felix, new comer Pierre, and your trip leader showed up on a very cold, windy, winter morning -not exactly the late autumn conditions we were hoping for when we set the trip with the thought of finding lingering migrants! The three of us walked a few of the sheltered trails hoping to find where the birds might be hiding but sightings were few and far between.

There were some ducks on the water but the winds blowing in off the Lake of Two Mountains made for watery eyes and frozen cheeks not to mention difficulties with some ID's. The following list includes several species seen by the leader before the trip officially started and after it was officially called off at 10:00 a.m. (I went back to look at the ducks and found a few skulking passerines; had to "pad" the list somehow!)***16 species Common goldeneye - 60, Mallard - 12, Common merganser - 6, ***Ring-billed gull -12, Greater black-backed gull - 5, Mourning dove - 1, ***Hairy woodpecker - 2, Blue Jay- 2, American crow - 6, Black-capped chickadee - 10, White-breasted nuthatch -2, American robin - 10, Dark-eyed junco - 2, ***Northern cardinal - 2, ***Pine grosbeak- 2, ***American goldfinch - 2

In addition there was one interesting looking duck diving in the rapids but we could not make a positive ID under the conditions. Most resembled a 1st winter male or winter female long-tailed duck but fast flowing rapids are not habitat where I am used to seeing this species. Maybe someone with more experience with this bird can help out with regard to its habits and habitat.

Thanks to Felix and Pierre for coming out. Don't really blame anyone else for not as a warm bed was probably much more inviting. Hope Pierre will try again on a more conducive day.

Wayne

Sightings for Saturday December 1st -10C

Lachenaie, water treatment ponds: 2 Rough-legged hawks (buses pattue), Ducks - Mallards, Black , American wigeon, Northern shoveler (Canards – Colverts, Noir, d'Amérique, Souchet)
chemin de la Cabane Ronde: Coopers hawk (Épervier de Cooper), Northern shrike (Pie-grièche grise), Horned larks (alouettes), Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges), Common redpolls (Sizerins flammé) - Yves Gauthier

Laval, berge de la Brise: 1 Long-tailed duck (Harelde kakawi), 1 Common loon (Plongeon Huard), 4 Common mergansers (Grands Harles), Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada)
Riviere des Prairies 9800 Lévesque: Bufflehead X Common goldereye hybrid (Petit Garrot x Garrot à oeil d'or), 100 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or)
Parc Olivier-Charbonneau: 500 Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada), 1 GREATER-WHITE FRONTED GOOSE (OIE RIEUSE)
Bois Papineau: Red-tailed hawk (Buse à queue rousse) - Georges Lachaîne et Élaine Presseau,

Boucherville, parc de la Frayère: Yellow warbler (Paruline jaune), Yellow-rumped warbler (Paruline à croupion jaune) , Red-tailed hawk (Buse à queue rousse) Northern shrike (Pie grièche grise), Brown creeper (Grimpereau brun)

Carignan, boulevard Cousineau: Rough-legged hawk (Buse pattue)

Chambly, Chambly basin: Red-breasted merganser (Harles huppé), Common merganser (Grands harle), Common loon (Plongeon huard), Ducks – Mallard, Black (Canards Colvert, Noir), Gulls Ring-billed, Herring, Great black-backed and Bonaparte’s (Goélands à bec cerclé, argenté et marin, Mouettes de Bonaparte) - Gilles Ethier

Sightings for Friday November 30th

Saint-Luc, Île Sainte-Thérèse: late to migrate - Great egret (Grande Aigrette) - Raymond Belhumeur

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymond-belhumeur/

Chambly, sector near the locks and the dock in Chambly: Black-legged kittiwake (imm.) (Mouette tridactyle), Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouettes de Bonaparte)
Chambly in front oft the fort: Bald eagle (Pygargue à tête blanche), Raven (Grand Corbeau) – Raymond Belhumeur

Bécancour, at the Bécancour industrial park: Short-eared owl (Hiboux des marais) - Robert Barbeau

Chateauguay, refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard: Tufted titmouse (Mésange bicolore), Peregrine falcon (Faucon pélerin) – F. Hilton

Sightings for Wednesday November 28th

Montreal Botanical Gardens: 30 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des sapins), Bohemian waxwings (Jaseurs Boréaux). Carolin Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) in the First Nations gardens - Lucette d'Amours

Sightings for Monday November 26th

Chambly, Chambly basin Black-legged kittiwake (imm.) (Mouette tridactyle), 200 Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouettes de Bonaparte), Ring-billed gulls (Goélands à bec cerclé) - Raymond Belhumeur

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymond-belhumeur/

Montreal, Quite a surprise today,I observed a Tree Swallow (Hirondelles bicolore) flying over the St-Lawrence today south east of Ile des Soeurs. - Alain Goulet

Sightings for Sunday November 25th

Ste-Anne de Bellevue: André, Gay and I went to the Morgan Arboretum this morning and André found a Three-toed Woodpecker on the path between the Chalet Pruche and the Bobolink field. We were able to watch it for quite some time. Photos are posted at the following link:http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Songsparrow/photos/browse/97e2?c=
We also had 2 Red-Winged Blackbirds, 1 Common Redpoll and 4 Pine Siskins in our yard yesterday in La Prairie. - Sophie

Chambly, Chambly docks: Ring-billed gulls (Goéland à bec cerclé), Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouette de Bonaparte), Herring gulls (Goélands argentés), Great-black-backed gulls (Goélands marins), Black-legged kikiwake (juvenile 1st winter) (Mouette tridactyle) - Robert Chartier

Montreal Botanical Gardens: 12 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des sapins) 12 Robins (Merles), Pileated woodpecker (Grand-Pic), Coopers hawk (Épervier de Cooper), 2 Redpolls (Sizerins), White-breasted nuthatch (Sitelle à poitrine blanche), 3 Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitelle à poitrine rousse), House finch (Roselins familiers). European goldfinch (Chardonneret Élégant) at the feeder neard the First Nations gardens - Louise Ladouceur-Côté

Sightings for Saturday November 24th

Montreal, Riviêre-des-Prairies 4th Avenue: 4 Black scoter (macreuses noires), 16 Great blue herons (Grands Hérons) along the river. Also seen Snow buntings (bruants des neiges), Common redpolls (Sizerins flammés). Pine grosbeaks (durbecs des sapins) and Robins (merles) at parc Pointe-aux-Prairies. - Daniel Ouellette

Montreal Botanical Gardens: 5 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des Sapins), 2 Common redpolls (Sizerins flammés), Merlin (Faucon Emérillon), Fox sparrow (Bruant Fauve), Dark-eyed junco (Juncos ardoisés) - Lucette d'Amours

Boucherville, parc de la Frayère: Yellow-rumped warbler (Paruline à croupion jaune), Barred owl (Chouette rayée), 5-6 American robins (Merles d'Amérique), 3 juncos - Stéphane Blais

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - November 24, 2007

Laval, Bois Papineau, -8 C. sunny and mainly calm 6 observers BIRD(S) of the day.... 2 Barred Owls. In the centre of the woods, north of the tracks. A Barred has been reported for the last month by various people... bird always seemed to fly off when spotted.... once again the reputation of these woods has been maintained!

1 Merlin .. flew right overhead in the parking lot, as we were preparing to leave. Accipiter Spc. .. also flew nearby at the same time. 2 Rock Doves, 6 Mourning Doves, 6 Downy Woodpeckers, 6 American Crows, 40 Black -Capped Chickadees, 5 White-Breasted Nuthatches, 20 + American Robins, 4 European Starlings, 6 American Tree Sparrows, 6 Dark-Eyed Juncos, 6 Northern Cardinals, 40 House Finch, 6 American Goldfinch, 1 Pine Grosbeak... At the parking area, at the same time as the Merlin - Chuck Kling

Sightings for Monday November 19th

Montreal Botanical Gardens: 6 Evening grosbeaks (Gros-Becs errants), 5 Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des sapins) - Lucette d'Amours - Carolin Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) - C. Prévost – Fox sparrow (Bruant fauve), Ruby-crowned kinglet (Roitelet à couronne rubis) - Yves Gauthier

Boucherville, at feeders: European Goldfinch (Chardonneret elegant) 17 rue de la Broquerie - F. Blouin

Sightings for Sunday November 18th

Chambly, fort Chambly: 100’s of Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouettes de Bonaparte), Gulls – ring-billed, Herring, Great black-backed (Goélands - à bec cerclé, Goéland argenté, marin), Common mergansers (Grands Harles), Mallards (Canards colverts), Common loon (Plongeon huard) near the bridge on hwy 112 many Lesser scaup (Petits Fuligules), 1 Greater scaup (Fuligule milouinan) 3 (f) 1 (m) Bufflehead (Petits Garrots), Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or)

Boucherville, parc de la Frayère: Barred owl (Chouette rayée) – found by Doreen Hughes. Pine grosbeak (Durbecs des sapins), we found a 2nd Barred owl (Chouette rayée), and a Long-eared owl (Hibou moyen-duc), Rusty black bird (Quiscale rouilleux), many Robins (merles), White-throated sparrow (Bruant à gorge blanche), Dark-eyed juncos (Juncos ardoisés), Brown creeper (Grimpereau brun), 2 Rough-legged hawks (Buses pattues)

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, rue Cayer. American coot (Foulque d'Amérique), many Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada), Red-necked grebe (Grèbe jougris) - Sylvain Mathieu

Ile Perrot: 46 species (espèces) including - 3 red-necked grebes (grèbes jougris), 1 White-winged scoter (macreuse brune), 22 Hooded mergansers (harles couronnés), 17 Common loons (plongeons huarts), 50 Gadwall (canard chipeau), 1 Great blue heron (grand héron), 1 Northern shrike (imm) (pie-grièche grise), 1 American pipit (pipit d'Amérique), 1 Snow bunting (bruant des neiges), 2 Song sparrows (bruants chanteurs), 1 Yellow-rumped warbler (paruline à croupion jaune), Common redpolls (sizerins flammés), 2 Red-winged blackbirds (carouges à épaulettes) - Daniel Ouellette

Montreal Botanical Gardens: Carolina Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) at the feeders near the entrance to the Alpine Garden. Also seen 10 Pine grosbeak (Durbec des sapins), Great blue heron (Grand Héron), Fox sparrow (Bruant Fauve) - Lucette d'Amours

Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, montée Henrysburg and autoroute 15 North: Greater white-fronted goose (Oie rieuse), 3 Snow geese (Oies des neiges), 1000 Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada) - Louise Simard

St-Mathias, Parc des Voiles: Artic loon (Plongeon arctique) reported to - Jean Pierre Pratte

Sightings for Saturday November 17th

Boucherville, 26 rue Jean-Cadieux at feeders : European Goldfinch (Chardonneret elegant) - P. Cazavant

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - November 17, 2007

On the way to the rendez-vous, I saw a Harrier, a Peregrine and thousands of Canada Geese.
Eight hardy souls joined me at Ste-Martine for a bright but cold and very windy outing.
In total we saw, at a guess, 15K Canada Geese, mostly on the Chateauguay River but smaller numbers else where, 38 Am. Black Duck, 50 Mallard, 100 Northern Shoveler, 8 Green-winged Teal, maybe 2K Scaup (too far to differentiate; there might have been Ring neck amongst them), 6 Hooded Merganser, 6 C. Merganser, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 D/C Cormorant, 1 Osprey - Maple Grove, rue MacDonald: , a second Northern Harrier, 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 Merlin, 200 Ring-billed Gulls, 4 Blackbacks, 100 Rock Pigeon, 2 Blue Jay, 10 American Crows, 14 Horned Lark, 17 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 American Robin, Starling, 6 American Tree Sparrows, 7 Snow Bunting, House Finch, 4 American Goldfinch and 75 House Sparrows.

Soon after we split up, Sheldon and Darlene spotted a couple of Mourning Dove.The bird of the day would have to be the Osprey, although 100+ Shoveler on the Mercier sewage ponds were possibly more unusual.

Felix

Sightings for Friday November 16th

Laval, on rivière des Prairies behind 9800, boulevard Lévesque: Common Goldeneye X Bufflehead (hybride Garrot à oeil d'or X Petit Garrot) - Georges Lachaîne

Boucherville, at feeders: European Goldfinch (Chardonneret elegant) 17 rue de la Broquerie - F. Blouin and 26 rue Jean-Cadieux - P. Cazavant

Sightings for Thursday November 15th

Montreal Botanical Gardens: Carolina Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) at the feeders near the entrance to the Alpine Garden - J. Brisson

Sightings for Wednesday November 14th

Boucherville, parc de La Frayère: in the section with fruit trees Townsend's Solitare (Solitaire de Townsend), Pine grosbeak (Durbecs des sapins), Long-eared Owl (Hibou moyen-duc) at the top of a large poplar - Michel Bertrand

Montreal Botanical Gardens: Carolina Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) at the feeders near the entrance to the Alpine Garden - Y. Gauthier

Sightings for Tuesday November 12th

Boucherville, parc de La Frayère: in the section with fruit trees Townsend's Solitare (Solitaire de Townsend ), also Pine grosbeak (Durbecs des sapins), Robins (Merles), Bohemian waxwings (Jaseurs boréaux), Ruby-crowned kinglet (Roitelet à couronne rubis), Cooper’s hawk (Épervier de Cooper) - Micheline Ouellet http://www.flickr.com/photos/paruline30

Sightings for Monday November 12th

Chateauguay, rue Flanagan: Pine siskin (Tarin des pins) - T. Long

Boucherville, parc de La Frayère: Townsend's Solitare (Solitaire de Townsend ) - Raymond Belhumeur

This morning at about 11-11:30 am I was delighted to see a resplendent European Goldfinch (Chardonneret élégant) at my cylindrical finch feeder (nigerseeds). It doesn't look like these birds moult very much, judging by his (her?) bright colours.I live in the Snowdon (Montreal) area, and I sure hope he returns tomorrow, as I now know how to use the zoom on my husband's digital camera. Stay tuned! - Karen

Sightings for Sunday November 11th

Deux-Montagnes, west of pont ferroviaire (bridge) on lac des Deux-Montagnes: 2 Long-tailed ducks (M) (Hareldes kakawis), Black scoter (f) (Macreuse noire) can be observed from the end of 10th and 11th avenue. - J.C. Charbonneau

St-Stanislas-de-Kostka, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague near pont Larocque (bridge). Long-tailed duck (Harelde kakawi) PHOTO http://www.natureimages.net/ - Régis Fortin

Montreal, Ile Ste-Hélène near the Calder monument: Nashville warbler (Paruline à joues grises), Northern flicker (Pic flamboyant) - Daniel Ouellette
Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: This afternoon there was a hatch-year Mockingbird (Moqueur polyglotte) feeding on Buckthornberries along the hedgerow east of the MBO and just north of the farmroad. It posed beautifully a couple of times at the very top of one ofthe trees. - Bob
Montreal Botanical Gardens, in the alpine gardens: Carolina Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) - J.-P. Milot et J. Chatigny

Baie d'Urfé, in the little bay beside City Hall (hôtel de ville): 12 Buffleheads (Petits garrots) http://www.pbase.com/juliet_anne/image/88829574 - Julie Tremblay

Boucherville, parc de La Frayère: Townsend's Solitare (solitaire de Townsend ) - Georges Néron http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgesn/sets/72157603125242839/

Sightings for Saturday November 10th

Deux-Montagnes, on lac des Deux-Montagnes: 2 Long-tailed ducks (M) (Hareldes kakawis), 30+ Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), 5 Bufflehead (Petits garrots) - J.C. Charbonnea

Hudson: A flock of a dozen Evening grosbeaks (Gros-bec errant) made a brief appearance here in Hudson this morning. Unfortunately they missed my feeder, only making a short stop toinvestigate some Norway spruce cones before heading off. This was probably thelargest flock I have seen in years. Also had some Pine grosbeaks (Durbec des pins). Can't remember the last time I had both species in the same day. - W. Grubert

Saint-Jean, upstream from the bridge to Île Saite-Thérèse across from Motel Harris: 1500 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), Bufflehead (Petits Garrots), Lesser scaup (Petits Fuligules), Greater scaup (Fuligules milouinans), Common mergansers (Grands Harles), 100+ Hooded mersansers (Harles couronnés), 2 Black scoter (Macreuse noire)
Chambly, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 between Chambly and Richelieu: Barrow’s goldeneye (Garrot d'Islande), 24 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), 3 Bufflehead (Petits Garrots), Canvasback duck (Fuligule à dos blancs), Lesser scaup (Petits Fuligules), Greater scaup (Fuligules milouinans)
Fort-Chambly: Red-breasred mergansers (Harles huppés), Common mergansers (Grands Harles), 4 Hooded mersansers (Harles couronnés)
Chambly basin: Black scoter (Macreuse noire), Ruddy duck (f) (Érismature rousse) - Michel Bertrand & Club d’Ornithologie de Longueuil

Leclercville, on the river: Greater white-fronted goose (Oie rieuse) - Maurice Raymond

Lasalle, Parc des Rapides: 12 American wigeon (Canard d'Amérique), 12 Gadwall (Canard chipeau), 23 Hooded mergansers (Harle couronné), Great blue heron (Grand héron), Mallards (Colverts), Yellowlegs (sp) (chevalier), 3 Common mergansers (f) (Grand harle) - Julie Tremblay

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - November 10, 2007

20 birders participated in this morning's field trip to the Morgan Arboretum in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue led by Betsy McFarlane. Although the temperature started off slightly below zero, the bright sunshine and the lack of any significant wind made for a very pleasant morning's walk. Lots of people in the Arboretum, with lots of dogs, but most memorable was the Pug dressed in camouflage clothing!!

Most of the birds seen were found around the feeders near the parking lot and in the evergreen forests throughout the site. Everyone was pleased with a few fleeting glimpses of Pine Grosbeaks as well as a few Golden-crowned Kinglets and a Brown Creeper. Our total species count for the day reached 27, with Tom and Sharon spotting a flock of Snow Buntings just as they were leaving the Arboretum grounds near the main road.

Here is our species list for the day. Canada Goose, Mallard, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Sparrow species (probably Am. Tree), Dark-eyed Junco, Snow Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Pine Grosbeak, House Finch, Am. Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

Thank you to Betsy for her guidance and keen ears this morning.

Sheldon

Sightings for Thursday November 8th

Ste-Catherine, on a rock in the middle of the river left of the beach: Great cormorant (juv.)(Grand Cormoran) - Micheline Ouellet, Louise Simard

St.-Mathias, at the dock: 2 American coots (Foulques d'Amérique)

Chambly, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 between Chambly and Richelieu: Barrow’s goldeneye (Garrot d'Islande), 80 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oiel d'or), Lesser scaup (Petits Fuligules), Greater scaup (Fuligules milouinan), 7 Bufflehead (Petits Garrots), Common merganser (Grand Harle), Black scoter (Macreuse Noire)
Chambly basin, rues Georges-Pépin & Martel: Canvasback duck (Fuligule à dos blanc), 3 White-winged scoters (Macruses brunes), 2 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), Ruddy duck (f) (Érismature rousse), Common loon (Plongeon huard)
rue Martel across from église St.-Joseph: Black scoter (Macreuse noire), Surf scoter (Macruese à front blanc)
Chambly, near the dock: 5 Red-breasted mergansers (Harles huppés), 20 Hooded mergansers (Harles couronés)
Fort de Chambly: 100+ Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouettes de Bonaparte), 2 Peregrine falcons (Faucon pélerin) - Robert Chatier

Laval, boisé de l'Équerre: Northern saw-whet owl (Petite Nyctale) - Jean Pierre Pratte

Victoriaville, réservoir Beaudet: Ross’s goose (Oie de Ross) - Daniel Gagné

Breakeyville, which is now part of “Lévis” at 11 ave. Robitaille: seen again this morning Yellow-Throated Warbler (Paruline À Gorge Jaune) please be respectfull of the neighbours - Diane Labarre

Montreal, Ste-Anne du Bellevue:
Gay and I had a very productive morning scouting in the Morgan Arboretum for Saturday's field trip...of course, half these birds won't be there on Sat.morning.....:-) Not a big list but an interesting one. We also looked for the Chukar but no luck.
Cheers,Betsy

Mallard, American Black Duck, Common Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Mourning Dove, Rock Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER (in alley between birches and tamaracks north of Chalet Pruche), Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin (at least 100), Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, Bohemian Waxwing (a dozen in Pullin's), Northern Cardinal, Fox Sparrow (Pullin's Pasture)Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Grosbeak (heard only), Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Common Redpoll (heard only)

Sightings for Tuesday November 6th

Boucherville: Sanderling (Bécasseau sanderling), 14 Dunlin (Bécasseaux variables), White-rumped sandpiper (Bécasseaux à croupion blanc) http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgesn/sets/72157602968004465/ - Georges Néron

Greenfield Park, at feeders: Pine siskins (Tarin des pins) - Charles Ménard

Chambly, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 between Chambly and Richelieu: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc), Barrow’s goldeneye (Garrot d'Islande), 80 Common goldeneye (Garrots à oiel d'or), Lesser scaup (Petits Fuligules), Greater scaup (Fuligules milouinan), 3 Bufflehead (Petits Garrots)
Starting at rue Martel: 2 White-winged scoter (Macreuse brune), 3 Surf scoter (Macreuse à front blanc), 4 Black scoter (Macreuse noire), Ruddy duck (f) (Érismature rousse), 2 Pied billed grebes (Grèbe à bec bigarré), Common loon (Plongeon huard)
Fort de Chambly: Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouettes de Bonaparte)
Parc Saint-Mathias: 1000 Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada), 5 Snow geese (Oies des neiges) - Robert Chartier

Sightings for Monday November 5th

Chambly, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 between Chambly and Richelieu: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc), Barrow’s goldeneye (Garrot d'Islande)
Chambly basin: 10 Bufflehead (Petits Garrots) - Charles Ménard

Chateauguay, Lac St-Louis: 12 Common loons (Plongeons huards)
Chateauguay river: 9 Hooded mergansers (Harles couronnés), Great blue heron (Grand heron), Coopers hawk (Épervier de Cooper) - T. Long

Victoriaville, réservoir Beaudet: Pink-footed Goose (Oie à bec court) - C. Roy

Chukar at the Arboretum

Montreal, Morgan's Arboretum: Saturday morning a CHUKAR came out of the spruce/pine grove at the western edge of the more northern of the two ponds situated on the farm road that travels along the top of the hill which overlooks the Trans Canada. We heard it call first and then watched as it proceeded to saunter along the road towards us, calling almost constantly. Unfortunately it's timing was very bad as there happened to be a group of falconers along the road at the time. One of them had a Harris'Hawk, which saw the Chukar and proceeded after it, but missed! Nevertheless, what goes for a Chukar's life must have flashed before it's eyes. In a moment it was back in the spruce grove. Now if it can avoid the Cooper's and Goshawk! Betsy, have you seen a Chukar at the Arboretum before?

Cheers, Bob

Sightings for Sunday November 4th

Breakeyville, which is now part of “Lévis”: YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER (PARULINE À GORGE JAUNE) on rue Robitaille just beside avenue Boutin Sud - Diane Labarre

Greenfield Park: 12 Common redpolls (Sizerins flammés) - Charles Ménard

Pointe-Claire, Valois bay: 1000’s of Lesser scaup (Petits fuligules) - Julie Tremblay

Chambly, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 between Chambly and Richelieu: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc), Barrow’s goldeneye (Garrot d'Islande) – S. Harvey

Sightings for Saturday November 3rd

Chateauguay, refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard: 31 Canada Goose, 3 Wood Duck, 4 American Black Duck, 300 Mallard, 5 Green-winged Teal, 5 Common Goldeneye, 1 Hooded Merganser, 4 Great Blue Heron, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 5 Black-bellied Plover, 10 White-rumped Sandpiper, 22 Ring-billed Gull, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Rock Pigeon,9 Mourning Dove, 5 Downy Woodpecker, 4 Hairy Woodpecker, 4 Blue Jay, 42 American Crow, 1 Common Raven, 30 Black-capped Chickadee, 7 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 35 American Robin, 20 European Starling, 15 American Tree Sparrow, 8 Red-winged Blackbird, 10 American Goldfinch, 8 House Sparrow - Tom

Chambly, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 between Chambly and Richelieu: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc) - R. Belhumeur

Sightings for Friday November 2nd

Iberville, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 connecting Chambly to Iberville: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc), Greater scaup (Fuligules milouinan), Lesser scaup (Petits fuligule), Bufflehead (Petits garrot), Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), Cormorants (Cormorans à aigrettes) - Gilles Ethier

Sightings for Thursay November 1st

Pointe-Claire, chemin Bord-du-Lac - parc Bord de l'Eau: Cattle Egret (Héron garde-boeuf) seen at 9:15 after a few minutes flew off heading north - Ossie Tee

Iberville, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 connecting Chambly to Iberville: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc), Greater scaup (Fuligules milouinan), Lesser scaup (Petits fuligule), Bufflehead (Petits garrot), Common goldeneye (Garrots à oeil d'or), Hooded mergansers (Harles couronnés), Common mergansers (Grands Harles), Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouettes de Bonaparte) - Michel Bertrand

Sightings for Wednesay October 31th

Oka, Oka park: 34 species (espèces) including - Long-tailed duck (Harelde Kakawi), Northern harrier (Busard St-Martin), Sonow buntings (Bruants des neiges), Roughed grouse (Gélinotte huppé), Brown creeper (Grimpereau brun), Pileated woodpecker (Grand pic), Tree sparrow (Bruant hudsonien), Bohemian waxwings (jaseur boréal), Black-crowned night-heron (bihoreau gris), Raven (grand corbeau), 2 Greater yellowkegs (grand chevalier) - Sylvie Vanier

Iberville, downstream from the bridge on rte 112 connecting Chambly to Iberville: Canvasback duck (Fuligule À Dos Blanc) Hooded mergansers (Harle couronné) - Charles Ménard

Sightings for Monday October 29th

Hi Everyone

Amongst the Dunlins, Black-bellied Plovers and White-rumped Sandpipers off the Ch de l'anse at Vaudreuil this afternoon, a Hudsonian Godwit. Further out four White-winged and one Black Scoter.

Best wishes,

Mark Dennis

http://qc2007bigyear.blogspot.com/

Sightings for Sunday October 28th

Chateauguay, refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard: I went to Île St-Bernard this morning and found it fairly quiet. With the water level up and the strong wind I was not expecting any shorebirds, but there was four species all together on about 20 ft. of rocks.

Here is a list of the 21 species found: 6 Black-bellied Plover (Pluviers argentés), 14 Semipalmated Sandpiper (Bécasseaux semipalmés), 5 Dunlin (Bécasseaux variables), 4 White-rumped sandpipers (Bécasseau à croupion blanc), 50 Mallard (Canard colvert), 6 Common Goldeneye (garrot à oeil d'or), 2 Great Blue Heron, (Grand heron), 8 Ring-billed Gull (Goélands à bec cerclé), 7 Mourning Dove (Tourterelle Triste), 1 Hairy Woodpecker (Pic Chevelu), 3 Blue Jay (Geai blue), 2 American Crow (Corneilles d'Amérique), 30 Black-capped Chickadee (Mésange à tête noire), 1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sittelles à poitrine blanche) , 1 Brown Creeper (Grimpereau brun), 30 American Robin (Merle d'Amérique), 6 European Starling (Étourneaux sansonnets), 1 Song Sparrow (Bruant chanteur), 1 Northern Cardinal (Carndinal rouge), 4 Red-winged Blackbird (Carouges à épaulettes), 2 House Sparrow (Moineaux domestique) - Tom

Chateauguay, rue Higgins: Red-bellied Woodpecker (Pic à ventre roux) - J.-P. Tousignant, R. Rousselle

Longueuil, boulevard La Fayette: Barred owl (Chouette rayée) - Jean Laporte

Terrebonne, across from City Hall (Hotel de Ville): Iceland gull (Goéland arctique), Bonaparte’s gull (Mouette de Bonaparte), Gulls – Ring-billed, Herring, Great black-backed (Goélands à bec cerclé, argentés et marins), Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada), 2 Great blue herons (Grands Hérons), Black-crowned night-heron (Bihoreau gris), 12 DC cormorants (Cormorans à aigrettes), American wigeon (Canards d'Amérique), Ducks – Mallards, Black, Gadwall, Wood, (Canard - colverts, noirs, chipeaux, branchu), Hooded mergansers (Harles couronnés), Pied-billed grebe (Grèbe à bec bigarré) - Patrice Franche et Angèle Gosselin

Montreal, St-Anne de Bellevue: This morning in the Arboretum, Northern Shrike and Sharp-shinned Hawk (Pullins' Pasture), plus Great Horned calling, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, lots of Robins. Have been seeing a Rough-legged regularly for the last two or three weeks off the 40 before the first Hudson exit, usually on the southern side of the highway, and also had one in Ste. Justine de Newton. Also a Fox Sparrow in Ste. Justine de Newton. - Betsy

Baie-du-Febvre: Purple Sandpiper (Bécasseau violet) in the field on the west side of route Janelle a little past the last sedimentation pond. Long-billed dowitcher (Bécassin à long bec), Pectoral sandpiper (Bécasseaux à poitrine cendrée), in the fields Horned larks (Alouettes hausse-col), Lapland longspur (Bruant lapon), Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges). Also seen Ducks – Gadwall, Mallards, Shovelers, Green-winged teal, Ring-necked, Redhead, Lesser scaup, Greater scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy (Canards – chipeaux, colverts, souchets, Sarcelles d'hiver, Fuligules à collier, Fuligule à tête rouge, Petits Fuligules, Fuligule milouinan, Petit Garrot, Érismatures rousses), American coot (Foulque d'Amérique), Common moorhen (Gallinule poule-d'eau) - M. Bertrand

Sightings for Saturday October 27th

Baie-du-Febvre: in the field west of route Janelle, Purple sandpiper (Bécasseau violet), 2 Short-billed dowitcher (Bécassins roux), White-rumped sandpiper (Bécasseau à croupion blanc), Pectoral sandpiper (Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée), many Lesser and Greater yellowlegs (Petit et Grand Chevalier), 100+ Snow buntings (Bruants des neiges), American tree sparrows (Bruants hudsonien), Horned larks (Alouettes hausse-col), Lapland longspurs (Bruants lapon). At the ponds, Ducks - Mallards, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Ruddy, Ring-necked (Canards - Colvert, Chipeau, Petit Garrot, Érismature rousse, Fuligule à collier), Common moorhens (Galinules poule d'eau). 100’s Snow geese (Oies des neiges), Rusty blackbird (Quiscale rouilleux), Rough-legged hawk (Buse pattue), 2 Northern harriers (Busards St-Martin) - Estelle Nadeau, Micheline Bisson, Hugues Brunoni, Pierre Brassard

Bird Protection Quebec Field Trip - Pointe-aux-Prairies September 27th

From 8 :00AM until 10 :30AM, Michel Beaupré and myself have birded parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies under slight rain, stronger at times, but otherwise fine temperature. We agreed that the Northern Shrike, seen along the eastern parking lot, should be our bird of the day, being a first of the season for both of us, and not having seen anything else exciting on the rest of the hike, as birds were very quiet.

I then made a few stops along rivière des Prairies. Some hunters were posted on both sides of the river in front of the 87th avenue, so it was pretty empty there. But I've finally found all of the Canada geese hiding from the hunters in front of the 42nd street. A total of 26 cormorants were also found standing on some of the rocks there as well as a few duck species.

Here is the complete list forthe field trip (30 species): Pied-billed grebe, Double-crested Cormorant (26), Great blue Heron(2), Canada Goose (350), Mallard (30), American Black Duck (20),Gadwall (10), Northern Pintail, American Wigeon (10), Green-wingedTeal (10), Greater Scaup (2), Common Goldeneye (6), Hooded Merganser,Ring-billed gull (20), Herring Gull (5), Great Black-backed Gull (5),Rock Dove (10), Downy Woodpecker (2), Northern Shrike, Blue Jay,American Crow (15), Black-capped Chickadee (15), Ruby-crowned Kinglet,American Robin (50+), European Starling (30), Northern Cardinal (2),American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow (2), Dark-eyed Junco(6), Red-winged Blackbird

Many thanks to Michel who came on this gray morning.

Diane Demers

Sightings for Friday October 26th

Montreal, Mount-Royal cemetary: 4 Eastern bluebirds (Merlebleus de l'Est), 100 American robin (Merle d'Amérique), heard Bohemian waxwings (Jaseurs boréaux) and Pine grosbeaks (Durbecs des sapins) - Pierre Bannon

Baie-du-Febvre: route Janelle, Tundra swan (Cygne siffleur), 100 Snow geese (Oies des neiges) 3 km. east of the village - Rosaire Lemay

Terrebonne, across for the City Hall (Hôtel de ville): Lesser black-backed gull (Goéland brun), 1500 Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada), 2 Great blue herons (Grands Hérons), Black-crowned night-heron (Bihoreau gris) - Patrice Franche, Angèle Gosselin

Iles Laval Ste-Dorothée ouest, 18 Pariseau Ile Pariseau: Tufted titouse (Mésange bicolore) can be seen on the right side of the house. Beware of dog and “PLEASE DO NOT OPEN GATE” - Marc Boisvert

Chambly, near the Chambly bridge: Long-tailed duck (Harelde kakawi) - M. Roy

Sightings for Thursday October 25th

Granby, parc de la Yamaska in section E: Black-backed woodpecker (Pic à dos rayé) - Monique Berlinguette, Monique Maheu

Sightings for Wednesday October 24th

Laval, rue Gilles at a feeder: Zebra Finch (Diamant mandarin) - L. Simard

Chambly, Chambly basin at rues Martel et Georges-Pépin: 6 Horned grebe (Grèbe esclavon) - R. Chartier

Granby, parc de la Yamaska: 7 Horned grebes (Grèbe esclavon) - M. Berlinguette, M. Maheu

Roxton Pond: 2 Horned grebes (Grèbe esclavon) - M. Berlinguette, M. Maheu

Sightings for Monday October 22nd

Chateauguay, refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard: 4 Horned grebes (Grèbes esclavon) - P. et A. Tarassoff, J. Demers, C. Soulard et M. Groulx

Chambly, Chambly basin: Horned grebe (Grèbe esclavon) 4 Red-necked grebes (Grèbes jougris), 7 White-winged scoters (Macreuses brunes), 4 Surf scoters (Macreuses à front blanc), 12 Ruddy ducks (Érismatures rousses) - R. Chartier

Sightings for Sunday October 21th

Sabrevois, in the field on 16th ave. Le Conte's Sparrow (Bruant de Le Conte) - M. Gauthier and others).

Saint-Armand, in the parking lot of the Canadian Legion: Yellow-headed Blackbird (Carouge à tête jaune) traveling with Red-winged blackbirds (Carouge à epaulettes) - E.-L. Samson

"Bird Protection Quebec" Granby Field Trip Report - Oct. 20

Today's field trip to CENTRE D'INTERPRETATION DE LA NATURE DU LAC-BOIVIN, in GRANBY certainly had all the making of a fall morning.Last night's rain storm and today's strong winds managed to remove alot of red, gold and brown leaves from the trees. However thetemperature was pleasant, particularly during the sunny periods,certainly a whole lot warmer than our outing to this location last year.

In addition to the Nature Park in Granby, we also paid a visit tonearby Roxton Pond with the hope of finding a few scoters but the birds on Lac Roxton were few and far between, perhaps in part due to the warning signs posted around the lake for blue-green algae contamination.

Huge numbers of both Canada and Snow Geese were spotted throughout thetrip in addition to 10 species of ducks. We completed the day with atotal of 44 species, but songbirds in particular were scattered somewhat sparsely throughout the park. A definite highlight was beingable to hand-feed a very friendly Red-breasted Nuthatch, that is when he could muscle out the chickadees that descended on us! 13 birders participated in today's outing.

Our Bird of the Day turned out not to be a bird at all but was rather the Animal of the Day. Two incredibly large snapping turtles were spotted, one just off the boardwalk in the marshy area and the second in a small stream cutting across one of the wooded trails. Here is our species list for the day.

Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Am. Wigeon, Am. Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven,Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Am. Robin, European Starling,Yellow-rumped Warbler, Am. Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow,White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco,Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Finch species (possibly Common Redpoll, House Sparrow. Another fun day in the field.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Sheldon

Sightings for October 20th

Montreal,
I visited parc-nature de la Pointe-aux-prairies again this morning,from 8h00 to 11h00. There was much less activity (29 species found)than last weekend (45 species found), due to the wind I hope.Nonetheless, I have had again a Pine Siskin and finally a BohemianWaxwing and a Rusty Blackbird. The Bohemian Waxwing was found on a bare tree, with two obviously smaller and slender juvenile CedarWaxwings. The colourful head standing out and the rufous undertail coverts of the Bohemian were readily visible, despite poor light.After a while the three of them flew off together. The male Rusty Blackbird was standing all alone at the top of a bare tree along apond. But I suspect that a mute flock of about ten Blackbirds flyingover earlier in the morning was also made up of that same species. The Pine Siskin, second sighting this fall for me on this site, was heard and seen while flying over. Also seen: one single Yellow-rumped Warbler, a few kinglets of both species, etc.By the way, the parking lot at the eastern end of the parc-nature(the one from which you can see Rivière-des-prairies) has been free of charge for at least the last two weeks, since there is nocollecting machine there anymore. - Diane Demers

Chambly, Chambly basin: 7 Horned (Grebe Grèbes esclavons) - R. Chartier

Vaudreuil, chemin de l'Anse: 300 Dunlin (Bécasseaux variables), about 50 Black-bellied plovers (Pluviers argentés), 10 White-rumped sandpipers (Bécasseaux à croupion blanc), Baird’s sandpiper (Bécasseau de Baird), 4 Ruddy turnstones (Tournepierre à collier), 2 Greater yellowlegs (Grands Chevaliers) - Michel Bertrand

Sightings for Friday October 19th

Chateauguay, refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard: 4 Horned grebes (Grèbes esclavon) at la pointe nord. Also many shorebirds between la plage des grillons and la pointe nord: 45 Black-bellied plovers (Pluviers argentés), 8 Semi-palmated plovers (Pluviers semipalmés), Rudy turnstone (Tournepierre à collier), 3 Semipalmated sandpipers (Bécasseaux semipalmés), 2 Least sandpipers (Bécasseaux minuscules), 75 Dunlin (Bécasseaux variables), Wilson’s snipe (Bécassine de Wilson). 3 Common loons (Plongeons huards) in the marsh 12 Great egrets (Grandes Aigrettes) - Pierre Bannon

Oka, Oka park: 42 species (espèces) including Eastern meadowlark (sturnelles des prés), 1 Horned grebe (grèbe esclavon), 8 Black-bellied plovers (pluvier argenté), 4 Pectoral sandpipers (bécasseau à poitrine cendrée), 1 Wilson’s snipe (béacssine de Wilson), Cooper’s hawk (épervier de cooper), Black-backed woodpecker (pic à dos noir), Pileated woodpecker (grand pic), 6 Yellow-rumped warblers (paruline à croupion jaune), White-throated sparrows (bruant à gorge blanche), Fox sparrow (bruant fauve), 3 Common grackles (quiscale bronzé) - Sylvie Vanier

Laval, Bois des Rosiers: 500 Red-winged blackbirds (Carouges àépaulettes), 100 Robins (Merles d'Amérique), American tree sparrows (Bruants hudsoniens), Fox sparrow (Bruant fauve), Cooper’s hawk (Épervier de Cooper), Yelow-rumped warbler (Paruline à croupion jaune), 3 Roughed grouse (Gélinottes huppées).
Rivière des Mille-Îles, at the end of rue Dessureaux: Greater white-fronted goose (Oie rieuse), American pipit (Pipit d'Amérique), 2000 Canada geese (Bernaches du Canada)
32nd Avenue à Fabreville to 13th Avenue in Laval Ouest: 70 Hooded mergansers (Harles couronnés), 10 Great blue herons (Grands Hérons), 2 Greater yellowlegs (Grands Chevaliers), Lesser yellowlegs (Petit Chevalier), 5 Black-bellied plovers (Pluviers argentés), Semipalmated plover (Pluvier semipalmé), 6 Killdeer (Pluviers kildirs), Least sandpiper (Bécasseau minuscule), Spotted sandpiper (Chevalier grivelé), 32 Green-winged teal (Sarcelles d'hiver), 13 Blue-winged teal (Sarcelles à ailes bleues), 2 Northern shovelers (Canards souchets), 8 Common merganser (Grands Harles) - Georges Lachaîne et Élaine Presseau

Mont Saint-Hilaire: Northern goshawk (Autour des Palombes), 2 Pileated woodpeckers (Grands Pics), many Ruby-crowned kinglets (Roiteleits à couronne rubis), White & Red-breasted nuthatches (Sitelles à poitrine blanche et rousse), Warblers – Palm, 25 Yellow-rumped, 2 Orange-crowned (Parulines à couronne rousse, 25 à croupion jaune, 2 Paruline verdâtre), 3 Hemit thrush (Grive solitaire), Winter wren (Troglodyte mignon) total 21 species (espèces) - Julien Brisson

Vaudreuil, chemin de l'Anse: 4 Ruddy Turnstone (Tournepierre à collier), 2 Baired’s sandpiper (Bécasseau de Baird), 4 White-rumped sandpipers (Bécasseau à croupion blanc), 20 Black-bellied sandpipers (Pluvier argenté), 100+ Dunlin (Bécasseau variable), 4 Pectoral sandpipers (Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée) - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Thursday October 18th

Chambly, Chambly basin: 5 Horned (Grebe Grèbes esclavons) - R. Chartier - 2 Red-necked grebes (Grèbes jougris), 7 White-winged scoter (Macreuses brune), 10 Surf scoter (Macreuses à front blanc), 4 Red-breasted mergansers (Harles huppé), 2 Common mergansers (Grand harle) - Gilles Ethier

Chateauguay, refuge faunique Marguerite-D'Youville on Île St-Bernard: Red-bellied Woodpecker (Pic à ventre roux) observed in the érablière - M. Groulx

Philipsburg, Missisquoi Bay dock and near the campsite: 28 Common loons (Plongeon huart), 3 Red-throated loons (Plongeon catmarin), Red-necked grebe (Grèbe jougris), 2 Horned grebes (Grèbe esclavon), Pied-billed grebe (Grèbe à bec bigarré), 1000 Ring-billed gulls (Goéland à bec cerclé), 3 Great black-backed gulls (Goéland marin), 6 Herring gulls (Goéland argenté), 300 Bonaparte’s gulls (Mouette de Bonaparte), 5 Surf scoter (Macreuse à front blanc), Merlin (Faucon émérillon), 100 Greater scaup (Fuligule milouinan), 50 Ring-necked ducks (Fuligule à collier ), DC Cormorant (Cormoran à aigrettes), 566 Canada geese (Bernache du Canada), Belted kingfisher (Martin pêcheur d'amérique), 2 Turkey vulture (Urubu à tête rouge), 2 Tufted titmouse (Mésange bicolore), 10 Evening grosbeak (Gros bec errant), 3 Great blue heron (Grand Héron) - Jean-Guy Papineau