Summer Series of Birding Field Trip #1 report

5 people turned out at Ile-Bizard this morning in the midst of alight rain shower. The rain let up and the sky eventually clearedmaking for a pleasant morning of birding with a total of 52 species including some excellent sightings.

We were also happy to assist two students from a university in La Pocatiere who were working on an aquatic bird survey as a part of their studies.

Some of the highlights of the day included several sightings of perhaps as many as four Least Bittern; numerous families of Virginia Rail and Common Moorhen; a Cooper's Hawk on the nest feeding at least three chicks, plus a second Cooper's carry food back and forth across the parking lot; several flocks of Cedar Waxwings and two Soras calling.

Here is our complete list of 52 species today: Wood Duck, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, AmericanBittern, Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billedGull, Black Tern, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Chipping Sparrow, SongSparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

Thanks to everyone for a fun morning of birding.

Sheldon