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
Rare and interesting bird sightings from Quebec
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
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
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
Mont Saint-Hilaire: Gyrfalcon -white phase (Faucon Gerfaut) - S. Duval
Thursday, December 27, 2007
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
Mont Saint-Hilaire, la falaise Dieppe: Gyrfalcon -white phase (Faucon Gerfaut) - D. Pinaud & H. Gadenne
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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
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
Friday, December 21, 2007
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
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
Thursday, December 20, 2007
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
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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
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
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
Friday, December 14, 2007
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
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
Thursday, December 13, 2007
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
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
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
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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
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
Monday, December 10, 2007
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
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
Sunday, December 09, 2007
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
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
Saturday, December 08, 2007
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
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
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
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
Thursday, December 06, 2007
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
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
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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
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
Monday, December 03, 2007
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
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
Saturday, December 01, 2007
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
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