Sightings for Saturday January 5th

Pointe Claire: Today I had great views of a very tame Sharp-shinned hawk near the culvert in Terra Cotta Park, Pointe Claire. I was walking the dog and had a little pocket camera so took the dog home,picked up the stroger camera and went back...sure enough..still there. I posted some pictures on http://www.birdviewing.com/ He was so close to the trail that most shots cut off his tail. – S. Biship - click photo to enlarge

St-Clet: 3 Snowy Owls (Harfang des neiges) in the fields north of St-Clet. The first two were in trees either side of Ste-Julie by the first right hand bend after turning onto Ste-Julie from the 201. The third was on a fence post west of Ste-Julie about 200m after turning right at the T-Junction at the end of Ste-Julie, all were immatures, one has a very distinctive bonnet of head spotting - Mark Dennis

St-Lazare: Also seen, a Northern Goshawk (Autour des Palombes) at St-Lazare sand pits, perched up and showing very nicely, good to see Northern Goshawks are still present despite the decimation of the forests around St-Lazare. 3 Merlins (faucons émerillon) were present on roadside wires, one by Ste-Julie off the 201 and the other by Ste-Marie near St-Polycarpe. Northern Shrikes (Pie-grièche grise) were on Ste-Marie by the tomato greenhouses and on Montee Chenier off the Chemin de l'eglise - Mark Dennis http://qcbirding2008.blogspot.com/

Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Tufted titmouse (Mésange bicolore), Red-bellied woodpecker (Pic à ventre roux), Northern flicker (Pic flamboyant) - Lucette d'Amours

Monteal, Ile Notre Dame: Townsend's Solitaire (Solitaire de Townsend) near the the parking lot of Canada pavillion (pavillon du Canada). A Barred owl (Chouette Rayée) found south of the pavillion - Gilles Papillon