Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report for June 14th

Dundee, Lac St-Francois Nature Reserve

It was a great pleasure to host a number of out of town birders on today's day-long field trip to the Lac St-Francois Nature Reserve at Dundee, Quebec. Visitors from Saskatoon, Edmonton and Halifax joined BPQ members for a total of 14 birders for a trip that took us through three of the popular birding sites at Dundee, a drive along Ridge Road and a final stop at the marshes at St-Timothee.

We'd like to thank Mr. Serge Bourdon and his staff for welcoming us at Dundee and for a presentation he made on the work taking place atthe reserve. It was hot and humid for most of the day, but at least the forecasted rain and thunder storms did not materialize until a brief shower on the drive home in the late afternoon.

As expected, the Dundee region did not disappoint, and the trip to St-Timothee was just the cherry on the sundae for a great day of birding. Everyone was pleased to have several of the birders on the trip come up with a selection of lifers. It's always great fun welcoming birders from out of town and helping them to track downsome species to add to their lists.

We completed the day with a very impressive 76 species. Highlights of the day included Wild Turkeys; an American Bittern; several Great Egrets; a Peregrine Falcon; 7 species of flycatchers including several Willow Flycatchers, a much desired bird by many on the trip; a Northern Mockingbird (heard but not seen); an Eastern Towhee; and several Bobolinks.

Here is our complete species list for the day. Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead,Ring-necked Duck, Wild Turkey, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Common Moorhen, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, Common Tern, Black Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Veery, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Thank you to everyone who turned out and best wishes for a safe triphome to our birding friends from abroad.

Sheldon