Summer Series of Birding 2008 - Trip #6 Report

Sunday, August 3rd

Given the dark, cloudy sky and scattered showers around us, 9 birdersmsqueezed in a morning of birding, between the brief periods of rain, at Parc des Rapides in Ville Lasalle.

We covered the park in its entirety and came up with a total of 41 species for the morning. Breeding by several species was verysuccessful in the park this year as we were able to see several families of birds throughout the trip. There were many groups of Yellow Warblers, a good number of young Mallards and American Wigeon, a group of 4 young Flickers, a busy pair of Eastern Kingbirds feeding their young and several young Cedar Waxwings, not to mention the seemingly endless number of female Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins carrying food. Other highlights of the day included numerous Great Egrets flying over Heron Island, two Ospreys perched in trees on the islands, and a very co-operative Black and White Warbler in a tree alongside one of the bridges over the lagoon. Several fly-bys of a Caspian Tern over the lagoon capped off a great morning.

Here is our total species list. Canada Goose, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Caspian Tern, Common Tern, RockPigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird,Warbling Vireo, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.

Thanks to those who took a chance on the weather and joined in for a great morning of birding. - Sheldon