Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - September 25th

Oka

Participants in yesterday's field trip to Parc National d'Oka managed to avoid the forecast rain and winds for most of the morning but it seems the majority of smaller birds had heard the same weather predictions and had gone into hiding for the day. Nevertheless 15 birders had a pleasant morning walking on the beach and negotiating the perils of the floating boardwalk at La Grande Baie. A special welcome to Toby Nowlan from England and Thomas Sattler from Switzerland who gave the trip a European flavour. Excellent birders both!

Ducks were the main menu for the day with a total of 15 waterfowl species seen.A merlin gave good views as it cruised the beach parking lot. (Apparently it wasa vegetarian as it was seen carrying a leaf at one point.) As mentioned before passerines were few and far between.

Weather: Clouds and seasonable temperatures (6-12C) gave way to rain and breezes late in the morning.Our complete list of 35 species included:

Canada geese 1000+, Wood duck - 12, Gadwall - 100+, American Wigeon -100+, American black duck - 36, Mallard - 50, Northern shoveller - 36, Northern pintail - 20, Green-winged teal - 12, Ring-necked duck - 1000+, Scaup sp. - 200+, (None were very cooperative for making positive ID's. Weprobably had both but..) Common goldeneye - 50+, (seen only by the leader before the official start of thetrip) Hooded merganser - 1, Common merganser - 2, Red-breasted merganser - 1, Ruffed grouse - 1, Pied-billed grebe - 3, Great blue heron - 3, Red-tailed hawk - 1, Merlin - 1, American coot - 1, Ring-billed gull - 12, Herring gull - 3, Great black-backed gull - 1, Mourning dove - 1, Hairy woodpecker - 1, Pileated woodpecker - 1, Blue jay - 3, American crow - 10, Black-capped chickadee - 6, White-breasted nuthatch - 1, American robins - 40, European starlings - 200+, Red-winged blackbirds - 40, Common grackle - 1

Again a warm welcome to all those participants who came out for only the theirfirst or second trip. We hope to see you again! - Wayne Grubert