BPQ Field Trip to Île Saint-Bernard, October 31st

Chateauguay, Refuge Faunique Marguerite D'Youville on Île Saint-Bernard - 8 observers, 31 species
6 Canada goose, 5 American Wigeon, 2 Black duck, 65 Mallard, 6 Green-winged teal, Scaup (sp), 50 Common goldeneye, 1 Common loon, Pied-billed grebe, 1 Merlin, 8 Ring-billed gull, 1 Great black-backed gull, 1 Rock pigeon, 1 Mourning dove, 1 Downy woodpecker, 1 Hairy woodpecker, 8 Blue jay, 12 American crow, 30 Black-capped chickadee, 2 Tufted titmouse,1 Red-breasted nuthatch, 6 White-breasted nuthatch,1 Ruby-crowned kinglet, 100 American robin, 75 European starling, 1 Yellow-rumped warbler, 5 American tree sparrow, 1 Fox sparrow, 1 Song sparrow, 4 Northern cardinal, 2 Red-winged black birds, 3 American goldfinch
Bernache du Canada, Canard d'Amérique, Canard noir, Canard colvert, Sarcelle d'hiver, Fuligule (sp), Garrot à oeil d'or, Plongeon huard, Grèbe à bec bigarré, Faucon émerillon, Goéland à bec cerclé, Goéland marin, Pigeon biset, Tourterelle triste, Pic mineur, Pic chevelu, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Mésange à tête noire, Mésange bicolore, Sittelle à poitrine rousse, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Roitelet à couronne rubis, Merle d'Amérique, Étourneau sansonnet, Paruline à croupion jaune, Bruant hudsonien, Bruant fauve, Bruant chanteur, Cardinal rouge, Carouge à epaulettes, Chardonneret jaune – Tom Long

Sightings for Friday October 30th

Montréal, Rue De la Gauchetière - in front of Place Bonaventure: Winter wren (Troglodyte mignon) - S. Veysey

Sightings for Thursday October 29th

Montréal, Île Sainte-Hélène: Black scoter (m) is still present not far from the small lighthouse
La Macreuse noire (mâle) est encore présente pas très loin du phare blanc - Lucette D'Amours

Danville, Étang Burbank: There is a record number of about 100,000 Snow geese
Nous avons atteint un nombre record d'environ 100 000 oies des neiges à Burbank. Voir mon blog pour plus de détails - Gilles Lacroix

Victoriaville, réservoir Beaudet: Lesser black-backed gull in winter plumage
un Goéland brun adulte en plumage d'hiver - Daniel Gagné

BPQ Field Trip to Oka, October 24th

Top 10 List of Benefits of Leading a Field Trip of 1!

Number 10 - Less grumbling about itinerary or leader’s guiding ability
Number 9 - Leader wins all arguments on questionable ID’s
Number 8 - Less worry about species count ending in the digit 9 and having
Sheldon drag us back out to search for just one more!
Number 7 - Less chance of being skewered every 5 minutes by Mary-Ellen’s rapier-like wit
Number 6 - Fewer feelings of guilt about not sharing coffee and snacks
Number 5 - Easier math when deciding if the group needs to be split
Number 4 - Oka’s floating boardwalk easier to negotiate
Number 3 - Leader’s estimates of numbers at count time go undisputed
Number 2 - Great species to birder ratio!

And the Number 1 benefit of leading a field trip of 1? - Smaller trees needed when nature calls!!

As you have no doubt deduced, Saturday's forecast of heavy rains and strong winds kept members from braving the elements for our trip to Parc National d'Oka. Having come over from Hudson on the new high speed (and ever higher cost) ferry I decided to soldier on and see what was around between rain showers. I followed our usual itinerary and checked out the beach, walked the trail to La Grande Baie and checked out the short paths near the visitor centre. The beach and lake were fairly quiet with the exception of my first Snow Buntings (4) of the season, a few Black Ducks and Mallards, and a distant flock of scaup.

La Grande Baie proved more interesting and with no one else on the floating boardwalk it was easier to scan and identify. A large group of 800+ Ring-necked Ducks was present along with numerous other species including large numbers of American Wigeon and Gadwalls.

My complete list of 41 species included

Great Blue Heron - 3, Canada Goose - 50, Wood Duck - 12 , Gadwall - 100+, American Wigeon - 100+, American Black Duck - 12, Mallard - 50, Northern Shoveler - 2, Northern Pintail - 1, Green-winged Teal - 12, Ring-necked Duck - 800+, Scaup sp. - 100, Bufflehead - 1, Common Goldeneye - 2, Hooded Merganser - 10, Cooper's Hawk - 1, Ring-billed Gull - 20, Great Black-backed Gull - 3, Mourning Dove - 1, Downy Woodpecker - 1, Hairy Woodpecker - 1, Northern Flicker - 1, Blue Jay - 6, American Crow - 12 , Black-capped Chickadee - 40, White-Breasted Nuthatch - 4, Brown Creeper - 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2, Eastern Bluebird - 1, American Robin - 150, European Starling - 50, American Tree Sparrow - 2, Fox Sparrow - 4, Song Sparrow - 1, White-throated Sparrow - 2, Dark-eyed Junco - 150, Snow Bunting - 4, Northern Cardinal - 1, Red-winged Blackbird - 2, Rusty Blackbird - 3, American Goldfinch - 3

Layers of wet clothing - 4

Let's hope for better weather this week - Wayne

Sightings for Monday October 26th

Montréal, Île Ste-Hélène: Tufted titmouse - near the tower
Mésange bicolore près de la tour - Daniel Lepage

Sightings for Sunday October 25th

Dundee, Réserve nationale de faune du Lac St_François: 6 Sandhill cranes digue aux aigrettes trail
6 grues du Canada aperçu au sentier de la digue aux aigrettes - M_F Guérin, D.Lebrun

Pointe-des-monts, chemin de Pointe-des-monts where it meets the coast: 2 Little gulls, 3 Sabine's gull (juv), 75 Bonaparte's gull, 203 Black-legged kittiwake, 2 Dovekie, 13 Barrow's goldeneye, 68 Long-tailed duck, 1 Northen gannet, 7 Razorbill, 3 Greater scaup, 1 Parasitic jaeger
chemin de Pointe-des-monts rejoint le littoral: Mouette pygmée 2, Mouette de Sabine 3(juvéniles. Deux vers le nord-est et une vers l'ouest.), Mouette de Bonaparte 75, Mouette tridactyle 203, Mergule nain 2 (en déplacement vers l'ouest), Garrot d'Islande 13, Harelde kakawi 68 (vers l'ouest et 13 vers le nord-est), Fou de bassan 1, Petit Pingouin 7, Fuligule milouinan 3, Labbe parasite 1

Godbout, on the vacant lot in front of Société des traversiers: 6 Lapland longspurs
6 Bruants lapon s'alimentaient sur le terrain vague situé en face du stationnement de la Société des traversiers - Sébastien Rioux

Sightings for Friday October 23rd

Tadoussac, Parc Languedoc: Northern hawk owl sitting at the top of a conifer. Grosbeaks and White-winged crossbills were in the same area
Une Chouette épervière était posée au sommet d'un conifère. Également quelques
Gros-becs et Becs-croisés bifasciés dans le même secteur- Renaud Pintiaux

Sightings for Wednesday October 21st

Montréal, Île Sainte-Hélène: 1 Black scoter (m) not far from the small lighthouse near the bridge. Close by in some bushes about 15 yellow-rumpaed warblers. Sparrows - 1 Lincoln’s, 2 Fox, 1 White-crowned, 1 Chipping, 2 White-throated, 3 Song
Macreuse noire mâle adulte c'était un peu à l'est du petit phare, non loin du pont. Non loin de là, dans les bosquets le long du stationnement, toujours un bon
groupe de Parulines à croupion jaune (une bonne quinzaine). Pour les bruants: de Lincoln (1), fauve (2), à couronne blanche (1), familier (1), à gorge blanche (2), chanteur (3) - Diane Demers
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Trois-Rivières: below the pont Laviolette (bridge) – 9 White-winged scoter, 1 Wilson’s snipe, 5 Canada geese, 1 Great blue heron, 1 Pied-billed grebe, dozens of Mallards 1 Red-tailed hawk being harrased by 2 Crows, Ring-billed gulls, 100 Rock doves
en-dessous du pont Laviolette de Trois-Rivières, nous avons observé les espèces suivantes: 9 Macreuses brunes, 1 Bécassine de Wilson, 5 Bernaches du Canada, 1 Grand Héron, 1 Grèbe à bec bigarré, des dizaines de Canards colverts, 1 Buse à queue rousse qui s'est fait houspiller par 2 Corneilles, des Goélands à bec cerclé et des centaines de Pigeons bisets

Nicolet, starting at the property of Camp Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie: 1 Red-throated loon, 4 Common mergansers
nous avons aussi observé à partir du terrain du Camp Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie: 1 Plongeon catmarin, 4 Grand Harles - Lise Jacques et Monique Milot

Sightings for Tuesday October 20th

Pointe-des-monts, land side: Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Sea side: 400 black-legged kittiwakes, 70 Bonaparte’s gull, 260 Razorbills, 6 Iceland gulls (juv), 2 Parasitic jaegers
Côté terrestre: un Gobemoucheron gris-bleu
Côté marin: Mouettes tridactyle (400), de Bonaparte (70), Petit Pingouins (260), 6 Goélands arctique (juv.) 2 Labbes parasite

Godbout, rue Wilfrid: Clay-coloured sparrow (Bruant des plaines) - Sébastien Rioux, Francis Gallant

Nicolet, quai du Port St-François (dock) 12 Dunlin (Bécasseaux variables) - Lise Jacques et Monique Milot

Sightings for Monday October 19th

Chateauguay, Île Saint-Bernard: x Canada Goose, 6 Wood Duck, 2 American Black Duck, 65 Mallard, 3 Green-winged Teal, 3 Common Merganser, 4 Common Loon, 1, Red-necked Grebe, 1, Great Blue Heron, 18, Great Egret, 1 Killdeer, 10 Ring-billed Gull, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 22 Rock Pigeon, 4 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jay, 8 American Crow, 2 Common Raven, 28 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Tufted Titmouse, 4 White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Eastern Bluebird, 75 American Robin, 3 Cedar Waxwing, 10 Song Sparrow, 4 White-throated Sparrow, 1 Dark-eyed Junco, 2 Red-winged Blackbird, X Rusty blackbird, 3 American Goldfinch, 7 House Sparrow
Bernache du Canada, Canard branchu, Canard noir, Canard colvert, Sarcelle d'hiver, Grand harle, Plongeon huard, Grèbe jougris, Grand héron, Grande Aigrette, Pluvier kildir, Goéland à bec cerclé, Goéland marin, Pigeon biset, Pic mineur, Pic flaboyant, Grand pic, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Grand corbeau, Mésange à tête noire, Mésange bicolore, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Merlebleu de l'Est, Merle d'Amérique, Jaseur d'Amérique, Bruant chanteur, Bruant à gorge blanche, Junco ardoisé, Carouge à épaulettes, Quiscale rouilleux, Chardonneret jaune, Moineau domestique - Tom Long

Danville, étang Burbank: more than 37,000 Snow geese took off to go eat in the fields
plus de 37000 oies des neiges qui ont pris leur envol pour aller se nourrir dans les champs - Gilles Lacroix

Pointe-des-monts: 1 Dovekie about 1 km west of the Pointe-des-monts lighthouse. 1 Parasitic jaeger, 3 Purple sandpiper
chemin de Pointe-des-monts where it meets the coast: 1 Horned grebe
a little more than 200 Boreal chickadees headed east, and about 1,500 Black-legged kittiwakes headed west. Also 8 Red-throated loons and 4 Razorbills
un Mergule nain à partir de la côte à environ 1 km à l'ouest de la pointe du phare à Pointe-des-monts aujourd'hui. Un Labbe parasite adulte, 3 Bécasseaux violet
un Grèbe esclavon à partir du chemin de Pointe-des-monts à l'endroit où ce dernier rejoint le littoral.
Un peu plus de 200 Mésanges à tête brune en déplacement vers l'est de même qu'environ 1 500 Mouettes tridactyles en déplacement vers l'ouest. Aussi 8 Plongeons catmarin et 4 Petits Pingouins - Francis Gallant, Sébastien Rioux

Sightings for Sunday October 18th

Ile-Bizard, Parc Nature du bois-de-L'Ile-Bizard: Several Black Cap Chickadees, 4 American Robins, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 4 Northern Cardinals (m), 1 Northern (f) Cardinal, Several Mallards, 2 Juvenile Common Loons attempting to fly, 1 King Fisher, 1 Red Tailed Hawk, 1 Pileated Woodpecker - Sharon and Mat

NORTHERN HAWK OWL was seen Saturday around 4pm. Perched in a tree beside the bicycle path along Du Souvenir, near Daniel-Johnson
Samedi vers 16h.,une CHOUETTE ÉPERVIÈRE. Elle était perchée sur un arbre mort, en bordure de la piste cyclable qui longe Du Souvenir, près de Daniel-Johnson - Joanne Roger

Sightings for Saturday October 17th

Pointe de Yamachiche: 1 Greater yellowlegs, 1 Sanderling, 1 Semipalmated sandpiper, 15 White-rumped sandpiper (all juveniles), 40 Dunlin (mostly juveniles), many Yellow-rumped warblers, Ruby-crowned kinglets, lots of Dark-eyed juncos, White-throated sparrows
Grand Chevalier 1, Bécasseau sanderling 1, Bécasseau semipalmé 1, Bécasseau à croupion blanc 15, (pas mal tous des juvéniles), Bécasseau variable 40 (en majorité des juvéniles), plusieurs Parulines à croupion jaune, quelques Roitelets à couronne rubis, une multitude de Juncos ardoisés, quelques Bruants à gorge blanches - Micheline Bisson

Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, pont-levis (bridge): 1000's Snow geese, 100's Canada geese, Greater scaup, Mallard, American wigeon, 2 Peregrine falcon
milleirs d'Oies des neiges, des centaines de Bernaches du Canada ainsi que
plusieurs Fuligules milouinan, Canards colvert, Canards d'Amérique, 2 Faucons pèlerin - Patrick Laniel

BPQ Field Trip to Granby, October 17th

Granby, centre d'interpretation de la nature du lac Boivin
As anticipated, we began the day with a -4 degree reading, however with very little wind and bright sunshine throughout most of the morning, and a gradually increasing temperature, it made for a very pleasant outing.

Highlights of the day including 2 Tufted Titmouse; one feeding regularly at the interpretation centre's feeders and the second one seen not far from the base of the observation tower. We also had spectacular, close-up looks at several colourful male and female Wood Ducks swimming almost at arms-length from the edge of the boardwalk along Lac Boivin. This was one of 8 species of ducks spotted today.

We completed the morning with a total of 36 species. Here is the breakdown for the day.

Canada Goose – 200, Wood Duck – 20, Gadwall – 6, American Wigeon – 6, American Black Duck – 2, Mallard – 200, Green-winged Teal – 50, Bufflehead – 4, Hooded Merganser – 6, Pied-billed Grebe – 3, Great Blue Heron – 1, Turkey Vulture – 1, Northern Harrier – 1, Ring-billed Gull – 12, Mourning Dove – 25, Hairy Woodpecker – 1, Blue Jay – 24, American Crow – 50, Common Raven – 2, Black-capped Chickadee – 45, Tufted Titmouse – 2, Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1, White-breasted Nuthatch – 3, Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1, American Robin – 50, European Starling – 8, Cedar Waxwing – 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler – 12, Black-throated Green Warbler – 1, Song Sparrow – 4, White-throated Sparrow – 30, Dark-eyed Junco – 20, Northern Cardinal – 4, Red-winged Blackbird – 2, Common Grackle – 5, House Finch- 1
Bernache du Canada, Carnards - branchu, chipeau, d'Amérique, noir, Colvert, Sarcelle d'hiver, Petit garrot, Harle couronné. Grèbe à bec bigarré, Grand héron, Urubu à tête rouge, Busard Saint-Martin, Goéland à bec cerclé, Tourterelle triste, Pic chevelu, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Grand corbeau, Mésange à tête noire, Mésange bicolore, Sittelle à poitrine rousse, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Roitelet à couronne rubis, Merle d'Amérique, Étourneau sansonnet, Jaseur d'Amérique, Paruline à croupion jaune, Paruline Paruline à gorge noire, Bruant chanteur, Bruant à gorge blanche, Junco ardoisé, Cardinal rouge, Carouge à épaulettes, Quiscale bronzé, Roselin familier
Thanks to Robert Armstrong, Tom Long and Mary Ellen Graham for joining Darlene and me for a fun morning - Sheldon

Sightings for Friday October 16th

Granby, centre d'interpretation de la nature du lac Boivin: Tufted titmouse, Great blue heron and Wood ducks in full colour
Mésange bicolore, un Grand Héron et canards branchus sont aussi en bon nombre et tout en couleurs - Michel Bordeleau - click photo to enlarge

Sightings for Thursday October 15th

Collège de Valleyfield, near the library: Chukar
Perdrix choukar su le terrain du Collège de Valleyfield près de la bibliothèque - Marie-France Guérin, Daniel Lebrun - click photo to enlarge



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Hungry Bay: 20 Canada geese, 2 Bufflehead, 50 Greater scaup, 2 Red-necked grebes in the bay just in front of the small bridge. At the mouth of the canal 2 Common loons
une vingtaine de Bernaches du Canada, 2 Petits Garrots, une cinquantaine de Fuligules milouinan, 2 Grèbes jougris dans la baie juste avant le petit pont.
À l'embouchure du canal...2 Plongeons huard.

St-Louis-de-Gonzague - pond: Canada geese, Greater scaup, Lesser scaup, American wigeon. 4 large flocks of Snow geese arrived while I was watching there must be thousands now
étang St-Louis, Bernaches du Canada, Fuligules milouinan, Petits Fuligules, Canards d'Amérique, etc...4 énormes voiliers d'Oies des neiges sont arrivées pendant que j'observais...il doit y en avoir des milliers maintenant - Micheline Ouellet
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Boucherville, parc de la Frayère: 2 Brant geese in front of the old restaurant la Saulaie among the rocks. (a pair of boots required)
2 Bernaches cravant Elles sont en face de l'ancien restaurant la Saulaie, parmi les roches affleurantes.(Une paire de bottes est requise) - G.Papillon

Victoriaville, réservoir Beaudet: Snow geese (Oies des neiges) 25,000-30,000 - Alain Sheinck, Jean Pierre Pratte - map (carte)

Sightings for Wednesday October 14th

Boucherville, at the river: 2 Brant geese with the Double-crested cormorants, Canada geese, Ring-billed gulls. A Spottted sandpiper and a Greater yellowlegs were also seen.
Dans le fleuve, 2 bernaches cravants avec les cormorans à aigrettes, les bernaches
du Canada et les goélands à bec cerclé. Un chevalier grivelé et un grand chevalier s’y trouvaient également - Georges Néron

Montréal, Cimetière Mont-Royal (cemetery): 20 Red-tailed hawks, 20 Eastern bluebirds. Also dozens of Hermit thrush, 100 Dark-eyed junco, White-throated sparrows, Chipping sparrows, 1 Fox sparrows, Many Winter wrens, 2 Cooper's hawk, 1 Peregrine falcom, 1 Merlin, 1 Blue-headed vireo
J'ai compté une vingtaine de Buses à queue rousses, dont ne dizaine ensemble dans un courant ascendant. Il devait y en avoir beaucoup plus, car on ne regarde pas souvent en haut lorsqu'on fait de la photo. Le clou du spectacle au cimetière était donné par la vingtaine de Merlebleus de l'Est. Il y avait aussi quelques douzaines de Grives solitaires, une centaine de Juncos ardoisés, des Bruants à gorge blanches, Bruants familiers et un Bruant fauve, plusieurs Troglodytes mignons, 2 Éperviers de Cooper, un Faucon pèlerin, un Faucon émerillon et un Viréo à tête bleue - Un total de 25 espèces- Pierre Bannon

1 Turkey vulture, 1 Common raven, 1 Magnolia warbler
un Urubu à tête rouge, un Grand Corbeau et une Paruline à tête cendrée - Eve-Lyne Samson

Sightings for Monday October 12th

Chateauguay, Île Saint-Bernard: 65 Canada Goose, 25 Mallard, 1 Common Loon, 4 Great Blue Heron, 14 Great Egret, 4 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 23 Rock Pigeon, 1 Mourning Dove, 6 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 8 Blue Jay, 30 American Crow, 12 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 6 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Marsh Wren, 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 1 Swainson's Thrush, 1 Hermit Thrush, 12 American Robin, 60 European Starling, 30 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 20 Song Sparrow, 3 Swamp Sparrow, 8 White-throated Sparrow, 16 White-crowned sparrow, 3 American Goldfinch
Bernache du Canada, Canard colvert, Plongeon huard, Grand héron, Grande Aigrette, Goéland à bec cerclé, Goéland marin, Pigeon biset, Tourterelle triste, Pic mineur, Pic chevelu, Pic flamboyant, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Mésange à tête noire, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Sittelle à poitrine rousse, Troglodyte des marais, Roitelet à couronne rubis, Grive à dos olive, Grive solitaire, Merle d'Amérique, Étourneau sansonnet, Paruline à croupion jaune, Paruline masquée, Bruant chanteur, Bruant des marais, Bruant à gorge blanche, Bruant à couronne blanche, Chardonneret jaune – Tom Long
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Hungry Bay: Brant goose sitting on a rock at the mouth of the canal
Une Bernache cravant posée sur une roche, à l'extrémité du brise-vague, à la halte de l'embouchure du canal

Beauharnois, barrage de Beauharnois (dam): Black-legged kittiwake (in flight) also many Bonaparte's gull
Une Mouette tridactyle(en vol) barrage de Beauharnois. Il y avait aussi
plusieurs Mouette de Bonaparte - Régis Fortin
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Victoriaville, réservoir Beaudet: Ross’s goose (imm)
Oie de Ross immature avec le bec rosé cet après-midi au réservoir Beaudet - Mario Grégoire

Dundee, Réserve nationale de faune du lac St-François: twice about 1oo Brant geese flew over the welcome center
Digue aux Aigrettes trail: 6 SANDHILL CRANES, 40 Redhead ducks. Last year the Cranes stayed untill December
2 vols d'environ 100 individus de Bernaches cravant à partir de l'accueil de la RNF du lac Saint-François.
au Sentier de la Digue aux Aigrettes entre 17h00 et 19h00, 6 GRUES DU CANADA, une quarantaine de Fuligules à tête rouge. L'an passé, les Grues sont demeurés à cet endroit jusqu'en Décembre - André Pelletier, Patrick Laniel

BPQ Field Trip to Île Bizard , October 10th

5 observers, 25 Species
Canada Geese 45, Wood Duck 1, Mallard 4, Scaup sp 50, Great Blue Heron 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ring-billed Gull 5, Northern Flicker 1, Blue Jay 10, Aerican Crow 20, Black-capped Chickadee 10, White-breasted Nuthatch 1,Golden-crowned Kinglet 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6, Hermit Thrush 1, Am. Robin 50, Gray Catbird 1, European Starling 24, Yellow-rumped Warbler 10, American Redstart 1, White-throated Sparrow 10, Dark-eyed Junco 50, Northern cardinal 2, Red-winged Blackbird 10, American Goldfinch 2
Bernache du Canada, Canard colvert, Fuligule (sp), Grand héron, Épervier brun, Goéland à bec cerclé, Pic flamboyant, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Mésange à tête noire, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Roitelet à couronne dorée, Roitelet à couronne rubis, Grive solitaire, Merle d'Amérique, Étourneau sansonnet, Moqueur chat, Paruline à croupion jaune, Paruline flamboyante, Bruant à gorge blanche, Junco ardoisé, Cardinal rouge, Carouge à épaulettes, Chardonneret jaune - Felix hilton

Sightings for Sunday October 11th

Saint-Basile-le-Grand compost site on chemin des Trentes: Vesper sparrow, Song sparrow, White-crowned sparrow, Northern harrier, Mourning dove, Horned lark
site de compostage: Bruant vesperal , Bruant chanteur, Bruant a couronne blanche, Busard St-Martin, Tourterelle triste, Alouette hausse-col - Sylvain Sabourin

Lacolle, rang de la Barbotte: Prairie warbler female or immature of this year. With a group of Yellow-rumped warblers and Ruby-crowned kinglets
Paruline des prés femelle ou immature de l'année, parmi un groupe de Parulines à croupion jaune et Roitelets à couronne rubis - Réal & Ghislaine Boulet

Sightings for Saturday October 10th

The NORTHERN WHEATEAR (TRAQUET MOTTEUX) continued to put on a great show at the composting site in St-Basile-le-Grand this morning. We had the opportunity to observe the bird for well over an hour. It continues to frequent the area around the truck weigh
station opposite the entrance to the site, as well as around the heavy equipment
just inside the wire fence at the entrance.

Fellow BPQers Diane Demers, Mark Dennis and his wife, and Mary Ellen Graham were also on hand at various times this morning to see the bird, together with several other birders from various locations.

In a brief look around the fields at the site, we were able to spot a Red-tailed Hawk (Buse à queue rousse), Northern Harrier (Busard Saint-Martin), Yellow-rumped Warblers (Paruline à croupion jaune), White-throated (Bruant à gorge blanche) and White-crowned Sparrows (Bruant à couronne blanche) as well as several flocks of migrating Canada Geese (Bernache du Canada) and Red-Winged Blackbirds (Carouge à épaulettes).

Also, heading back towards Highway 116, on one of the residential side-streets off of Montee Robert, we saw an incredibly large mixed flock of birds on the ground and in trees surrounding a public park. There were numerous European Starlings (Étourneau sansonnet), but the flock was dominated by Common Grackles (Quiscale bronzé), easily 500 or more.

The leaves have turned nicely on Mont St-Bruno. It should be an excellent outing next Saturday to the Lac-Boivin Reserve at Granby. We look forward to seeing everyone there, not just for the birds, but for the fall colours as well - S. Harvey

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, l'île Ste-Thérèse, rue du Ste-Thérèse & rue les Peupliers: Lesser black-backed gull observed at the canal
Observer sur le canal de navigation, un Goéland brun - Philippe & Robert Chartier

Bassin de Chambly (basin) 17:30hrs: 2 Pied-billed grebe, 8 Horned grebe, 2 Red-necked grebe, 13 Black scoter, Gulls - Ring-billed, Herring, Great black-backed
Grèbe à bec bigarré (2), Grèbe esclavon (8), Grèbe jougris (2), Macreuse noire (13) Goèlands - bec cerclé, argenté, marin - Robert Chartier

Tadoussac: more than 700 raptors with 7 Golden eagles (Juv), Osprey, Bald eagles, Sharp-shinned hawks, Northen goshawk, Broad-winged hawk, American kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine falcon, Turkey vultures, 10 Black-backed woodpeckers, 2 Three-toed woodpeckers
plus de 700 rapaces dont 7 Aigles royaux, tous des juvéniles. balbuzard, pygargue, Épervier brun, autour, une Petite Buse tardive, Busard St-Martin, Buse à queue rousse et pattue, crécerelle, émerillon, pèlerin, et urubu. Également 10 Pics à dos
noir et 2 Pics à dos rayé. - Samuel Denault
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Danville, l'étang Burbank (pond) Canada geese, 185 Ring-necked duck, 1 Red-necked grebe, 43 Pied-billed grebe, 41 Black scoter, Mallard, Black duck, Green-winged teal, Gray catbird
Bernache du Canada, Fuligule à collier (185), Grèbe jougris (1), Grèbe à bec bigaré (43), Macreuse noire (41), Canard colvert, noir et Sarcelle à ailes verte, Quelques passereaux autour de l'étang dont 1 Moqueur chat.

Victoriaville, stopped at réservoir Beaudet around 5pm: Canada geese, 1 Cackling goose, 6000 Snow geese (will surely be more by sunset), 1 Ross's goose, Ring-necked duck, Mallard, Black duck, 2 Red-necked grebe, 3 Horned grebe, 33 Black duck, 13 White-winge scoter, Cormorants
Au retour, un arrêt au réservoir Beaudet m'a permi d'observer les espèces suivantes jusqu'à 5:00 hre: Bernache du Canada, Bernache de Hutchiin (1), Oie des neiges (6000, surement plus avant le coucher du soleil), Oie de Ross (1), Fuligule à collier, Canard colvert, noir, Grèbe jougris (2), Grèbe esclavon (3), Macreuse noire (33), Macreuse brune (13), Cormoran - Daniel Gagné

Sightings for Friday October 9th

Saint-Basile-le-Grand compost site on chemin des Trentes: NORTHERN WHEATEAR still prestent
TRAQUET MOTTEUX était encore présent - Danielle & Roger Roy

Sightings for Thursday October 8th

Tadoussac: 1420 raptors in migration, highest total this season - 1 Turkey vulture, 19 Osprey, 3 Northern harriers, 6 Bald eagles, 1011 Sharp-shinned hawks, 5 Northern goshawks, 335 Red-tailed hawks, 4 Rough-legged hawks, 2 Golden eagles (juv), 21 American kestrel, 11 Merlin, 2 Peregrine falcons
Also of note: 7 Black-backed woodpeckers, 3 Fox sparrows, 1 Northern parula, 1 Black-throated-blue warbler, 20 Rusty blackbirds
1420 rapaces en migration à Tadoussac: Impressionnante journée de migration aujourd'hui à Tadoussac avec le plus haut total de la saison. Plus d'un millier d'Éperviers bruns constituaient un nombre tout à fait exceptionnel qui peut s'expliquer par l'absence de conditions météos favorables pour la migration des rapaces depuis le 25 septembre. 1 Urubu à tête rouge, 19 Balbuzards pêcheurs, 3 Busards St-Martin, 6 Pygargues à tête blanche, 1011 Éperviers bruns, 5 Autours des palombes, 335 Buses à queue rousse, 4 Buses pattues, 2 Aigles royaux (2 juvéniles), 21 Crécerelles d'Amérique, 11 Faucons émerillons, 2 Faucons pèlerins
À noter aussi 7 Pics à dos noir, 3 Bruants fauves, une Paruline à collier, une
Paruline bleue et une vingtaine de Quiscale rouilleux. Nous n'avons pas eu le
temps d'aller vérifier si le Quiscale de Brewer était là aujourd'hui - Samuel Denault

Saint-Basile-le-Grand compost site on chemin des Trentes: NORTHERN WHEATEAR still prestent
TRAQUET MOTTEUX était encore présent - Robert Mailhot

Les Bergeronnes, rang St-Joseph: BREWER'S BLACKBIRD always in the same area in the pastures beside # 927 near the hydro pole #89
QUISCALE DE BREWER Il était toujours dans le même secteur, soit dans les pâturages vis-à-vis le numéro civique 927 et près du poteau d'Hydro-Québec numéroté 89 - Roger & François Dion

Sightings for Wednesday October 7th

Saint-Basile-le-Grand compost site on chemin des Trentes: NORTHERN WHEATEAR still prestent
TRAQUET MOTTEUX était encore présent - Danielle Paquette, Roger Rouselle

Sightings for Tuesday October 6th

Saint-Basile-le-Grand compost site on chemin des Trentes: NORTHERN WHEATEAR Still prestent after 10 days

TRAQUET MOTTEUX était encore présent aujourd'hui pour une 10e journée consécutive, au site de compostage de Saint-Basile-le-Grand, sur le chemin des Trentes - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Monday October 5th

Saint-Basile-le-Grand, compost site: NORTHERN WHEATEAR
site de compostage: TRAQUET MOTTEUX - S. Harvey

Sightings for Sunday October 4th

Saint-Basile-le-Grand, compost site: NORTHERN WHEATEAR
site de compostage: TRAQUET MOTTEUX - Robert Chartier, Murielle Couture and Gilles Ethier, Raymond Belhumeur

Boucherville, parc de la Frayère: Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher (Moucherolle à ventre jaune) around 10am, along the little creek that flows under the bridge near the Parking Lot - David Millar

Magog, Marais de la rivière aux Cerises: Wilson's warbler (f), Wild turkey(f) with 2 poults, Rusty blackbirds, White-crowned sparrows, Ruby-crowned kinglets, Yellow-bellied sapsucker etc.
chemin Couture, Hashby farm: 6 Turkey vultures
Paruline à calotte noire (f), une femelle Dindon sauvage avec deux dindonneaux, Quiscale rouilleux 2, Bruant à couronne blanche, 3, Roitelet à couronne rubis 4, Pic maculé 1 etc.
la ferme Hashby du chemin Couture: 6 Urubus à tête rouge - Benoît Turgeon

Oka, Parc d'Oka: 40 species including: Warblers - Yellow-rumped, Northern parula, Common yellowthroat, Black & white. Blue-headed vireo, Red-eyed vireo, Eastern phoebe, Belted kingfisher, Whithe-crowned sparrow, White-throated sparrow, Song sparrow, Dark-eyed junco, Ruby & Golden-crowned kinglets, Brown creeper, Ducks - Shoveler, Wood, Mallard, Gadwall. Family of Pied-billed grebes, Rusty blackbirds
Ce matin au travers de la brume j'ai pu voir une quanrantaine d'espèces dont:
Parulines à croupion jaune partout, Paruline à collier, Paruline masqué, Paruline noir et blanc, Viréo à tête bleu, Viréo aux yeux rouge, Moucherolle phébi, Martin pêcheur, Plusieurs Bruants à couronne blanche, Bruant à gorge blanche, Bruant chanteur Tout plein de Juncos ardoisé, Les deux Roitelets, Des Grimpereaux brun Canard souchet, branchu, colvert, chipeau, Une petite famille de Grèbe à bec bigaré
plusieurs Quiscales rouilleux - Sylvie Vanier

BPQ Field Trip to Dundee, October 3rd

Seven birders disregarded the pessimistic weather forecasts and made their way to Dundee for our weekly field trip. They were rewarded with only a few rain drops, very calm conditions, temperatures reaching 15C and a few clear breaks which made for a pleasant morning outing. There was a slight change of itinerary as we did not come back as a group through Ste-Martine but spent the whole morning at the Lake St Francis Nature Reserve.

Several species were special but the "Bird of the Day" was deemed to be the SANDHILL CRANES (GRUES DU CANADA). Five were seen including 3 doing a close flyover as we walked a trail near the tower. In all probability there were more present in the refuge as we could hear birds "bugling" in the distance throughout the early part of the morning.

Also noteworthy were three immature BALD EAGLES (PYGARGUE À TÊTE BLANCHE) visible at the same time in the distance with two sitting in the same tree and one cruising by. All 3 were heavily marked with white both in their wings and on their bodies.

An Eastern Towhee (TOHI À FLANCS ROUX) made several very fleeting appearances in the heavy brush near the visitor centre. Large numbers of Tree Swallows moving through were of interest as most of the group had not seen any for several weeks. We also had excellent close-up views of Rusty Blackbirds which were actually more plentiful than red-winged. A very large flock of gulls (500+ and presumably ring-billed) put on an interesting aerial display as they massed in a group at considerable altitude and looked to be leaving the area. They then had a change of heart and all descended so rapidly toward the river that the sound of their set wings was a loud roar that persisted for several seconds.

A disappointment was the lack of waterfowl seen with only 3 species positively identified and very few individuals.

Our complete list of 48 species included:

Double-crested Cormorant 2, Great Blue Heron 2, Great Egret 1, Turkey Vulture 2,
Canada Goose 200+, Wood Duck 10, American black Duck 6, Mallard 50+, Osprey 1, Bald Eagle 3, Northern Harrier 3, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Merlin 1, Ruffed Grouse 2, SANDHILL CRANE 5, Wilson's Snipe 1, Ring-billed Gull 500+, Rock pigeons 2, Mourning Doves 2, Downy Woodpecker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 10, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Eastern Phoebe 2, Blue Jay 6, American Crow 24, Common Raven 1, Tree Swallow 100+, Black-capped Chickadee 35, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20, Veery 1, American Robin 50, Gray Catbird 4, Brown Thrasher 1, European starling 275+, Nashville Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 100, Common Yellowthroat 1, Eastern Towhee 1, Song Sparrow 20, Swamp Sparrow 40, White-throated Sparrow 50+, White-crowned Sparrow 6, Dark-eyed Junco 1,
Red-winged Blackbird 40, Rusty Blackbird 100, Common Grackle 10, American Goldfinch 10
Cormoran à aigrettes, Grand Héron, Grande Aigrette, Urubu à tête rouge, Bernache du Canada, Canard branchu, Canard noir, Canard colvert, Balbuzard pêcheur, PYGARGUE À TÊTE BLANCHE, Busard Saint-Martin, Buse à queue rousse, Faucon émerillon, Gélinotte huppée, GRUES DU CANADA, Bécassine du Wilson, Goéland à bec cerclé, Pigeon biset, Tourterelle triste, Pic mineur, Pic chevelu, Pic flamboyant, Grand pic, Moucherolle phébi, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Grand corbeau, Hirondelle bicolore, Mésange à tête noire, Roitelet à couronne rubis, Grive fauve, Merle d'Amérique, Moqueur chat, Moqueur roux, Étourneau sansonnet, Paruline à joues grises, Paruline à croupion jaune, Paruline masquée, TOHI À FLANCS ROUX, Bruant chanteur, Bruant des marais, Bruant à gorge blanche, Bruant à couronne blanche, Junco ardoisé, Carouge à épaulettes, Quiscale rouilleux, Quiscale bronzé, Chardonneret jaune

Thanks to those who came out despite the promise of ill weather - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Saturday October 3rd

St-Lazare: The Long-billed dowitchers (Bécassin à long bec) I reported at St-Lazare sand pits were still present this morning to around 08.00 but not later, better views were had, all were Long-billed. Also the Hudsonian Godwit (Barge Hudsonienne) was still present to 09.00 - Mark Dennis

St-Timothée, marais de Saint-Timothée (marsh), 4 American coots, 27 Great egrets, 5 Black-crowned night-heron, 2 Great blue herons, 4 Double-crested cormorants, 18 Tree swallows, 1 Belted kingfisher. Peregrine falcon and a Merlin defending it's territory
au Parc régional de Beauharnois-Salaberry situé sur le Boulevard Cadieux: 18h00 à 18h15 : 4 Foulques d'Amérique, 18h25 à 18h59 : 27 Grandes Aigrettes, 5 Bihoreaux gris, 2 Grand Hérons, 4 Cormorans à aigrette, 18 Hirondelles bicolores, 1 Martin-pêcheur. Faucon pèlerin aux prises avec un Faucon émerillon voulant défendre son territoire! - Patrick Laniel

20 Wild turkeys (Dindons sauvage)
For the 2nd year in a row these birds pass through my grounds. Located near Mt. Pinnacle and Sutton, Quebec there seems to be a healthy population around here. Can't image eating them - they have a hunting season on them I believe for one week-end. - Jeannie Bird

Sightings for Friday October 2nd

St-Lazare sand pits this evening four distant dowitchers, two of which were
Long-billed dowitchers (Bécassin à long bec), the other two were likely Long-billed, I just couldn't quite clinch the tertial pattern (or lack of it). Also there, a Hudsonian Godwit (Barge Hudsonienne) and a Ruddy Duck (Érismature rousse) that has been there for a while - Mark Dennis

Laval: rivière des Mille Îles in front of 7900 boul. des Mille-Îles - Greater white-fronted goose, Canada geese, 2 Snow geese, 2 Northern shovelers, Green-winged teals, 4 Ring-necked ducks, Common merganser
rivière des Mille Îles en face du 7900 boul. des Mille-Îles: une Oie rieuse Bernaches du Canada, 2 Oies des neiges, deux Canards souchets, quelques Sarcelles d'hiver, 4 Fuligules à collier et un Grand Harle - Louise Simard

Ile Charron: Great egret, Sharp-shinned hawk, Belted kingfisher, Yellow-bellied sapaucker, Flicker, Blue-headed vireo, White-breasted nuthatch, Brown creeper, Winter wren, Ruby & Golden-crowned kinglets, Gray-cheeked thrush, Swainson's thrush, Thrush sp. Cedar waxwing, Warblers - Orange-crowned, Nashville, Northern parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Blac-throated blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated greeen, Common yellowthroat, warbler sp, Song sparrow, White-throated sparrow, White-crowned sparrow - 49 species
grande aigrette, épervier brun, martin-pêcheur, pic maculé ( plumage très laid) flamboyant, viréo à tête bleue, sitelle à p.b. grimpereau brun,troglodyte mignon, roitelet (les deux) grive à joues grises, à dos olive, des bois, grive s.p. jaseur
d'Amérique, Paruline verdâtre, (enfin) à joues grises, à collier, jaune, flancs
marron, à tête cendrée, bleue ++, croupion jaune+++, gorge noire , masquée. et
paruline sp. Bruant chanteur , à gorge blanche+++, à couronne blanche 49 espèces. - Jacques Héneault

Sightings for Thursday October 1st

Boucherville, parc de la Frayère: Canada geese, Cormorants, Spotted sandpiper. In the woods south of the road, Warblers - Tennessee, Northern parulan Nashville, Black-throated green, Yellowrumped. Winter wren, Woodpeckers - Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Downy, Northern flicker. Junco, Ruby & Golden-crowned kinglets - Luc Laberge - 2 Orange-crowned warblers, Black-throated blue warbler, Cedar waxwing, Numerous White-throated sparrows, White crowned sparrow, Swainson's thrush, Hermit thrush, about 200 cowbirds, around 400 Red-winged blackbirds, Hairy woodpecker, Cooper's hawk -Michel Bertrand
Bernaches, Cormorans, un seul limicole (Chevalier grivelé). Dans le boisé au sud de la route, nous avons observé des Paruline (obscure, à collier, joues grises, gorge noire, croupion jaune), Troglodyte mignon, Pic maculé, mineur, flamboyant, Junco, Roitelet à courunne rubis et dorée etc - Luc Laberge - 2 Parulines verdâtres, 1 Paruline bleue, 3 Viréos à tête bleue, 1 Jaseur d'Amérique, de très nombreux Bruants à gorge blanche, un Bruant à couronne blanche, une Grive à dos olive, une Grive solitaire, au moins 200 Vachers à tête brune, au moins 400 Carouges à épaulettes, un Pic chevelu, un Épervier de Cooper, etc. - Michel Bertrand

BPQ Field Trip, 26 September 2009, Alfred, Ontario

The BPQ field trip to Alfred, Ontario, was spectacular on this beautiful late September day. We had a terrific time birding in two excellent areas: the Alfred Sewage Lagoons and the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail. There were many highlights. At the lagoons, in addition to 2 lovely Pectoral Sandpipers in flight everyone had the pleasure of seeing a Virginia Rail and a Marsh Wren, the BIRD of the DAY (both). There was also a great selection of ducks and a rare species of sparrow. Had the following sparrow been seen by everyone it would surely have been voted bird of the day; Pierre Tellier saw the first one, a NELSON'S (Sharp-tailed) SPARROW and I saw the second one which Pierre confirmed, his second. Later on the same day and during subsequent days this rare sparrow unfortunately could not be found again!!

In all 18 birders encountered 55 species. BPQers were joined by members of the Club de Miroise de l'Est ontarien, the recently founded first francophone birding club in the province of Ontario.

A great trip in a fascinating area . . merci beaucoup tout le monde de votre
participation!!!

SPECIES IDENTIFIED
26 September 2009 in Alfred Area

Pied-billed Grebe, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, American Black Duck, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Ruffed Grouse, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Virginia Rail, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Killdeer, Wilson’s Snipe, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, European Starling, American Pipit, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, NELSON'S SPARROW (2), Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow Species identified - 55 - Jacques