Bird Protection Quebec's "Summer Series 2010" - Trip #5 Report

9 birders took part in the most productive Summer Series field trip, species-wise, ever since beginning these summer outings way back in 2004! Overcast skies for most of the day helped in keeping the temperature and high humidity levels down, making for quite a pleasant morning and early afternoon in the low to mid-20s.

We departed from the Hudson Inn, south on Highway 201, heading for Fief Road in St-Lazare. This turned into an incredible productive stop as we quickly discovered a number of excellent species in the fields and wooded areas along the length of the road. We were particularly impressed with the 8 Indigo Buntings, juvenile Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolinks seen here. We next headed to Montee Ste-Angelique where we added a nice group of 8 Eastern Bluebirds to our list.

We then headed west along Chemin Ste-Marie/2e Rang, towards the Ontario border. We crossed into Ontario and then began heading north along Lemieux Road and La Grande Montee all the way to the Carillon Dam at Pointe-Fortune.

Certainly one of the highlights of the day was a stop at a recently cut field on La Grande Montee where we found a mixed group of adult and juvenile Horned Larks together with no less than a dozen Upland Sandpipers, including a flock of 7 in-flight across the field.

Other highlights of the day included an American Kestrel and a Merlin, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a Purple Finch, a Winter Wren and a Brown Thrasher.

Our 66 species topped our previous Summer Series field trip high of 63 species seen on July 4, 2009 in Philipsburg/St-Armand. Thanks to Jane Atkinson for e-mailing after the trip to note that she spotted an Osprey just as she was leaving the Carillon Dam to top off the day.

So, here is our complete list. Thanks to all who joined in the fun.

Mallard 1, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Double-crested Cormorant 10, Great Blue Heron 1, Green Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 1, Osprey 1, Northern Harrier 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, Merlin 1, Killdeer 6, Spotted Sandpiper 4, Upland Sandpiper 12, Ring-billed Gull 150, Common Tern 13, Rock Piegon 30, Mourning Dove 25, Chimney Swift 1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher 3, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3, Downy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 6, Alder Flycatcher 6, Eastern Phoebe 1, Eastern Kingbird 12, Red-eyed Vireo 3, Blue Jay 6, American Crow 24, Horned Lark 8, Tree Swallow 100, Barn Swallow 15, Black-capped Chickadee 20, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, Brown Creeper 1, House Wren 3, Winter Wren 1, Eastern Bluebird 10, Veery 1, Wood Thrush 1, American Robin 24, Gray Catbird 2, Brown Thrasher 1, European Starling 200, Cedar Waxwing 25, Yellow Warbler 6, Chestnut-sided Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, American Redstart 1, Common Yellowthroat 3, Scarlet Tanager 1, Chipping Sparrow 20, Savannah Sparrow 6, Song Sparrow 24, White-throated Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 2, Indigo Bunting 8, Bobolink 12, Red-winged Blackbird 70, Eastern Meadowlark 2, Common Grackle 35, Baltimore Oriole 3, Purple Finch 1, American Goldfinch 75, House Sparrow 6 - Sheldon