Sightings for Sunday February 27th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue: 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Pic à ventre roux) in the Morgan Arboretum aorund noon today - both working the bark on the Larch/Tamarack tree stading beside Chalet pruche. J and I watched them for quite some time (with accompanying Common redpolls (sizerin flammé ) before one flew off into the maple stand to the west from which it started to call. Will we have prrof of breeding this year? - Jean & Richard Gregson

Low: Northern Hawk Owl  (Chouette épervière) was seen preening atop its favourite perch next to Chemin Neely - W. Hum

Sightings for Thursday February 24th

Verdun, at he end of rue Clemenceau (12h30-13h00): Among a small group of about twenty Common Goldeneye along the ice, was a fine adult male Harlequin Duck, alongside an equally beautiful Barrow's Goldeneye (adutle male). The two adult Bald Eagles were in the same tree as during my last visit (4th from the tip of île aux Hérons (Heron island).


(12h30-13h00) au bout de la rue Clémenceau: Parmi un petit groupe d'une vingtaine de Garrots à oeil d'or longeant la glace, se trouvait en effet un beau Arlequin plongeur mâle adulte, aux côté d'un non moins beau Garrot d'Islande (mâle adutle). Les deux Pygargues à tête blanche adultes se trouvaient dans le même arbre que lors de ma dernière visite (le 4e à partir de la pointe est de l'île aux Hérons). - Diane Demers

Sightings for Wednesday February 23rd

Verdun, Boisé de l'île des Soeurs (woods): Pigeons, 1 Eastern Screech Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpeckers, Pileated woodpecker, 40 American Crow, 1 Common Raven, 20 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Brown Creepers, 3 Winter wrens, 2 European Starlings, 15 American tree sparrows, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 5 Dark-eyed Juncos, 6 Northern Cardinals, House finches, 30 Common Redpolls, 1 American Goldfinch, House Sparrows

Pigeons bisets, 1 Petit-duc maculé, Pics mineurs, Pics chevelus, 1 Grand Pic, 40 Corneilles d'Amérique, 1 Grand Corbeau, 20 Mésanges à tête noire, 1 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 3 Grimpereaux bruns, 3 Troglodytes des forêts, 2 Étourneaux sansonnets, 15 Bruants hudsoniens, 1 Bruant des marais, 5 Juncos ardoisés, 6 Cardinaux rouges, Roselins familiers, 30 Sizerins flammés, 1 Chardonneret jaune, Moineaux domestiques - Pierre Bannon
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Sallaberry-de-Valleyfield: Wood duck on rivière St-Charles

Canard branchu (mâle) sur la rivière St-Charles - Alain Hogue
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St-Stanislas de Kostka: at the mouth of the Beauharnois Canal there was a female Harlequin duck

à l'embouchure du canal de Beauharnois à il y avait une femelle Arlequin plongeur - Denis Collins

St-Stanislas de Kostka: at the mouth of the Beauharnois Canal there was a female Harlequin duck with 4 Common goldeneye

avenue des Villas: 2 Tufted Titmouse at the feeders

à l'embouchure du canal de Beauharnois à il y avait une femelle Arlequin plongeur qui se tenait avec 4 Garrot à œil d'or
l’avenue des Villas: 2 Mésanges bicolore aux mangeoires  - Denis Collins

Sightings for Thursday February 17th

Sainte-Catherine: a Great Blue Heron, a hundred Canada Geese, hundreds of mallards, 2 Northern pintails and 6 Greater scaup 
un Grand Héron une centaine de Bernaches du Canada, centaines de Canards colverts, 2 Canards pilets et 6 Fuligules milouinan
Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Red-bellied woodpecker (M), a Carolina Wren and 2 Tufted Titmouse
un Pic à ventre roux mâle, un Troglodyte de Caroline et 2 Mésanges bicolores - Pierre Bannon

Conversati​on/Sneak Peek Webinar with Richard Crossley Feb 22nd

CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD CROSSLEY and SNEAK PEEK OF THE CROSSLEY ID GUIDE: EASTERN BIRDS

We invite you to join a stunning online visual conversation with acclaimed photographer and birder Richard Crossley. He’ll share a sneak preview of his new book, The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds, published by Princeton University Press. The book is already getting rave reviews (Audubon Magazine’s Wayne Mones quips, “So what’s so different about The Crossley ID Guide? Everything.”). Richard’s vision was to take birding into the 21st-century by creating a bird guide that shows birds the way they are seen in real life. Instead of offering up the usual single ‘flat’ bird picture, he’s created engaging multi-dimensional scenes with every detail in focus to show a wide range of views of birds in action, in their proper habitats, near, far and everything between. Until recently, Richard’s revolutionary vision was ahead of the available technology. New photography and computer developments were instrumental in allowing him to produce 640 composite scenes of real life birds in many different situations created from over 10,000 of his own photographs that form the heart of THE CROSSLEY ID GUIDE: Eastern Birds (March 9, 2011).
 
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Richard is ALWAYS full of energy, lots of great information and a little comedy to boot.

DATE: February 22, 2011

TIMES AND SITE LOG IN:
12 PM-1 PM EST https://princeton.ilinc.com/register/vfjksbb
2 PM – 3 PM EST https://princeton.ilinc.com/register/tzrvpmh

DETAILS: Be among the first to experience Richard’s 21st-Century birding vision. Richard will share a stunning visual smorgasbord of life-like, in-focus scenes showing birds in their habitats, from near and far, and in all plumages and behaviors. There will also be a 15 minute Q&A session.

Sightings for Sunday February 13th

St-Clet: Snowy owl near the transmission tower at St-Clet, by contrast it was easier to see from chemin de la cité des jeunes

Harfang des neiges près de la tour de transmission à St-Clet, par contre il était plus facile à voir à partir du chemin de la cité des jeunes.

St-Lazare, near the centre des Forestiers 15 - 20 Pine Grosbeak, Red-breasted Nuthatch

près du centre des Forestiers: 15 et 20 durbecs des sapins et ma première sitelle à poitrine rousse - Denis Collins

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Pointe-Claire: a Red-bellied woodpecker on the feeder - American robins (30+)-Cedar Waxwing (5) - House sparrow (5) - American goldfinch (2) - Downy woodpecker - Hose finch (6) very rare at my place - White-breasted nuthatch (2) - Cardinal red (male and female) - dark-eyed juncos (8)

un pic à ventre roux sur la mangeoire - merles d'Amérique (30 et plus) -jaseur d'amérique (5) - moineaux domestique (5) -chardonneret jaune (2) - pic mineur - roselin familier (6) très rare dans ma cour - sittelle à poitrine blanche (2) - cardinal rouge (male et femelle)  - juncos ardoisés (8) - Julie Tremblay

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - Saturday, February 12th

Eleven birders travelled in a convoy of five cars through the flat wind-swept spaces in the St-Clet/Ste-Marthe/Ste Justine area looking for open country winter birds. Although tolerable, driving conditions were extremely tricky with winds increasing in intensity throughout the morning causing drifting snow and iced over roads. Snow flurries added to the visibilty problems. Passing an overturned vehicle on Highway 201 shortly after our departure emphasized the need for caution. Nevertheless we were able to complete our planned route.

Our first few stops of the morning were at feeders most notably one on Chemin St-Emmanuel near St-Clet. This major feeding station attracts a very large number of birds and it was here that we had our bird of the day - Wild turkeys. An impressive group of 76 or probably more were in the immediate vicinity and probably only the arrival of our cars kept the majority from actually using the feeders. As it was a half dozen of them still made a quick stop for breakfast before running off to join their friends. The feeders also produced redpolls, goldfinches, juncos, tree sparrows, blue jays, mourning doves, an impressive number of hairy and downy woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, a lone pine siskin and just as we arrived a dozen snow buntings.

Much of the remainder of the morning was spent scouring the open countryside in a vain attempt to locate snowy owls, gray partridge and other target birds. Sightings of snowies have been few and far between this winter in the area and conditions were not conducive to aiding in our search. However we did end up with excellent views of snow buntings, lapland longspurs and horned larks, many of them at feeders. A particularly productive station was near the corner of Ste-Julie and Mtee Ste-Julie. A mixed flock containing over 100 snow buntings and 30-40 lapland longspurs was dividing its time between the feeders and a nearby cornfield. Having these active birds actually remain stationary at a feeder allowed for detailed looks through the scope.

All in all, considering the conditions of the day, it was a successful trip. That said, those who stayed home because they felt uncomfortable with the potential driving conditions probably made a wise choice as that part of the outing was not enjoyable.

Our complete list of 21 species included: American Black Duck - 2 (open section of the river in St-Polycarpe), Wild Turkey - 76+, Rock Pigeon - 150, Mourning Dove - 6, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Hairy Woodpecker - 8, Blue Jays - 12, American Crow - 20, Commomn Raven - 1, Horned Lark - 30, Black-capped Chickadee - 10, White-Breasted Nuthatche - 2, European Starling - 40, American Tree Sparow - 24, Dark-eyed Junco - 24, Lapland Longspur - 50, Snow Bunting - 200+, Common Redpoll - 40, Pine Siskin - 1, American Goldfinch - 6, House Sparrow - 20

Canard noir - 2 (rivière à St-Polycarpe), Dindon sauvage - 76 +, Pigeon biset - 150, Tourterelle triste - 6, Pic mineur - 3, Pic chevelu - 8, Geai bleu - 12, Corneille d'Amérique - 20, Grand corbeau- 1, Alouette hausse-col - 30, Mésange à tête noire - 10, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 2, Étourneau sansonnet - 40,  Bruant Hudsonien- 24, Junco ardoisé - 24, (Plectrophane lapon (Bruant lapon) - 50, (Plectrophane des neiges (Bruants des neiges) - 200 +, sizerin flammé - 40, Tarin des pins - 1, Chardonneret jaune - 6, Moineaux domestiques - 20


Thanks to everyone who came out and braved the conditions - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Saturday February 12th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: 2 Red-bellied woodpeckers, 2 Pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, chickadees etc.

un couple de pic à ventre roux, un couple de Grand pic, des pics mineurs, pics chevelus, mésanges et cie. - Catherine Gouillard

Great Backyard Bird Count

Great Backyard Bird Count

Grand dénombrement des oiseaux

du 18 au 21 février 2011

Sightings for Monday February 7th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: Mild, +1 C, light Snow, feeders half full, overcast:
Black Capped Chickadees-50+, Common Redpolls 60+/-, American Crow 11, American Goldfinch 1, American Robin 5, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 3, Downy Woodpecker 1, Dark-eyed Junco 3, Sparrow spp. 1, Blue Jay 2, Red Breasted Nuthatch 2, White Breasted Nuthatch 5, Northern cardinal 6, Mourning Dove 10, Brown Creeper 1

Mésanges à tête noire mésange-50 +, Sizerin flammé 60 + / -, Corneille d'Amérique 11, Chardonneret jaune 1, Merle d'Amérique 5, Grand Pic 3, Pic chevelu 3, Pic mineur 1, Junco ardoisé 3, Bruant sp. 1, Blue Jay 2, Sittelle à poitrine rousse 2, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 5, Cardinal rouge 6, Tourterelle triste 10, Grimpereau brun 1 - Chris Cloutier

                                                              Photo Mathias Mutzl
                                          Common Redpoll                         Sizerin flammé

Sightings for Sunday February 6th

Verdun, Île des Soeurs: I spent 1.5 hrs on the southern tip this afternoon. More than a hundred Common Goldeneye and many Common Mergansers were present. Among these birds, I spotted the Harlequin duck.a handsome adult male, a Barrow's goldeneye (M) and a hybrid male Barrow's Goldeneye X Common Goldeneye. On northern tip of 'île aux Hérons, I could see two adult Bald Eagles perched in the same tree.

The Harlequin Duck was seen from the observation platform in the direction of the steeple of the church of La Prairie. It was far, but visible at 30X telescope.

J'ai passé 1h30 à la pointe sud cet après-midi. Plus d'une centaine de Garrots à œil d'or et plusieurs Grands Harles étaient présents. Parmi ces oiseaux, j'ai repéré l'Arlequin plongeur, un beau mâle adulte, un Garrot d'Islande mâle et un hybride Garrot d'Islande X Garrot à œil d'or. Sur la pointe nord de l'île aux Hérons, je pouvais voir les 2 Pygargues à tête blanche adultes perchés dans le même arbre.

L'Arlequin plongeur a été aperçu à partir de la plateforme d'observation en direction du clocher de l'église de La Prairie. Il était assez loin, mais visible au télescope 30X. - Pierre Bannon
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We drove around Ste-Marthe and St-Clet on Sunday afternoon and we found the flock of between 20-30 Lapland Longspurs (Plectrophane lapon (Bruant lapon) that seem to still be frequenting a feeder near the corner of chemin Ste-Julie and Mtee Ste-Julie. We also found a huge flock of at least 100 Snow Buntings (Plectrophane des neiges (Bruants des neiges) on Citee des Jeunes nearby - Ryan Young
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 St-Lazare: There was a group of 10+ Pine Grosbeaks (Durbec des sapins) in the Pinède this morning. They were feeding on spruce buds or regrowths. They were singing quietly all the time they were there. - Diane Demers

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - Saturday, February 5th

The weather for yesterday's trip to rue Higgins in Châteauguay and the Ste-Catherines's Rec-reo-parc could not have been better for early February. Twelve birders were greeted with sunny skies, warm temperatures reaching toward the freezing point by the end of the morning, and almost no wind.

The Higgin's Street feeders and area were fairly active and produced some good sightings most notably two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Carolina Wren and a Tufted Titmouse. All waterfowl sightings at the Recreoparc were noteworthy for the excellent lighting conditions showing off the ducks in their best plumage. A definitive identification of one distant gull proved elusive although best guess is a Glaucous. A Peregrine Falcon sitting on an icebound rock in the river was a pleasant surprise for three birders at the end of the trip.

Please note that the numbers listed below are the leader's estimates as no post trip count was held due to commitments taking many participants away early.

Our complete list of 31 (32?) species included the following:

Canada Geese - 30, American Black Ducks - 20, Mallards - 600+, Northern Pintail - 1, Common Goldeneyes - 100+, Common Mergansers - 50+, Peregrine Falcon - 1, Ring-billed Gull - 6, Herring Gull - 2, Glaucous Gull - 1 (possible), Great Black-backed Gull - 30, Rock Pigeon - 20, Mourning Dove - 6, Red-bellied Woodpeckers - 2, Downy Woodpeckers - 4, Hairy Woodpeckers - 6, Pileated Woodpecker - 2, Blue Jays - 2, American Crow - 20, Common Raven - 1 (probable), Black-capped Chickadees - 20,
Tufted Titmouse - 1 (heard), White-breasted Nuthatches - 4, Carolina Wren - 1, American Robin - 1,
European Starlings - 20, American Tree Sparrows - 3, Dark-eyed Juncos - 5, Northern Cardinals - 3, House Finch - 1, American Goldfinches - 30, House Sparrows - 10

Bernaches du Canada - 30, Canards noirs - 20, Canard colvert - 600 +, Canard pilet - 1, Garrots à oeil d'or - 100 +, Grands Harles - 50 +, Faucon pèlerin - 1, Goéland à bec cerclé - 6, Goéland argenté - 2, Goéland bourgmestre - 1 (possible), Goéland marin - 30, Pigeon bisset - 20, Tourterelles tristes - 6, Pic à ventre roux - 2, Pic mineur - 4, Pic chevelu - 6, Grand Pic - 2, Geai bleu - 2, Corneille d'Amérique - 20, Grand Corbeau - 1 (possible), Mésange à tête noire - 20, Mésange bicolore - 1 (entendu), Sittelles à poitrine blanche - 4, Troglodyte de Caroline - 1, Merle d'Amérique - 1, Étourneau sansonnet - 20, Bruant Hudsonien - 3, Juncos ardoisés - 5, Cardinal rouge - 3, Roselin familier - 1, Chardonnerets jaune - 30, Moineaux domestiques - 10

Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable morning - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Saturday February 5th

Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum -  While snowshoeing spotted 3 Pleated Woodpeckers (Grand pic) (2 on the same tree). 5 to 8 Common Redpoll's (Sizerin flammé) at a bird feeder and a Hairy Woodpecker (Pic chevelu). 10 - 15 Cedar Waxwings (Jaseurs d'Amérique) click photo to enlarge - Mathias Mutzl
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Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Red-bellied Woodpecker male, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Juncos, etc..

Sainte-Catherine locks: two adult Bald Eagles on the island, hundreds of Canada geese, Mallard, Black ducks, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Great black-backed Gulls, Herring gulls, etc..

Au bout de la rue Higgins: Pic à ventre roux mâle, Troglodyte de Caroline, deux Cardinaux rouges, Chardonnerets jaunes, Juncos ardoisés.

Sainte-Catherine des écluses» : deux Pygargues à tête blanche adultes sur l'île, des centaines de Bernaches du Canada, Canards colverts, Canards noirs, Garrots à oeil d'or, Grands Harles, Goélands marins, Goélands argentés, etc.- Michel Bertrand

Sightings for Tuesday February 1st

Châteauguay, rue Higgins:  Red-bellied woodpecker, 2Carolina wrens, American goldfinches, Black-capped chickadees, Hairy woodpeckers, Downy woodpeckers, White-breasted nuthatch, Mourning dove, European starlings, American crows, Blue jays, Northern cardinals and a Sharp-shinned hawk
On the Châteauguay River, I found the female mallard leucique seen on the weekend. On the Blvd. Salaberry South amongst the other mallards.

pic à ventre roux, 2 troglodytes de Caroline,  chardonnerets jaunes, mésanges à tête noire, pics chevelu, pics mineur, sittelles à poitrine blanche, tourterelles tristes, étourneaux sansonnets, corneilles, geai bleu, cardinal rouge et un épervier brun.

Sur la rivière Châteauguay, j’ai retrouvé la femelle colvert leucique aperçu en fin de semaine. Elle était sur le Boul. Salaberry Sud parmi les colverts. - Manon Roy
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Verdun, Île des Soeurs: A tour of woods this morning allowed me to to see : 1 Eastern Screech Owl, 3 Downy Woodpeckers. 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Pileated woodpecker, American Crows, 20 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 White-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Brown Creepers, 1 Winter Wren, 15 American tree sparrows, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 Northern Cardinals, 50 House Sparrows


Une tournée au boisé ce matin m'a permis de voir: 1 Petit-duc maculé, 3 Pics mineurs, 2 Pics chevelus, 1 Grand Pic, Corneilles d'Amérique, 20 Mésanges à tête noire, 3 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 3 Grimpereaux bruns, 1 Troglodyte des forêts, 15 Bruants hudsoniens, 1 Bruant des marais, Bruant à gorge blanche, 2 Juncos ardoisés, 4 Cardinaux rouges, 50 Moineaux domestiques - Pierre Bannon