Thrushes and Thrashers for Beginners: Session 1 - Report

Four birders braved the rain showers at Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard this morning and saw a total of 50 species of birds. The showers were light and intermittent, the temperature pleasant, +14, and the birds active.

Walking back to the parking lot at the end of the morning a definite warm front was felt which resulted in the thrilling spectacle of migrating hawks. The hawks, almost 200, mostly Broad-winged, passed over our heads between 11:20 and 12 noon.

Thanks to the 3 birders who came out to experience an enjoyable morning. - Barbara MacDuff

Here is our list: Common loon 2, Pied-billed grebe 8, Double-crested cormorant 1, American bittern 1, Canada geese 30, Wood duck 2, American wigeon 8, Mallard 30, Ring-necked duck 8, Hooded merganser 2, Osprey 2 ( 1 in migration ), Sharp-shinned hawk 2 ( in migration ), Cooper's hawk 11 (in migration ), Red-shouldered hawk 2, Broad-winged hawk 185 ( in migration ), American Kestrel 1 ( in migration ), Merlin 1, Common moorhen 1, Greater yellowlegs 20 (flying in a flock ), Ring-billed gull 2, Belted kingfisher 2, Hairy woodpecker 1, Northern flicker 4, Pileated woodpecker 1, Eastern kingbird 2, American crow 4, Purple martin 2, Tree swallow 60, Northern rough-winged swallow 1, Barn swallow 1, Black-capped chickadee 3, Marsh wren 1, Ruby-crowned kinglet 6, American robin 12, Gray catbird 1, European starling 4, Cedar waxwing 20, Yellow-rumped warbler 1, Chipping sparrow 20, Fox sparrow 3, Song sparrow 6, Swamp sparrow 2, White-throated sparrow 12, White-crowned sparrow 1, Dark-eyed junco 2, Northern cardinal 3, Red-winged blackbird 80, Common grackle 6, Brown-headed cowbird 1, American goldfinch 16

Plongeon huard 2, Grèbe à bec bigarré 8, Cormoran à aigrettes 1, Butor d'Amérique 1, Bernaches du Canada 30, Canard branchu 2, Canard d'Amérique 8, Canard colvert 30, Fuligule à collier 8, Harle couronné 2, Balbusard pêcheur 2 (1 en migration), Épervier brun 2 (en migration), Épervier de Cooper 11, (en migration), Buse à épaulettes 2, petite buse 185 (en migration), Créserelle d'Amérique 1 (en migration), Faucon émerillon 1, Gallinule poule-d'eau 1, Grand Chevalier 20 (au vol ), Goéland à bec cerclé 2, martin-pêcheur 2, Pic chevelu 1, Pic flaboyant 4, Grand Pic 1, Tyran tritri 2, Corneille d'Amérique 4, Hirondelle noire 2, Hirondelle bicolore 60, Hirondelle à ailes hérissées 1, Hirondelle rustique 1, Mésange à tête noire 3, Troglodyte des marais 1, Roitelet à couronne rubis 6, Merle d'Amérique 12, Moqueur chat 1, Étourneau sansonnet 4, Jaseur d'Amérique 20, Paruline à croupion jaune 1, Bruant familier 20, Bruant fauve 3, Bruant chanteur, Bruant des marais 2, Bruant à gorge blanche 12, Bruant à couronne blanche 1, Dark-eyed Junco 2,  Cardinal rouge 3, Carouge à épaulettes 80, Quiscale bronzé 6, vacher à tête brune 1, Chardonneret jaune 16