Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report"

Gault Nature Reserve (Mont St-Hilaire) Field Trip


Sixteen birders, thirty-five species observed, on a sunny but rather cool morning, due to a north-east breeze that was specially felt along the shore of lake Hertel.

As we started our walk through the deciduous forest of mont St-Hilaire, birds were quiet, only the squealing calls and knocking of the omnipresent Yellow-bellied Sapsucker breaking the silence. Nothing to be observed on the lake, except for an elusive Spotted Sandpiper making a swift passage over the exposed shore. Birds finally showed sign of presence around the boardwalk along’side the brook. While small troops of White-throated Sparrows explored the undergrowth, newly arrived warblers searched insects among the buds: a handful of Yellow-rumped Warblers, one or two Black-and-white Warblers and two Black-throated Green Warblers were seen, one giving us a wonderful sight while signing on a branch right above the boardwalk. The area around what is known as le Pré (the meadow) also provided some good sightings: Least Flycatchers, and two species of vireos (Warbling and Blue-headed). In this open area, were also spotted, flying above, three Turkey Vultures, a Peregrine Falcon, a Merlin, a Red-tailed and a Broad-winged Hawk, the last one doing numerous passages, thus giving to the birders great observations.

David Manelli and I greatly thank all of you who came to share some time with us, in one of the last remnants of the original deciduous forest that once covered southern Québec. - Christian Coté

Here is the list of 35 species observed:
Turkey Vulture (Urubu à tête rouge) 3
Canada Goose (Bernache du Canada) 3
Broad-winged Hawk (Petite Buse) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buse à queue rousse) 1
Merlin (Faucon émerillon) 1
Peregrine Falcon (Faucon pèlerin) 1
Spotted Sandpiper (Chevalier grivelé) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Pic maculé) 6
Downy Woodpecker (Pic mineur) 1
Hairy Woodpecker (Pic chevelu) 1
Northern Flicker (Pic flamboyant) 2
Pileated Woodpecker (Grand Pic) 1
Least Flycatcher (Moucherolle tchébec) 3
Eastern Phoebe (Moucherolle phébi) 1
Blue-headed Vireo (Viréo à tête bleue) 1
Warbling Vireo (Viréo mélodieux) 2
Blue Jay (Geai bleu) 1
American Crow (Corneille d’Amérique) 1
Hermit Thrush (Grive solitaire) 1
American Robin (Merle d’Amérique) 3
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sittelle à poitrine blanche) 1
Brown Creeper (Grimpereau brun) 1