Sightings for Thursday August 30

l'Isle aux Coudres: At the end point we observed several species of birds. American Golden Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling, Baird's Sandpiper, Black-Crowned Night-Heron

À la pointe du bout nous avons observé plusieurs espèces doiseaux. Pluvier bronzé, Pluvier kildir, Pluvier semi-palmé, Pluvier siffleur, Pluvier argenté, Bécasseau semi-palmé, Bécasseau sanderling, Bécasseau de Baird, Bihoreau gris - Johanne Paquette
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Tadoussac: A Franklin's Gull juvénile in 1st winter plumage was present at the dunes this morning, 3 Little Gulls and a Lesser black-backed Gull 1st summer, 3 Red crossbills

Une Mouette de Franklin en plumage juvénile/1er hiver était présente aux dunes ce matin.  3 Mouettes pygmées et un Goéland brun 1er été, 3 Becs-croisés des sapins - Samuel Denault

Tadoussac offshore: Sabine's gull, Black-legged kittiwake, Pomarine Jaeger, 5 Parasitic jaeger, Manx shearwater, Red-necked phalarope in fornt of the village of Tadoussac


au large de Tadoussac! 3 MOUETTE DE SABINE 1 Mouette tridactyle,  1 MOUETTE DE FRANKLIN, 1 LABBE POMARIN,  5 LABBES PARASITES. 3 PUFFIN DES ANGLAIS,  PHALAROPE BEC TROIT devant le village de Tadoussac. Renaud Pintiaux & Chantal St-Hilaire

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip" September 1

Saturday 1 September - samedi 1 septembre
Parc nature du Bois-de-l'Île-Bizard
Leader: Felix Hilton 514-631-3437  e-mail

7:30 a.m. Highway 40; exit St. Jean Blvd. north to Gouin Blvd.; left (west) on Gouin to Jacques Bizard Blvd.; right (north) on Jacques Bizard Blvd., over bridge to Blvd. Chevremont; left (west) on Chevremont to Montée de l'Église; right (north) on de l'Église to Ch. Bord-du-Lac; right (east) on Bord-du-Lac to park entrance, approx. 1 km. Parking: $8.00. Looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and migrating passerines. Half day.

7h30 De l'autoroute 40, prendre la sortie pour le boulevard St-Jean nord et continuer sur celui-ci jusqu'au boulevard Gouin. Tourner à gauche (ouest) sur Gouin et continuer jusqu'au boulevard Jacques-Bizard. Tourner à droite (nord) sur Jacques-Bizard et traverser le pont. Tourner à gauche (ouest) sur le boulevard Chevremont et continuer jusqu'à la Montée de l'Église. Tourner à droite (nord) sur celle-ci et continuer jusqu'au chemin du Bord-du-Lac. Tourner à droite (est) sur celui-ci et continuer jusqu'à l'entrée du parc (environ 1 km). Stationnement : 8,00 $. Espèces recherchées : limicoles, sauvagine et passereaux en migration. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Wednesday August 29

Tadoussac offshore: MANX SHEARWATER 7, PARISITIC JAEGER: 5, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 3, BLACK TERN 2,LITTLE GULL 2 And still hundreds of Northern Gannets

Au large de Tadoussac: PUFFIN DES ANGLAIS 7, LABBE PARASITE 5, PHALAROPE À BEC ÉTROIT 3, GUIFETTE NOIRE 2, MOUETTE PYGMÉE 2. Et toujours ces centaines de Fous de Bassan - Chantal St-Hilaire & Renaud Pintiaux

Sightings for Sunday August 26

Philipsburg: At the bottom of the Missisquoi Bay, Philipsburg side, dozens of Least and semipalmated  sandpipers some Greater and Lesser yellowlegs, Killdeer and semipalmated plovers in quantity. The level of water is very low and blue-green algae has wreaked havoc. Hundreds of fish stranded on the beach emit an offensive odor and the  green water does not invite swimming .....

By constrast, this bird is worth the trip - a first for us. A beautiful Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Au fond de la Baie Missisquoi, côté Philipsburg, des dizaines de bécasseaux minuscules et semi-palmés,  quelques grands et petits chevaliers, des pluviers kildirs et semi-palmés en quantité. Le niveau de l'eau est très bas et les algues bleues ont fait des ravages. Des centaines de poissons échoués sur la plage dégagent une odeur nauséabonde et l'eau verte n'invite pas à la baignade.....

Par contre, cet oiseau vaut le déplacement - une première pour nous. Un magnifique bécasseau roussâtre. -Yves et SuZan Cardinal
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barrage Ste Martine (dam): Double-crested cormorant, Great blue heron, Great Egret, Black-Crowned Night-Heron immature, Green heron, Black duck, Mallard, Green-winged teal,  blue-winged teal, Osprey, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed gull, Rock pigeon, Belted kingfisher, Warbling vireo, Philadelphia vireo, European starling, Magnolia warbler,  Yellow-rumped warbler, Common Grackle

cormoran a aigrettes, grand heron, grande aigrette, bihoreau gris immature, heron vert, canard noir, canard colvert, -sarcelle dhiver, sarcelle ailes bleues, balbuzard pecheur, 10-pluvier kildir, grand chevalier, petit chevalier, chevalier grivele,  becasseau minuscule, becasseau a poitrine cendrée, becassin roux, goeland a cerclé, pigeon biset, martin pecheur, vireo melodieux, vireo de philadelphie, étourneau, paruline a tete cendrée, paruline à croupion jaune, quiscale bronzé - DaniellePaquette
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Philipsburg: Along with Olivier Vannucci and his friend, we saw the Buff-breasted Sandpiper today in Philipsburg bay (at the bottom of the campground). Also present: 30 Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer 30, 2 Spotted sandpipers, 15 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Sanderling, 150 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 30 Least Sandpipers, 2 Baird Sandpipers, 10 Pectoral Sandpipers
A total of 72 species in this region.

thank you to Suzan and Yves Cardinal. A site not to be overlooked
En compagnie d'Olivier Vannucci et son amie, nous avons revu le Bécasseau roussâtre aujourd'hui dans la baie de Philipsburg (au fond du terrain de camping). Aussi présents: 30 Pluviers semipalmés, 30 Pluviers kildir, 2 Chevaliers grivelés, 15 Petits Chevaliers, 3 Bécasseaux sanderling, 150 Bécasseaux semipalmés, 30 Bécasseaux minuscules, 2 Bécasseaux de Baird, 10 Bécasseaux à poitrine cendrée
Un total de 72 espèces dans cette région.
Merci à Yves et Suzan Cardinal. Un site à ne pas négliger - Pierre Bannon
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Tadoussac: Long-tailed Jaeger adult passed below the Tadoussac dunes  

Labbe à longue queue adulte est passé en contrebas des dunes de Tadoussac - Renaud Pintiaux

Sightings for Saturday August 25

Pointe Yamachiche 7am 2 pm 200 - 300 Shorebirds:  Least sandpipers, Semipalmated sandpiper, Sanderlings, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs in flight, Solitary sandpiper, Spotted sandpipers juvenile, Semipalmated plovers, Green heron, 30 Bobolink, Great blue heron 1 Great egret, Double-crested cormorant, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Green-winged teal, blue-winged teal
  7h - 14h, 200 - 300 limicole: Bécasseaux minuscules et semipalmés, bécasseaux sanderlings, un chevalier solitaire, un grand chevalier et un petit chevalier en vol, chevaliers grivelés juvéniles, pluviers semipalmés,  héron vert, 30 goglu des prés, Grand héron, une Grande aigrette, un cormoran à aigrette, Pygargues à tête blanche, Busard Saint-Martin, Sarcelle à ailes bleus et d'hiver - Maxime Carbonneau ------------------------------------------------------------- barrage Ste Martine (dam), 1 Short-billed Dowitcher juvenile, Lesser and Greater yellowlegs, Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpiper.  
1 Bécassin roux juvenile, Petits et grands chevalier, Bécasseaux minuscule, Chevaliers grivéle.


Maple grove - a dozen Caspian Terns seen near rue Jean Cauvier, 1 Purple martin, 1 American Bittern   Une douzaine de Sternes caspiennes vue prés de la rue Jean Cauvier, une hirondelle noire, un Butor d'Amérique - Danielle Paquette

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip report" August 25

Today's field trip to the St-Lazare sandpit was attended by 21 persons, some new and of course some veterans. On this hot morning, especially in the pit, we managed to find 36 species. We were witness to a Merlin's hunt for shorebirds and as far as we could see, he wasn't successful, it was probably a young bird. - Jean Demers

The list: 2 American Black duck, 24 Mallard,12 Green-winged Teal, 2 Double-crested Cormorant, 4 Great-blue Heron, 2 Great Egrets, 3 Green Heron, 1 Merlin, 75 Kildeer, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 12 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 24 Least Sandpipers, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Wilson's Snipes, 10 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Rock Pigeons, 12 Mourning Doves, 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Blue Jays, 4 American Crows, 2 Barn Swallows, 13 Black-capped Chickadees, 20 American Robins, 34 European Starlings, 1 Cedar Waxwing, 1 Yellow-romped Warbler, 6 Chipping Sparrows, 10 Song Sparrows, 6 American Goldfinch

2 Canard noir, 24 canard colvert, 12 Sarcelle d'hiver, 2Cormoran à aigrettes, 4 Grand Hérons, 2 Grandes Aigrettes, 3 Héron vert, 1 Faucon émerillon, 75 Pluvier kildir, 2 Grand Chevalier, 6 Petit Chevalier, 2 Chevalier grivelé, 1 Chevalier solitaire, 12 Bécasseau semipalmé, 24 Bécasseaux minuscules, 2 Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée, 2 Bécassines de Wilson , 10 Goélands à bec cerclé, 2 Pigeon biset, 12 Tourterelles tristes, 1 Colibri à gorge rubis, 1 Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, 1 Pic maculé, 1 Pic flaboyant, 1 Grand Pic, 6 Geai bleue, 4 Corneille d'Amérique, 2 Hirondelles rustiques, 13 Mésange à tête noire, 20 Merles d'Amérique, 34 Étourneau sansonnet, 1 Jaseur d'Amérique, 1 Paruline à croupion jaune, 6 Bruant familier, 10 Bruants chanteurs, 6 Chardonneret jaune

Sightings for Friday August 24

Châteauguay, Île Saint Bernard - Refuge faunique Marguerite D'Youville: Managed to get 45 species this morning including a lifer. An Ochard oriole (male) not long after I started. It landed at the top of a tree where the trail starts that goes to the petit digue. Where it perched for about a minute before flying off. Saw and heard it a second time not far from the petit digue. - Tom Long

Canada Goose 30, Wood Duck 7, Mallard 30, Double-crested Cormorant 100, Great Blue Heron 13, Great Egret 10, Green Heron 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Bald Eagle 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 3, Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Greater Yellowlegs 2, Bonaparte's Gull 1, Ring-billed Gull 30, Herring Gull 1, Great Black-backed Gull 3, Caspian Tern 2, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3, Downy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 2, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Eastern Wood-Pewee 11, Eastern Phoebe 1, Warbling Vireo 1, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 2, Black-capped Chickadee 30, Tufted Titmouse 2, White-breasted Nuthatch 11, Brown Creeper 2, House Wren 1, American Robin 4, Gray Catbird 3, Cedar Waxwing 8, Common Yellowthroat 1, Yellow Warbler 3, Song Sparrow 40, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle 1, Orchard oriole 1, Baltimore oriole 1, American Goldfinch 2

Bernache du Canada 30, Canard branchu 7, Canard colvert 30, Cormoran à aigrettes 100, Grand Héron 13, Grande Aigrette 10, Héron vert 1,Bihoreau gris1, Pygague à tête blanche1, Petite Buse 1 Buse à queue rousse 3, Pluvier kildir 2, Chevalier grivelé 1, Grand Chevalier 2, Mouette de Bonaparte 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 30, Goéland argenté 1, Goéland marin 3, Sterne caspienne 2, Colibri à gorge rubis 1, Pic maculé 3, Pic mineur 1, Pic flamboyant 2, Grand Pic 1, Pioui de l'Est 11, Moucherolle phébi 1, Viréo mélodieux 1, Bleu Jay 2, Corneille d'Amérique 2,Mésange à tête noire 30, Mésange bicolore 2, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 11, Grimpereau brun 2, Troglodyte familier 1, Merle d'Amérique 4, Moqueur chat 3, Jaseur d'Amérique 8, Paruline masquée 1, Paruline jaune 3, Bruant chanteur 40, Carouge à épaulettes 2, Quiscale bronzé 1, Oriole des Verger 1, Oriole de Baltimore 1, Chardonneret jaune
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Westmount, parc Summit 9:30 et 12:30: 1 Eastern Screech Owl, 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee, 1 Great Crested Flycatcher1, 10 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Philadelphia Vireo, 10 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch , 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 1 House Wren, 1 Veery, 1 Swainson's Thrush, 3 Tennessee Warblers, 1 Northern Parula, 3 Chestnut-sided warbler, 7 Magnolia warbler, 1 Cape May Warbler, 3 Black-throated Blue Warblers, 3 Black-throated Green, 1 Blackburnian Warbler, 5 Bay-breasted, 5 American redstart , 1 Northern Waterthrush, 2 Common yellowthroat, 1 Wilson's warbler, 2 Canada Warblers, 1 Northern cardinal, 2 American Goldfinches

1 Petit-duc maculé, 1 Colibri à gorge rubis, 2 Pics mineurs, 1 Pic chevelu, 2 Pioui de l'Est, 1 Tyran huppé, 10 Viréo aux yeux rouges, 1 Viréo de Philadelphie, 10 Mésange à tête noire, 1 Sittelle à poitrine rousse, 2 Sittelles à poitrine blanche, 1 Troglodyte familier, 1 Grive fauve, 1 Grive à dos olive, 3 Parulines obscures, 1 Paruline à collier, 3 Parulines à flancs marron, 7 Parulines à tête cendrée, 1 Paruline tigrée, 3 Parulines bleues, 3 Parulines à gorge noire, 1 Paruline à gorge orangée, 5 Parulines à poitrine baie, 5 Parulines flamboyantes, 1 Paruline des ruisseaux, 2 Parulines tristes, 2 Parulines masquées, 1 Paruline à calotte noire, 2 Parulines du Canada, 1 Cardinal rouge, 2 Chardonnerets jaunes - Pierre Bannon

Sightings for Friday August 24

St-Hubert, Parc de la Cité A Philadelphia Vireo (Viréo de Philadelphie) was briefly seen by one of the wetland clearings, soon after a Greater Yellowlegs (Grand Chevalier) arrived near the same location and instantly flew off - Nick Bonnema

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip" August 25

St Lazare Sand Pits and Area

Time: 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Location: St Lazare Sand Pits and Area
Leaders: Jean Demers and Clémence Soulard 514-694-8240 e-mail 

7:30 a.m. From Highway 40 west towards Ottawa take Exit 26. Turn left on Chemin Daoûst (which becomes Avenue Bédard) and proceed 4 km to Chemin Ste-Angelique. Turn right and after 1.4 km turn left on Montée St-Robert. Continue for 2.6 km to Parc St-Robert on the left and meet in the parking lot. Looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and early fall migrants. $2.00 or $3.00 charge (exact change). Half day.


7h30 Depuis l'autoroute 40 ouest vers Ottawa, prendre la sortie 26. Tourner à gauche sur le Chemin Daoust (qui devient l'avenue Bédard) et continuer 4 km jusqu'au Chemin Ste-Angélique. Tourner à droite puis après 1,4 km, tourner à gauche sur la Montée St-Robert. Continuer 2.6 km jusqu'au Parc St-Robert sur la gauche. Le lieu de rencontre est situé dans le stationnement. Nous rechercherons les oiseaux de rivage, la sauvagine et les oiseaux migrateurs hâtifs. 2,00 $ ou $ 3,00 pour l'entrée (monnaie exacte). Demi-journée.

Summer Series 2012 - Trip Report #6

What a perfect day to be out birding. Sunny, little humidity, temperature around 20 degrees. We could not have asked for better. One word of warning to anyone planning this same trip in the near future. If you are allergic to ragweed, be prepared. There are substantial amounts of the weed at all four sites. In addition to the birds, there were plenty of butterflies and dragonflies to be observed as well throughout the day.

Today's outing saw 13 birders visit 4 of the eastern Ontario sewage lagoons; St-Albert, Embrun, Casselman and St-Isidore. As we arrived at the St-Albert Lagoons we had a feeling it was going to be a great day. Our first birds of the day included no less than a Short-billed Dowitcher, a Wilson's Phalarope and a Red-necked Phalarope, all within a few feet of each other!

We spent close to 2 hours at each of the lagoons, finding a variety of birds at each. We had one major puzzle of the day, that being at the 6th of the 7 cells at the St-Albert Lagoons. There was on-going debate throughout the day as to whether a bird we saw diving off in the back corner of this cell could have been a Red-necked Grebe. Even with several well experienced birders and a battery of spotting scopes, there was much discussion on the identity of the bird we saw diving and resurfacing numerous times. Its stays underwater were quite lengthy.

There were some who believed we were looking at a hooded merganser; others convinced we had the Red-necked Grebe. You'd think with all the eyes upon the bird that we could have come to a definitive ID, but we could not, so it remains the mystery of the day, and the one that got away! Also possible that some, were just looking at a different bird. As they ID what appeared to be the only bird at the cell, after the main goup moved on, after pointing it out. Just an example of how tricky birding can be sometimes.

So here is our list of species for the day. Numbers for many species are just rough estimates. Our total count was 59 species, with the 60th possibly being the disputed Red-necked Grebe.

Canada Goose 8, Wood Duck 50, American Black Duck 2, Mallard 50, Blue-winged Teal 12, Green-winged Teal 10, Hooded Merganser 3, Pied-billed Grebe 4, Red-necked Grebe (in dispute)!, Great Blue Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 12, Osprey 1, Northern Harrier 7, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, Merlin 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Virginia Rail 1, Common Moorhen 20, Semipalmated Plover 3, Killdeer 3, Lesser Yellowlegs 12, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Semipalmated Sandpiper 6, Least Sandpiper 20, Baird's Sandpiper 1, Short-billed Dowitcher 1, Wilson's Snipe 1, Wilson's Phalarope 1, Red-necked Phalarope 1, Ring-billed Gull 3, Rock Pigeon 4, Mourning Dove 24, Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard only), Chimney Swift 6, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Eastern Phoebe 2, Eastern Kingbird 1, Blue Jay 4, American Crow 12, Common Raven 2, Tree Swallow 75, Bank Swallow 6, Cliff Swallow 4, Barn Swallow 24, Black-capped Chickadee 1, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 1, European Starling 40, Cedar Waxwing 5, Yellow Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, Savannah Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 12, Bobolink 24, Red-winged Blackbird 12, American Goldfinch 30, House Sparrow 8

Bernache du Canada 8, Canard branchu 50, Canard noir 2, Canard colvert 50, Sarcelle à ailes bleues 12, Sarcelle d'hiver 10, Harle couronné 3, Grèbe à bec bigarré 4, Grèbe jougris (en litige)!, Grand Heron 1, Urubu à tête rouge 12, Balbuzard pêcheur 1, Busard Saint-Martin 7, Épervier brun 1, Buse à queue rousse 1, Crécerelle d'Amérique 1, Faucon émerillon  1, Faucon pèlerin 1, Phalarope de Wilson 1, Phalarope à bec étroit 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 3, Pigeon biset 4, Tourterelle triste 24, Coulicou à bec jaune (entendu seulment), Martinet ramoneur 6, Colibri à gorge rubis 1, Martin pêcheur d'Amérique 1 , Moucherolle phébi 2, Tyran tritri 1, Geai bleu 4, Corneille d'Amérique 12, Grand Corbeau 2, Hirondelle bicolore 75, Hirondelle de rivage 6, Hirondelle à front blanc 4, Hirondelle rustique 24, Mésange à tête noire 1, Merle d'Amérique 2, Moqueur chat  1, Étourneau sansonnet 40, Jaseur d'Amérique 5, Paruline jaune 1, Paruline à croupion jaune 3, Bruant des prés 2, Song Sparrow 12, Goglu des prés 24, Carouge à épaulettes 12, Chardonneret jaune 30, Moineau domestique 8

Sightings for Friday August 17

Châteauguay, I went to Île Saint Bernard - Refuge faunique Marguerite D'Youville this morning before the anticipated rain, which thankfully did not occur. The water level is quite low, lower than I have ever seen it. As a consequence there were a few more shorebirds than usual. There were some other shorebirds other than what's mentioned below, but I did not bring my scope, so was unable to identify them. - Tom Long

Click photos to enlarge

31 species: Canada Goose 6, Wood Duck 17, Mallard 30, Double-crested Cormorant 300, American Bittern 1, Great Blue Heron 5, Great Egret 28, Virginia Rail 2, Sora 1, Killdeer 20, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs 6, Ring-billed Gull 30, Great Black-backed Gull 2, Caspian Tern 3, Common Tern 5, Rock Pigeon 4, Eastern Wood-Pewee 5, Eastern Phoebe 1, Red-eyed Vireo 2, American Crow 1, Black-capped Chickadee 30, Tufted Titmouse 2, White-breasted Nuthatch 8, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 5, Song Sparrow 20, Northern Cardinal 1, Baltimore Oriole 2, American Goldfinch 10, House Sparrow 2

31 espèces: Bernache du Canada 6, Canard branchu 17, Canard colvert 30, Cormoran à aigrettes 300, Butor d'Amérique 1, Grand héron 5, Grande Aigrette 28, Râle de Virginie 2, Marouette de Caroline 1, Pluvier kildir 20, Grand Chevalier 1, Petit Chevalier 6, Goéland à bec cerclé 30, Grande Goéland marin 2, Sterne caspienne 3, Sterne pierregarin 5, Pigeon biset 4, Pioui de l'Est 5, Moucherolle phébi 1, Viréo aux yeux rouges 2, Corneille d'Amérique 1, Mésange à tête noire 30, Mésange bicolore 2, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 8, Merle d'Amérique 2, Moqueur chat 5, Bruant chanteur 20, Cardinal rouge 1, Oriole de Baltimore 2, Chardonneret jaune 10, Moineau domestique 2---------------------------------------------------------------------
barrage Ste-Martine dam: Around 11:00 this morning, I observed a Baird's Sandpiper on the far left, a Semipalmated Plover, Spotted sandpiper and Solitary sandpiper several Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Great Egret, Osprey, Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Vers 11h00 ce matin, j'ai observé un Bécasseau de Baird au fond à gauche, un Pluvier semipalmé, Chevalier Solitaire et Grivelé, plusieurs Grand Chevalier, Petit Chevalier, Grande aigrette, Balbuzard pêcheur, Bihoreau gris.

Maple-Grove: At the end of rue McDonald the Marbled Godwit is still there

Au bout de la rue McDonald à  la Barge marbrée y est toujours la - Marc Boisvert

Sightings for Wednesday August 15

Montréal: Red-headed woodpecker heard and seen on rue Hutchison in Outremont

Un Pic à tête rouge entendu et observé sur la rue Hutchison à Outremont - Johanne Paquette
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Tadoussac: A beautiful SANDWICH TERN was present near dunes of Tadoussac on August 15 AT 5 pm The bird was in flight was heading west, passing over the flats below the dunes. And offshore, several Parasitic Jaegers, Leach's Storm-Petrel and Manx Shearwater

Une magnifique STERNE CAUKEG était présente près des dunes de Tadoussac ce 15 août vers 17h! L'oiseau en vol se dirigeait vers l'ouest, en passant au-dessus des battures en contrebas des dunes. Et toujours au large, plusieurs Labbes parasites, Océanites cul-blanc et quelques Puffins des anglais! - Renaud Pintiaux

Summer Series 2012 - Field Trip #6 - Saturday, August 18

Saturday's trip will wrap-up of the 2012 Summer Series. We will be visiting 4 Eastern Ontario sewage lagoons. This annual summer outing has always been one of our most popular and productive outings.

As of today (Tuesday), the long-range weather forecast for the Casselman, Ontario region looks very good (mainly sunny, high of 20). That of course can change quickly. We will keep a watch on things as the week progresses.

SPECIAL NOTE: I'm making a change to this year's trip. This year we will do the usual route, only in reverse, starting at the St-Albert Lagoons and ending the day at the St-Isidore Lagoons.

DATE: Saturday, August 18
TIME: 7:00 AM – Full day; combination driving/walking trip
MEETING PLACE: Departing from the Hudson Inn parking lot in Hudson, Quebec located at Exit 17 off of Highway 40. Please arrive early to be ready to depart for Ontario at 7 AM sharp. We have roughly a 90 km. drive from Hudson to our first stop in St-Albert, thus the need for the early start.

ITINERARY: We will visit 4 different sewage lagoons; St-Albert, Embrun, Casselman and St-Isidore. We are hoping for a variety of shorebirds and marsh-dwellers, together with whatever other birds we find throughout the day. St-Albert and Embrun will fill the morning. We'll break for lunch at Tim Horton's in Casselman prior to heading on to the Casselman and St-Isidore stops. Bring your lunch or pick up something at a number of restaurants located at the Cassleman stop. Picnic tables, washrooms and gasoline are all available here.

There is a lot of walking required at each site, particularly at St. Albert, the largest of the four sites. The lagoons are located in wide open and exposed areas, away from any facilities. They provide no shade or shelter from the sun or rain. Therefore dress accordingly and bring along fluids and/or snacks.

Spotting scopes will be very useful. If you have portable two-way radios, please bring them along. They are excellent tools on road trip such as this. Car-pooling is highly recommended as parking at the lagoons is limited. Cars may be left at our departure point at the Hudson Inn parking lot.

If you have any question, please contact me by e-mail, or by telephone at 450-462-1459. If you are delayed on Saturday morning, please call me on the BPQ cellphone at 514-637-2141. We will leave Hudson at 7 am sharp. However you will have time to catch up to us at our first stop in St-Albert.

This is a long day of birding. Should you choose to leave the group at any point during the day, there is easy access back to Highway 417 from any of the sewage lagoon locations.

We look forward to an exciting day on Saturday. - Sheldon

DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS:

Continue on Highway 40 West (Highway 417 in Ontario) for 83 kilometers to Exit 66 (Casselman) Take EXIT 66 for Casselman.  Go south (LEFT) on Regional Road 7 toward the town of St-Albert. RR-7 makes a sharp turn right, heading west for approximately 8 km.  Look for the sewage lagoon sign & entrance on the left, opposite house number #1664.

STOP #1 - St. Albert, Ontario Sewage Lagoons
http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/sewage6.htm

Leaving the St-Albert Lagoons, turn left on Regional Road 7
Follow RR-7 to a 90-degree turn on to Regional Road 5, traveling NORTH After a short distance, turn LEFT on to Route 500 heading WEST
Follow Route 500 west to St-Joseph Road
Turn RIGHT on to St-Joseph Road
Follow St-Joseph Road (North) to Route 400.
Turn RIGHT on Route 400 The entrance to the Embrun Sewage Lagoons is about 1 km on the left.

STOP #2 - Embrun, Ontario Sewage Lagoons
http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/sewage5.htm

Head west on Route 400 to St-Joseph Road
Turn RIGHT (north) on St-Joseph Road
Travel 1.5 km to Highway3-rue Notre-Dame
Turn RIGHT on Highway3-Notre-Dame
Drive 2.8 km to Regional Road #5
Turn LEFT on Regional Road #5
Drive 2.5 km on Regional Road #5 to Highway 417
Take Highway 417 EAST towards Casselman
Drive 13 km on Highway 417 East to Exit 66-Casselman
Turn left off the exit, cross the highway and the Tim Hortons parking will be on your right
LUNCH BREAK at the Tim Horton’s

From Tim Hortons, drive north to Lemieux Road.
Follow Lemieux Road to the intersection with Route 500
Turn RIGHT on to Route 500.
Immediately on your right is a narrow dirt road. This is the entrance to the Casselman Sewage Lagoons

STOP #3 - Casselman, Ontario Sewage Lagoons
http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/sewage7.htm

From the lagoons, turn RIGHT on Route 500
Travel 4.3 km to County Road 8
Turn LEFT on to County Road 8
Travel 0.6 km on County Road 8 and turn RIGHT on to County Road 3
Travel approximately 10 km on County Road 3 to Bourgon Road
Turn LEFT on Bourgon Road and follow it 1.2 km to the dead-end turnoff to the St-Isidore Sewage Lagoons

STOP #4 - St. Isidore, Ontario Sewage Lagoons
http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/sewage8.htm

Take Bourgon Road back to County Road 3
Turn LEFT on to County Road 3 to the flashing light intersection with Route 9
Turn RIGHT on to Route 9
Drive 5.3 km on Route 9 to Highway 417.
Take Highway 417 East back towards Montreal

Sightings for Sunday August 12

Sainte-Catherine, Récré-O-Parc: The Little Egret was again present in the bay to the left of the stairs leading down to the river.Also at least 5 Great egret, an American Bittern that made us made us jump, taking off about five feet away, a Least Bittern and many Spotted sandpipers - Map


L'Aigrette Garzette était encore présent, dans la baie à gauche de l'escalier menant au fleuve. Aussi au moins 5 grande-aigrettes, un butor d'Amérique qui nous a fait faire le saut,il a levé a 5 pieds de nous, un petit blongios, plusieurs chevaliers grivelé - Carte - Pierre Casavant & Monique Coulombe

Sightings for Friday August 10

Maplegrove: behind the small park at the end of rue MacDonald - Wilson's snipe, Marbled godwit

Derrière le petit parc du bout de la rue MacDonald: Bécassine de Wilson, Barge marbrée - André Lacasse, Eve-Lyne Samson