Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip report" September 15

Pointe Yamachiche & Baie du Febvre

Despite the uncertain weather early this morning, 9 birders decided to hit the road to Yamachiche.We were lucky enough to avoid rain throughout the day, but the wind were quite strong, particularly after 10 am. The wind probably made a number of birds fly low, including some warblers, raptors (in particular sharp-shinned) as well as blue jays.

At our arrival, we were welcomed by several flocks of blue jays, taking advantage of southern winds. On the trail to the point, we hit a flew flocks of songbirds, but strong winds made it difficult to follow them. All in all, we picked up 8 species of warblers and other songbirds. A couple of solitary sandpipers as well as lesser yellowlegs were foraging in the river.

At the Pointe, no shorebirds, except a mixed flock of Sanderling and Dunlin caught in flight by a few of us. If shorebirds were elusive, raptors were definitely more than active with Peregrine, Kestrel, Sharp-shinned,
Osprey, Red-tailed, Northern harrier and Bald eagle around. Sharp-shinned hawks were definitely on the move and flying very low because of the strong winds. We very conservatively put a total of 12 sharp-shinned hawks, but feel there were likely at least 2 times that number migrating south along the shore.

After Yamachiche, we headed to Pointe-du-lac, where large groups of gulls, a number of herons and a few bald eagles were around, but for shorebirds? only 3 yellowlegs.

Finishing the morning in Pointe du Lac, our species account was at 49 (see list below).

After a quick lunch, 4 of us continued to the south shore, stopping in Port-St-François, where we enjoyed another 6 bald eagles and ended the field trip on Route Janelle at Baie du Febvre, with a good diversity of ducks in the ponds, and with a flock of Golden plovers - with a lost Black-bellied plover, flying right over us. We added another 20 species at Baie-du-Febvre (see 2nd list below).

This was (I feel) an overall good birding day, even if Mother Nature made it different to what we could have anticipated. But that's the fun of it, no? - Fred

Species - Pointe Yamachiche:  Canada Goose 60, American Black Duck 10, Northern Pintail 1, Green-winged Teal 12, White-winged Scoter 3, Common Loon 1, Double-crested Cormorant 10, Great Blue Heron 20, Great Egret 2, Turkey Vulture 1, Osprey 1, Northern Harrier 2, Sharp-shinned Hawk 12, Bald Eagle 4, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 8, Sanderling 5, Dunlin 1, Bonaparte's Gull 15, Ring-billed Gull 100, Herring Gull 30, Great Black-backed Gull 8, Belted Kingfisher 1, Northern Flicker 2, Pileated Woodpecker 1, American Kestrel 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Red-eyed Vireo 3, Blue Jay 120, American Crow 12, Common Raven 1, Black-capped Chickadee 5, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, Brown Creeper 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, Cedar Waxwing 2, Nashville Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 1, Magnolia Warbler 1, Blackburnian Warbler 1, Blackpoll Warbler 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler 9, Black-throated Green Warbler 2, Song Sparrow 1, Rusty Blackbird 1, American Goldfinch 4

Bernache du Canada 60, Canard noir 10, Canard pilet 1, Sarcelle d'hiver 12, Macreuse brune 3, Plongeon huard 1, Cormoran à aigrettes 10, Grand Héron 20, Grande Aigrette 2, Urubu à tête rouge 1, Balbuzard pêcheur 1 , Busard Saint-Martin 2, Épervier brun 12, Pygargue à tête blanche 4, Buse à queue rousse 2, Chevalier grivelé 1, Chevalier solitaire 2, Petit Chevalier 8, Bécasseau sanderling 5, Bécasseau variable 1,  Mouette de Bonaparte 15, Goéland à bec cerclé 100, Goéland argenté 30, Goéland marin 8, Martin pêcheur d'Amérique 1, Pic flamboyant 2, Grand Pic 1, Crécerelle d'Amérique 1, Faucon pèlerin 1, Viréo aux yeux rouges 3, Geai bleu 120, Corneille d'Amérique 12, Grand Corbeau 1, Mésange à tête noir 5, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 2, Grimpereau brun 1, Roitelet à couronne dorée 1, Jaseur d'Amérique 2, Paruline à joues grises 1, Paruline masquée 1, Paruline à tête cendrée 1, Paruline à gorge orangée 1, Paruline rayée 1, Paruline bleue 3 , Paruline à croupion jaune 9, Paruline à gorge noire 2, Bruant chanteur 1, Quiscale rouilleux 1, Chardonneret jaune 4
Additional species - Baie du Febvre and south shore:  Wood Duck 1, Gadwall 6, Mallard 7, Blue-winged Teal 3, Northern Shoveler 6, Redhead 7, Ring-necked Duck 5, Lesser Scaup 2, Bufflehead 1, Ruddy Duck 8, Pied-billed Grebe 2, Common Gallinule 3, Black-bellied Plover 1, American Golden-Plover 16, Rock Pigeon 10, Mourning Dove 3, American Robin 1, European Starling 12, Savannah Sparrow 3, Red-winged Blackbird 6

Canard branchu 1, Canard chipeau 6, Canard colvert 7, Sarcelle à ailes bleues 3, Canard souchet 6, Fuligule à tête rouge 7, Fuligule à collier 5, Petit Fuligule 2, Petit Garrot 1, Érismature rousse 8, Grèbe à bec bigarré 2, Gallinule à poule d'eau 3, Pluvier argenté 1, Pluvier bronzé 16, Pigeon biset 10, Tourterelle triste 3, Merle d'Amérique 1, Étourneau sansonnet 12, Bruant des prés 3, Carouge à épaulettes 6