Sightings for Sunday January 27

Saint-Hubert Airport: 1 Northern Shrike in the field off of Rue du R-100. He was pearched on the top most branch of the tallest tree!


Aéroport de Saint-Hubert: 1 Pie Grièche dans le champs à côté de la Rue R-100. Il étais sur la plus haute branche du plus haut arbre! - Shawna Sevigny

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, January 26 - samedi 26 janvier
Sainte-Marthe, Saint-Clet, Sainte-Justine
Leader: Wayne Grubert- 450-458-5498  e-mail

8:00 a.m. Meet at Hudson Inn, exit 17 off Highway 40. From Montreal, take Highway 40 west towards Ottawa. Allow an hour's drive from Montreal. Looking for Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Snow Buntings and other open-country winter birds. Bring warm clothes for standing around or taking short walks (or in case weather conditions dictate a complete change of itinerary). We will try to keep the number of cars to a minimum; therefore, car-pooling arranged ahead of time and/or at our rendezvous would be greatly appreciated. Half day.

8h00 Rassemblement au Hudson Inn, sortie 17 de l'autoroute 40. De Montréal, prendre l'autoroute 40 ouest, en direction d'Ottawa. Prévoir une heure à partir de Montréal. Espèces recherchées : Harfang des neiges, Buse pattue, Bruant des neiges et autres oiseaux d'hiver. Apporter des vêtements suffisamment chauds pour de courtes marches et permettant de passer du temps à l'extérieur; prévoir également d'éventuels changements de plans, dus à la météo. Nous vous encourageons à faire du covoiturage en vue de limiter le nombre de voitures. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Wednesday January 23

 Rigaud mountain: pileated woodpecker (grand pic) - Jim Forster

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday 19 January – samedi 19 janvier

Montréal, Parc-nature de l'Île-de-la-Visitation
Leaders: Jean Demers and Clémence Soulard 514-694-8240 e-mail 

8:00 a.m. From Highway 40 (Metropolitan Blvd) take Papineau north to Henri Bourassa. Turn right (east) on Henri Bourassa and turn left on Rue de Lille. Turn right onto Gouin and left into the parking area. Parking : $8.00. Looking for winter birds. Half day.

8h00 De l'autoroute 40(boul métropolitain) prendre la sortie Papineau nord jusqu'à Henri Bourassa. Tourner à droite (est) sur Henri Bourassa et tourne à gauche sur Rue de Lille. Tourner à droite sur Gouin jusqu'au stationnement du parc. Stationnement : 8,00$. À la recherche des oiseaux d'hiver. Demi-journée

Sightings for Tuesday January 15

Montreal: This afternoon, a Cooper's hawk was hunting Pigeons in the alley of Rue Des Érables (one block north of Jean-Talon). I was on my balcony and raptor the passed a few meters away from me!

Ce midi, à Montréal, un épervier de Cooper chassait des pigeons dans la ruelle de la rue Des Érables (une rue au nord de Jean-Talon). J'étais sur mon balcon et le rapace est passé à quelque mètres de moi! - Alexis Robin-Brisebois

Sightings for Saturday January 12

Montréal: A number of Great Grey Owls (Chouette lapone) are turning up in the fields across from the Cap St.Jacques Park. We saw one behind the Ste. Genevieve Cemetery yesterday. Apparently, up to four have been seen in the vicinity by the local farmer. We have looked in the CSJ Park itself and along Chemin de L'anse a L'Orme, but have not spotted any there, as yet. A single bird was found near the bridge on Ch. L'anse l'Orme last year by Alison Hackney, who also found one in the same area just a couple of days ago. There are a couple of Red-tailed Hawks (Buse à queue rousse), a Northern shrike (Pie-grièche grise)  and a large, mixed flock of Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings (Jaseurs Cèdre et de Bohême) in the same area. - Bob Barnhurst

Bird Protect Quebec "Field Trip Report" January 12

Montréal, Botanical Gardens

Overcast, misty morning, clearing by noon. +4˚C. 14 birders, 22 species.

Red-tailed Hawk 1, Rough-legged Hawk 1, Great black-backed Gull 1, Rock Pigeon 7, Downy Woodpecker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 1, American Crow 3, Black-capped Chickadee 60, Red-breasted Nuthatch 3, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, American Robin 20, European Starling 3, Cedar Waxwing 20, White-throated Sparrow 1, Dark-eyed Junco 8, Northern Cardinal 14, Pine Grosbeak 8, House Finch 40, Common Redpoll 60, Hoary Redpoll 1, American Goldfinch 25, House Sparrow 2

Buse à queue rousse 1, Buse pattue 1, Goéland marin 1, Pigeon biset 7, Pic mineur 3, Pic chevelu 1, Corneille d'Amérique 3, Mésange à tête noire 60, Sittelle à poitrine rousse 3, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 2, Merle d'Amérique 20, Étourneau sansonnet 3, Jaseur d'Amérique 20, Bruant à gorge blanche 1, Junco ardoisé 8, Cardinal rouge 14, Durbec des sapins 8, Roselin familier 40, Sizerin flammé 60, Sizerin blanchâtre 1, Chardonneret jaune 25,  Moineau domestique 2 - Guy Zenaitis

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, January 12 - samedi 12 janvier
Montreal Botanical Garden -
Jardin Botanique de Montréal
Leader: Guy Zenaitis  514-256-8118 e-mail 

8:00 a.m. Meet in front of the restaurant, near the entrance on Sherbrooke St. East. There is a charge for parking inside the gates. Looking for winter finches. Half day.

8h00 Rassemblement devant le restaurant, près de l'entrée du jardin sur la rue Sherbrooke Est. Prévoir des frais de stationnement. Espèces recherchées : oiseaux d'hiver. Demi- journée.

Sightings for Sunday January 6

St. Clet: While looking for Snowy Owls this afternoon along rang St. Julie in St. Clet we came across a beautiful Short-eared Owl (Hibou des marais) - Terry Lunn and Brenda Guldemond
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  St-Hubert: Boul. Clairevue east side of Clairevue in direction Boul. Montarville the Snowy owl that I observed late yesterday pm was still on his pipe at 9:20.

at he corner of boul. Clairevue and Chemin de l'aéroport a dozen Pine Grosbeak in larch trees!! they seemed to be eatting the tiny seeds in cones of the tree.

du coté est de Clairevue, en direction du Boul de Montarville l'harfang des neiges que j'avais observé hier en fin de p.m. était toujours sur son tuyau à 9h20.

Au coin de Clairevue et Chemin de l'aéroport, une dizaine de durbec des sapins dans un mélèze !!!! ils semblaient manger les graines dans les minuscules cônes de l'arbre.
Varennes: A Snowy owl on montée de la Baronnie, north of autoroute 30 and east of Baronnie

Un harfang des neiges, sur la montée de la Baronnie, au nord de la autoroute 30 et à l'est de Baronnie - André Provost

CORRECTION TO TIME OF BPQ Monthly Meeting/Lecture

Please note that there was an error in the notice regarding the BPQ monthly meeting/lecture to be held on January 7th. The CORRECT time is 7.30 PM, as usual for all BPQ monthly meetings.

Sightings for Saturday January 5

Saint-Clet and area: I tried my luck for a Snowy Owl, but no such luck. Among the interesting species, there were Horned Lark 30, Snow Bunting 30, Merlin 1, Wild Turkeys 15

St-Polycarpe: On rue Ranger a Great gray owl

Saint-Clet, et le alentiors J'ai tenté ma chance pour un Harfang des neiges mais aucune chance. Parmi les espèces intéressantes, il y avait Alouette hausse col 30, Plectrophane des neiges 30, Faucon émérillon 1, Dindons sauvage 15

St-Polycarpe: Sur la rue Ranger, une chouette Lapone - Sylvie Vanier-------------------------------------------------------------------
Laval: between Laval and Terrebonne on the Rivière des Mille-Îles. arriving along the river at park Olivier Charbonneau, I saw the Great Cormorant. It was well to the east of the old Terrebonne train bridge and, on a sheet of ice in the middle of the river, where it is crossed by power lines supported by concrete poles. In the same area, there was a Glaucous gull with the Great black-backed gulls and Herring Gulls. I was there between 12:00 and 12:15

entre Laval et Terrebonne, sur la rivière des Mille-Îles. Arrivant en longeant la rivière depuis le parc Olivier-Charbonneau, j'ai aperçu le Grand Cormoran bien avant d'arriver là où j'allais. Il était bien à l'est du vieux pont de Terrebonne et du pont des trains, sur une plaque de glace au milieu de la rivière, à l'endroit où elle est traversée par une ligne électrique soutenue par des pylônes en béton. Dans le même secteur, il y avait un Goéland bourgmestre avec des Goélands marins et des Goélands argentés. J'étais là entre 12h00 et 12h15  -Michel Bertrand
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St-Hubert: Boul. Clairevue around 4:15 and there, without a scope or binoculars I spotted a Snowy owl, on a large metal pipe, visible on the east side of Clairevue in direction Boul. Montarville.

Boul. Clairevue vers 4hr15 et là, sans longue vue ni lunette j'en ai repéré un Harfang des neiges, sur un gros tuyau de métal, visible du coté est de Clairevue, en direction du Boul de Montarville - André Provost

Sightings for Friday January 4

Laval, rivière des Mille Îles: Montée du Moulins, the Great commorant was still there around 2 pm

Montée du Moulins le Grand Cormoran y était toujours vers 14h00. - Marc Boisvert

Bird Protection Quebec's "Monthly Meeting/Lecture"

Date: Monday January 7, 2013
Time: 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Location: Knox Crescent Kensington and First Presbyterian Church 6255 Godfrey Avenue NDG
Notes: International Birding

Many of our members are ecotourists, travelling the world to see birds. We thought it would be interesting and fun to have them share their experiences and perhaps inspire more members to go globe-trotting. So this is the night.

INTERNATIONAL BIRDING

Nick Acheson: GETTING STARTED

I have been on birding trips in the USA ( Alaska, Texas, Montana, Arizona ) Australia, Antarctica and Ecuador and have enjoyed birding on my own at resorts in Mexico and Central America where we go for short respites from Montreal winters! International birding is great fun and I can give you some advice on how to get involved in such trips.

Jane Cormack: KENYA BIRDING SAFARI

A presentation featuring the highlights of of the 2012 birding safari in Kenya , led by David Bird and Rodger Titman. We visited a variety of sites including the famous Nairobi and Maasai Mara game parks and lesser known research and wildlife centres, covering habitats from the vast open savannah to the rich lakes of the Rift Valley to the flooded streets and traffic jams of Nairobi. Our accommodations covered the full gamut from rustic cabins with outdoor facilities to four and five star hotels. The wildlife did not disappoint. We saw the big five , some of the small five as well as flamingoes, ostrich, honeyguides, barbets and tinkerbirds, hornbills, hoopoe, kingfishers, bitterns ,pelicans, rollers, secretary birds and go-away birds.

Jean Demers and Clémence Soulard: BIRDING IN COLOMBIA

With approximately 1,900 bird species, 80 of which are endemic. we opted for a Colombian tour. For us, it's very important to hire local people and thereby help the local economy. We were in contact with Luis Eduardo Urena the director and owner of Manakin Nature Tours� http://www.manakinnaturetours.com for over a year before our vacation. We felt fortunate to find a tour operator who was very professional and worked hard to ensure that we saw particular birds. (He worked so hard that he found two lifers for himself!)

We travelled mostly in the mountains, between 300m and 4,000m. We started in Bogota (2600m) at Parque La Florida, and then drove to El Jard�n Encantado in San Francisco. The main attraction there was 28 Hummingbird feeders. In two hours, we counted 16 species including Long Bill Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Brown Violetear and the magnificent Red-billed Emerald.

Martin Bowman: SOUTH KOREA AND HOKKAIDO, JAPAN'S NORTHERN ISLAND

South Korea is one of the most accessible places on the planet to see birds on migration from Siberia to southern Asia with the west coast of the country on the flyway of many interesting species. We were there in early October, our visit timed to see the Spoon-billed sandpiper and we were not disappointed. Hokkaido is Japan's wild northern frontier, home to the Red-crowned or Japanese Crane and the spectacular Blakiston's Fish-Owl; it is also the wintering grounds of the Steller's Sea -Eagle.The pelagic birding is amazing.

Eileen Meillon: ON THE FRENCH- SPANISH BORDER

The Parc national des Pyrenees is accessible from six valleys in the Hautes-Pyrenees department of the French-Spanish border. While the mountain scenery is magnificent, one can also see some of the world's largest raptors. The park has recently partnered with La Ligue pour La Protection des Oiseaux for the protection of some of them, including the Lammergeier. Smaller birds like the Alpine Accentor and the Rock Thrush also prefer a mountain habitat.

Virginia Elliott and Nancy Montgomery: THE GALAPAGOS

"Galapagos " has become synonymous with conservation. Elsewhere in the world environmentalists struggle to have the protection of habitat and animal species recognized as a priority . The Galapagos have become the focus of how to harmonize human impact and the natural world . It is a privilege to travel there , not only because there are unique species but to witness the positive effect that the worldwide attention on conservation has had.

The speakers have ten minutes for their presentation but you will be able to speak to them at the back of the room afterwards.

Sightings for Thursday January 3

Laval, rivière des Mille Îles: I refound the Great commorant found yesterday by Louise Dumont. Around 9am it was on Laval side - rue Dessureaux, between rue Dessureaux and the Terrebonne bridge.
rivière des Mille Îles: J'ai retrouvé le Grand Cormoran trouvé hier par Louise Dumont. Vers 9hrs il etait du cote de Laval a la hauteur de la rue Dessureaux, entre la rue Dessureaux et le pont de Terrebonne - Georges Lachane
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Saint-Lazare: The Great Gray Owl (Chouette lapone) reported from Saint-Lazare a few days ago was seen again today at about 4:00 PM. The location was along Montee Saint-Lazare, roughly 200m south of the intersection with Rue des Loisiers. The bird was perched atop a roadside tree where it sat for several minutes before flying across the road into the woodlot on the east side of the road. - Jay VanderGaast
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Lachute: I took a look at the dump gulls near Lachute this afternoon. In the field south of the dump were around 70 loafing gulls, in with them was a 1st Winter Thayer's Gull (Goéland de Thayer); 12 Glaucous Gulls (Goélands bourgmestres) (1stW, 2ndW, ad) and 4 Iceland Gulls (Goélands artique) (2 ad, 2 1stW). The gulls can be viewed from the road although they may vary in range, a scope is advised. To locate the field, from Montreal take highway 50 to Lachute, exit south-east on route 329. Go around 4km until Chemin de la Sources appears as a crossroads, take the right turn. Drive past the obvious dump entrance and down the hill to check the fields. Depending where the gulls are loafing, it may be possible to drive closer by taking a cleared farm track on the left further down the hill. - Mark Dennis
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Saint-Constant: with Nicole Guenette, we had the opportunity to observe and photograph around 15:30, 2 Broad-winged Hawks in a tree at the rear of the residence of 506 Chemin de la Petite Côte Saint-Constant. The two winged Hawks then left all to follow the (stream) ruisseau Lasaline finally heading off onto the land of Lafarge cement which is located between the Chemin de la Petite Côte and Highway 15.

En compagnie de Nicole Guénette, nous avons eu la chance d'observer et de photographier vers 15h30, deux Petites Buses dans un arbre à l'arrière de la résidence du 506 Chemin de la Petite Côte à Saint-Constant. Les 2 Petites Buses ont quitté ensemble pour suivre le ruisseau Lasaline pour finalement bifurquer vers le terrain de la cimenterie Lafarge qui est situé entre le Chemin de la Petite Côte et l'autoroute 15. - Lucien Lemay

Bird Protection Quebec "Research Grants 2013"

Applications for research funding from BPQ should be received by no later than the last day of February. Anyone intending to make an application should consult the appropriate section of our website for information concerning the format in which applications should be made and the information to be provided. Applications may be made in either French or English but should include a synopsis in the other official language.

Amounts, normally of up to $3000 per annum, are available for single or multi-year projects relating to Quebec birds. Normally, the studies should be conducted within Quebec but we are open to appropriate requests for support for studies partly or wholly conducted outside Quebec provided they are demonstrably relevant to Quebec species or habitat.

Studies are to be conducted during 2013 and applicants should note that an end of year written summary of results and conclusions is a mandatory requirement of individuals or groups that we support.

Please pass this to anyone you are in contact with who may be interested.

We are particularly interested in working with groups conducting long-term studies with established goals.

Richard Gregson

President of BPQ and Chair of the BPQ Grants Committee.

Sightings for Wednesday January 2

Westmount: At 7:35 this morning a Great Grey Owl (Chouette lapone), with about 20 Crows (Corneilles) following it flew across the Boulevard at the corner of Lansdowne in Westmount. The bird landed in a crab apple tree on Edgehill just above the Boulevard. It stayed approximately 5 minutes then flew eastbound with the crows in trail. - Bruce
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Québec: Northern hawk owl at the north end of the rue Jean-Gauvin (in the field on the west side).

Chouette épervière à l'extrémité nord de la rue Jean-Gauvin (dans le champ du côté ouest).

Lévis: a Red-Crossbill at 119 Boucher. The owner told me that the Crossbills have been there for 1 week.

un Bec-croisé des sapins au 119 Boucher. La propriétaire m'a dit que les becs-croisés étaient là depuis 1 semaine. - Marie-Hélène Hachey
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Terrebonne: Yesterday and today I had the chance to observe a Great Cormorant (GRCO) on the rivière des Mille Îles in Terrebonne. A first for me at this location.
I returned today starting at City Hall, I saw the cormorant was in the water and let himself drift to the pont (bridge) Sophie Masson. I lost sight of it, but then I found it again. It was hardly visible, pressed against the cement wall along the north side of the river, and then he moved a little, allowing me to clearly see the demarcation between the white and black of the front of the body. There was no other bird close by to compare the size of the cormorant. I took some photos digiscoping. I asked Patrice Franche that noticed and saw quite a few features of GRCO. He suggested I also send my pictures to Pierre Bannon who confirmed that it is indeed a Great Cormorant (first year). Thank you to both!

Hier et aujourd'hui, j'ai eu la chance d'observer un Grand Cormoran (GRCO) sur la rivière des Mille Îles à Terrebonne. Une première pour moi à cet endroit.


J'y suis retournée aujourd'hui et à partir de l'hôtel de ville, j'ai vu le cormoran qui était dans l'eau et qui se laissait dériver vers le pont Sophie-Masson. Je l'ai ensuite perdu de vue puis je l'ai retrouvé. Il était difficilement visible, collé contre le mur de ciment longeant la rivière du côté nord, puis il s'est déplacé un peu, me permettant de bien observer la démarcation nette entre la partie blanche et noire de l'avant du corps. Il n'y avait aucun autre oiseau tout près pour la comparaison de la dimension du cormoran. J'ai pris quelques photos en digiscopie. J'ai demandé à Patrice Franche un premier avis et il voyait bien quelques caractéristiques du GRCO. Il m'a suggéré d'envoyer aussi mes photos à Pierre Bannon qui m'a confirmé qu'il s'agit bien d'un Grand Cormoran (1ère année). Merci à tous les deux! - Louise Dumont
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Montreal: There were 11 Pine Grosbeaks (Duebec des sapins) in the crab apple trees behind the Insectarium in the Botanical Garden - Ingo Morgenstern

Sightings for Tuesday January 1

Montreal, Mont-Royal Cemetery: Did some New Year's birding from 11:30 am to 3 pm. Highlight was a Carolina Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) at the feeder at the north entrance. Also around were 6 Common Redpolls, 10 House Finches, 1 Brown Creeper 1 Common Raven flying over, and the regulars (Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, American crow (6 Sizerin flammé, 10 Roselins familiers, 1 Grimpereau brun 1 Grand Corbeau volant au-dessus, et les habitués Mésange à tête noire Sittelle à poitrine blanche, le Pic mineur, la corneille d'Amérique). A good portion of the time spent at the feeders at the north entrance.. - Ingo Morgenstern, Jean-Guy Morisset