Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" April 28

Cooper Marsh

A perfect morning for birding at the end of this cold April.

Thirteen participants.

Temperature ranging from 8C up to about 20C.

Bird of the Day: Osprey
Runners-up: Fox Sparrow, Northern Harrier

Comments: At one point we had 4 Ospreys together. We were afforded a perfect view of one pair perched in a snag in ideal light. Upon the arrival of a second pair, this pair flew up to the platform and mated.

Later, a pair of Northern Harriers flew together in courtship display.

Of the passerines, the Fox Sparrows were perhaps the favourite species though three Yellow-rumped Warblers together were also a welcome sight as were a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets. The Swamp Sparrows were legion, and a couple of them gave us pause as they sang atypically.

One lucky participant saw a Yellow Warbler.

The day before one observer encountered a Northern Waterthrush, a suitable reward for turning up to the field trip a day early. This observer also reported lots of skittish Ring-necked Ducks on the western
impoundment where there is more open water than the eastern cell where the field trip participants concentrated their efforts. On Saturday species seen by the early birder that were missed on Sunday also
included: Brown Thrasher, Rusty Blackbird, Blue-winged Teal, American Black Duck, Bufflehead, American Bittern, Herring Gull, and Barn Swallow.

Species List for Sunday: 44
Canada Goose - 60, Mallard - 12, Common Goldeneye - 1, Common Merganser - 60, Common Loon - 2, Pied-billed Grebe - 3, Double-crested Cormorant - 5, Great Blue Heron - 1, Turkey Vulture - 3, Osprey - 4, Northern Harrier - 2, Wilson's Snipe - 6, Ring-billed Gull - 20, Mourning Dove - 1, Belted Kingfisher - 1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1, Downy Woodpecker - 2, Hairy Woodpecker - 2, Northern Flicker - 10, Eastern Phoebe - 5, Blue Jay - 4, American Crow - 12, Tree Swallow - 30, Black-capped Chickadee - 25, White-breasted Nuthatch - 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2, Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 6, Hermit Thrush - 2, American Robin - 30, European Starling - 20, Yellow Warbler - 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3, American Tree Sparrow - 3, Chipping Sparrow - 5, Fox Sparrow - 2, Song Sparrow - 20, White-throated Sparrow - 12, Dark-eyed Junco - 6, Northern Cardinal - 1, Red-winged Blackbird -50, Common Grackle -20, Brown-headed Cowbird - 3, American Goldfinch - 5

Bernache du Canada - 60, Canard colvert - 12, Garrot  à oeil d'or - 1, Grand Harle - 60, Plongeon huard - 2, Grèbe à bec bigarré - 3, Cormoran à aigrettes - 5, Grand Heron - 1, Urubu à tête rouge - 3, Balbuzard pêcheur - 4, Busard Saint-Martin - 2, Bécassine de Wilson - 6, Goéland  à bec cerclé  - 20, Tourterelle triste - 1, Martin-pêcheur ceinturé - 1, Pic maculé - 1, Pic mineur - 2, Pic chevelu - 2, Pic flaboyant - 10, Moucherolle phébi - 5, Geai bleu - 4, Corneille d'Amérique - 12, Hirondelle bicolore - 30, Mésange à tête noire - 25, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 1, Roitelet à couronne dorée - 2, Roitelet à couronne rubis - 6, Grive Solitare - 2, Merle d'Amérique - 30, Étourneau sansonnet - 20, Paruline jaune - 1, Paruline à croupion jaune - 3, Bruant hudsonien - 3, Bruant familier - 5, Bruant fauve - 2, Bruant chanteur - 20, Bruant à gorge blanche - 12, Junco ardoisé - 6, Cardinal rouge - 1, Carouge à épaulettes -50, Quiscale bronzé -20, Vacher à tête brune - 3, Chardonneret jaune - 5

Thanks to all who came out for a walk that was both peaceful and exciting at times. - Martin Bowman