Sightings for Wednesday September 18

Montréal, L'Anse-à-l'orme ( Map )

This morning at L’Anse-à-l’orme, located in the west island of Montreal there were some interesting bird observations, which is not surprising in these habitats and area. Among the 57 species there was two rare or uncommon species seen, a Yellow-belled Cuckoo and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Also there were two Eastern Bluebirds, four Kestrels (J + F), and two Red - tailed Hawks (immature), a single Rusty Blackbird, also a single House & Winter Wren. Great for sparrows (6sp) this morning and it was hard to keep count of some species when they were all around me. There were also 8 warblers’ species and a male Yellow Warbler singing (very rare at this time of year & during migration). Also 5 raptor species, and most likely local. Just wanted to remind people that Houde Park and L’Anse-à-l’orme Nature Park isn’t easily accessible (rough trails, tall grass, boots, etc.) and also be aware that the fields south of these areas are private property and permission is required. 

Good news is I’m trying to see if I could lead a future field trip in this area with permission. I’ve been birding in the area for the past 15 years, and would love to share this area with you all. These are the last large areas of grasslands, fields or old agriculture fields, remaining on the island of Montreal. You cannot find this type of large area in the eastern part of the island of Montreal and even in the west island due to the increasing housing and industrial developments. I always observe more birds here (different species) than the nearby nature park, where 10 years ago they had fields of Bobolinks & a few other grassland species but have since developed these natural fields into agriculture fields to supply their park`s farm store.
6 Canada Goose, 1 Wood Duck, 4 Mallard, 1 Great Blue Heron, 2 Turkey Vulture, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawk, 4 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 8 Rock Pigeon, 1 Mourning Dove, 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 6 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 4 American Kestrel, 4 Eastern Phoebe, 12 Blue Jay, 4 American Crow, 3 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 House Wren, 1 Winter Wren, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 Eastern Bluebird, 4 American Robin, 5 Gray Catbird, 6 European Starling, 4 Cedar Waxwing, 1 Black-and-white Warbler, 1 Tennessee Warbler, 6 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Magnolia Warbler, 1 Yellow Warbler, 8 Palm Warbler, 20 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Wilson's Warbler, 1 Chipping Sparrow, 2 Vesper Sparrow, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 20 Song Sparrow, 5 Lincoln's Sparrow, 12 Swamp Sparrow, 12 White-throated Sparrow, 1 Northern Cardinal, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Rusty Blackbird, 6 American Goldfinch

6 Bernache de Canada, 1 Canard branchu, 4 Canard colvert, 1 Grand héron, 2 Urubu à tête rouge, 1 Busard Saint-Martin, 1 Épervier brun, Épervier de Cooper 1, 2 Buse à queue rousse, 4 Goéland à bec cerclé, 2 Goéland argenté, 8 Pigeon biset, 1 Tourterelle triste, 1 Coulicou à bec jaune, 1 Colibri à gorge rubis, 1 Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, 1 Pic à ventre roux, 2 Pic mineur, 1 Pic chevelu, 6 Pic Flaboyant, 1 Grand Pic, 4 Crécerelle d'Amérique, 4 Moucherolle phébi, 12 Geai bleu, 4 Corneille d'Amérique, 3 Mésange à tête noire, 2 Sittelle à poitrine rousse, 1 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 1 Troglodyte familier, 1 Troglodyte mignon, 2 Roitelet à couronne dorée, 2 Roitelet à couronne rubis, 2 Merlebleu de l'Est, 4 Merle d'Amérique, 5 Moqueur chat, 6 Étourneau sansonnet, 4 Jaseur d'Amérique, 1 Paruline noir et blanc, 1 Paruline obscure, 6 Paruline masquée, 1 Paruline à tête cendrée, 1 Paruline jaune, 8 Paruline à couronne rouse, 20 Paruline à croupion jaune 1 Paruline de Wilson, 1 Bruant familier, 2 Bruant vespéral, 1 Bruant des prés, 20 Bruant chanteur, 5 Bruant de Lincoln, 12 Bruant des marais, 12 Bruant à gorge blanche, 1  Cardinal rouge, 2 Cardinal à poitrine rose, 1 carouge à épaulettes, 1 Quiscale rouleux, 6 Chardonneret jaune - Joël Coutu