Sightings for Friday September 26

St-Lazare (Vaudreuil): Ring-necked pheasant walking down a side street near St-Angelique.  - Ann Peters

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, September 27- samedi 27 septembre
 Philipsburg George H. Montgomery Bird Sanctuary, 

latest sightings eBird Hotspot
http://www.pqspb/sanctuaries.html
Leader: Sandy Montgomery 514-212-6208 e-mail 

8:30 a.m. Meet at the defunct Motel Frontière. From Montreal take the Champlain Bridge, Highway 10 east to exit 22, Highway 35 south to St. Jean to join Highway 133 south to Philipsburg. Now that the motel has been demolished the location is not easy to see from the southbound side of the road so continue towards the border crossing. Immediately before the border buildings take the well- marked U-turn on the left to cross over to the northbound side of the road. Look on your right for the large white sign telling drivers to fasten their seat belts – the entrance to the old motel site and the parking area is immediately beyond it. Note that there are two gravelled entrances – do NOT take the first, it is washed out and impassable; the second entry is excellent. Good choice of trails from long and strenuous to short and easy. Bring a lunch. Looking for migrating passerines, waterfowl and hawks. All day.

8 h 30. Rassemblement au défunt Motel Frontière. De Montréal, traverser le pont Champlain et continuer sur l’autoroute 10 est. Prendre la sortie 22 et rejoindre l’autoroute 35 sud. Continuer sur celle-ci jusqu’à Saint-Jean. De là continuer sur l’autoroute 133 sud en direction de Philipsburg. Maintenant que le motel a été démoli le stationnement est difficile de voir du côté sud de la route. Donc, continuer vers le poste frontalier . Juste avant les bâtiments de passage, prendre le bien-marquée demi-tour sur la gauche pour passer sur la direction du nord côté de la route. Chercher le grand panneau blanc indiquant aux conducteurs de boucler leur ceinture de sécurité sur votre droite – l’entrée sur le site vieux motel et le stationnement est immédiatement au-delà. Bonne variété de sentiers dont les niveaux de difficulté vont de longs et ardus à courts et faciles. Apporter un lunch. Espèces recherchées : passereaux en migration, sauvagine et rapaces diurnes. Toute la journée.

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" September 21

With this morning's risk of rain, only a handful of birders (8) appeared for this field trip at l'Île de la Visitation -e-bird

With a short delay (8am) we still managed to have a field trip. The conditions were perfect, with some sunshine after drops of rain and southern winds and active insects, the group with treated with a few 'Warbler Attacks'!

A total of 45 species of birds were observed. Among them, 11 species of warblers. We could expect after a couple of days of uncertain weather that it might be interesting this upcoming Tuesday's 'Fall Warbler Walk'.

Here are the species observed this morning: Canada Geese (12), Wood Duck (6), American Black Duck (4), Mallard Duck (12), Double-crested Cormorant (2), Great Blue Heron (4), Black-crowned Night-Heron (4), Cooper's Hawk (1), Rock dove (2), Great-Black-backed Gull (2), Herring Gull (1), Ring-billed Gull (40), Yellow-Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), Hairy Woodpecker (2), Northern Flicker (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), Blue-headed Vireo (1), Warbling Vireo (2), Philadelphia Vireo (1), Red-eyed Vireo (6), American Crow (1), Black-capped Chickadee (12), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), Brown Creeper (1), Winter Wren (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), American Robin 12), Gray Catbird (4), European Starlings (4), Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Nashville Warbler (2), Northern Parula (2), Chestnut-sided Warbler (1), Magnolia Warbler (4), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (2), Black-throated Green Warbler (4), Blackpoll Warbler (3), American Redstart (2), Wilson's Warbler (1), Chipping Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (6), White-throated Sparrow (12), NorthernCardinal (6)

Bernache du Canada (12), Canard branchu (6), Canard noir (4), Canard colvert (12), Cormoran à aigrettes (2), Grand Héron (4),Bihoreau gris (4), Épervier de Cooper (1), Pigeon biset (2), Goéland marin (2), Goéland argenté (1), Goéland à bec (40), Pic maculé (1), Pic mineur (2), Pic chevelu (2), Pic flamboyant (2), Moucherolle Phébi l'Est (1), Viréo à tête bleue (1), Viréo mélodieux (2), Viréo de Philadelphie (1), Viréo aux yeux rouges (6), Corneille d'Amérique (1 ), Mésange à tête noire (12), Sittelle à poitrine blanche (2), Grimpereau brun (1), Troglodyte mignon (1), Roitelet à couronne rubis (2), Merle d'Amérique 12), Moqueur chat (4),Étourneaux sansonnet (4), Paruline verdâtre (1), Paruline à joues grises (2), Paruline à collier (2), Paruline à flancs marron (1), Paruline à tête cendrée (4), Paruline bleue (1), Paruline à croupion jaune (2), Paruline à gorge noire (4), Paruline rayée (3), Paruline flamboyante (2), Paruline à calotte noire (1), Bruant familier (2), Bruant chanteur (6), Bruant à gorge blanche (12), Cardinal rouge (6)

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Sunday, September 21 – dimanche 21 septembre
Montreal, l’Île de la Visitation
Leader: Joël Coutu - e-mail 

Meet: The welcome centre at the park at 2425, boul. Gouin E., Montréal. 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 available on nearby roads or in the Nature Park’s parking lot (cost $9.).

Background: L’Île de la Visitation Nature Park is a true gem! Located along the Rivière des Prairies, in the heart of Sault-au-Récollet, this park is full of historical elements but has over the years become one of the best areas on the island of Montreal to observe migrating songbirds and other species. With more and more development in Laval and Montreal, green spaces for migrating birds in fall to feed and rest are few around the city. Every fall, with a variety of tree and shrubs species, this park attracts many species of warblers and other bird species as well. The field leader will try to help you identify these fall warblers and maybe even give you some ‘tricks of the trade’ in recognizing them. These walks are open for everyone from beginners to experts.

Sightings for Sunday September 14

Chateauguay, Refuge Faunique Marguerite-D'Youville: I made my first ever visit to this refuge this morning and was pleased with the outcome. I saw several groups of warblers as well as an immature Bald eagle that appeared to be migrating.

Hearing Sandhill cranes was pretty exciting too. - Barbara MacDuff

Here is my complete list ; Double-crested cormorant 1, Great egret 2, Wood duck 6, Mallard 4, Bald eagle 1, Northern harrier 1, Sandhill crane ( heard only ), Ring-billed gull 8, Mourning dove 2, Belted kingfisher 1, Downy woodpecker 2, Northern flicker 2, Pileated woodpecker 2, Small flycatcher (unidentified) , Blue jay 6, Common raven 1, Tree swallow 10, Black-capped chickadee 10, White-breasted nuthatch 3, Marsh wren 2, Gray catbird 4, Tennessee warbler 2, Yellow warbler 2, Yellow-rumped warbler 3, Pine warbler 1, Palm warbler 1, American redstart 2, Common yellowthroat 3, Song sparrow 4, Swamp sparrow 2, Northern cardinal 2, American goldfinch 4

Cormoran à aigrettes 1, Grande aigrette 2, Canard branchu 6, 4 Canard colvert, Pygargue à tête blanche 1, busard Saint-Martin 1, Grue du Canada (entendu seulement), Goéland à bec cerclé 8, Tourterelle triste 2, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, Pic mineur 2, Pic flaboyant 2, Grand pic 2, Petite moucherolle (non identifié), Geai bleu 6, Grand corbeau 1, Hirondelle bicolore 10, Mésange à tête noire 10, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 3, Troglodyte des marais 2, Moqueur chat 4, Paruline obscure 2, Paruline jaune 2, Paruline à croupion jaune 3, Paruline des pins 1, Paruline à couronne rousse 1, Paruline flamboyante 2, Paruline masquée, 3, Bruant chanteur 4, Bruant des marais 2, Cardina lrouge 2, Chardonneret jaune 4

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" September 13

A cool morning and a forecast of rain in the early afternoon did not discourage 10 people from participating in yesterday's field trip to Pointe de Yamachiche, near Trois-Rivieres. What surprised us most was the condition of the waterfront at Lac St-Francois. When visiting this site in years past we were always able to spend a lot of time on the large flat sandy area at the point. However, this time the point was covered in vegetation and lots of standing water, providing only a few small spots where we were able to scan out across the sandbars offshore. The wooded area was very quiet with little bird activity. There were small pockets of warblers moving through quickly but not easy to view through the high vegetation. Regardless of these drawbacks, we did accumulate a good number of species.

4 members of our group decided to continue on from Yamachiche, crossing the river at Trois-Rivieres and making a stop at Baie-du-Febvre. This proved to be quite productive, adding a number of waterfowl in particular to our day's total. Here is the complete list of our sightings, split into the two locations. Both sites combined for a total of 53 species - Sheldon Harvey

Greater yellowlegs / Grand chevalier

Pointe de Yamachiche - 36 species: Canada Goose 50, Wood Duck 5, Mallard 6, Common Loon 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 2, Bald Eagle 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Merlin 1, Semipalmated Plover 2, Killdeer 1, Greater Yellowlegs 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Semipalmated Sandpiper 1, Least Sandpiper 1, Ring-billed Gull 100+, Great Black-backed Gull 10, Belted Kingfisher 1, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 1, Eastern Wood-Pewee 1, Great Crested Flycatcher 1, Blue Jay 4, American Crow 6, Black-capped Chickadee 12, European Starling 6, Cedar Waxwing 20, Tennessee Warbler 1, Nashville Warbler 1, Magnolia Warbler 1, Black and White Warbler 1, American Redstart 1, Common Yellowthroat 1, Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 4

Bernache du Canada 50, Canard branchu 5, Canard colvert 6, Plongeon huard 1, Cormoran à aigrettes 1, Grand Héron 1, Urubu à tête rouge 2, Pygargue à tête blanche 1, Épervier brun 1, Faucon émerillon 1, Pluvier semipalmé 2, Pluvier kildir 1, Grand Chevalier 2, Chevalier grivelé 2, Bécasseau semipalmé 1, Bécasseau minuscule 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 100+, Goéland marin 10, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique 1, Pic chevelu 1, Pic flamboyant 1, Pioui de l'Est 1, Moucherolle huppé 1, Geai bleu 4, Corneille d'Amérique 6, Mésange à tête noire 12, Étourneau sansonnet 6, Jaseur d'Amérique 20, Paruline obscure 1, Paruline à joues grises 1, Paruline à tête cendrée 1, Paruline noir et blanc 1, Paruline flamboyante 1, Paruline masquée 1 , Bruant chanteur 2 Bruant à gorge blanche 4

Sharp-shinned hawk / Épervier brun

Baie-du-Febvre - 25 species: Canada Goose 30, Gadwall 12, Mallard 12, Blue-winged Teal 4, Northern Shoveler 25, Green-winged Teal 10, Ring-necked Duck 4, Common Goldeneye 10, Ruddy Duck 8, Wild Turkey 1, Pied-billed Grebe 3, American Bittern 1, Great Egret 1, Northern Harrier 2, Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, Merlin 1, Ring-billed Gull 15, Rock Pigeon 30, Mourning Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 1, American Crow 6, Barn Swallow 2, European Starling 50, Red-winged Blackbird 12, American Goldfinch 6

Bernache du Canada 30, 12 Canard chipeau, Canard colvert 12, Sarcelle à ailes bleues 4, Canard souchet 25, Sarcelle d'hiver 10, Fuligule à collier 4, Garrot à oeill d'or 10, Érismature rousse 8, Dindon sauvage 1, Grèbe à bec bigarré 3, Butor d'Amérique 1, Grande Aigrette 1, Busard Saint-Martin 2, Épervier brun 1, Merlin 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 15, Pigeon biset 30, Tourterelle triste 6

Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique 1, Corneille d'Amérique 6, Hirondelle rustique 2, Étourneau sansonnet 50, Carouge à épaulettes 12, Chardonneret jaune 6

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, September 13 – samedi 13 septembre
Pointe Yamachiche   latest sightings eBird Hotspot
Leader: Sheldon Harvey – 450-462-1459 – e-mail

8:00 a.m. Allow 75 minutes driving time from Montreal. Take Highway 40 east to Exit 174. At the intersection in the middle of the exit drive straight forward. Within 100 metres there is a large parking lot which will serve as our meeting area. This is mainly a walking trip on trails that are usually dry, but bring boots just in case. We will visit two areas on Lac Saint-Pierre with a variety of habitats (woods, marsh, riverside, fields.) Bring a lunch in case the trip runs a little long. Half day.

8 h 00. Prévoir 1 h 15 de route depuis Montréal. Prendre l’autoroute 40 est, sortie 174. À l’intersection, au centre de la sortie, continuer tout droit. À 100 mètres de l’intersection se trouve un grand stationnement, lieu de notre rendez vous. Une bonne promenade nous attend au bord du Lac St-Pierre à travers champs, bois et terres qui risquent d’être humides, alors apportez des bottes imperméables. Apporter à boire et à manger si jamais notre sortie se prolonge. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Tuesday September 9

Beauharnois:  The 2 juvenile Sabine Gulls are still at Beauharnois

Les 2 mouettes de sabine sont toujours à Beauharnois: - Pierre Bannon

Sightings for Monday September 8

Beauharnois: Around the middle of afternoon, with André Crépeau, his partner, and

Monique Groulx, I was able to observe really well 2 juvenile Sabine Gulls simultaneously at the end of  chemin cahoteux on the west side of the Beauharnois dam. There were also a couple of Bonaparte's Gull and 2 dozen Common Terns.

Also today, a juvenile Northern goshawk at the Sainte-Martine dam face to face with a Merlin.

Finally, a Caspian Tern at the end of rue MacDonald in Maple Grove.

Vers le milieu de l'après-midi, en compagnie d'André Crépeau, sa compagne et Monique Groulx, j'ai pu très bien observer simultanément 2 Mouettes de Sabine juvéniles au bout du chemin cahoteux du côté ouest du barrage de Beauharnois. Il y avait aussi une quinzaine de Mouette de Bonaparte et 2 douzaines de Sternes pierregarin.

Aussi aujourd'hui, un Autour des palombes juvénile au barrage de Sainte-Martine face à face avec un Faucon émerillon.

Finalement, une Sterne caspienne au bout de la rue MacDonald à Maple Grove. - Pierre Bannon

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" September 6

Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary

We have a very respectable average of 14 participants for our first two field trips of the fall season. 28 participants last week and one this week. I should resurrect my dissertation from several years ago on the benefits of being the leader and sole participant on a bird outing.

In all seriousness when one combines the distance to this particular destination with an extremely 'iffy" weather forecast it was not surprising that no participants made the trek to the far side of Cornwall. In fact the weather was probably worse than predicted. The raincoat was on and off more times than a Kardashian sisters' wedding ring.

Cloudy, intermittent showers (at times heavy), breezy and humid conditions were the order of the day. Temperatures peaked at about 23C. But since I was the designated idiot for the week, and I was already there, I decided to take a tour. For those familiar with the area I walked the bicycle trail running east from the UCMBS parking lot as far as Farran Park Campground, a one way distance of about three kilometers. I also walked the Maple Trail in the sanctuary itself. Unfortunately a combination of age/neglect and some very industrious beavers has caused the closure of several of the better trails in the sanctuary. A group called the "Friends of the Sanctuary" is trying to raise funds to restore some badly decaying boardwalks that are not usable.

 

Highlights of the day included a large group of 600+ Red-winged Blackbirds at very close range in the cattails that kept rising up and settling in beautiful waves of sight and sound for several minutes. They seemed in no rush to leave their roost to go pillage the local corn fields. Two Bald Eagles were seen along the Long Sault Parkway to the east of the sanctuary. They are quite regular there now. One was chasing an Osprey. An immature Cooper's Hawk was being harassed by a group of crows when all it seemed to want to do was sit and dry out its wing and tail feathers. Pockets of passerines were few in number.

 

Four white-tailed deer, one snowshoe (varying) hare and a fair size garter snake were the non-avian highlights.

Here is my full list of 50 species which includes a few birds seen while driving the Long Sault Parkway. Most of the large groups of ducks were on the St Lawrence River near Farran park.

Thanks to all who came out in spirit,- Wayne

 Canada Goose - 100, Wood Duck - 4, Gadwall - 4, American Wigeon - 4, American Black Duck - 2, Mallard - 80, Blue-winged Teal - 40, Green-winged Teal - 70, Wild Turkey - 7, Double-crested Cormorant - 20, Great Blue Heron - 6, Great Egret - 10, Osprey - 3, Bald Eagle - 2, Cooper's hawk - 1, Red-shouldered Hawk - 1, Killdeer - 2, Greater Yellowlegs - 14, Ring-billed Gull - 30, Herring Gull - 1, Great Black-backed Gull - 2, Caspian Tern - 2, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Hairy Woodpecker - 1, Northern Flicker - 6, Eastern Wood-pewee - 3 ( 1seen, two heard), Eastern Phoebe - 1, Red-eyed Vireo - 4, Blue Jay - 15, American Crow - 35, Black-capped Chickadee - 20, Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3, White-breasted - 6, Brown Creeper - 2 (1 seen, one heard), American Robin - 8, Gray Catbird - 5, Cedar Waxwing 6, Yellow Warbler - 2, Magnolia Warbler - 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1, Black-throated Green Warbler - 4, Common Yellowthroat - 5, Wilson's Warbler - 2, Song Sparrow - 8, Swamp Sparrow - 3, Red-winged Blackbird - 600+, Common Grackle - 15, Baltimore Oriole - 1 (heard), American Goldfinch - 6

 

Bernache du Canada - 100, Canard branchu - 4, Canard chipeau - 4, Canard d'Amérique - 4, Canard noir - 2, Canard colvert - 80, Sarcelle à ailes bleues - 40, Sarcelle d'hiver - 70, Dindon sauvage - 7, Cormoran à aigrettes - 20, Grand héron - 6, Grande Aigrette - 10, Balbuzard pêcheur- 3, Pygargue à tête blanche - 2, épervier de Cooper - 1, Buse à épaulettes - 1, Pluvier kildir - 2, Grand Chevalier - 14, Goéland à bec cerclé - 30, Goéland argenté - 1, Goéland marin - 2, Sterne caspienne - 2, Martin-pêcheur - 2, Pic mineur - 3, Pic chevelu - 1, Pic flamboyant - 6, Piou de l'Est - 3 (1 vu, deux entendu), Moucherelle phébi- 1, Viréo aux yeux rouges - 4, Geai bleu - 15, Corneille d'Amérique - 35, Mésange à tête noire - 20, Sittelle à poitrine rousse - 3, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 6, Grimpereau brun - 2 (1 vu, on entendait), Merle d'Amérique - 8, Moqueur chat - 5, Jaseur d'Amérique -6, Paruline jaune - 2, Paruline à tête cendrée- 3, Paruline à croupion jaune - 1, Paruline à gorge noire - 4, Paruline masquée - 5, Paruline à calotte noire - 2, Bruant chanteur - 8, Bruant des marais - 3, Carouge à épaulettes - plus de 600, Quiscale bronzé - 15, Oriole de Baltimore - 1 (entendu), Chardonneret jaune - 6

Cedar Waxwings \ Jaseurs d'Amérique

eating berries from a mountain ash in my garden in Ahuntsic

Peggy Killeen - click photo to enlarge

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, September 6 – samedi 6 Septembre
ONTARIO Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary  - eBird Hotspot
Leader: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498  e-mail

NOTE: The turning to take off Highway 2 to the sanctuary is at 44.972415,-75.044244 … enter this map reference into Google Maps to get a personalised route from where you live

8:00 a.m. Take Highway 401 west to exit 770 (Ingleside). Proceed south to Highway 2. Take Highway 2 west for several kilometres. Watch for signs on left for “Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary”. Turn left and follow road for 2 km to main parking lot. Allow 1.5 hrs driving time from Montreal. Looking for waterfowl, passerines and possibly shorebirds on a good network of trails through varying habitat. Half day.

8 h 00. Prendre l’autoroute 401 ouest. Vingt km dépassé Cornwall, Prendre la sortie 770 (Ingleside). Rouler en direction sud jusqu’à l’autoroute 2 pendant plusieurs kilomètres. À gauche, chercher la pancarte du “Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary”. Tourner à gauche et prendre ce chemin pendant 2 km jusqu’au stationnement. Prévoir 1.5 heures de route de Montréal. Demi?journée.