Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" June 6

Thirteen birders came out for our walk in the west end of Hudson yesterday. They were greeted with a glorious weather day of sunny skies, light northerly breezes and temperatures ranging from 10 - 15°C. Mosquitoes and deer flies were minimal although we did not venture far into the woods.

From the rendezvous at Thompson Park we travelled west along the railroad tracks and past Finnegan's Market. We the explored a few of the fields and ponds to the south of the tracks.

This being early June it is not surprising that we have definitely gone from migration mode to nesting season with all the birds seen probably being local breeders. We had a number of new trip participants and it was nice to show them some colourful birds through the scope including Baltimore Orioles, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Purple Finches, Yellow Warblers, Bobolinks.....etc.... but we settled on an obliging Eastern Bluebird as our bird of the day. A close second may have been the graceful Common Terns hunting at close range over a small pond.

Non-avian highlights were a deer, good views of Black and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies, a Garter Snake on the railroad tracks and a rather large Snapping Turtle that dropped off a stream bank and was visible or a short time underwater before disappearing into the muddy depths.

Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy such a glorious day. Good weather, good company and good birds! - Wayne Grubert

Our total of 52 bird species seen or heard by at least some members of the group included: Canada Goose - 8, Mallard - 4, Great Blue Heron - 1, Turkey Vulture - 2, Red-shouldered Hawk - 1, Red-tailed Hawk - 1, Merlin - 1 (heard), Ring-billed Gulls - 5, Common Tern - 3, Chimney Swift - 1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 4, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 2, Northern Flicker - 4, Eastern Wood Pewee - 1 (heard), Alder Flycatcher - 4, Great-crested Flycatcher - 2 (heard), Eastern Kingbird - 2, Warbling Vireo - 2 (heard), Red - eyed Vireo - 4, Blue Jay - 6, American Crow - 6, Tree Swallow - 12, Barn Swallow - 1, Black-capped Chickadee - 4, White-breasted Nuthatch - 1, House Wren - 1 (heard), Eastern Bluebird - 1, Veery - 4 (heard), American Robin - 3, Gray Catbird - 8, Brown Thrasher - 1 (heard), European Starling - 6, Cedar Waxwing - 12, Yellow Warbler - 15, Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1, Black-and-white Warbler - 1, Mourning Warbler - 1, Common Yellowthroat - 8, Chipping Sparrow - 2, Song Sparrow - 12, Swamp Sparrow - 1, White-throated Sparrow - 3 (heard), Northern cardinal - 2, Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 6, Bobolink - 4, Red-winged Blackbird - 20, Common Grackle - 20, Brown-headed Cowbird - 10, Baltimore Oriole - 4, Purple Finch - 2, American Goldfinch - 12

Bernache du Canada - 8, Canard colvert - 4, Grand Bluehéron - 1, Urubu à tête rouge - 2, Buse à épaulettes - 1, Buse à queue rousse - 1, Faucon émerillon - 1 Goélands à bec cerclé - 5 (entendu), Sterne pierregarin - 3, Martinet ramoneur - 1, Colibri à gorge rubis - 4, Pic maculé - 2, Pic mineur - 2, Pic flamboyant - 4, Pioui de l'Est - 1 (entendu), Moucherolle des aulnes - 4, Tyran huppé - 2 (entendu), Tyran de l'Est - 2, Viréo mélodieux - 2 (entendu), Viréo aux yeux rouges - 4, Geai bleu - 6, Corneille d'Amérique - 6, Hirondelle bicolore - 12, Hirondelle rustique - 1, Mésange à tête noire - 4, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 1, Troglodyte familier - 1 (entendu), Merlebleu de l'Est - 1, Grive fauve - 4 (entendu), Merle d'Amérique - 3, Moqueur chat - 8, Moqueur roux - 1 (entendu), Étourneau sansonnet - 6, Jaseur d'Amérique - 12, Paruline jaune - 15, Paruline à flancs marron - 1, Paruline noir et blanc - 1, la Paruline triste - 1, Paruline masquée - 8, Bruant familier - 2, Bruant chanteur - 12, Bruant des marais - 1 , Bruant à gorge blanche - 3 (entendu), Cardinal rouge - 2, Cardinal à poitrine rose - 6, Goglu des prés - 4, Carouge à épaulettes - 20, Quiscale bronzé - 20, Cacher à tête brune - 10, Oriole de Baltimore - 4 , Roselin pourpré - 2, Chardonneret jaune - 12