2016 Summer Series of Birding - Field Trip #2 Report - Saturday, July 2

Saturday felt more like a fall trip than a summer trip with the temperature never reaching higher than 18 C, accompanied by strong winds and practically complete cloud coverage throughout the morning. At least we didn't get rained one! 13 people joined in on the outing that started off in Valleyfield looking for the reported Tundra Swan, which we could not find, then on to the Halte des Herons (St-Timothee), St-Etienne-de-Beauharnois and finally to Ste-Martine. St-Etienne, once a very productive birding spot, is almost completely overgrown, with very limited sight lines on to the ponds.

Here is the list of the 43 species seen for the day. The American Bittern was chosen as the Bird of the Day. We were very pleased to see a very healthy population of Tree Swallows throughout the morning at each of our stops. - Sheldon Harvey

Canada Goose 80, Wood Duck 1, Mallard 60, Northern Shoveler 1, Hooded Merganser 1, Pied-billed Grebe 3, Double-crested Cormorant 10, American Bittern 1, Least Bittern 1, Great Blue Heron 6, Great Egret 6, Turkey Vulture 5, Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 6, Lesser Yellowlegs 2, Ring-billed Gull 600+, Black Tern 2, Common Tern 6, Rock Pigeon 40, Mourning Dove 6, Chimney Swift 4, Northern Flicker 4, Eastern Kingbird 4, Warbling Vireo 1, Blue Jay 1, American Crow 12, Tree Swallow 1000+, Barn Swallow 12, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Marsh Wren 3, American Robin 8, Gray Catbird 1, European Starling 80, Cedar Waxwing 6, Common Yellowthroat 2, Yellow Warbler 6, Savannah Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 20, Swamp Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 1, Red-winged Blackbird 100+, Common Grackle 6, American Goldfinch 6

Bernache du Canada 80, Canard branchu 1, Canard colvert 60, Canard souchet 1, Harle couronné 1, Grèbe à bec bigarré 3, Cormoran à aigrettes 10, Butor d'Amérique 1, Petit Blongios 1, Grand héron 6, Grande aigrette 6, Urubu à tête rouge 5, Pluvier kildir 2, Chevalier grivelé 6, Petit Chevalier 2, Goéland à bec cerclé 600+, Guifette noire 2, Sterne pierregarin 6, Pigeon biset 40, Tourterelle triste 6,Martinet ramoneur 4, Pic flaboyant 4, Tyran tritri 4, Viréo mélodieux 1, Geai Bleu 1, Corneille d'Amérique 12, Hirondelle bicolore 1000+, Hirondelle rustique 12, Mésange à tête noire 1, Troglodyte des marais 3, Merle d'Amérique 8, Moqueur chat 1 , Étourneau sansonnet 80, Jaseur d'Amérique 6, Paruline masquée 2, Paruline jaune 6, Bruant des prés 1, Bruant chantuer 20, Bruant des marais1, Cardinal rougwe 1, Carouge à épaulettes 100+, Quiscale bronzée 6, Chardonneret jaune 6