Bird Protection Quebec Field Trip

Spontaneous Late Autumn Field Trip

I usually hope for something special to appear in our local birding region for these spontaneous destination outings. The single bird attracting the attention of many birders, as you will have seen from Songsparrow and Ornitho-QC postings in the last few days, is a Greylag Goose at the Chambly Basin. Discussions seem to be leaning towards this being a wild bird as opposed to a possible escaped domestic. There have also been a few reports of a possible Great Cormorant at the same location

So, as a result, we will head off to a few popular South Shore birding locations on Saturday, including a stop at the Chambly Basin; a visit to the St-Basile-le-Grand composting site and a tour around Ile-Goyer in the Richelieu River. Time permitting we could include a stop on the Richelieu River in St-Luc to look for the Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Saturday, November 19, 2011
MEETING TIME: 8 am
MEETING PLACE: Zellers Parking Lot, Place Portobello, Taschereau Blvd. just off the Taschereau Blvd. exit from the Champlain Bridge.

DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS: From Montreal, take the Champlain Bridge to Exit 8 (Taschereau Blvd.). Stay to the right on the exit then turn right on Taschereau Blvd. Zeller's will be immediately on your right.

ITINERARY: As reports have the best time for seeing the Greylag Goose being around the noon hour, we will depart from our meeting spot heading first to the composting site at St-Basile-le-Grand looking for hawks, possibly early snow buntings, etc. We will then travel along the Richelieu River to Ile-Goyer, where we will check out some wooded areas and a few very productive feeder spots. We will then head to Chambly, exploring the Chambly Basin from a number of different observation points, including the spot on ave. Richelieu where the Greylag has been appearing this week. Time permitting, and if there is interest, we can head along the Richelieu River again, towards St-Luc, where a Lesser Black-backed Gull is being seen regularly.
This will be predominantly a driving trip, including several stops along the route at observation spots. Feel free to bring along a lunch, as the trip should take us past the lunch hour, particularly seeing as chances of getting the Greylag seem to be best around the noon hour.

If you have any questions about the trip, please contact me by e-mail or by telephone at 450-462-1459. On the morning of the trip you can reach me on the cell at 514-637-2141. Dress warmly as we will be in open areas, much of the day along waterfront terrain and, as always on these types of trips, carpooling is a good idea. Cars can be safely left at the meeting spot should people want to double up with others there.