Sightings for Saturday May 19

A brief visit along the banks of Verdun, in front of the Douglas Hospital. Upon my arrival (7:15pm) a group of about 150 Brant geese passed over my head, at low height. Their calls attracted my attention. Minutes later, a goup of ducks which were previously in tight raft on the river takes off and passes in front of me: There are 23 superb White-winged Scoters in breeding plumage, wearing the white spot in the shape of a tear drop and very obvious white mark on the wing. Both groups headed southwest. Also: Purple martins, Common terns, etc..

Une courte visite le long de berges de Verdun, en face de l'hôpital Douglas. À mon arrivée (19h15) un groupe d'environ 150 Bernaches cravants est passé au-dessus de ma tête, à faible hauteur. Leurs cris ont attiré mon attention. Quelques minutes plus tard, un goupe de canards qui se tenait jusque là en radeau serré sur le fleuve s'envole et passe devant moi: ce sont 23 superbes Macreuses brunes en plumage nuptial, arborant la tache blanche en forme de gouttelettes à l'oeil et la très évidente marque blanche sur l'aile. Les deux groupes ont pris la direction sud-ouest. En plus: Hirondelles noires, Sternes pierregarin, etc. - Diane Demers
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Upland Sandpipers (maubèches des champs) have returned to the Grande Montee on the Quebec-Ontario border, to see the birds take the last exit off Highway 40 in Quebec (J1), go south for about 2km and then take the right (Domaine Rd) and park, the birds display over the surrounding fields and land on the utility poles, early mornings are best but they were up in the air at 14:00 yesterday.

Mourning Warblers (Paruline triste) are showing very well on L'escapade at Rigaud. From route 201 north of St-Clet take St-Henry for about 5km, after passing Sucarie St-Henry a power line cut appears and has parking on the right, park here, go through the gate to walk north (uphill) and a pair are around the small stone bluff.

I checked out Alfred Sewage lagoons in Ontario after the completion of the work in the east cell. There is virtually no shorebird habitat at the moment but the west cell still holds plenty of interesting species and I saw one male Wilson's Phalarope (Phalarope de Wilson) so they are likely back for season.

The Field Sparrow (Bruant des champs) I reported at St-Lazare sand pits was still singing away this morning, as was at least one Whip-poor-will. - Mark Dennis - A few recent photos are on my BLOG