Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" Saturday November 30

6 participants made their way to the South Shore for this morning's drive through the farm roads of Boucherville, Varennes and St-Bruno, ending up at the St-Hubert Airport on Clairevue Blvd. Although we faced double-digit minus temperatures throughout most of the morning, we were rewarded not only with birds, but with incredible scenery including a rainbow halo appearing around the rising sun and icy, frosted landscapes throughout the trip.

Bird-life was somewhat limited but we did our best to complete the morning with a total of 19 species. We do have some unfortunate news for 11 of our 16 participants who left the trip early, just after our scan of the airport grounds where we were unable to locate the Snowy Owl that has been appearing there throughout the last week. Our remaining 5 continued on north-west past the airport where we ran into two birders who told us that they were heading over towards the St-Bruno/Ste-Jule border, on ch. de Lorraine, where a Snowy owl (Harfang des neiges) had also been observed earlier in the week. We were quickly rewarded with an excellent view of what appears to be a young male bird perched atop a Hydro pole. It's unfortunate that our whole group was not there to see it, but had we not run into the other birders and followed their lead, we would not have seen it either.

The St-Hubert Airport, and the roads around the area, are showing signs being a very productive birding spot again this winter. We were able to find 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 4 Rough-legged Hawks in the area today.

Here is our list of 19 species for the day: Canada Goose 200+, Mallard 10, Common Merganser 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Rough-legged Hawk 4, Rock Pigeon 30, Mourning Dove 20, Snowy Owl 1, Downy Woodpecker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Shrike 1, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 6, Black-capped Chickadee 1, European Starling 60, Dark-eyed Junco 8, Northern Cardinal 1, American Goldfinch 1, House Sparrow 40

Bernache du Canada 200 +, Canard colvert 10, Grand Harle 2, Buse à queue rousse 2, Buse pattue 4, Pigeon biset 30, Tourterelle triste 20, Harfang des neiges 1, Pic mineur 3, Pic chevelu 1, Pie-grièche grise 1, Geai bleu 2, Corneille d'Amérique 6, Mésange à tête noire 1, Étourneau sansonnet 60, Junco ardoisé 8, Cardinal rouge 1, Chardonneret jaune 1

Moineau domestique 40

Thanks to everyone for the great turnout and for braving the traffic issues to get to the South Shore. - Sheldon