Sightings for Friday April 1st

Montréal: I was on McGill University's downtown campus this afternoon and saw an immature Golden Eagle (Aigle royal) being buffeted around in the wind over Mount Royal. The bird flew close enough to observe the distinct white patches on the primaries and the contrast between the white tail feathers and dark terminal band. It was also joined briefly by the area's resident Peregrine falcons (Faucon pèlerin),  and three Turkey Vultures (Urubu à tête rouge) - Vivek Govind Kumar

Sightings for Thursday March 31st

Montréal, parc nature du Cap Saint-Jacques - 35 species (espèces): Wood Duck (1), Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye (+ +), Hooded merganser (3), Common merganser (3), Turkey Vulture (1), Red-shouldered hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk,  Pileated woodpecker, Blue jay, Cedar Waxwing (10 +), Bohemian Waxwing (20 +), European Starling, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped chickadee, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern cardinal, Common Grackle, Common Redpoll, American Goldfinch


Canard branchu (1), Petit Garrot, Garrot à œil d’or (++), Harle couronné (3), Grand harle (3), Urubu à tête rouge (1), Buse à épaulettes (1), Buse à queue rousse, Buse pattue, Grand pic, Geai bleu, Jaseur d’Amérique (10+), Jaseur boréal (20+), Étourneau sansonnet, Merle d’Amérique, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Mésange à tête noire, Bruant hudsonien, Bruant chanteur, Junco ardoisé, Cardinal rouge, Quiscale bronzé, Sizerin flammé, Chardonneret jaune - Joël Coutu

Sightings for Wednesday March 30th

parc d'Oka (park): A Snowy Owl (Harfang des neiges), seen at the water filtration plant, then flying over open scrubby fields and still partially-frozen marsh immediately to the south. Also, many Red-winged Blackbirds (Carouge à épaulettes) , several American Tree Sparrows (Bruant Husdonien), Song Sparrows (Bruant chanteur), Mallards (Canard colvert), American Black Ducks (Canard noir), Canada Geese (Bernache du Canada) , and, in the woods, at least 5 individual Pileated Woodpeckers (Grand pic). - Ian Turner
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St-Louis-de-Gonzague, blvd. Pie XII: 50,000 Snow geese (Oie des neiges) in the bay and the Beauharnois canal near the bridge. At Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka another 10,000 in a field near the junction of rte. 236 and 132. Plus 5,000 beside rte 132 just before Dundee. Canada geese (Bernache du Canada) were also everywhere, in the fields and in the sky probably 10,000 or so. - Thomas Long
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Godmanchester, Montée Smellie: adult Golden Eagle, 4 turkey vultures, buteo hawks (4 or 5) but too far for a good identification, but a red-tailed and rough-legged for sure. a male pileated woodpecker, 2 Song Sparrows, an acepiter hawk sp.

Montée Smellie: Aigle royal adulte, 4 urubus à tête rouge, buses (4 ou 5) mais trop loin pour une bonne identification, mais une queue rousse et une pattue assurément. un grand pic mâle, 2 bruants chanteur, un épervier sp

Dundee, Réserve Nationale de Faune du Lac St-François: Rough-legged hawk on ch. Pointe Fraser, and for dessert returning on Route 132 opposite the mail box 2441, south into the fields about 400 ft Route 2 Sandhill cranes feeding. A little further on the 132, 1 Red-tailed hawk

Réserve Nationale de Faune du Lac St-François.Une buse pattue vue sur le ch. de la pointe Fraser, et le dessert au retour sur la route 132 est, face à la boite à courrier 2441, au sud dans le champs environ 400 pds de la route 2 grues du canada se nourissent. Un peu plus loin sur la 132 une buse à queue rousse - Luc Goneau, M.Cardinal et un ami, Pierre Casavant
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Chambly basin: 2 Cackling geese, 1000's Canada geese and Snow geese

au Bassin de Chambly: 2 Bernaches de Hutchins,  milliers de bernaches et d'Oies des neige - Michel Bertrand

Sighting for Tuesday March 29th

bassin de Chambly (basin): An adult Golden eagle passed by quickly at high altitude, without frightening anyone. There were at least another 7,000 Geese Canada (two with yellow neck-bands from Greenland - GIL and GC3). But the surprise came from a Pink-footed Goose, hidden in the group, until it gets up and displays its pink legs.

The Greatet White-fronted Goose was still present

bassin de Chambly: Aigle royal adulte a passé vitement, haut en altitude, sans effrayer qui que ce soit. Il y avait encore au moins 7 000 Bernaches du Canada (avec deux colliers jaunes du Groënland GIL et GC3). Mais la surprise est venue du côté d'une Oie à bec court, dissimulée dans le groupe, jusqu'à ce qu'elle lève la tête et étale ses pattes roses.


L'Oie rieuse était encore présente. - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Monday March 28th

Ste-Martine: Great egret just passed my place in the direction of Ste-Martine Dam

Grande Aigrette vient juste de passer chez-moi en direction du Barrage de Ste-Martine - Micheline Ouellet
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Brownsburg​-Chatham: Turkey vultures (Urubu à tête rouge) - Claudia Meyer

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Sainte-Juile,  industrial park: Killdeer (Pluvier Kildir) au Parc Industriel - Serge Couvrette
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at the Chambly Basin, all Anatidae (waterfowl) resting on the water suddenly took off all at once, due to the passage of a Gyrfalcon.

au bassin de Chambly, tous les anatidés posés sur le plan d'eau ont soudainement levé d'un coup, en raison du passage d'un Faucon gerfaut. - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Sunday March 27th

Montreal, Parc Nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies: Eastern meadowlark in the Rivière-des-Prairies sector of the park

(Sturnelle des prés) dans le secteur Rivière-des-Prairies du parc. - Joël Coutu

Sightings for Saturday March 26th

Just to mention at sunset, 2 Pied-billed grebes, near Highway 132, St. Timothy (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield), past the old dam. Lac St. Louis is thawing and a small part is thawed at the edge of the road (east side of the dam is functional).

Juste pour mentionner au coucher du soleil, 2 Grèbes à bec bigarré, tout près de la route 132, à Saint-Timothée (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield), devant l'ancien barrage. Le lac Saint-Louis est en train de dégeler et une petite partie est dégelée en bordure de cette route (côté est du barrage fonctionnel).  - Patrick Laniel

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - Saturday March 26th

Lasalle / Verdun

I was joined by a very hardy and most enjoyable group of 23+ birders. We had a visiting birder, Matt Medler, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Increasing winds combined with cooler than normal temperatures made for a freezing morning.

We started off at the Parc des Rapides, LaSalle. From there, we saw a few Great Blue Herons. None of them stood on the nests of Île aux Hérons, although one bird tried but left immediately (too windy and freezing cold we guessed). We scanned in the hope of finding the Wild Turkeys that had been seen on the islands there earlier in the month, but had no luck. We enjoyed observing some of the Common Mergansers perching on a tree. A member of the group found a Swamp Sparrow before leaving the park, on the east side of the trail. Unfortunately the bird went hiding and despite many efforts could not be found again.

From there, we did some car pooling and stopped at the end of rue Clemenceau, in Verdun. From the overlook, we could see hundreds of ducks, mostly goldeneye, but also a few scaup, including two Lesser Scaup. Some members of the group thought they had a Barrow's Goldeneye, but the flock lifted a few times, due to some disturbance, before landing again . in a different order. Matt finally identified a male and female Barrow's Goldeneye together, and everyone had a nice look at both birds. The head shape and entirely yellow-orange color of the bill of the female were very convincing. We also had a quartet of Double-crested
Cormorants there.

We then stopped in front of Douglas Hospital. We got better numbers of Greater Scaup as well as an American Wigeon. At this point, we were all very cold and did not feel like lingering any longer along the river.

The rest of us, about a dozen, then headed for the Boisé de L'Île-des-Soeurs, in hope of a better climate down there. We parked at the end of Boulevard de la Forêt. Before entering the woods we heard the noisy calls of a murder of crows that got our attention for most of the time we were there. At some point, a Red-shouldered Hawk called a few times and finally emerged and flew over the treetops for a quick show. Later on, once in the woods, a Cooper's Hawk called several times before being escorted into view by mobbing crows. The greatest surprise though, and consequently bird of the day, was discovered at the end of the field trip by now adored birder Joel Coutu: a Northern Saw-whet Owl that the whole group had plenty of time to enjoy. It was a lifer for some of the members and a rare sight for most of us. What a reward for the perseverance of the group!

Here is the complete list for the trip (40 species): Canada Goose (200), Gadwall (12), American Wigeon (4), American Black Duck (2), Mallard (20), Greater Scaup (20), Lesser Scaup (2), Bufflehead (6), Common Goldeneye (200), Barrow's Goldeneye (2), Hooded Merganser (2), Common Merganser (150), Double-crested Cormorant (6), Great Blue Heron (6), Cooper's Hawk (1), Red-shouldered Hawk (1), Ring-billed Gull (100), Herring Gull (4), Great Black-backed Gull (15), Rock Pigeon (2), Mourning Dove (1), Northern Saw-whet Owl (1), Downy Woodpecker (3), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), American Crow (100), Black-capped Chickadee (15), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), American Robin (8), European Starling (20), American Tree Sparrow (10), Song Sparrow (6), Swamp Sparrow (1), White-throated Sparrow (1), Northern Cardinal (3), Red-winged Blackbird (50), Common Grackle (1), House Finch (9), American Goldfinch (2), House Sparrow (15).

Bernache du Canada (200), Canard chipeau (12), Canard d'Amérique (4), Canard noir (2), Canard colvert (20), Fuligule milouinan (20), Petit Fuligule (2), Petit Garrot (6), Garrot à (200 ), Garrot d'Islande (2), Harle couronné (2), Grand Harle (150), Cormorans à aigrettes (6), Grand Héron (6), Épervier de Cooper (1), Buses à épaulettes (1), Goéland à bec cerclé (100), Goéland argenté (4), Goéland marin (15), Pigeon biset (2), Tourterelle triste (1), Petite nyctale (1), Pic mineur (3),  Pic chevelu (1), Grand Pic (1), Corneille d'Amérique (100), Mésange à tête noire (15), Sittelle à poitrine blanche (2), Merle d'Amérique (8),  Étourneau sansonnet (20), Bruant Hudsonien (10 ), Bruant chanteur (6), Bruant des marais (1), Bruant à gorge blanche (1), Cardinal rouge (3), Carouge à épaulettes (50), Quiscale bronzé (1), Roselin familier (9),  Chardonneret jaune (2), Moineau domestique (15)
Thank you everyone for coming and showing such enthusiasm. - Diane Demers

Souper bénéfice et vente aux enchères Le Nichoir

Benefit Dinner and Auction

Détails / Event Details

Click photo to enlarge

Sightings for Sunday March 20th

Seen from the feeding stations at Laval cemetery (Rang Du Bas St Francois), usual species like; Black-Capped Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird, American Tree Sparrow, Cedar Waxwings, Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch


A few Common Redpoll still present. Surprisingly, a Song Sparrow always calling since last December and finaly a Northern Shrike

Rencontrés aux postes d'alimentation du cimetière Laval (Rang Du Bas St Francois), les espèces communes comme; Mésange à tête noire, Carouge à épaulette, Bruant hudsonien, Jaseur boréal, Junco ardoisé, Chardonneret jaune, Pic mineur, Cardinal rouge et Sittelle à poitrine blanche.


Quelques Sizerins flammé sont encore présent. Un surprenant Bruant chanteur toujours en voix depuis décembre dernier et finalement une Pie-grièche grise - S F
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LaSalle,  boulvard LaSalle et 6 ième avenue: Many Great blue Herons seen on ile au hérons.

Plusieures grand héron observé au parc des Rapides,et sur l'ile au hérons  - Pierre Lamontagne
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Verdun, :l'île des Soeurs: Today the Red-dhouldered hawk (photo) returned to where it has nested for the last 2 years

Aujourd'hui, retour de la Buse à épaulettes (photo)  à l'île des Sœurs où elle niche depuis 2 ans - Pierre Bannon

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We observed 46 species in the Dundee area, Godmanchester (montée Smellie), St-Stanislas de Kostka (Hungry Bay): Snow Goose (++++), Canada Goose (+++), * Hybrid Snow Goose and Canada Goose, American Wigeon (4), Northern Pintail (+), Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead (4 +), Common Goldeneye, Common merganser (+ +), Red-breasted Merganser (4 +), Great Blue Heron (1), Northern Harrier (3 +), Red-shouldered hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (6 +), Great Horned Owl, Northern Flicker, Pileated woodpecker (3), Northern Shrike (1), Eastern Meadowlark (1), Common Redpoll (6 +), Song Sparrow etc. ..


Nous avons observé 46 espèces dans la région de Dundee, Godmanchester (montée Smellie), St-Stanislas de Kostka (Hungry Bay): Oie des neige (++++), Bernache du Canada (+++), *hybride Oie des neiges et Bernache du Canada , Canard d'Amérique (4), Canard pilet (+), Fuligule milouinan, Petit Fuligule, Petit-Garrot (4+), Garrot à oeil d'or, Grand Harle (++), Harle huppé (4+), Grand Héron (1), Busard Saint-Martin (3+), Buse à épaulettes (1), Buse à queue rousse (6+), Grand-duc d'Amérique, Pic flamboyant, Grand pic (3), Pie-grièche grise (1), Sturnelle des prés (1), Sizerin flammé (6+), Bruant Chanteur etc..- Joël Coutu

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip - Saturday March 19th

The promise of good weather brought many birders out of winter hibernation as 31 showed up for the Ile Perrot portion of our combined Ile Perrot/Cap St Jacques field trip. They were greeted with sunny skies, cool temperatures (-4C) and light northern breezes. Much of the lake to the northeast of Pointe-du-Moulin was still ice covered but the western sections out toward Beauharnois were open.

The group spent several hours studying the waterfowl off the point and looking for passerines in the adjacent treed area. Later, a group of nine birders continued on to Cap St Jacques for a pleasant although not overly "bird productive" walk along the shoreline. The general impression was that the cooler temperatures and north wind were inhibiting overt signs of territorial behavior among the terrestrial birds and what individuals were present were quietly going about the business of eating and staying warm.

Bird of the day was a horned grebe that played hide and seek while feeding along the shoreline near the point on Ile Perrot but eventually allowing almost  everyone at least brief looks.

Our overall list included 36 species from Ile Perrot and we added one and possibly two more from Cap St Jacques.

Many of the numbers listed below are very rough estimates as the waterfowl species were spread out over much of the water surface into the extreme distance and were constantly shifting positions.

Numbers in brackets are additional numbers from Cap St Jacques.

Canada Goose - 600+ ( 25), American Black Duck - 12, Mallard - 2, Northern Pintail - 30, Ring-necked Duck - 1, Greater Scaup - 650, Lesser scaup - 350, Bufflehead - 30 (2), Common Goldeneye - 400 (24), Common Merganser - 100 (1), Red-breasted Merganser - 4, Horned Grebe - 1, Red-tailed Hawk - 2, Ring-billed gull - 24, Herring Gull - 20, Great Black-backed Gull - 24, Rock Pigeon - 6, Mourning Dove - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 2 (1), Hairy Woodpecker - 1 (1), Blue Jay - 4, American Crow - 24 (12), Common Raven - (2 possible/probable Cap St Jacques), Black - Capped Chickadee - 10 (10), White-breasted Nuthatch - 2 (3), Brown Creeper - 3, American Robin - 6 (1), European Starling - 24 (6), American Tree Sparrow - (1), Song Sparrow - 2, Dark-eyed Junco - 1, Northern Cardinal - 3, Red-winged Blackbird - 24, Common Grackle - 6, Brown-heade Cowbird - 1, Common Redpoll - 6 (12), American Goldfinch - 1, House Sparrow - 4

Bernache du Canada - 600 + (25), Canard noir - 12, Canard colvert - 2, Canard pilet - 30, Fuligule à collier - 1, Fuligule milouinan - 650, Petits fuligules - 350, Petit Garrot - 30 (2), Garrots à oeil d'or - 400 (24), Grand Harle - 100 (1), Harle huppé - 4, Grèbe esclavon - 1, Buse à queue rousse - 2 , Goéland à bec cerclé - 24, Goéland argenté - 20, Grande Goéland marin - 24, Pigeon biset - 6, Tourterelle triste - 2, Pic mineur - 2 (1), Pic chevelu - 1 (1), Geai bleu - 4, Corneille d'Amérique - 24 (12), Grand Corbeau - (2 possible / probable à Cap St Jacques), Mésange à tête noir 10 (10), Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 2 (3), Grimpereau brun - 3, Merle d'Amérique - 6 (1), Étourneau sansonnet - 24 (6), Bruant hudsonien - (1), Bruant chanteur - 2, Junco ardoisé - 1, Cardinal rouge- 3, Carouge à épaulettes - 24, Quiscale bronzé - 6, Vacher à tête brune - 1, Sizerin flammé - 6 (12), Chardonneret jaune - 1, Moineau domestique - 4

Many thanks to all the experienced individuals who helped point out birds and give identification tips to the newer birders in the group. And thanks to everyone for coming out for what proved to be by March standards at Pointe-du-Moulin an extremely pleasant morning weatherwise. - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Saturday March 19th

Verdun, :l'île des Soeurs: Swamp sparrow, new at the feeders: several Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles,  2 Mourning Doves, and a Song Sparrow. In the woods, a Cooper's hawk called, and a Pileated Woodpecker. The Brown Creepers were singing, as well as Cardinals and House Finches etc.
Montréal, rue Marc-Cantin: at the Technopark, another Song Sparrow and Red-tailed Hawk adult.

Sainte-Catherine: a male Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Greater Scaup, and hundreds of Common Goldeneye. Not to mention a Bald eagle adult, and 5 Great Blue Heron on their nests already.


Verdun, :l'île des Soeurs: Bruant des marais, nouveautés aux mangeoires: plusieurs Carouges à épaulettes et Quiscales bronzé, 2 Tourterelles tristes, ainsi qu'un Bruant chanteur. Dans le boisé, un Épervier de Cooper criait, ainsi qu'un Grand Pic. Les Grimpereaux bruns chantaient, de même que les Cardinaux rouges et les Roselins familiers etc.
Montréal, rue Marc-Cantin: Au Technoparc, un autre Bruant chanteur et une Buse à queue rousse adulte.

Sainte-Catherine:  un Harle huppé mâle, 8 Fuligules milouinans, et des centaines de Garrots à œil d'or,  un Pygargue adulte, et 5 Grands Hérons déjà sur les nids. - Pierre Bannon
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Dundee: There were at least 5 Sandhill cranes at the Réserve Nationale de Faune du Lac St-François. Among them, a trio of two adults and one immature.
The trio ate together. Probably a couple with their offspring from the previous year


Il y avait au moins 5 Grues du Canada à la Réserve Nationale de Faune du Lac St-François. Parmi elles, un trio composé de deux adultes et d’un immature.


Le trio se nourrissait ensemble. Probablement un couple avec leur rejeton de l’année précédente. - Alain Hogue

Sightings for Friday March 18th

Montréal, île de la Visitation: Hooded Merganser (M), Cooper's hawk (very possible our resident breeder), Killdeer (1), Great Blue Heron 1 (in flight), Raven (1), Common Grackle (6 +), Red-winged Blackbird (12 +)

Harle couronné (M), Épervier de Cooper (tres possible notre nicheur résident ), Pluvier kildir (1), Grand Héron (1, aux vol), Grand Corbeau (1), Quiscale bronzé (6+), Carouge à épaulettes (12+) - Joël Coutu
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Pretty windy this morning at the airport in St. Hubert, and the heat the last few days has meant that the fields are flooded and the streams and ditches are filled with water. Among a small group of Anatidae (ducks), there was a Cackling goose and 10 Canada geese.


Passablement venteux ce matin, à l'aéroport de Saint-Hubert, et la chaleur des derniers jours a fait en sorte que les champs sont inondés et que les ruisseaux et les fossés sont gorgés d'eau. Parmi un petit groupe d'anatidés, il y avait une Bernache de Hutchins et 10 Bernaches du Canada. - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Thursday March 17th

Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Tufted titmouse (Mésange bicolore) - Micheline Ouellet
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Laval, boisé Papineau: Red-shouldered Hawk (Buses à épaulettes) - Alain Robert
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Montréal, Île de la Visitation: (22 species) Bald Eagle (adult), Canada Goose (250 +), Ring-billed Gull (40 +), Pigeon, Mourning dove, Pileated woodpecker, Flicker (for 3 days), Downy and Hairy woodpecker, Brown creeper (3 +), White-breasted Nuthatch. American robin (2), Starling, Common Redpoll (20 +), Red-winged blackbird (3 +) etc.

(22 espèces) Pygargue à tête blanche (adulte), Bernache du Canada (250+), Goéland à bec cerclé (40+), Pigeon biset, Tourterelle triste, Grand pic, Pic flamboyant (depuis 3 jours), Pic mineur, et chevelu, Grimpereau brun (3+), Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Merle d'Amérique (2), Étourneau, Sizerin flammé (20+), Carouge à épaulettes (3+)  etc. - Joel Coutu
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Montréal, l’Université de Montréal: Peregrine falcons (Faucons pèlerins) Spirit & Roger - Louise Ladouceur-Côté
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Godmanchester: First trip to montée Smellie to observe the migration of raptors. Upon arriving, Joanne Beaulieu, Francine Viau and Luke Goneau were already present. Here's what we found: 2 Turkey Vultures, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Sharp-shinned hawk, 2 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Red-shouldered hawk, About a dozen Red-tailed Hawks, 2 rough-legged hawks, 6 Golden Eagles (5 ad, a juv)

What was the most spectacular at this place was the migration of Snow geese. Tens of thousands passed throughout the day.

Late afternoon, I also observed a Northern Harrier (the 9th raptor of the day) in Dundee. There were also 8 Killdeer in a field Dundee.

Godmanchester: Première tournée sur la montée Smellie pour observer la migration des rapaces. En arrivant, Joanne Beaulieu, Francine Viau et Luc Goneau était déjà présents. Voici ce que nous avons observé: 2 Urubus à tête rouge, 3 Pygargues à tête blanche, 1 Épervier brun, 2 Épervier de Cooper, 1 Buse à épaulettes, Environ une 12aine de Buses à queue rousse, 2 Buses Pattues, 6 Aigles royaux (5 ad, un juv)


Ce qui était le plus spectaculaire à cet endroit était la migration des Oies des neiges. Il en est passé des dizaines de milliers tout au long de la  journée.


En fin d'après-midi, j'ai aussi observé un Busard Saint-Martin (le 9ième rapace de la journée) à Dundee. Il y avait 8 Pluviers kildir dans un champ à Dundee. - Pierre Bannon
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Dundee: on le sentier de la grande aigrette with the marsh still mostly frozen: 3 Sandhill Cranes (Grues du Canada)  in the region of the nest of the last three years, thousands of Snow Geese (Oies des neiges) and Canada Geese (Bernaches du Canada) flying over and feeding in the neighbourhood. 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Northern harriers, 1 Ruffed Grouse, American crows, 1 American robin, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Song Sparrows, Starlings, Redwinged Blackbirds

1 Urubu à tête rouge, 1 Buse à queue rousse, Goéland à bec cerclé, 2 Busards Saint-Martin, 1 Gélinotte huppée, Corneilles d'Amérique, 1 Merle d'Amérique, 1 Pie-grièche grise, 3 Bruants chanteurs, étourneaux, Carouges à épaulettes - Jean De Marre

Sightings for Tuesday March15th

Montéal, NDG: Sharp-shinned hawk (Épervier brun) perched on a Locust Tree, eating what was probably a house sparrow, seen at 8:00 AM on Wilson Ave. between Sherbrooke and De Maisonneuve - Mike Bristol
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Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: 1 Red-Bellied Woodpecker (male), 3 pine siskins, 30+ common Redpolls, 20+ cedar Waxwings, 20+ Bohemian Waxwings, Turkey Vulture etc.
1 Pic à ventre roux (mâle), 3 Tarin des pins, 30+ Sizerins flammés 30, 20 + Jaseurs d'Amèrique, 20 +  Jaseurs Borèal, Urubu à tête rouge etc. - Chris Cloutier
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Montéal, Parc Nature de l’île-de-la-Visitation: Canada goose (1), Black Duck (9),  hybrid duck (mallard-black), Peregrine Falcon, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Glaucous gulls (on RDP), Great black-backed gull, Blue jay, American Crow, Black-capped chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper (4 +), American robin (3 +), European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco (1), Northern Cardinal, Red-winged blackbird (3 +), House Finch, Common Redpoll (24 +), Hoary Redpoll (1), American Goldfinch, House Sparrow


Bernache du Canada (1), Canard noir (9), Canard hybride (Colvert-noir), Faucon pèlerin, Goéland à bec cerclé, Goéland argenté, Goéland bourgmestre (sur RDP), Goéland marin, Geai bleu, Corneille d’Amérique, Mésange à tête noire, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Grimpereau brun (4+), Merle d’Amérique (3+), Étourneau sansonnet, Junco ardoisé (1), Cardinal rouge, Carouge à épaulettes (3+), Roselin familier, Sizerin flammé (24+), Sizerin blanchâtre (1), Chardonneret jaune, Moineau domestique - Joël Coutu
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St-Armand, at the end of chemin Bradley: Eastern Meadowlark American Robin, Canada Goose, Starlings, 16 Wild turkeys, crows, Nuthatches, Horned larks, House sparrows

au bout du chemin Bradley: Sturnelle des prés, Merle d’Amérique, Bernache du Canada, étourneaux, 16 dindons sauvage, corneilles, sittelles, alouettes, moineaux - Jean-Guy Papineau
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I did a little outing with Robert Chartier this afternoon at the Chambly Basin and along the Richelieu River to St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. At the last place, at the corner of rue Cayer, we observed: Glaucous gull 1, Lesser black-backedGull 1, Great black-backed gulls, xx Ring-billed Gulls, 49 Canada Geese, xx Common Merganser, 2 Hooded Merganser, xx Goldeneye Goldeneye, xx Mallard and black duck, xx American Crow

Near the Harris Motel, the same species were repeated.

pont Yule (bridge) near Route 112 on the Richelieu added: 1 Gadwall

Near the rapids at Chambly Basin: 59 Canada Geese, Over 500 Mallard, 16 black ducks, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Ring-billed Gulls and Great black-backed gulls

J'ai fait une petite sortie avec Robert Chartier cet après-midi, au Bassin de Chambly et le long de la Rivière Richelieu jusqu'à St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Au dernier endroit, au coin de la rue Cayer, nous avons observés:
1 Goélang Bourgmestre, 1 Goéland brun, 3 Goélands marin, xx Goélands à bec cerclé, 49 Bernaches du Canada, xx Grand harles, 2 Harles couronnés, xx Garrots à oeil d'or, xx Canards colvert et noirs, xx Corneilles d'Amérique
Près du Motel Harris, les mêmes espèces se sont répétées.


Près du Pont Yule de la route 112, sur le Richelieu on a ajouté: 1 Canard chipeau


Près des rapides au Bassin de Chambly: 59 Bernaches du Canada, Plus de 500 Canards colvert, 16 Canards noir, Garrots à oeil d'or, Grand harles, Goélands à bec cerclé et marins - Gilles Ethier
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Verdun: on the riverfront in the late afternoon. Among the species observed, there are our first two
Great blue heron that stood in the heronry, the three Long-tailed ducks Pierre Bannon was found yesterday and now regular adult Bald eagle. The But more surprising was finding the Double-crested cormorant. Along with the other birds, we should note the presence of a Bufflehead and a Greater scaup.

Verdun sur le bord du fleuve en fin d'après-midi. Parmi les espèces observées, il y a nos deux premiers
grands hérons qui se tenaient dans la héronnière, les trois hareldes kakawis que Pierre Bannon a trouvés hier et un Pygargue à tête blanche adulte maintenant régulier. Le plus étonnant cependant a été de trouver un cormoran à aigrettes. Parmi le lot des autres oiseaux, il faut noter la présence d'un petit garrot et d'un fuligule milouinan. - Daniel Ouellette, Diane Demers
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Ste-Barbe: There were tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of Snow Geese (Oies des neiges )in the corn fields between the Beauharnois Canal and Ste-Barbe, and along the north shore of Lake St-Francis (which is still largely frozen over) An amazing sight. - Peter and Ann Tarassoff

Sightings for Monday March 14th

Dundee: A short trip this sunny Monday to Dundee allowed me to observe twenty flocks in flight, of Snow geese headed towards Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, given that the Lake St. Francis is frozen solid at this time. They were all found in the same field, easily visible from the rte 132 at Sainte-Barbe. I think a 5 ha. area covered by the "whiteness! "That's a lot of geese.

Also, Flickers, Red-winged blackbirds, Northern harriers, American robins, Ring-billed gulls and Canada geese have reached Dundee. American tree sparrows Common redpoll were found. Sandhill Cranes should soon arrived. By contrast, the Digue aux aigrettes is still frozen, like the lake.
St-Stanislas de Kostka: At Hungry Bay a Great black-backed gull, a hundred Common mergansers, about 300 Canada Geese, several Common Goldeneye, Northern Cardinals, Blue jays, a Ring-billed Gull and 4 Greater scaup.

pont chemin Larocque, the presence of 2 Large Ravens performing an aerial ballet Canada geese, Common Mergansers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Hooded Merganser (female) Common Goldeneye, Ring-billed Gull.

Une petite virée, en ce lundi ensoleillé, à Dundee, m'a permis d'observer une vingtaine de vols d'Oies des neiges se dirigeant vers Salaberry-de-Valleyfield étant donné que le lac Saint-François est gelé en entier à cette heure. Elles allaient toutes se retrouver dans le même champ, visible facilement de la route 132, à Sainte-Barbe. J'estime à 5 ha le territoire couvert par la "blancheur"! Ça fait beaucoup d'oies.


Aussi, les Pics flamboyants, les Carouges à épaulettes, les Busards Saint-Martin les Merles d'Amérique, les Goélands à bec cerclé et les Bernaches du Canada ont atteint Dundee. Encore la présence de Bruants hudsoniens et d'un Sizerin flammé constatée. Les Grues du Canada devraient arrivées bientôt. Par contre, la Digue aux aigrettes est toujours congelée, comme le lac.
St-Stanislas de Kostka: À Hungry Bay, un Goéland marin, d'une centaine de Grands Harles, d'environ 300 Bernaches du Canada, de plusieurs Garrots à oeil d'or, de Cardinaux rouges, de Geais bleus, d'un Goéland à bec cerclé et 4 Fuligules milouinans.
Au pont du chemin Larocque, présence de 2 Grand Corbeaux effectuant un ballet aérien, bernaches, Grands Harles, 2 Harles huppés, 1 Harle couronné femelle, Garrots à oeil d'or, Goéland à bec cerclé. - Patrick Laniel
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Verdun: At the river, in front of the Douglas Hospital. Hundreds of Common Goldeneye and Common Mergansers, 3 Long-tailed, 8 Scaup (probably Greater), a Bufflehead, a Northern Pintail, a few Canada geese and mallards.

At the eastern end of 'île aux Hérons, there was an adult Bald eagle perched in a tall tree.


au bord du fleuve en face de l'hôpital Douglas. centaines de Garrots à œil d'or et de Grands Harles, 3 Hareldes kakawi, 8 Fuligules (probablement milouinan), un Petit Garrot, un Canard pilet, quelques Bernaches du Canada et des Canards colverts.
À l'extrémité est de l'île aux Hérons, il y avait un Pygargue à tête blanche adulte perché dans un grand arbre. - Pierre Bannon

The Green Big Day

If you are into birding and conservation or both, you may be interested in forming a team and competing in The Green Big Day, kicking off April 23 and ending May 8, 2011! Check out http://www.greenbigday.org/
to sign up (free) or search green big day on Facebook. You don't need to be a super birder to do this, and a
bunch of Green Big Day county records are just waiting to be set. Just form a small team of 2 or more, sign up at the website, go birding for a 24 hour period without using any gasoline (hiking, biking, kayaking,
etc.), and submit your results by May 15.

This event is not a fundraiser per se, but participants can raise money on their own (bird-a-thon style) for their favorite non-profits. I encourage you to pass the word so we can see green big days happening all over the country this spring!

I would appreciate your feedback, and feel free to contact me personally if you have questions or want to serve on the planning committee. Take care and good birding!

W. Scott Smithson, M.S.
Development Director
Camp SEA Lab

Sightings for Friday March 4th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: Several flocks of both Bohemian and Cedar waxwings (Jaseurs boréal et d'Amerique) flying over. Many small flocks are stopping along the main road and their calls have been heard all day. Common Redpolls (Sizerin flammé) at every feeder

Several American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Pileated, Hairy and Downy woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, White and Red Breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos, Crows, Blue Jays, 1 Common raven
Plusieurs de Merles d'Amérique, Cardinaux rouge, Pics grand, chevelu et mineur, Mésange à tête noire, Sittelles à poitrine blanc et rouge, Grimpereau brun, Tourterelle triste, Juncos ardoisés, Corneilles d'Amérique, Geais bleus, Grand corbeau - Chris Cloutier

Sightings for Thursday March 3rd

St-Clet: 16 Gay partridge close to Route 201 east side at the intersection of Ste-Julie

16 perdrix grises très près sur la route 201 côté est à l’intersection du chemin Ste-Julie - Denis Collins

Sightings for Tuesday March 1st

Verdun: Île des Soeurs: feeders at Boul. de la Forêt: A Swamp Sparrow and a Merlin. On the trail leading to lac des Battures behind the feeders, a Northern Flicker.

Lookout at rue Lloyd-George: A Harlequin duck  2 Bald Eagles were perched both on the same branch in a tree on île aux Hérons (Heron Island). Many American Crows and American Robins were crossing the river in the direction of Verdun. I also saw a Northern Flicker in flight over the île aux Hérons, perhaps the same one that was on Île des Soeurs

Île des Soeurs:  mangeoires du Boul. de la Forêt: Bruant des marais et un Faucon émerillon. Dans le sentier menant au lac des Battures derrière les mangeoires, un Pic flamboyant.
 
au belvédère de Verdun, à la hauteur de la rue Lloyd-George: Arlequin plongeur. Les 2 Pygargues à tête blanche étaient perchés tous les 2 ensemble sur la même branche dans un arbre de l'île aux Hérons. Plusieurs Corneilles d'Amérique et Merles d'Amérique traversaient le fleuve en direction de Verdun. J'ai aussi vu un Pic flamboyant en vol au-dessus de l'île aux Hérons, peut-être le même que celui de l'île des Sœurs - Pierre Bannon
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Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka: At the mouth of the Beauharnois canal at Hungary bay a Harlequin duck

à l'embouchure du canal de Beauharnois à Hungray Bay un Arlequin plongeur - Lucien Lemay, Michèle Amyot

Sightings for Sunday February 27th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue: 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Pic à ventre roux) in the Morgan Arboretum aorund noon today - both working the bark on the Larch/Tamarack tree stading beside Chalet pruche. J and I watched them for quite some time (with accompanying Common redpolls (sizerin flammé ) before one flew off into the maple stand to the west from which it started to call. Will we have prrof of breeding this year? - Jean & Richard Gregson

Low: Northern Hawk Owl  (Chouette épervière) was seen preening atop its favourite perch next to Chemin Neely - W. Hum

Sightings for Thursday February 24th

Verdun, at he end of rue Clemenceau (12h30-13h00): Among a small group of about twenty Common Goldeneye along the ice, was a fine adult male Harlequin Duck, alongside an equally beautiful Barrow's Goldeneye (adutle male). The two adult Bald Eagles were in the same tree as during my last visit (4th from the tip of île aux Hérons (Heron island).


(12h30-13h00) au bout de la rue Clémenceau: Parmi un petit groupe d'une vingtaine de Garrots à oeil d'or longeant la glace, se trouvait en effet un beau Arlequin plongeur mâle adulte, aux côté d'un non moins beau Garrot d'Islande (mâle adutle). Les deux Pygargues à tête blanche adultes se trouvaient dans le même arbre que lors de ma dernière visite (le 4e à partir de la pointe est de l'île aux Hérons). - Diane Demers

Sightings for Wednesday February 23rd

Verdun, Boisé de l'île des Soeurs (woods): Pigeons, 1 Eastern Screech Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpeckers, Pileated woodpecker, 40 American Crow, 1 Common Raven, 20 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Brown Creepers, 3 Winter wrens, 2 European Starlings, 15 American tree sparrows, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 5 Dark-eyed Juncos, 6 Northern Cardinals, House finches, 30 Common Redpolls, 1 American Goldfinch, House Sparrows

Pigeons bisets, 1 Petit-duc maculé, Pics mineurs, Pics chevelus, 1 Grand Pic, 40 Corneilles d'Amérique, 1 Grand Corbeau, 20 Mésanges à tête noire, 1 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 3 Grimpereaux bruns, 3 Troglodytes des forêts, 2 Étourneaux sansonnets, 15 Bruants hudsoniens, 1 Bruant des marais, 5 Juncos ardoisés, 6 Cardinaux rouges, Roselins familiers, 30 Sizerins flammés, 1 Chardonneret jaune, Moineaux domestiques - Pierre Bannon
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Sallaberry-de-Valleyfield: Wood duck on rivière St-Charles

Canard branchu (mâle) sur la rivière St-Charles - Alain Hogue
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St-Stanislas de Kostka: at the mouth of the Beauharnois Canal there was a female Harlequin duck

à l'embouchure du canal de Beauharnois à il y avait une femelle Arlequin plongeur - Denis Collins

St-Stanislas de Kostka: at the mouth of the Beauharnois Canal there was a female Harlequin duck with 4 Common goldeneye

avenue des Villas: 2 Tufted Titmouse at the feeders

à l'embouchure du canal de Beauharnois à il y avait une femelle Arlequin plongeur qui se tenait avec 4 Garrot à œil d'or
l’avenue des Villas: 2 Mésanges bicolore aux mangeoires  - Denis Collins

Sightings for Thursday February 17th

Sainte-Catherine: a Great Blue Heron, a hundred Canada Geese, hundreds of mallards, 2 Northern pintails and 6 Greater scaup 
un Grand Héron une centaine de Bernaches du Canada, centaines de Canards colverts, 2 Canards pilets et 6 Fuligules milouinan
Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Red-bellied woodpecker (M), a Carolina Wren and 2 Tufted Titmouse
un Pic à ventre roux mâle, un Troglodyte de Caroline et 2 Mésanges bicolores - Pierre Bannon

Conversati​on/Sneak Peek Webinar with Richard Crossley Feb 22nd

CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD CROSSLEY and SNEAK PEEK OF THE CROSSLEY ID GUIDE: EASTERN BIRDS

We invite you to join a stunning online visual conversation with acclaimed photographer and birder Richard Crossley. He’ll share a sneak preview of his new book, The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds, published by Princeton University Press. The book is already getting rave reviews (Audubon Magazine’s Wayne Mones quips, “So what’s so different about The Crossley ID Guide? Everything.”). Richard’s vision was to take birding into the 21st-century by creating a bird guide that shows birds the way they are seen in real life. Instead of offering up the usual single ‘flat’ bird picture, he’s created engaging multi-dimensional scenes with every detail in focus to show a wide range of views of birds in action, in their proper habitats, near, far and everything between. Until recently, Richard’s revolutionary vision was ahead of the available technology. New photography and computer developments were instrumental in allowing him to produce 640 composite scenes of real life birds in many different situations created from over 10,000 of his own photographs that form the heart of THE CROSSLEY ID GUIDE: Eastern Birds (March 9, 2011).
 
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Richard is ALWAYS full of energy, lots of great information and a little comedy to boot.

DATE: February 22, 2011

TIMES AND SITE LOG IN:
12 PM-1 PM EST https://princeton.ilinc.com/register/vfjksbb
2 PM – 3 PM EST https://princeton.ilinc.com/register/tzrvpmh

DETAILS: Be among the first to experience Richard’s 21st-Century birding vision. Richard will share a stunning visual smorgasbord of life-like, in-focus scenes showing birds in their habitats, from near and far, and in all plumages and behaviors. There will also be a 15 minute Q&A session.

Sightings for Sunday February 13th

St-Clet: Snowy owl near the transmission tower at St-Clet, by contrast it was easier to see from chemin de la cité des jeunes

Harfang des neiges près de la tour de transmission à St-Clet, par contre il était plus facile à voir à partir du chemin de la cité des jeunes.

St-Lazare, near the centre des Forestiers 15 - 20 Pine Grosbeak, Red-breasted Nuthatch

près du centre des Forestiers: 15 et 20 durbecs des sapins et ma première sitelle à poitrine rousse - Denis Collins

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Pointe-Claire: a Red-bellied woodpecker on the feeder - American robins (30+)-Cedar Waxwing (5) - House sparrow (5) - American goldfinch (2) - Downy woodpecker - Hose finch (6) very rare at my place - White-breasted nuthatch (2) - Cardinal red (male and female) - dark-eyed juncos (8)

un pic à ventre roux sur la mangeoire - merles d'Amérique (30 et plus) -jaseur d'amérique (5) - moineaux domestique (5) -chardonneret jaune (2) - pic mineur - roselin familier (6) très rare dans ma cour - sittelle à poitrine blanche (2) - cardinal rouge (male et femelle)  - juncos ardoisés (8) - Julie Tremblay

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - Saturday, February 12th

Eleven birders travelled in a convoy of five cars through the flat wind-swept spaces in the St-Clet/Ste-Marthe/Ste Justine area looking for open country winter birds. Although tolerable, driving conditions were extremely tricky with winds increasing in intensity throughout the morning causing drifting snow and iced over roads. Snow flurries added to the visibilty problems. Passing an overturned vehicle on Highway 201 shortly after our departure emphasized the need for caution. Nevertheless we were able to complete our planned route.

Our first few stops of the morning were at feeders most notably one on Chemin St-Emmanuel near St-Clet. This major feeding station attracts a very large number of birds and it was here that we had our bird of the day - Wild turkeys. An impressive group of 76 or probably more were in the immediate vicinity and probably only the arrival of our cars kept the majority from actually using the feeders. As it was a half dozen of them still made a quick stop for breakfast before running off to join their friends. The feeders also produced redpolls, goldfinches, juncos, tree sparrows, blue jays, mourning doves, an impressive number of hairy and downy woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, a lone pine siskin and just as we arrived a dozen snow buntings.

Much of the remainder of the morning was spent scouring the open countryside in a vain attempt to locate snowy owls, gray partridge and other target birds. Sightings of snowies have been few and far between this winter in the area and conditions were not conducive to aiding in our search. However we did end up with excellent views of snow buntings, lapland longspurs and horned larks, many of them at feeders. A particularly productive station was near the corner of Ste-Julie and Mtee Ste-Julie. A mixed flock containing over 100 snow buntings and 30-40 lapland longspurs was dividing its time between the feeders and a nearby cornfield. Having these active birds actually remain stationary at a feeder allowed for detailed looks through the scope.

All in all, considering the conditions of the day, it was a successful trip. That said, those who stayed home because they felt uncomfortable with the potential driving conditions probably made a wise choice as that part of the outing was not enjoyable.

Our complete list of 21 species included: American Black Duck - 2 (open section of the river in St-Polycarpe), Wild Turkey - 76+, Rock Pigeon - 150, Mourning Dove - 6, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Hairy Woodpecker - 8, Blue Jays - 12, American Crow - 20, Commomn Raven - 1, Horned Lark - 30, Black-capped Chickadee - 10, White-Breasted Nuthatche - 2, European Starling - 40, American Tree Sparow - 24, Dark-eyed Junco - 24, Lapland Longspur - 50, Snow Bunting - 200+, Common Redpoll - 40, Pine Siskin - 1, American Goldfinch - 6, House Sparrow - 20

Canard noir - 2 (rivière à St-Polycarpe), Dindon sauvage - 76 +, Pigeon biset - 150, Tourterelle triste - 6, Pic mineur - 3, Pic chevelu - 8, Geai bleu - 12, Corneille d'Amérique - 20, Grand corbeau- 1, Alouette hausse-col - 30, Mésange à tête noire - 10, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 2, Étourneau sansonnet - 40,  Bruant Hudsonien- 24, Junco ardoisé - 24, (Plectrophane lapon (Bruant lapon) - 50, (Plectrophane des neiges (Bruants des neiges) - 200 +, sizerin flammé - 40, Tarin des pins - 1, Chardonneret jaune - 6, Moineaux domestiques - 20


Thanks to everyone who came out and braved the conditions - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Saturday February 12th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: 2 Red-bellied woodpeckers, 2 Pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, chickadees etc.

un couple de pic à ventre roux, un couple de Grand pic, des pics mineurs, pics chevelus, mésanges et cie. - Catherine Gouillard

Great Backyard Bird Count

Great Backyard Bird Count

Grand dénombrement des oiseaux

du 18 au 21 février 2011

Sightings for Monday February 7th

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum: Mild, +1 C, light Snow, feeders half full, overcast:
Black Capped Chickadees-50+, Common Redpolls 60+/-, American Crow 11, American Goldfinch 1, American Robin 5, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 3, Downy Woodpecker 1, Dark-eyed Junco 3, Sparrow spp. 1, Blue Jay 2, Red Breasted Nuthatch 2, White Breasted Nuthatch 5, Northern cardinal 6, Mourning Dove 10, Brown Creeper 1

Mésanges à tête noire mésange-50 +, Sizerin flammé 60 + / -, Corneille d'Amérique 11, Chardonneret jaune 1, Merle d'Amérique 5, Grand Pic 3, Pic chevelu 3, Pic mineur 1, Junco ardoisé 3, Bruant sp. 1, Blue Jay 2, Sittelle à poitrine rousse 2, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 5, Cardinal rouge 6, Tourterelle triste 10, Grimpereau brun 1 - Chris Cloutier

                                                              Photo Mathias Mutzl
                                          Common Redpoll                         Sizerin flammé

Sightings for Sunday February 6th

Verdun, Île des Soeurs: I spent 1.5 hrs on the southern tip this afternoon. More than a hundred Common Goldeneye and many Common Mergansers were present. Among these birds, I spotted the Harlequin duck.a handsome adult male, a Barrow's goldeneye (M) and a hybrid male Barrow's Goldeneye X Common Goldeneye. On northern tip of 'île aux Hérons, I could see two adult Bald Eagles perched in the same tree.

The Harlequin Duck was seen from the observation platform in the direction of the steeple of the church of La Prairie. It was far, but visible at 30X telescope.

J'ai passé 1h30 à la pointe sud cet après-midi. Plus d'une centaine de Garrots à œil d'or et plusieurs Grands Harles étaient présents. Parmi ces oiseaux, j'ai repéré l'Arlequin plongeur, un beau mâle adulte, un Garrot d'Islande mâle et un hybride Garrot d'Islande X Garrot à œil d'or. Sur la pointe nord de l'île aux Hérons, je pouvais voir les 2 Pygargues à tête blanche adultes perchés dans le même arbre.

L'Arlequin plongeur a été aperçu à partir de la plateforme d'observation en direction du clocher de l'église de La Prairie. Il était assez loin, mais visible au télescope 30X. - Pierre Bannon
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We drove around Ste-Marthe and St-Clet on Sunday afternoon and we found the flock of between 20-30 Lapland Longspurs (Plectrophane lapon (Bruant lapon) that seem to still be frequenting a feeder near the corner of chemin Ste-Julie and Mtee Ste-Julie. We also found a huge flock of at least 100 Snow Buntings (Plectrophane des neiges (Bruants des neiges) on Citee des Jeunes nearby - Ryan Young
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 St-Lazare: There was a group of 10+ Pine Grosbeaks (Durbec des sapins) in the Pinède this morning. They were feeding on spruce buds or regrowths. They were singing quietly all the time they were there. - Diane Demers

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - Saturday, February 5th

The weather for yesterday's trip to rue Higgins in Châteauguay and the Ste-Catherines's Rec-reo-parc could not have been better for early February. Twelve birders were greeted with sunny skies, warm temperatures reaching toward the freezing point by the end of the morning, and almost no wind.

The Higgin's Street feeders and area were fairly active and produced some good sightings most notably two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Carolina Wren and a Tufted Titmouse. All waterfowl sightings at the Recreoparc were noteworthy for the excellent lighting conditions showing off the ducks in their best plumage. A definitive identification of one distant gull proved elusive although best guess is a Glaucous. A Peregrine Falcon sitting on an icebound rock in the river was a pleasant surprise for three birders at the end of the trip.

Please note that the numbers listed below are the leader's estimates as no post trip count was held due to commitments taking many participants away early.

Our complete list of 31 (32?) species included the following:

Canada Geese - 30, American Black Ducks - 20, Mallards - 600+, Northern Pintail - 1, Common Goldeneyes - 100+, Common Mergansers - 50+, Peregrine Falcon - 1, Ring-billed Gull - 6, Herring Gull - 2, Glaucous Gull - 1 (possible), Great Black-backed Gull - 30, Rock Pigeon - 20, Mourning Dove - 6, Red-bellied Woodpeckers - 2, Downy Woodpeckers - 4, Hairy Woodpeckers - 6, Pileated Woodpecker - 2, Blue Jays - 2, American Crow - 20, Common Raven - 1 (probable), Black-capped Chickadees - 20,
Tufted Titmouse - 1 (heard), White-breasted Nuthatches - 4, Carolina Wren - 1, American Robin - 1,
European Starlings - 20, American Tree Sparrows - 3, Dark-eyed Juncos - 5, Northern Cardinals - 3, House Finch - 1, American Goldfinches - 30, House Sparrows - 10

Bernaches du Canada - 30, Canards noirs - 20, Canard colvert - 600 +, Canard pilet - 1, Garrots à oeil d'or - 100 +, Grands Harles - 50 +, Faucon pèlerin - 1, Goéland à bec cerclé - 6, Goéland argenté - 2, Goéland bourgmestre - 1 (possible), Goéland marin - 30, Pigeon bisset - 20, Tourterelles tristes - 6, Pic à ventre roux - 2, Pic mineur - 4, Pic chevelu - 6, Grand Pic - 2, Geai bleu - 2, Corneille d'Amérique - 20, Grand Corbeau - 1 (possible), Mésange à tête noire - 20, Mésange bicolore - 1 (entendu), Sittelles à poitrine blanche - 4, Troglodyte de Caroline - 1, Merle d'Amérique - 1, Étourneau sansonnet - 20, Bruant Hudsonien - 3, Juncos ardoisés - 5, Cardinal rouge - 3, Roselin familier - 1, Chardonnerets jaune - 30, Moineaux domestiques - 10

Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable morning - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Saturday February 5th

Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Morgan Arboretum -  While snowshoeing spotted 3 Pleated Woodpeckers (Grand pic) (2 on the same tree). 5 to 8 Common Redpoll's (Sizerin flammé) at a bird feeder and a Hairy Woodpecker (Pic chevelu). 10 - 15 Cedar Waxwings (Jaseurs d'Amérique) click photo to enlarge - Mathias Mutzl
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Châteauguay, rue Higgins: Red-bellied Woodpecker male, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Juncos, etc..

Sainte-Catherine locks: two adult Bald Eagles on the island, hundreds of Canada geese, Mallard, Black ducks, Common Goldeneye, Common Mergansers, Great black-backed Gulls, Herring gulls, etc..

Au bout de la rue Higgins: Pic à ventre roux mâle, Troglodyte de Caroline, deux Cardinaux rouges, Chardonnerets jaunes, Juncos ardoisés.

Sainte-Catherine des écluses» : deux Pygargues à tête blanche adultes sur l'île, des centaines de Bernaches du Canada, Canards colverts, Canards noirs, Garrots à oeil d'or, Grands Harles, Goélands marins, Goélands argentés, etc.- Michel Bertrand

Sightings for Tuesday February 1st

Châteauguay, rue Higgins:  Red-bellied woodpecker, 2Carolina wrens, American goldfinches, Black-capped chickadees, Hairy woodpeckers, Downy woodpeckers, White-breasted nuthatch, Mourning dove, European starlings, American crows, Blue jays, Northern cardinals and a Sharp-shinned hawk
On the Châteauguay River, I found the female mallard leucique seen on the weekend. On the Blvd. Salaberry South amongst the other mallards.

pic à ventre roux, 2 troglodytes de Caroline,  chardonnerets jaunes, mésanges à tête noire, pics chevelu, pics mineur, sittelles à poitrine blanche, tourterelles tristes, étourneaux sansonnets, corneilles, geai bleu, cardinal rouge et un épervier brun.

Sur la rivière Châteauguay, j’ai retrouvé la femelle colvert leucique aperçu en fin de semaine. Elle était sur le Boul. Salaberry Sud parmi les colverts. - Manon Roy
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Verdun, Île des Soeurs: A tour of woods this morning allowed me to to see : 1 Eastern Screech Owl, 3 Downy Woodpeckers. 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 1 Pileated woodpecker, American Crows, 20 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 White-breasted Nuthatch, 3 Brown Creepers, 1 Winter Wren, 15 American tree sparrows, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos, 4 Northern Cardinals, 50 House Sparrows


Une tournée au boisé ce matin m'a permis de voir: 1 Petit-duc maculé, 3 Pics mineurs, 2 Pics chevelus, 1 Grand Pic, Corneilles d'Amérique, 20 Mésanges à tête noire, 3 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 3 Grimpereaux bruns, 1 Troglodyte des forêts, 15 Bruants hudsoniens, 1 Bruant des marais, Bruant à gorge blanche, 2 Juncos ardoisés, 4 Cardinaux rouges, 50 Moineaux domestiques - Pierre Bannon

Sightings for Sunday January 30th

Montréal: At around 3:30 PM a Cooper's Hawk (épervier de Cooper) was perched on a tree at the corner of Westbury and Cote-Ste.-Catherine, across the street from the Segal Center.  After preening for a while it took off, heading west.  It may show up at your bird-feeder tomorrow if you live in NDG - Mike Bristol
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St-Clet: 2 Rred-tailed hawks, not far from one another perched in trees near the road along the 201. Chemin Ste-Julie - Horned Larks, Lapland longspurs and Snow Buntings.
Also: Sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper hawk , American Kestrel and a Northern shrike - Denis Collins



Ste-Marthe: between the 387 and 391 rang St-Guillaume we observed a group of 20 Wild turkeys in a field north side of the road.

A friend in LaSalle Roger Rousselle told me that he observed the adult Bald eagle has been seen on more than one occasion since December on Ile-aux-Herons. It was observed between 14:00 pm and 15:00 pm today - Jacques Falardeau, Richard Dupuis

St-Clet: 2 buses à queue rousse, non loin l'une de l'autre perchèes dans des arbres loin de la route le long de la 201. chemin Ste-Julie - Alouettes hausse-col, bruants lapons et de bruants des neiges
Aussi: épervier brun, épervier de Cooper, crécerelle d’Amérique et une pie grièche grise - Denis Collins

Ste-Marthe: entre le 387 et le 391 rang St-Guillaume nous avons observé un groupe de 20 dindons sauvages dans un champs du côté nord de la route.

Un ami de LaSalle Roger Rousselle m'a fait part qu'il a observé la pygargue à tête blanche adulte qui a été vue à plus d'une reprise depuis décembre sur l'Île-aux-Hérons.Elle aurait été observée entre 14h00 p.m. et 15h00 p.m. aujourd'hui. - Jacques Falardeau, Richard Dupuis
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Sightings for Saturday January 29th

We drove around the back roads near Ste. Marthe & St. Clet on Saturday Morning. No snowy owls. But we did see a good-sized flock of Horned Larks (Alouette hausse-col) along Mtee. Ste. Marie and a little later a mixed flock of  (Plectrophane des neiges (Bruants des neiges) (30) and Lapland Longspurs (Plectrophane lapon (Bruant lapon) (25 - 30) at feeders near the intersection of Mtee. Ste. Julie and Chemin Ste. Julie. - Mike Bristol

Sightings for Friday January 28th

L'Anse-au-Griffon, 70 rue du Portage: Fieldfare (Grive litorne) - Ms. Nancy Girard
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Saint-Constant: I found an immature White-crowned Sparrow in a mixed flock of Dark-eyed Juncos and Tree Sparrows in Saint-Constant. The flock fed beside the road on rang Saint-Simon 200-300 meters from the intersection of montée Saint-Christophe.. On the same rang, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk, 25 Horned Larks, 2 Ravens and many American Crows.

Sainte-Catherine: Previously, I went to the Sainte-Catherine locks where I could see hundreds of Canada geese, 10 Gadwall, Black ducks, hundreds of Mallards, 2 Northern pintails, 2 Greater Scaup, a few hundred Common Goldeneye, and many Common Mergansers. Also Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls.
 
Saint-Constant: J'ai trouvé un Bruant à couronne blanche immature dans un groupe mixte de Juncos ardoisés et de Bruants hudsoniens à Saint-Constant. Le groupe se nourrissait en bordure de route dans le rang Saint-Simon à 200-300 mètres de l'intersection avec la montée Saint-Christophe. Dans le même rang, j'ai vu une Buse à queue rousse, 25 Alouettes hausse-col, 2 Grands Corbeaux et plusieurs Corneilles d'Amérique.

Sainte-Catherine: Auparavant, je m'étais rendu aux écluses de Sainte-Catherine où j'ai pu voir une centaine de Bernaches du Canada, une dizaine de Canards chipeaux, des Canards noirs, des centaines de Canards colverts, 2 Canards pilets, 2 Fuligules milouinans, quelques centaines de Garrots à œil d'or, et plusieurs Grands Harles. Aussi des Goélands marins et des Goélands argentés. - Pierre Bannon
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Châteauguay, rue Higgins: 8 Mourning Doves, 9 European Starling, 12 American Goldfinch, 20 black-capped chickadees, Tufted titmice 1, 4 Downy woodpecker, 3 Hairy woodpecker, a Red-bellied woodpecker, 3 American, crows, 4 White-breasted nuthatches, 3 Tree sparrows, 1 Carolina Wren

8 Tourterelles tristes, 9 Étourneaux Sansonnet, 12 Chardonnerets jaune, 20 mésanges à tête noire, 1 mésange bicolore, 4 pics mineurs, 3 pics chevelu, 1 pic à ventre roux, 3 corneilles d'Amérique, 4 sittelles à poitrine blanche, 3 bruants hudsonien, 1 troglodyte de caroline - Lucien Lemay
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Cap Tourmente: 1 Gray Jay was seen near feeder #8, and a male Black-backed woodpecker in the area of the sugar shack

1 Mésangeai du Canada a été observé près de la mangeoire 8, ainsi qu’un Pic à dos noir mâle dans le s secteur de la Cabane à sucre - Diane Labarre

Sightins for Thursday January 27th

Île des Soeurs, woods & southern tip: 2 Gadwall, 1 Harlequin (adult male), Common Goldeneye (hundreds), Common Merganser (few), 1 Cooper's Hawk (adult), 2 Herring Gull, 2 Black-backed Gulls , 1 Eastern Screech Owl, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 10 American Crows, 1 Raven, 10 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper 1, 15 Tree Sparrows, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 2 White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos 4, 3 Northern Cardinals, 2 American Goldfinch, 50 House Sparrows

boisé et pointe sud: 2 Canards chipeaux, 1 Arlequin plongeur (mâle adulte), Garrots à œil d'or (centaines), Grand Harles (quelques-uns), 1 Épervier de Cooper (adulte), 2 Goélands argentés, 2 Goélands marins, 1 Petit-duc maculé, 2 Pics mineurs, 1 Pic flamboyant, 1 Grand Pic, 10 Corneilles d'Amérique, 1 Grand Corbeau, 10 Mésanges à tête noire, 2 Sittelles à poitrine blanche, 1 Grimpereau brun, 15 Bruants hudsoniens, 1 Bruant des marais, 2 Bruants à gorge blanche, 4 Juncos ardoisés, 3 Cardinaux rouges, 2 Chardonnerets jaunes, 50 Moineaux domestiques - Pierre Bannon
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Mabel and I were lucky enough to sight a Snowy Owl (Harfang des neiges) off Chemin Ste. Julie, near St. Clet, this afternoon. It was sitting on the top of a distant tree about a km to the south. Look for Garage St. Denis on Ste. Julie. On Ste. Marie we had a mixed flock of about 70 Lapland Longspurs (Plectrophane lapon (Bruant lapon) and Snow Buntings (Plectrophane des neiges (Bruants des neiges). For once, the vast majority of the birds were longspurs, not buntings. They were apparently feeding on spilled grain behind silos at 3073 Chemin Ste. Marie, just east of Montee Bertrand. Unfortunately, you can't view them on the ground, but periodically the birds flush and perch on a nearby Manitoba Maple tree, as well as on the roof of the barn, giving excellent scope views. It's likely these birds are regular visitors there. We also saw other flocks of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks (Alouette hausse-col)  in the area.

On the way back, at dusk, we spotted a Barred Owl (Chouette rayéeon Fief), sitting on a dead snag and silhouetted against the fading sunset - Cheers, Bob.

Bird Protection Quebec's Field Trip Report - Saturday, January 22

Montreal: 14 birders participated in today's "Winter Wonderland" field trip to the Technoparc along the Bonaventure Expressway and on to Nuns' Island. Clear skies and bright sunshine, with light winds, made for a morning of birding that, at least to most of us, was not as cold as the temperature may have indicated.

The Technoparc area did not produce a lot of birds but it did offer up a Red-tailed Hawk, a White-throated Sparrow and a lone Snow Bunting. However it did succeed in introducing a new birding spot for most of the people on the trip; an area that certainly looks promising for the spring to come.

So here are the results from today; a total of 23 species. Mallard - 2, Common Goldeneye - 3, Hooded Merganser - 3, Common Merganser - 5, Cooper's Hawk - 1, Red-tailed Hawk - 1, Great-black backed Gull - 1, Rock Pigeon - 50, Eastern Screech Owl - 1, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Hairy Woodpecker - 2, Northern Flicker - 1, Blue Jay - 1, American Crow - 15, Common Raven - 2, Black-capped Chickadee - 20, Brown Creeper - 3. European Starling - 3, American Tree Sparrow - 20, White-throated Sparrow - 3, Snow Bunting - 1, Northern Cardinal - 4, House Sparrow - 25

Thank you to the 14 birders who did not allow the low temperature to discourage them from a good morning of birding. - Sheldon

Sightings for Friday January 7th

Montreal: male Carolina Wren (Troglodyte de Caroline) at suet around approx. 9:30am on 7th floor balcony top of Ridgewood - Penny Mcewen
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Sightings for Sunday January 2nd
A Northern Hawk Owl (Chouette épervière) has been in Low, Quebec since December 18th, 2010 (first reported on a Quebec birding website). The owl was actively hunting this morning when I arrived moving from tree to tree. On at least four occasion it hovered right in front of me as it determined if there was prey below before flying to a perch.

The owl can be found along Neely road just after the bridge. A favoured perch is on the left side of the road in a bare tree. If it's not perched there, check the field across the road where a gray shed is situated. It was actively hunting there behind the shed area near the river this morning.

Three years ago in 2007, a Hawk Owl was found along McDonald which is just 1.5km from this years location on Neely road (chemin Neely). Infact, McDonald and Neely roads intersect.

Directions: Take hwy 5, direction to Maniwaki. Hwy 5 becomes hwy 105 somewhere along the way. The key is to follow directions to Maniwaki. Low is approximately 64km from downtown Ottawa.

Take Hwy 5/105 direction Maniwaki until you reach McDonald. There is a large sign that says, "Brennan Hill - Restuarant Bar & Grill" at the corner. Turn left there onto McDonald. It looks like a sort of dirt road and is
winding so drive carefully. Continue along McDonald until Neely. Turn right onto Neely and continue until you cross the bridge which isn't far away. Just after the bridge look for the owl either on the right or left side. - Wilson Hum