Summer Series 2012 - Field Trip #3

Be prepared, it's going to be a hot one! The forecast for Saturday is sunny with a high of 33 degrees! As I mentioned, there is sufficient interest from people wanting to go to Ste-Catherine to look for the Little Egret, so we'll give it a try. Here are the details

Saturday, July 14
TIME: 8 am - Half Day.
LOCATION: Ste-Catherine Seaway Locks & Recré-o-Parc, Ste-Catherine, QC
MEETING SPOT: Empty lot across the street facing the road leading up to the bridge at the locks. There is a church adjacent to this empty lot. MAP
 Directions to the Ste-Catherine Seaway Locks in Ste-Catherine, QC

By car, via Champlain Bridge: Take the Champlain Bridge, take the first exit after the bridge toward New York State (#15 south / #132 east); take Exit 46 (LaPrairie/Salaberry) and turn right on to Marie-Victorin Blvd. Drive 5.2 km and arrive at the bridge on the right leading to the Sainte-Catherine Locks. Parking lot is on the left.

By car, via Mercier Bridge. At the south end of the bridge, take the left exit (direction LaPrairie-132 east), drive 6.5 km, turn left onto Rue Centrale. Follow Centrale which will turn right on to Marie-Victorin Blvd. The road to the locks is on the left. The Parking lot is on the right.

Itinerary: From the parking lot we will walk across the bridge over the locks, then descend a staircase down to the waterfront. We will walk along the shoreline on a well-worn path to the area of the bay where many birds hang out, hopefully including the Little Egret. Some days, the bird has been showing up later in the morning. If that is the case, we will move on in to the park itself which has an extensive network of paved trails through woods, fields and along the waterfront. We should be able to see a good selection of birds there as well. We'll then return to the basin later in the morning.

This trip will involve a lot of walking. Given the sun and heat being forecast, be prepared with sufficient refreshments, comfortable clothing and shoes, etc. Binoculars, scopes and cameras, of course. If the Little Egret is there, you will have excellent observations and photo ops.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 450-462-1459, or on Saturday morning on the BPQ cell at 514-637-2141

Sightings for Thursday July 12

Ste-Catherine: The Little Egret was again present around 9:23 to the left of the stairs leading down to the river. Map


L'Aigrette Garzette était de nouveau présent, vers 9h23, dans la baie à gauche de l'escalier menant au fleuve Carte - Raymond Belhumeur
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St-Flavien, 1214 rang des Pointes: Eurasian Collared Dove (Tourterelle turque) - Lise Jacques

Sightings for Wednesday July 11

Ste-Catherine: The Little Egret was back at its usual site. It was absent this morningand did not arrive until around 12:30.


L'Aigrette Garzette est de retour à son site habituel. Elle était absente ce matin et n'est arrivée que vers 12h30 - Olivier Barden

Sightings for Tuesday July 10

Ste-Catherine: The Little Egret was again present around 9:23 to the left of the stairs leading down to the river. Map


L'Aigrette Garzette était de nouveau présent, vers 9h23, dans la baie à gauche de l'escalier menant au fleuve. Carte - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Monday July 9

Ste-Catherine: The Little Egret is still present to the left of the stairs leading down to the river.  Map

L'Aigrette Garzette toujours présente à gauche de l'escalier qui descend au fleuve. Carte - Jean-Sébastien Guénette
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Tracy: Bike path between Chemin St-Roch and rue de Prouville 4 Northern Mockingbirds on a wire. 5 minutes later, rue Vandal 1 Northern Mockingbird chasing an American crow


Piste cyclable entre Chemin St-Roch et rue de Prouville 4 moqueur polyglotte sur un fil. 5 minutes plus tard, rue Vandal 1 moqueur polyglotte pourchassant une corneille d’Amérique - Jean Bellerose ---------------------------------------------------------------
Parc-Nature Île-Bizard : Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the small boardwalk this morning,  but, apart for some Virginia Rails, it was very quiet.

Gobemoucheron gris-bleu à la petite passerelle, ce matin, mais, à part pour râle de Virginie, il était très calme - Felix Hilton

Sightings for Sunday July 8

Ste-Catherine: The Little Egret still present to the left of the stairs leading down the river. Very active feeding.

L'Aigrette Garzette toujours présente à gauche de l'escalier qui descend au fleuve. Très active à se nourrir. - Jean Laporte

Sightings for Saturday July 7

Sainte-Catherine, in the Bay at Recre-O-Parc the Little Egret is still being seen

dans la baie au Récré-O-Parc de la Aigrette garzette est encore vu - Tom Long
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Bergeronne, rang St. Joseph on the North Shore near the lake view in the presence of Pagé Sylvie a Tricolor heron flew over the lake.

sur la Côte-Nord près du lac vue en présence de Sylvie Pagé une Aigrette Tricolore survolant le lac. - Yves Fabe

Summer Series 2012- Trip #2 Report

Today's Summer Series outing was a combination of a birding trip and an insect walk. I'll report here on the results of the birding. Chris Cloutier will no doubt follow up with a report on the insects, plus whatever birds they may have come across.

18 birders arrived at Philipsburg for the 8 am start. A handful returned to the (ex) motel parking lot for 10 am to participate in the Insect Walk. The rest continued on birding. It was a very pleasant day, weather-wise. Cloud cover throughout much of the day kept the heat and humidity down, for the most part.

We began by crossing the highway and heading over to town stopping at the pier where we had our first major surprise of the day. There were just over 20 Turkey Vultures sitting on the rocky shore just south of the pier! The second treat followed not long after as we headed north along the lakeshore, stopping at a field of cattle. Looking east towards Highway 133 we found an adult Bald Eagle perched in a snag. This was a great kick-off to an excellent day of birding to come as we headed east along ch. St-Armand exploring the network of farms, grasslands and forested roads south of ch. St-Armand down to the US border and as far east as St-Armand Centre. On ch. Beaulne, we were treated to an excellent aerial and vocal display by a family of three Red-tailed Hawks.

Wrapping up this part of the day around noon, 8 of us decided to plan our route home through Ste-Catherine in hopes of seeing the Little Egret discovered there on Thursday by Raymond Belhumeur. It was well worth the effort as we were rewarded with excellent views of the bird feeding in the bay amongst a nice mix of water birds.

We completed the day with a total of 66 species. Here is our complete list for the day. All birds noted were seen in the Philipsburg/St. Armand region, except where noted. Thanks for the great turnout today.

SC = Ste-Catherine

12 Canada Goose - SC, 4 Gadwall - SC, 1 American Wigeon - SC, 12 Mallard - SC, 4 Common Merganser - SC (with young), 1 Ruffed Grouse, 10 Wild Turkey, 1 Common Loon - SC, 24 Double-crested Cormorant - SC, 6 Great Blue Heron - SC, 28 Great Egret - SC, 1 LITTLE EGRET - SC, 1 Green Heron, 30 Turkey Vulture, 2 Bald Eagle, 4 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 American Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 7 Killdeer, 1 Spotted Sandpiper - SC, 250+ Ring-billed Gull - majority SC, 8 Great Black-backed Gull - SC, 20 Common Tern - SC, 50+ Rock Pigeon, 50+ Mourning Dove, 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 2 Belted Kingfisher - 1 SC, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpecker, 2 Northern Flicker, 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee, 2 Eastern Phoebe, 3 Eastern Kingbird, 4 Warbling Vireo, 6 Red-eyed Vireo, 10 Blue Jay, 20 American Crow, 15 Tree Swallow - 12 SC, 25 Barn Swallow, 5 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 10 House Wren, 2 Eastern Bluebird, 3 Veery, 1 Wood Thrush, 30 American Robin, 4 Gray Catbird, 300+ European Starling, 12 Cedar Waxwing, 5 Yellow Warbler, 1 Black and White Warbler, 4 Ovenbird, 20 Common Yellowthroat, 6 Chipping Sparrow, 6 Savannah Sparrow, 15 Song Sparrow, 2 Northern Cardinal, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Indigo Bunting, 2 Bobolink, 60+ Red-winged Blackbird, 40 Common Grackle, 20 Brown-headed Cowbird, 4 Baltimore Oriole, 50+ American Goldfinch, 6 House Sparrow
12 Bernache du Canada - SC, 4 Canard chipeau - SC, 1 Canard d'Amérique - SC, 12 Canard colvert - SC, 4 Grand Harle - SC (avec les jeunes), 1 Gélinotte huppée, 10 Dindon sauvage, 1 Plongeon huard - SC, 24 Cormoran à aigrettes  - SC, 6 Grand Héron - SC, 28 Grande Aigrette - SC, 1 Aigrette garzette - SC, 1 Héron vert, 30 Urubu à tête rouge, 2 Pygargue à tête blanche, 4 Buse à queue rousse, 2 crécerelle d'Amérique, 1 Faucon émerillon, 7 Pluvier kildir , 1 Chevalier grivelé - SC, 250 + Goéland à bec cerclé - la majorité SC, 8 Goéland marin- SC, 20 Sterne pierregarin - SC, 50 + Pigeon biset, Tourterelle triste 50 +, 2 Colibri à gorge rubis, 2 Martin pêcheur d'Amérique - 1 SC, 1 Pic mineur, 2 Pic chevelu, 2 Pic flamboyant, 3 Pioui de l'Est, 2 Moucherolle phébi, 3 Tyran tritri, 4 Viréo mélodieux, 6 Viréo aux yeux rouges, 10 Geai bleu, 20 Corneille d'Amérique, 15 Hirondelle bicolore - 12 SC, 25 Hirondelle rustique, 5 Mésange à tête noire, 1 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 10 Troglodyte familier, 2 Merlebleu de l'Est, 3 Grive fauve, 1 Grive des bois, 30 Merle d'Amérique, 4 Moqueur chat, 300 + Étourneau sansonnet, 12 Jaseur d'Amérique, 5 Paruline jaune, 1 Paruline noir et blanc, 4 Paruline couronnée, 20 Paruline masquée, 6 Bruant familier, 6 Bruant des prés, 15 Bruant chanteur, 2 Cardinal rouge, 2 Cardinal à poitrine rose, 1 Passerin indigo, 2 goglu des prés, 60 + carouge à épaulettes, 40 Quiscale bronzé, 20 Vacher à tête brune, 4 Oriole de Baltimore, 50 + Chardonneret jaune, 6 Moineau domestique

Sightings for Friday July 6

I just found the Little egret. She is currently on the shore of Île aux Hérons, far away from me. I'm in the same place as yesterday, on the path along the bay of the Récré-O-Parc in Sainte-Catherine. It hunts on the waterfront, advancing quietly and pausing abreast with outstretched neck, like the Little blue heron. Like a Little egret.

Je viens de localiser la Aigrette garzette. Elle est présentement sur la rive de l'Île aux Hérons, donc très loin de moi. Je suis au même endroit qu'hier, sur le sentier qui longe la baie au Récré-O-Parc à Sainte-Catherine. Elle chasse sur le bord de l'eau, avançant calmement et faisant des pauses à l'affût le cou tendu, à la façon de l'Égrette bleue. Et comme une garzette. - François Grenon

Around noon, the Little egret had moved closer to the lock and was clearly visible. There were fifteen observers at the site.

Summer Series of Birding 2012 - Field Trip #2 - Saturday, July 7

This coming Saturday BPQ will be conducting a special event featuring both birdwatching and an insect walk.


BPQ's Chris Cloutier, an Interpretive Naturalist, will be leading an insect walk in BPQ's Philipsburg George H. Mongomery sanctuary, looking for and identifying dragonflies and butterflies. His walk will begin at 10 am in the BPQ car park adjacent to the old motel just north of the border crossing on the east side of Highway 133 just north of the Philipsburg/Highgate Springs border crossing.


Bring binoculars, camera, field guides, an insect net if you have one, and your curiosity for a half-day walk to discover some fascinating winged critters.


Learn how to identify some of our most common species and find out about their incredible way of life.


For those wishing to arrive early, at 8 am, I will be leading the birdwatching outing, starting from the same location. We will explore the waterfront area of Lake Champlain and parts of the Philipsburg reserve until a little before 10 am. At that time, those wishing to participate in the insect walk can return to the motel parking to meet up with Chris for the 10 am start.


For those preferring to continue birding, we will head out east of the reserve along chemin St-Armand, exploring roads in the St-Armand, St-Armand Centre, Pigeon Hill and Frelighsburg regions.


For those wishing to participate only in the insect walk, please go directly to the motel parking for 10 am to meet up with Chris Cloutier.


So here is a summary:


For early birding:


8 AM - Meet at the old motel parking lot on Highway 133 in Philipsburg


For information on the birdwatching outing, please contact Sheldon Harvey at 450-462-1459, or on Saturday morning at 514-637-2141, or  e-mail


For Chris Cloutier's Insect Walk


10 AM - meet at the old motel parking lot on Highway 133 in Philipsburg


For information on the Insect Walk please contact Chris Cloutier e-mail


Driving instructions: From Montreal take the Champlain Bridge, Highway 10 east to exit 22, Highway 35 south to St. Jean to join Highway 133 south to Philipsburg. Continue past flashing light, cross to the east side of the highway at the motel. Note the small PQSPB sign; enter the motel drive, park in the BPQ lot just south of the motel.  MAP
Please note that the old motel was demolished recently, although the parking lot still exists. The Motel was on the left just before boulevard de la Falaise where you would make a U-Turn to get to the parking

Feel free to bring along your lunch, snacks, refreshments, etc. There are limited stores and/or facilities in the region.

Sightings for Thursday July 5

By the time I counted fifteen Bonaparte's Gulls in the Bay at Recre-O-Parc in Sainte-Catherine, a wading bird came to rest well away from shore. A Great Egret arrived, but quickly left. I seem to have before me a Snowy Egret, but viewing photos, doubt has finally settled.


Consulting my field guides, I noticed a few criteria for the Little Egret:
 
Closely resembles Snowy Egret, but often appears larger, with longer neck; longer, thicker bill and legs, the latter always enterely black; mostley grayish lores; and more extensive throat feathering out on lower mandibule. Little Egret's crown is flatter; feet are yellow, like Snowy, but slightly duller (National Geohraphic).

Little Egret has, on average, a longer and less tapered bill, feathering extending farther forward on chin and forehead (longer face), and more black on leg, but none of these characteristics are defenitive (Sibley).

It differs from the very similar Snowy Egret by its larger size; longer, heavier bill and thicker legs; usually slate gray lore (National Wildlife Federation)

Fairly long-necked, long-legged heron with a very long fine-pointed bill. Bill noticeably longer than depth of relatively small head (bill length about 1½ x head length). Similar Snowy Egret is shorter; has proportionately shorter neck, bill, ang legs and thinner-based bill; higher well-rounded crown; thinner legs; slightly slimmer overall.

In the end, is it an immature Snowy Egret or Little Egret nonbreeding?


I placed this link to seven photos and ''Plus older'' - Raymond Belhumeur http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymond-belhumeur/7509857488/in/photostream

Au moment où je dénombrais une quinzaine de Mouettes de Bonaparte, dans la baie du Récré-O-Parc à Sainte-Catherine, un échassier est venu se poser à bonne distance du rivage. Une Grande Aigrette est intervenue, rapidement, puis a quitté. J'avais l'impression d'avoir devant moi une Aigrette neigeuse, mais en visionnant les photos, le doute a fini par s'installer.



Consultant mes guides d'identification, j'ai noté quelques critères pour la garzette :
Au final, s'agit-il d'une Aigrette neigeuse immature ou d'une Aigrette garzette non nicheuse?


J'ai placé sur ce lien sept photos et faire ''Plus ancien'' - Raymond Belhumeur http://www.flickr.com/photos/raymond-belhumeur/7509857488/in/photostream

Sightings for Monday July 2

Parc du Mont Saint-Bruno: 3 hrs in the park this morning , via the Rang des Vingt entrance, Saint-Basile-le-Grand. I again saw the Field sparrow, on the private property nearby, and the following observations in the park: two pairs of Mourning warblers, 7 Common yellowthroat, 2 Chestnut-sided warblers, Yellow warblers 3, 1 American Redstart, 1 Ovenbird, heard, two pairs of Red-breasted Grosbeak, carrying food, three pairs and a young Northern cardinal being fed, a Hooded merganser, young on l'étang aux quenouilles, 2 Eastern kingbird, 2 Great-crested flycatcher, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 4 Mourning dove, 3 male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 3 Downy woodpecker, 2 Hairy woodpecker,  5 Northern flicker, 1 Warbling Vireo, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 2 Blue Jays, 5 American Crows, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 6 Gray catbird, 2 White-breasted nuthaatch, 1 Eastern Bluebird, 7 Indigo Bunting, 8 Cedar Waxwings, 7 Veery singing, perched in difféerents trees, 3 Chipping Sparrows, 8 Song sparrow, 6 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Brown-headed Cowbird, 9 American goldfinches, Excellent outting with birds singing on all sides

3 heures au Parc ce matin le 2 juillet, via l'entrée, par le Rang des Vingt, de Saint-Basile-le-Grand. J'ai revu le Bruant des champs, sur un terrain privé voisin, et les observations suivantes au Parc: 2 couples de Parulines triste, 7 Parulines masquées, 2 Parulines à flancs marron, 3 Parulines jaune, 1 Paruline flamboyante, 1 Paruline couronnée, entendue, 2 couples de Cardinal à poitrine rouge, transportant de la nourriture, 3 couples de Cardinal rouge et un jeune se faisant nourrir, 1 Harle couronné, jeune, sur l'étang aux quenouilles,  2 Tyrans tritri, 2 Tyrans huppé, 1 Épervier de Cooper, 4 Tourterelles triste, 3 Colibris à gorge rubis mâle, 3 Pics mineur,2 Pics chevelu, 5 Pics flamboyant, 1 Vireo mélodieux, 1 Vireo aux yeux rouges, 2 Geais bleu, 5 Corneilles d'Amérique, 3 Mésanges à tête noire, 6 Moqueurs chat, 2 Sitelles à poitrine blanche, 1 Merlebleu de l'Est, 7 Passerins indigo, 8 Jaseurs d'Amérique, 7 Grives fauves chantant, perchées dans des arbres difféerents, 3 Bruants familier, 8 Bruants chanteur, 6 Carouges à épaulettes, 1 Vacher à tête brune, 9 Chardonnerets jaune, Une excellente sortie alors que les oiseaux chantaient de tous les côtés - Gilles Ethier

Sightings for Saturday June 30

Hemmingford: Across from 577 James-Fisher, a Clay-colored sparrow sang around 7:30 In a second pass around 9:30, he was still singing. The habitat is an abandoned orchard with a row of lilacs at the roadside. I did not see any feeding, but its behavior suggests that there may be young at the edge of the road. Indeed, he often made a tour of the lilacs where I heard calls of young. However, it is possible that these young Sparrows were Chipping sparrow. Indeed, a Chipping Sparrow adult was also nearby.

Then on chemin Nichols, a group of 11 Red-Crossbills flew over me. They came from a large pine forest east of the road. These birds were moving north-west, perhaps to Covey Hill where at the first year of the Atlas, I had also spotted a small group of this species in a pine forest. It is quite possible that this species nests in this region where the great white pine abound.
 
D'abord en face du 577 James-Fisher, un Bruant des Plaines chantait vers 7h30. Lors d'un second passage vers 9h30, il chantait encore. L'habitat est un verger abandonné avec une rangée de lilas au bord de la route. Je ne l'ai pas vu nourrir, mais son comportement suggère qu'il y a peut-être des jeunes au bord de la route. En effet, il venait souvent faire un tour dans les lilas où j'entendais des cris de jeunes. Toutefois, il est possible que ces jeunes fussent des Bruants familiers. En effet, un Bruant familier adulte était aussi dans les parages.

Ensuite, sur le chemin Nichols, un groupe de 11 Bec-croisés des sapins m'a survolé. Il provenait d'une grande pinède située à l'est du chemin. Ces oiseaux se dirigeaient vers le nord-ouest, peut-être vers Covey-Hill où lors de la première année d'atlas, j'avais aussi repéré un petit groupe de cette espèce dans une pinède. Il est tout à fait possible que cette espèce niche dans cette région où les grands Pins blancs abondent. - Pierre Bannon

Sightings for Tuesday June 26

Parc Mont-St-Bruno by the Rang des Vingt, beside St-Basile-le-Grand. I did not go too far away in the park, maybe 50 meters farther down that spruce up the coast.

Here are the birds observed: Hooded Merganser, Mourning Dove, Alder Flycatcher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Veerym American Robin, Eastern Bluebird, male and female and at least two young, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, 2 Mourning Warbler, male and female with food in its beak, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow 1, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, American Goldfinch


Parc Mont-St-Bruno par le Rang des Vingt, coté St-Basile-le-Grand. Je ne suis pas allée trop loins dans le parc, peut-être 50 metres plus loins que les épinettes en haut de la côte.

Voici les oiseaux observés: Harle couronné, Tourterelle triste, Moucherolle des aulnes, Colibri à gorge rubis, Pic mineur, Mésange à tête noire, Grive fauve, Merle d'Amérique, Merlebleu de l'Est, male et femelle et au moins 2 jeunes, Moqueur chat, Paruline jaune, Paruline masquée, Paruline triste 2, male et femelle avec nourriture dans le bec, Paruline à flancs marron, Bruant chanteur, Bruant familier, Bruant des champs 1, Jaseur d'Amérique, Cardinal rouge, Cardinal à poitrine rose, Passerin indigo, Chardonneret jaune -Leah den Besten

Summer Series 2012- Trip #1 Report

A gorgeous day to be out birding! Sunny, not overly warm and a nice breeze greeted 11 birders this morning for our first trip of the Summer Series at Pointe de Yamachiche. This location provides a nice mix of habitats with wooded areas, an elevated boardwalk that snakes through the woods and terminates at a lookout point towards Lac St-Pierre, then along the grassy trail alongside a small stream terminating at a sandy point sticking out into Lac St- Pierre.

We finished the morning's outing with a total of 51 species. The highlight of the day was three young bald eagles, seen both in flight and sitting on the ground and in a snag. A local birder indicated that at least 7 bald eagles have been seen at one time at this site.

Thanks to everyone who joined us this morning. Lots of great birds and lots of great talk!


Here is our list of species: Canada Goose - 22, Mallard - 1, Common Merganser - 2, Double-crested Cormorant - 30, Great Blue Heron - 5, Bald Eagle - 3, Semipalmated Plover - 1, Killdeer - 1, Spotted Sandpiper - 6, Wilson's Snipe - 2, Bonaparte's Gull - 1, Ring-billed Gull - 50, Common Tern - 4, Black Tern - 12, Mourning Dove - 2, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1, Downy Woodpecker- 5, Hairy Woodpecker - 2, Northern Flicker - 4, Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3, Least Flycatcher - 2, Great Crested Flycatcher - 3, Eastern Kingbird - 1, Warbling Vireo - 12, Red-eyed Vireo - 3, Blue Jay - 4, American Crow - 6, Tree Swallow - 6, Black-capped Chickadee - 8, White-breasted Nuthatch - 1, Brown Creeper - 2, House Wren - 2, Veery - 12, American Robin - 4, Gray Catbird - 2, European Starling - 2, Cedar Waxwing - 4, Yellow Warbler - 50, American Redstart - 6, Common Yellowthroat - 25, Chipping Sparrow - 1, Song Sparrow - 25, Swamp Sparrow - 3, Northern Cardinal - 1, Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1, Red winged Blackbird - 30, Common Grackle - 50, Brown-headed Cowbird - 2, Baltimore Oriole - 12, American Goldfinch - 3

Bernache du Canada - 22, Canard colvert - 1, Grand Harle - 2, Cormoran à aigrettes - 30, Grand héron - 5, Pygargue à tête blanche - 3, Pluvier semipalmé - 1, Pluvier kildir - 1, Chevalier grivelé - 6, Bécassine de Wilson - 2, Mouette de Bonaparte - 1, Goéland à bec cerclé - 50, Sterne pierregarin - 4, Guifette noire - 12, Tourterelle triste - 2, Martin-Pêcheur d'Amérique - 2, Pic maculé - 1, Pic mineur -5, Pic chevelu - 2, Pic flamboyant - 4, Pioui de l'Est - 3, Moucherolle tchébec - 2, Tyran huppé - 3, Tyran tritri - 1, Viréo mélodieux - 12, Viréo aux yeux rouges - 3, Geai bleu - 4, Corneille d'Amérique - 6, Hirondelle bicolore - 6, Mésange à tête noire - 8, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 1, Grimpereau brun - 2, Troglodyte familier - 2, Grive fauve - 12, Merle d'Amérique - 4, Moqueur chat - 2, Étourneau sansonnet - 2, Jaseur d'Amérique - 4, Paruline jaune - 50, Paruline flamboyante - 6, Paruline masquée - 25, Bruant familier - 1, Bruant chanteur - 25, Bruant des marais - 3, Cardinal rouge - 1, Cardinal à poitrine rose - 1, Carouge à épaulettes - 30, Quiscale bronzé - 50, Vacher à tête brune - 2, Oriole de Baltimore - 12, Chardonneret jaune - 3

Sightings for Saturday June 23

St-Hubert: A Northern mockingbird pursued and harassed an American Kestrel  that was in a dead tree near the intersection of Chemin de Chambly and Chemin de la Savanne.

Un Moqueur polyglotte poursuivre et harceler une Crécerelle d'Amérique qui était dans un arbre mort tout près de l'intersection du Chemin de Chambly et du Chemin de la Savanne. - Charles Ménard
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Boucherville: Northern mockingbird - at the corner of Chemin du Tremblay and Graham Bell, in the small green space opposite the green corridor that leads to the wooded Tremblay, in the industrial park.
 
Moqueur polyglotte - coin de Chemin du Tremblay et Graham Bell, dans le petit espace vert, en face du corridor vert qui mène au boisé du Tremblay, le tout dans le parc industriel. - Simon Chaloux

Sightings for Friday June 22

St-Basile-le-Grand: This morning on chemin des Trentes in St-Basile-le-Grand, there were several Vesper Sparrows, 7 or more singing. The best place to see was close to a row of trees on the left side of the road, straight after all the large mounds of compost and locked fence. Either with the telescope or binoculars, the outer white tail feathers, the eye ring and rufus shoulder were readily identified. Here, the grass was swarming small grasshoppers, perhaps not a coincidence.

Also, behind the fence that I had passed, there were 2 Gray Partridge. In all, chemin des Trentes gave me 27 species today and the best observation of Vesper Sparrows in my life.


Ce matin sur le chemin des Trentes à St-Basile-le-Grand, il y avait plusieurs Bruants vespérals, 7 ou plus qui chantaient. Le meilleur endroit pour les voir de proche était une rangée d'arbres sur le coté gauche du chemin, tout droit après toutes les grandes collines de compost et la clotûre barrée. Soit avec le télescope ou les jumelles, les rectrices externes blanches, le cercle oculaire et l'épaulette marron étaient facilement en évidence. Ici, l'herbe grouillait de petites sauterelles, peut-être pas un coincidence.

Également, derrière la clôture que j'avais passé, il y avait 2 Perdrix grises. En tout, le chemin des Trentes m'a donné 27 espèces aujourd'hui et la plus belle observation de Bruant vespèral à vie. - Leah den Besten
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Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue: This morning a couple of Red-bellied Woodpecker were present at the Morgan Arboretum in the sugar bush on the Orange Trail, near the small pond. The Arboretum revealed 60 species this morning, including a Philadelphia Vireo and Scarlet Tanager. Yet, I missed several interesting species, for the Island Montreal, that I observe regularly like Barred Owls, Mourning Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, and Wood Thrush. Definitely a site with good birding potential!


Another statement of interest, I also made the observation of a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird being fed by a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglet....


Ce matin, un couple de Pic à ventre roux était présent à l'Arboretum Morgan  (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue) dans l'érablière du sentier orange, près du petit étang. L'Arboretum a révélé 60 espèces dans la matinée, dont un Viréo de Philadelphie et le Piranga écarlate. Pourtant, j'ai manqué plusieurs espèces intéressantes, pour l'Île de Montréal, que j'y observe régulièrement comme la Chouette rayée, la Paruline triste, la Paruline à tête cendrée et la Grive des bois. Définitivement un site  ayant un bon potentiel  ornithologique!

Comme autre mention d'intérêt, j'y ai aussi fait l'observation d'un Vacher à tête brune juvénile se faisant nourrir par un couple de Roitelet à couronne dorée... - Don-Jean Léandri-Breton

Summer Series of Birding 2012- Trip #1

We begin the 9th annual Summer Series of Birding field trips this Saturday with a visit to Pointe de Yamachiche, located near the town of Yamachiche, on the north shore of Lac St. Pierre, north-east of Montreal, approximately 120 km. from central Montreal.

DATE: Saturday, June 23
8:00 AM – Half-day outing
MEETING PLACE: The parking lot at Exit 180 off Autoroute 40, at Yamachiche GOOGLE MAP


DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From Montreal, take highway 40 east, off the island of Montreal at the far eastern tip, on to the north shore. Continue on Autoroute 40 (direction Trois-Rivieres) to Exit 180. Just off the exit there is a parking lot for Pointe de Yamachiche. Parking is free. This will be our meeting point.


Calculate approximately a 90-minute drive to the meeting point, particularly if you are coming from the western part of Montreal.

ITINERARY: We will walk from the parking lot along the extensive boardwalk, then along a wooded path leading to the waterfront of Lac St-Pierre. There should be a good selection of songbirds in the woods and along the stream. At the waterfront we will be looking for waterfowl marsh birds and shorebirds. A scope will be useful, particularly at the waterfront. There was a field trip by another birding club to this location on June 9 which produced some excellent results. See their report

Insect repellent may be needed through the wooded area. The weather forecast for Saturday looks good at this point; sunny, high of 25. This will be a half-day trip wrapping up by approximately Noon.


Here is a link to a Quebec Natural Resources page about Pointe de Yamachiche

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail  or by telephone at 450-462-1459. You can reach me on Saturday morning on the BPQ cellphone, 514-637-2141. - Sheldon

Sightings for Tuesday, June 12

Even if we go regularly to a place, a bird can still seep through the cracks. In this regard, I received information yesterday from a colleague in Saint-Bruno, Gilles Daoust, who had observed a Northern Mockingbird bike singing, opposite the new Marché central next to the Longueuil city hall, in dry tall poplars.



So I hopped on my bike this morning and arrived 10 minutes later at the intersection of route de l'Aéroport and chemin de la Savane, the mimic generously sang, perched on the sign of Saint-Hubert Airport / general aviation. It has been a few years that I had not seen this species in the area, a former nesting site.


Then the tenor takes off towards the soccer field, in front, and disappears, I took the opportunity to ride in the quadrilateral of neighboring streets and the bird is not found. After thirty minutes, I find it on the barbed wire fence, calling loudly in front of a disused airstrip, where it hunts for insects among the short grass and turf.
Here, an Eastern Meadowlark begins to sing, a hundred meters ahead of him: What a duo ...!


There's nothing better than to stop, look and listen ...!
This species does not seem to have been reported yet in the plot 18XR24. Thanks Gilles !
 
Même si on passe régulièrement à un endroit, un oiseau peut tout de même s'infiltrer au travers des mailles du filet. À cet égard, j'ai reçu une information hier d'un collègue de Saint-Bruno, Gilles Daoust, qui avait observé en vélo un Moqueur polyglotte chanteur, en face du nouveau Marché central jouxtant l'Hôtel de ville de Longueuil, dans les grands peupliers secs.



J'ai donc enfourché ma bicyclette ce matin et en arrivant 10 minutes plus tard à l'intersection de la route de l'Aéroport et du chemin de la Savane, le mimidé chantait généreusement, perché sur l'enseigne Aéroport de Saint-Hubert/Aviation générale. ça faisait quelques années que je n'avais pas observé cette espèce dans le secteur, un ancien site de nidification.


Puis, le ténor s'envole vers le terrain de soccer, en face, et disparaît; j'en profite pour pédaler dans le quadrilataire des rues avoisinantes et l'oiseau reste introuvable. Après une trentaine de minutes, je le retrouve sur la clôture en fil barbelé, s'époumonant devant une piste d'atterrissage désaffectée, où il chasse des insectes parmi les herbes courtes et des surfaces gazonnées.

Tiens, la Sturnelle des prés se met à chanter, à une centaine de mètres devant lui : quel duo...!
Y'a rien de mieux que de s'arrêter, de regarder et d'écouter...!


Cette espèce ne semble pas avoir été rapportée encore dans la parcelle 18XR24. Merci à Gilles! - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Sunday June 9

As I listened to the singing and the Willow flycatcher and Alder flycatcher in a field in front of Pascan Aviation, road to Saint-Hubert Airport, a cuckoo passed quickly in front of me and hides in a large shrub.


Immediately, he emerges with an Eastern Kingbird on his tail, which expelled him from its territory. During this short accelerated race, I saw the rufus primaries of the bird. This is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Alors que j'écoutais chanter le Moucherolle des saules et le Moucherolle des aulnes, dans un champ en face de Pascan Aviation, route de l'Aéroport à Saint-Hubert, un coulicou passe en vitesse devant moi et se cache dans un gros arbuste.


Immédiatement, il en ressort avec un Tyran tritri à ses trousses, qui l'expulse de son territoire. Pendant cette courte course en accéléré, j'observe les taches rousses des couvertures sus-alaires de l'oiseau en fuite : il s'agit du Coulicou à bec jaune. - Raymond Belhumeur

Sightings for Saturday June 9

Pointe Yamachiche, some observations shared with members of SOL:  - Double-crested Cormorant - 3, Great Blue Heron - 2, Canada Geese - 3, Bald Eagle - 2 (1 adult + juvenile), Black-bellied Plover - 3 \ 4 (breeding plumage), Lesser Yellowlegs - 2, Spotted Sandpiper - 3, Ruddy Turnstone - 1 (breeding plumage), Sanderling - 2, White-rumped Sandpiper - 2 \ 3, Least Sandpiper - 4 \ 5, Pectoral Sandpiper - 4, - Dunlin - 3 (2 breeding plumage), Ring-billed Gull - 40 +, Greater black-backed Gull - 3 +, CASPIAN TERN - 1. Common Tern - 6 +. Black Tern -4, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Mourning Dove - 3, Downy Woodpecker -1, Great Crested Flycatcher - 1, Warbling Vireo - several, American Crow - several, Tree Swallow - xx, Bank Swallow-10, Veery - 2, Hermit Thrush - 1, Wood Thrush - sang in several places, Gray Catbird - 1, Northern Mockingbird - 1, Europrean Starling - 10, Cedar waxwings - 12 +, Yellow Warbler - xx, American redstart - 2, Song Sparrow - xx, Red-winged Blackbird - xx, Blackbird br. - xx, Baltimore Oriole - 5

Pointe Yamachiche, certaines observations partagées avec des membres du SOL: Cormoran à aigrettes - 3, Grand Héron - 2, Bernache du Canada - 3, Pygargue à t. blanche - 2 ( 1 adulte + juvénile), PLUVIER ARGENTÉ - 3\4 (plumage nuptial), Petit chevalier - 2, Chevalier grivelé - 3, Tournepierre à collier - 1 ( plumage nuptial), Bécasseau Sanderling - 2, Bécasseau à croupion blanc - 2\3. Bécasseau minuscule - 4\5, Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée - 4, Bécasseau variable - 3 (2 plumage nuptial), Goéland à b. cerclé - 40+, Goéland marin - 3 +, STERNE CASPIENNE - 1, sterne pierregarin - 6+, guifette noire- 4, Martin-pêcheur - 2, Tourterelle triste - 3, Pic mineur- 1, Tyran huppé - 1, Viréo mélodieux - plusieurs, Corneille d'Amérique - plusieurs, Hirondelle bicolore - xx, Hirondelle de rivage- 10, Grive fauve - 2, grive solitaire - 1, Grive des bois - chantait à plusieurs endroits, Moqueur chat - 1, Moqueur polyglotte - 1,  Étouneaux sansonnet - 10,  Jaseurs d'Amérique - 12+,  Paruline jaune - xx,  Paruline flambloyante - 2,  Bruant chanteur - xx, Carouge à épaulettes - xx,  Quiscale br. - xx, Oriole de Baltimore - 5 - Pierre Casavant et Monique Coulombe

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report, June 9"

Alfred Kelly Nature Reserve – Prévost/Piedmont

Only a day or so before this trip the meteo was promising a day of rain but the weather gods smiled and we enjoyed a gloriously bright, but not too hot visit to the AKNR accompanied by Guy and Ericka from the local CRPF who had volunteered to show us some new trails and lead us to the Peregrine Falcon nesting site. 28 birders came along, including a couple of very experienced birders up from Massachusetts. On the way out we met a small group walking into the reserve who asked for directins – they had learned about the AKNR from the BPQ website and had been encoouraged to come along and try their luck – word is getting about. The trails took us from our meeting point at the old Prévost rail station along to the cliffs and then by a circuitous and bird-rich trail, steep but not too steep though rather et and muddy in parts, up to the forest above the cliffs. A pause at the belvedere for stunning views over the surrounding countryside and our first Peregrine flypast of the day then along the cliff tops and down to the access view point for the falcon nest (rich with poison ivy – very rich), down to Lac Paradis for a pair of Wood Duck and back to our starting point at a bit after 1:00pm.

Our thanks to Guy and Ericka for their patient guiding which has given us a much better idea of the riches to be foound within the AKNR. This is a wonderful place and less than an hour from Montreal – take a trip, you will enjoy it.

A series of photographs have been posted at the foot of this report to give you a good idea of the nature of the terrain and the habitat. Click on the thumbnails for larger versions.

Birds of the day were undoubtedly the Peregrine Falcons – we saw plenty of flybys from the two adults and heard the young on the nest (there are two this year). Plenty of other excellent birds were well in evidence with a total of 39 being seen by the party. There were a lot of Ravens who signalled our passing to each other as we walked through their territories, four species of Thrushes, 8 Warblers and an Alder Flycatcher.

The 39 species seen were as follows: Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Turkey Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch

Canard branchu, Canard noir, Urubu à tête rouge, large-Petite Buse, Merlin, Faucon pèlerin, Pic maculé, Pic flamboyant, Pioui de l'Est, Moucherolle des aulnes, Viréo mélodieux, Viréo aux yeux rouges, Geai bleu, Corneille d'Amérique, Grand Corbeau, Mésange à tête noire, Sittelle à poitrine rousse, Merlebleu de l'Est, Grive fauve, Grive à dos olive, Grive solitaire, Grive des bois, Merle d'Amérique, Jaseur d'Amérique, Paruline couronnée, Paruline noir et blanc, Paruline masquée, Paruline à collier, Paruline à tête cendrée , Paruline à flancs marron, Paruline à gorge noire, Paruline du Canada, Bruant chanteur, Bruant à gorge blanche, Passerin indigo, Carouge à épaulettes, Quiscale bronzé, Roselin pourpré, Chardonneret jaune - Richard Gregson (organiser, but not really leader)

Bird Protection Quebec "field Trip"

Saturday, June 9 - samedi juin 9

NCC/BPQ Alfred Kelly Nature Reserve at Prévost/Piedmont
Leaders: Richard Gregson (BPQ) e-mail Guy d’Anjou and Ericka Thierlot (CRPF) - MAP

Looking for raptors (possibility Peregrine Falcons), warblers and other Laurentian Forest species in the new Alfred Kelly Nature Reserve. Half day.

8:30 a.m. Meet at La Gare de Prévost, 272, rue de la Traverse, Prévost http://www.interactif-qc.ca/garedeprevost/ Take Autoroute 15 north in the direction of St Jerome. Take the right fork in St Jerome onto Autoroute des Laurentides Ouest which, in 2 km, becomes Boulevard du Curé-Labelle/QC-117 N. In about another 7 km, in Prévost, turn right on Rue de la Traverse (signed for Saint-Hippolyte). The station is less than 100 metres from this point.The following Google map link will help give you directions from your home

8h30 Rassemblement à la gare de Prévost, 1272, rue de la Traverse, Prévost. http://www.interactif-qc.ca/garedeprevost/. Prendre l'autoroute 15 Nord en direction de St-Jérôme. A la bifurcation de St-Jérôme, prendre la voie de droite sur l'autoroute des Laurentides Ouest qui, après 2 km, devient le boulevard Curé-Labelle/QC-117 N; après 7 km, tourner à droite dans Prévost sur la Rue de la Traverse (direction Saint-Hippolyte), la gare est située à moins de 100 mètres. Le lien Google map suivant vous aidera à obtenir l'itinéraire depuis votre domicile http://goo.gl/nzhUq À la recherche des oiseaux de proie (possiblement le Faucon pèlerin), des parulines et autres espèces de la forêt laurentienne dans la nouvelle réserve naturelle Alfred Kelly. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Tuesday June 5

Saint-Hubert: Woke up this morning to a Common Nighthawk (Engoulevent d'Amérique) napping on some pool pipes in my backyard. What a start to the day! - Shawna Sevigny - CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Sightings for Sunday June 3

Montréal: This morning, in the cemetery...section G7...I was alerted to a loud call...and I briefly spotted a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Coulicou à bec jaune). UP HIGH IN A TREE. no chance for photos. it was around 8:30 am

.Amazingly..15 minutes later...I ran into a photographer who got the bird...and..a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (Coulicou à bec noir) ... both photographed ...His Yellow-billed was high up a tree..but he got the Black-billed , much lower down.
He said he would post his shots at " Oiseaux Rares " - Chuck Kling
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Philipsburg: Jane Cormack and I spent Saturday morning birding in the region mostly east of the George H. Montgomery Sanctuary at Philipsburg. We had spent some time in that region before last Saturday's BPQ field trip to the Sanctuary and had seen some interesting birds, including singing Pine Warbler, singing Field Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, lots of singing Bobolinks. We also spent some time along Boulevard de la Falaise, across the highway from the Montgomery Sanctuary, a sparsely populated residential area with an interesting variety of habitats. We ended up with 55 species, in spite of rainy and windy conditions (but the weather improved in mid-morning and we even got a bit of sun!).

Notable observations: The Field Sparrow we had seen May 26 was still in same place, singing. This is in a bushy meadow at the southwest corner of Chemin Pelletier and Chemin St. Armand, about 1 km east of the town center of St. Armand. Unfortunately, we could not find the singing Pine Warbler we had seen just south of there a week before. We also found a pair of Field Sparrows in an area of bushes and high grass east of Chemin Benoit, south of where it branches off from Chemin Dutch (route 235).

We heard a singing Horned Lark in bare fields south of Chemin de Morse's Line. We also had a great look at a singing male Purple Finch near Blvd de la Falaise.

We found an active nest of Tufted Titmice with calling young being fed near Blvd de la Falaise;




We also found a probable nest of a Merlin, in a big pine tree near the lakeshore in the Blvd de la Falaise area; a female merlin was perched nearby, calling.


List of birds seen: Wild Turkey – 2, Great Blue Heron – 2, Turkey Vulture – 4, Osprey – 1, Red-tailed Hawk – 1, American Kestrel – 1, Merlin – 1, Mourning Dove – 10, Downy Woodpecter – 1, Hairy Woodpecker – 2, Alder Flycatcher – 2, Least Flycatcher –3, Eastern Phoebe – 10, Eastern Kingbird – 1, Warbling Vireo – 15, Red-eyed Vireo – 15, Blue Jay –10, American Crow – 20, Common Raven – 8, Horned Lark – 1, Tree Swallow – 15, Barn Swallow – 4, Black-capped Chickadee – 10, Tufted Titmouse – 5, Brown Creeper – 1, House Wren – 10, Eastern Bluebird – 3, Wood Thrush – 4, American Robin – 30, Gray Catbird – 8, European Starling – 10, Cedar Waxwing – 4, Nashville Warbler – 1, Yellow Warbler – 8, Chestnut-sided Warbler – 2, American Redstart – 8, Ovenbird – 3, Common Yellowthroat – 15, Chipping Sparrow – 20, Field Sparrow – 3, Savannah Sparrow – 1, Song Sparrow – 15, Scarlet Tanager – 1, Northern Cardinal – 8, Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 4, Indigo Bunting – 1, Bobolink – 5, Red-winged Blackbird – 20, Common Grackle – 15, Brown-headed Cowbird – 10, Baltimore Oriole – 5, Purple Finch – 1, House Finch – 2, American Goldfinch – 40, House Sparrow – 5

Dindon sauvage - 2, Grand héron - 2, Urubu à tête rouge - 4, Balbuzards pêcheurs - 1, Buse à queue rousse - 1, Crécerelle d'Amérique - 1, Faucon émerillon - 1, Tourterelle triste - 10, Pic mineur - 1, Pic chevelu - 2, Moucherolle des aulnes - 2, -3 Moucherolle tchébec, Moucherolle phébi - 10, Tyran tritri - 1, Viréo mélodieux - 15, Viréo aux yeux rouges - 15, Geai bleu -10, Corneille d'Amérique - 20, Grand Corbeau - 8, Alouette hausse-col - 1, Hirondelle bicolore - 15, Hirondelle rustique - 4, Mésange à tête noire - 10, Mésange bicolore - 5, Grimpereau brun - 1, Troglodyte familier - 10, Merlebleu de l'Est - 3, Grive des bois - 4, Merle d'Amérique - 30, Moqueur chat - 8, Étourneau sansonnet - 10, Jaseur d'Amérique - 4, Paruline à joues grises - 1, Paruline jaune - 8, Paruline à flancs marron - 2, Paruline flamboyante - 8, Paruline couronnée - 3, Paruline masquée - 15, Bruant familier - 20, Bruant des champs - 3, Bruant des prés - 1, Bruant chanteur - 15, Tangara écarlate - 1, Cardinal rouge - 8, Cardinal à poitrine rose - 4, Passerin indigo - 1, Goglu des prés - 5, Carouge à épaulettes - 20, Quiscale bronzé - 15, Vacher à tête brune - 10, Oriole de Baltimore - 5, Roselin pourpré - 1, Roselin familier - 2, Chardonneret jaune - 40,  Moineau domestique - 5 - Nicholas Acheson
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Parc National du Mont-Tremblant; Passing through Sectors Pimbina and L'Assomption.

Ring-Necked Duck (10), Common Merganser (1), Ruffed Grouse (4), Common Loon (6), Great Blue Heron (3), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Merlin (1), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5), Yellow-shafted Flicker (3), Pileated Woodpecker (2), Red-eyed Vireo (3), Blue Jay (8), Gray Jay (1), Common Raven (1), American Crow (4), Tree Swallow (2), Black-capped Chickadee (6), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Red-breasted Nuthatch (6), Golden-crowned Kinglet (5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Swainson's Thrush (10), Hermit Thrush (7), American Robin (3), Cedar Waxwing (2), Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Nashville Warbler (6), Northern Parula (5), Chestnut-sided Warbler (2), Magnolia Warbler (10), Northern Waterthrush (3), Yellow-rumped Warbler (4), Black-throated Blue Warbler (4), Blackburnian Warbler (3), Black-throated Green Warbler (30+), Bay-breasted Warbler (2), Black-and-white Warbler (15), American Redstart (1), Ovenbird (1), Common Yellowthroat (5), White-throated Sparrow (24), Slate-colored Junco (1), Red-winged Blackbird (8), Common Grackle (1), American Goldfinch (2)

Fuligule à collier (10), Grand Harle (1), Gélinotte huppée (4), Plongeon huard (6), Grand Héron (3), Buse à queue rousse (1), Faucon émilleron (1), Colibri à gorge rubis (5), Pic flaboyant- (3), Grand Pic (2), Viréo aux yeux rouges (3), Geai bleu (8), Mésangeai du Canada (1), Grand corbeau (1), Corneille d'Amérique (4), Hirondelle bicolore (2), Mésange à tête noire (6), Sittelle à poitrine blanche (1), Sittelle à poitrine rousse (6), Roitelet à couronne dorée (5), Roitelet à couronne rubis (1), Grive à dos olive (10), Grive solitaire (7), Merle d'Amérique (3), Jaseur d'Amérique (2), Paruline verdâtre (1), Paruline à joues grises (6), Paruline à collier (5), Paruline à flancs marron (2), Paruline à tête cendrée (10), Paruline des ruisseaux (3), Paruline à croupion jaune (4), Paruline bleue (4), Paruline à gorge orangée (3), Paruline à gorge noire (30 +), Paruline à poitrine baie (2), Paruline noir et blanc (15), Paruline flamboyante (1), Paruline couronnée (1), Paruline masquée (5), Bruant à gorge blanche (24), Junco ardoisée  (1), Carouge à épaulettes (8), Quiscale bronzé (1), Chardonneret jaune (2) - Lisa Keelty

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Spontaneous Spring Field Trip
Saturday, June 2
8:00 AM - Half-day outing


Our spontaneous spring field trip this coming Saturday will be a repeat of a "Summer Series of Birding" trip back on July 24, 2010. That trip produced 66 species, the highest number we have ever had on a summer outing. The participants of that trip all agreed that we should repeat this trip, but earlier, in the peak spring birding season, so that's what we will do on Saturday.

The trip covers sections of St-Lazare (including the very productive Fief Road), Ste-Marthe & Ste-Justine de Newton, then heads across the Quebec/Ontario border. We then head north ending up at Pointe Fortune, at the Carillon Dam. This will be a half-day trip (maybe a little more if the birds cooperate), mostly driving, but with several stops along the route. The park at Pointe Fortune is a good location to have a picnic lunch at the end of the trip should any of you wish to bring lunch along.



MEETING PLACE: Hudson Inn parking lot at Exit 17 off of Highway 40.

DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO MEETING SPOT: Take the Trans-Canada Highway 40 (direction Ottawa) to Exit 17 - Highway 201 Montee Lavigne / Hudson. Meet in the parking area outside the Hudson Inn complex. Carpooling on a trip such as this is a suggestion. Cars can easily be left in the parking lot at the meeting spot.

ITINERARY: From the Hudson Inn, we will drive south on Highway 201 into St-Lazare checking out Fief Road & Montée Ste-Angelique, looking for various species of field and grassland birds, and songbirds including warblers, etc. We then head west towards the Quebec/Ontario border along ch. Ste-Marie, into Ontario to Lemieux Road & La Grande Montee Road. Here we'll be again be looking for grassland birds, including Upland Sandpipers, Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, etc. all seen here in the past.


We will continue north on La Grande Montee to Pointe Fortune and visit the Carillon Dam where various gulls, shorebirds and waterfowl are generally seen.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 450-462-1459. You may reach me by cellphone at 514-637-2141 on Saturday morning.