Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, September 13 – samedi 13 septembre
Pointe Yamachiche   latest sightings eBird Hotspot
Leader: Sheldon Harvey – 450-462-1459 – e-mail

8:00 a.m. Allow 75 minutes driving time from Montreal. Take Highway 40 east to Exit 174. At the intersection in the middle of the exit drive straight forward. Within 100 metres there is a large parking lot which will serve as our meeting area. This is mainly a walking trip on trails that are usually dry, but bring boots just in case. We will visit two areas on Lac Saint-Pierre with a variety of habitats (woods, marsh, riverside, fields.) Bring a lunch in case the trip runs a little long. Half day.

8 h 00. Prévoir 1 h 15 de route depuis Montréal. Prendre l’autoroute 40 est, sortie 174. À l’intersection, au centre de la sortie, continuer tout droit. À 100 mètres de l’intersection se trouve un grand stationnement, lieu de notre rendez vous. Une bonne promenade nous attend au bord du Lac St-Pierre à travers champs, bois et terres qui risquent d’être humides, alors apportez des bottes imperméables. Apporter à boire et à manger si jamais notre sortie se prolonge. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Tuesday September 9

Beauharnois:  The 2 juvenile Sabine Gulls are still at Beauharnois

Les 2 mouettes de sabine sont toujours à Beauharnois: - Pierre Bannon

Sightings for Monday September 8

Beauharnois: Around the middle of afternoon, with André Crépeau, his partner, and

Monique Groulx, I was able to observe really well 2 juvenile Sabine Gulls simultaneously at the end of  chemin cahoteux on the west side of the Beauharnois dam. There were also a couple of Bonaparte's Gull and 2 dozen Common Terns.

Also today, a juvenile Northern goshawk at the Sainte-Martine dam face to face with a Merlin.

Finally, a Caspian Tern at the end of rue MacDonald in Maple Grove.

Vers le milieu de l'après-midi, en compagnie d'André Crépeau, sa compagne et Monique Groulx, j'ai pu très bien observer simultanément 2 Mouettes de Sabine juvéniles au bout du chemin cahoteux du côté ouest du barrage de Beauharnois. Il y avait aussi une quinzaine de Mouette de Bonaparte et 2 douzaines de Sternes pierregarin.

Aussi aujourd'hui, un Autour des palombes juvénile au barrage de Sainte-Martine face à face avec un Faucon émerillon.

Finalement, une Sterne caspienne au bout de la rue MacDonald à Maple Grove. - Pierre Bannon

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" September 6

Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary

We have a very respectable average of 14 participants for our first two field trips of the fall season. 28 participants last week and one this week. I should resurrect my dissertation from several years ago on the benefits of being the leader and sole participant on a bird outing.

In all seriousness when one combines the distance to this particular destination with an extremely 'iffy" weather forecast it was not surprising that no participants made the trek to the far side of Cornwall. In fact the weather was probably worse than predicted. The raincoat was on and off more times than a Kardashian sisters' wedding ring.

Cloudy, intermittent showers (at times heavy), breezy and humid conditions were the order of the day. Temperatures peaked at about 23C. But since I was the designated idiot for the week, and I was already there, I decided to take a tour. For those familiar with the area I walked the bicycle trail running east from the UCMBS parking lot as far as Farran Park Campground, a one way distance of about three kilometers. I also walked the Maple Trail in the sanctuary itself. Unfortunately a combination of age/neglect and some very industrious beavers has caused the closure of several of the better trails in the sanctuary. A group called the "Friends of the Sanctuary" is trying to raise funds to restore some badly decaying boardwalks that are not usable.

 

Highlights of the day included a large group of 600+ Red-winged Blackbirds at very close range in the cattails that kept rising up and settling in beautiful waves of sight and sound for several minutes. They seemed in no rush to leave their roost to go pillage the local corn fields. Two Bald Eagles were seen along the Long Sault Parkway to the east of the sanctuary. They are quite regular there now. One was chasing an Osprey. An immature Cooper's Hawk was being harassed by a group of crows when all it seemed to want to do was sit and dry out its wing and tail feathers. Pockets of passerines were few in number.

 

Four white-tailed deer, one snowshoe (varying) hare and a fair size garter snake were the non-avian highlights.

Here is my full list of 50 species which includes a few birds seen while driving the Long Sault Parkway. Most of the large groups of ducks were on the St Lawrence River near Farran park.

Thanks to all who came out in spirit,- Wayne

 Canada Goose - 100, Wood Duck - 4, Gadwall - 4, American Wigeon - 4, American Black Duck - 2, Mallard - 80, Blue-winged Teal - 40, Green-winged Teal - 70, Wild Turkey - 7, Double-crested Cormorant - 20, Great Blue Heron - 6, Great Egret - 10, Osprey - 3, Bald Eagle - 2, Cooper's hawk - 1, Red-shouldered Hawk - 1, Killdeer - 2, Greater Yellowlegs - 14, Ring-billed Gull - 30, Herring Gull - 1, Great Black-backed Gull - 2, Caspian Tern - 2, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Hairy Woodpecker - 1, Northern Flicker - 6, Eastern Wood-pewee - 3 ( 1seen, two heard), Eastern Phoebe - 1, Red-eyed Vireo - 4, Blue Jay - 15, American Crow - 35, Black-capped Chickadee - 20, Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3, White-breasted - 6, Brown Creeper - 2 (1 seen, one heard), American Robin - 8, Gray Catbird - 5, Cedar Waxwing 6, Yellow Warbler - 2, Magnolia Warbler - 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1, Black-throated Green Warbler - 4, Common Yellowthroat - 5, Wilson's Warbler - 2, Song Sparrow - 8, Swamp Sparrow - 3, Red-winged Blackbird - 600+, Common Grackle - 15, Baltimore Oriole - 1 (heard), American Goldfinch - 6

 

Bernache du Canada - 100, Canard branchu - 4, Canard chipeau - 4, Canard d'Amérique - 4, Canard noir - 2, Canard colvert - 80, Sarcelle à ailes bleues - 40, Sarcelle d'hiver - 70, Dindon sauvage - 7, Cormoran à aigrettes - 20, Grand héron - 6, Grande Aigrette - 10, Balbuzard pêcheur- 3, Pygargue à tête blanche - 2, épervier de Cooper - 1, Buse à épaulettes - 1, Pluvier kildir - 2, Grand Chevalier - 14, Goéland à bec cerclé - 30, Goéland argenté - 1, Goéland marin - 2, Sterne caspienne - 2, Martin-pêcheur - 2, Pic mineur - 3, Pic chevelu - 1, Pic flamboyant - 6, Piou de l'Est - 3 (1 vu, deux entendu), Moucherelle phébi- 1, Viréo aux yeux rouges - 4, Geai bleu - 15, Corneille d'Amérique - 35, Mésange à tête noire - 20, Sittelle à poitrine rousse - 3, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 6, Grimpereau brun - 2 (1 vu, on entendait), Merle d'Amérique - 8, Moqueur chat - 5, Jaseur d'Amérique -6, Paruline jaune - 2, Paruline à tête cendrée- 3, Paruline à croupion jaune - 1, Paruline à gorge noire - 4, Paruline masquée - 5, Paruline à calotte noire - 2, Bruant chanteur - 8, Bruant des marais - 3, Carouge à épaulettes - plus de 600, Quiscale bronzé - 15, Oriole de Baltimore - 1 (entendu), Chardonneret jaune - 6

Cedar Waxwings \ Jaseurs d'Amérique

eating berries from a mountain ash in my garden in Ahuntsic

Peggy Killeen - click photo to enlarge

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, September 6 – samedi 6 Septembre
ONTARIO Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary  - eBird Hotspot
Leader: Wayne Grubert 450-458-5498  e-mail

NOTE: The turning to take off Highway 2 to the sanctuary is at 44.972415,-75.044244 … enter this map reference into Google Maps to get a personalised route from where you live

8:00 a.m. Take Highway 401 west to exit 770 (Ingleside). Proceed south to Highway 2. Take Highway 2 west for several kilometres. Watch for signs on left for “Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary”. Turn left and follow road for 2 km to main parking lot. Allow 1.5 hrs driving time from Montreal. Looking for waterfowl, passerines and possibly shorebirds on a good network of trails through varying habitat. Half day.

8 h 00. Prendre l’autoroute 401 ouest. Vingt km dépassé Cornwall, Prendre la sortie 770 (Ingleside). Rouler en direction sud jusqu’à l’autoroute 2 pendant plusieurs kilomètres. À gauche, chercher la pancarte du “Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary”. Tourner à gauche et prendre ce chemin pendant 2 km jusqu’au stationnement. Prévoir 1.5 heures de route de Montréal. Demi?journée.

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" August 30

 Sablière, St-Lazare Sandpit - eBird Hotspot

The first field trip of the fall season and the response was overwhelming 28 participants a big group for a small wooded area that we visited first. Things improved a little when we went into the sandpit. The wooded area was very quiet to say the least, most of the birds we saw were behind a house where we had more open view. After the sandpit we walked in the Base de plein air de St-Lazare, although it's a beautiful forest, the birds where totally absent.

We ended the day with a surprising 48 species.

50 Mallard, 12 Green-winged Teal, 1 American Bittern, 3 Great-blue Heron, 2 Great Egret, 2 Green Heron, 3 Turkey Vulture, 1 Buteo sp, 2 Kildeer, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Least Sandpiper, 6 Ring-billed Gull, 6 Rock Pigeon, 2 Mourning Dove, 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 6 Northern Flicker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 6 Eastern Phobe, 1 Warbling vireo, 3 Red-eyed Vireo, 12 Blue Jay, 6 American Crow, 14 Black-capped Chickadee, 3 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Hermit Thrush, 8 American Robin, 6 European Starling, 6 Tennessee Warbler, 1 Magnolia Warbler, 1 Black-throated Blue, Warbler (Richard), 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler, 1 Pine Warbler (Richard), 6 Bay-breasted Warbler, 1 Black and white Warbler, 2 Ovenbird, 2 Song Sparrow, 1 Northern Cardinal, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 6 Red-winged Blackbird, 6 Common Grackle, 3 Baltimore Oriole. 6 American Goldfinch,  (2 Brown Thrashers, 1 Scarlet Tanager - Jean De Marre, Jean Bacon)



50 Canard colvert, 12 Sarcelles d'hiver, 1 Butor d'Amérique, 3 Grande héron, 2 Grande aigrette, Héron vert 2, 3 Urubu à tête rouge, 1 Buteo sp, 2 Pluvier kildir, 2 Grand Chevalier, 2 Petit Chevalier, 1 Chevalier grivelé, 1 Bécasseau minuscule, 6 Goéland à bec cerclé, 6 Pigeon biset, 2 Tourterelle triste, 2 Colibri à gorge rubis, 1 Pic mineur, 6 Pic flamboyant, 1 Grand Pic, 6 Moucherelle phébe, 1 Viréo mélodieux, 3 Viréo aux yeux rouges, 12 Geai bleu, 6 Corneille d'Amérique, 14 Mésange à tête noire, 3 Sittelle à poitrine blanche, 1 Grive solitaire, 8 Merle d'Amérique, 6 Étourneau sansonnet, 6 Paruline obscure, Paruline à tête cendrée, 1 Paruline Bleue (Richard) , 6 Paruline à croupion jaune, 1 Paruline à gorge noire, , 1 Paruline des pins (Richard), 6 Paruline à poitrine baie, 1 Paruline noir et blanc Paruline, 2 Paruline couronnée, 2 Bruant chanteur, 1 Cardinal rouge, 1 Cardinal à poitrine rose, 6 Carouge à épaulettes, 6 Quiscale bronzé, 3 Oriole de Baltimore. 6 Chardonneret jaune, (2 Moqueur roux 1, Tangara écarlate - Jean De Marre, Jean Bacon)

Thanks to a great group for this nice morning. - Clémence and Jean

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, August 30 – samedi 30 août
St-Lazare Sand Pits and Area
Leaders: Jean Demers and Clémence Soulard
514-694-8240  e-mail

Link to Sablière, St-Lazare Sand Pits eBird Hotspot where you can check out whats been seen recently. You can also set it to see what been seen in just a particular year, or choose a month, to see whats been seen in that month over the years.

7:30 a.m. From Highway 40 west towards Ottawa take Exit 26. Turn left on Chemin Daoûst (which becomes Avenue Bédard) and proceed 4 km to Chemin Ste-Angelique. Turn right and after 1.4 km turn left on Montée St-Robert. Continue for 2.6 km to Parc St-Robert on the left and meet in the parking lot. Looking for shorebirds, waterfowl and early fall migrants. $2.00 charge (exact change). Half day.

7 h 30. Depuis l’autoroute 40 ouest vers Ottawa, prendre la sortie 26. Tourner à gauche sur le Chemin Daoust (qui devient l’avenue Bédard) et continuer 4 km jusqu’au Chemin Ste-Angélique. Tourner à droite puis après 1,4 km, tourner à gauche sur la Montée St-Robert. Continuer 2.6 km jusqu’au Parc St-Robert sur la gauche. Le lieu de rencontre est situé dans le stationnement. Nous rechercherons les oiseaux de rivage, la sauvagine et les oiseaux migrateurs hâtifs. 2,00 $ pour l’entrée (monnaie exacte). Demi-journée.

Sightings for Tuesday August 18

Châteauguay, Refuge Faunique Marguerite-D’Youville, Île Saint-Bernard eBird Hotspot latest sightings

Looks like things are starting to pick up. Today I counted 47 species, compared to the 30 or so that has been seen recently: Canada Goose 20, Wood Duck 14, Mallard 8, Double-crested Cormorant 6, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret 4, Green Heron 2, Black-crowned Night-Heron 3, Osprey 1, Northern Goshawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Ring-billed Gull 11, Caspian Tern 1, Belted Kingfisher 1, Downy Woodpecker 3, Hairy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker 5, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Eastern Wood-Pewee 4, Great Crested Flycatcher 2, Warbling Vireo 1, Red-eyed Vireo 3, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 4, Tree Swallow 4, Black-capped Chickadee 27, Tufted Titmouse 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2, White-breasted Nuthatch 6, House Wren 2, American Robin 7, Gray Catbird 6, Cedar Waxwing 10, Nashville Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 1, American Redstart 1, Northern Parula 1, Blackburnian Warbler 1, Yellow Warbler 4, Song Sparrow 55, Swamp Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 2, Red-winged Blackbird 4, Common Grackle 4, Baltimore Oriole 2, American Goldfinch 10

Bernache du Canada 20, Canard branchu 14, Canard colvert 8, Cormoran à aigrettes 6, Grand héron 1, Grande Aigrette 4, Héron vert 2, Bihoreau gris 3, Balbuzard pêcheur 1, Autour des palombes 1, Buse à queue rousse 1, Spotted Chevalier 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 11, Sterne caspienne 1, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique 1, Pic mineur 3, Pic chevelu 2, Pic flamboyant 5, Grand pic 1, Pioui de l'Est 4, Tyran huppé 2, Viréo mélodieux 1, Viréo aux yeux rouges 3, Geai bleu 2, Corneille d'Amérique 4, Hirondelle bicolore 4, Mésange à tête noire 27, Mésange bicolore 1, Sittelle à poitrine rousse 2, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 6, Troglodyte familier 2, Merle d'Amérique 7, Moqueur chat 6, Jaseur d'Amérique 10, Paruline à joues grises 1, Paruline masquée 1, Paruline flamboyante 1, Paruline à collier 1, Paruline à gorge orangée 1, Paruline jaune 4, Bruant chanteur 55, Bruant des marais 1, Cardinal rouge 2, Carouge à épaulettes 4, Quiscale bronzé 4, Oriole de Baltimore 2, Chardonneret jaune 10 - Tom Long

Bird Protection Quebec, Summer Series 2014 - Field trip #6 Report

8 people participated in the final field trip of this year's Summer Series. We headed out to visit 4 different sewage lagoons (water filtration ponds) in St, Albert, Embrun, Casselman and St-Isidore, Ontario. It was mostly a cloudy and cool day, which was actually a nice break on this annual trip. Generally it has been very hot and humid and the lagoons offer no cover or shade from the hot sun. Fortunately we wrapped up the day's birding just prior to a major rainfall in St-Isidore.

I have always mentioned that this particular trip involves a lot of walking but, until this year, we never really knew just how much walking. On Saturday's trip one of our participants wore a pedometer. By the end of the day we had walked 7.2 kilometers.

We always hope for shorebirds on this trip each year and we were not disappointed. Our list of 56 species included several shorebird species. The Birds of the Day were the Solitary Sandpiper and the White-rumped Sandpiper.

So here is the list from Saturday. Canada Goose 20, Wood Duck 10, American Black Duck 2, Mallard 75, Blue-winged Teal 40, Northern Shoveler 6, Green-winged Teal 24, Hooded Merganser 20, Ruddy Duck 6, Pied-billed Grebe 12, American Bittern 2, Great Blue Heron 2, Northern Harrier 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Kestrel 1, Merlin 4, Common Moorhen 35 Semipalmated Plover 7, Killdeer 30, Greater Yellowlegs 3, Lesser Yellowlegs 30, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Spotted Sandpiper 10, Semipalmated Sandpiper 12, Least Sandpiper 10, White-rumped Sandpiper 1, Pectoral Sandpiper 2, Wilson's Snipe 1, Ring-billed Gull 6, Rock Pigeon 8, Mourning Dove 24, Chimney Swift 4, Belted Kingfisher 1, Downy Woodpecker , 2Northern Flicker 5, Eastern Phoebe 1, Blue Jay 10, American Crow 10, Purple Martin 6, Tree Swallow 1,000+, Bank Swallow 6, Cliff Swallow 12, Barn Swallow 3, Black-capped Chickadee 4, American Robin 2, Gray Catbird 1, European Starling 20, Common Yellowthroat 1, Savannah Sparrow 4, Song Sparrow 6, Bobolink 1, Red-winged Blackbird 12, Common Grackle 3, American Goldfinch 15, House Sparrow 6

Bernache du Canada 20, Canard branchu 10, Canard noir 2, Canard colvert 75, Sarcelle à ailes bleues 40, Canard souchet 6, Sarcelle d'hiver 24, Harle couronné 20, Érismature rousse 6, Grèbe à bec bigarré 12, Butor d'Amérique 2, Grand Héron 2, Busard Saint-Martin 1, Petite Buse 1, Buse à queue rousse 2, Crécerelle d'Amérique 1, Faucon émerillon 4, Gallinule poule d'eau 35, Pluvier semipalmé 7, Pluvier kildir 30, Grand Chevalier 3, Petit Chevalier 30, Chevalier solitaire 1, Chevalier grivelé 10, Bécasseau semipalmé 12, Bécasseau minuscule 10, Bécasseau à croupion blanc 1, Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée 2, Bécassine de Wilson 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 6, Pigeon biset 8, Tourterelle triste 24, Martinet ramoneur 4, Martin-pêcheur 1, Pic mineur 2, Pic flaboyant 5, Moucherelle Phébi 1, Geai bleu 10, Corneille d'Amérique 10, Hirondelle moire 6, Hirondelle bicolore 1000 +, Hirondelle de rivage 6, Hirondelle à front blanc 12, Hirondelle rustique 3, Mésange à tête noire 4, Merle d'Amérique 2, Moqueur chat 1, Étourneau sansonnet 20, Paruline masquée 1, Bruant des prés 4, Bruant chanteur 6, Goglu des prés 1, Carouge à épaulettes 12, Quiscale bronzé 3, Chardonneret jaune 15, Moineau domestique 6

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's Summer Series, our 11th season. Of course this doesn't mean that the summer is over. We still have some great weather ahead of us and some great trips coming up in the weeks ahead leading into the fall. - Sheldon.

Sightings for Sunday August 17

Ste-Martine: Marbled Godwit (Barge marbrée)   J.-S. Guénette

Sightings for Saturday August 16

Ste-Martine: Marbled Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper (Barge marbrée, Bécasseau à échasses) - Sylvain Mathieu

Sightings for Friday August 15

Ste-Martine: Marbled Godwit , Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper (Barge marbrée, Bécasseau à échasses, Petit Chevalier, Chevalier semipalmé) - Mark Dennis

Sightings for Thursday August 14

St-Martine: There was a Marbled Godwit at St-Martine this morning along with: Mallard 80, Double-crested Cormorant 2, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret 1, Spotted Sandpiper 4, Greater Yellowlegs 3, Lesser Yellowlegs 19, Marbled Godwit 1, Ring-billed Gull 40, Common Tern 2, Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2, Chimney Swift 2, Northern Flicker 1, Eastern Wood-Pewee 1, Warbling Vireo 1, Tree Swallow X, Barn Swallow 2, Cliff Swallow X, Yellow Warbler 1, Song Sparrow 2

Une Barge marbrée à St-Martine ce matin avec: Canard colvert 80, Cormoran à aigrettes 2, Grand héron 1, Grande Aigrette 1, Chevalier grivelé 4, Grand Chevalier 3, Petit Chevalier 19, Barge marbrée 1, Goéland à bec cerclé 40, Sterne pierregarin 2, Pigeon biset 2, le Martinet ramoneur 2, Pic flamboyant 1, Pioui de l'Est 1, Viréo mélodieux 1, Hirondelle bicolore X, Hirondelle rustique 2, Cliff Hirondelle X, Paruline jaune 1, Bruant chanteur 2 - Tom Long

Summer Series of Birding - Trip #6 - Saturday, August 16

This Saturday's trip will wrap up our 2014 Summer Series of Birding. We will be making our annual visit to 4 eastern Ontario sewage lagoons. This has become one of our most popular and productive trips each summer. On last year’s trip we had a total of 78 species.We’ll repeat last year’s route, starting at the St-Albert Lagoons, then on to Embrun. We'll take a lunch break at the Tim Horton rest stop in Casselman and then move on to the Casselman Lagoons and finally the St-Isidore Lagoons.

DATE: Saturday, August 16
TIME: 7:00 AM – Full day; combination driving/walking trip.
MEETING PLACE: The Hudson Inn parking lot in Hudson, Quebec - Exit 17 off of Highway 40. Please arrive early to be ready to depart at 7 AM sharp. We have a 90 km. drive from Hudson to our first stop in St-Albert, thus the need for the early start.

DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS: The detailed route for the day is available in a file in the "Files" section of the Songsparrow Yahoo group. The document includes links to the individual sewage lagoon information pages. Click on "Files" on the menu bar of the group page. Look for the 2nd file “BPQ Driving Instructions”. Click on it and the document E. Ontario Sewage Lagoon trip details.doc is there. If possible, please print out a copy to bring with you.

ITINERARY: We will visit 4 different sewage lagoons; St-Albert, Embrun, Casselman and St-Isidore. We'll be looking for shorebirds and marsh-dwellers, as well as songbirds, raptors, etc. that show up throughout the day.St-Albert and Embrun will easily fill the morning. We'll break for lunch at Tim Horton's in Casselman prior to heading on to the Casselman and St-Isidore stops. Bring your lunch or pick up something at a number of restaurants located at the Cassleman stop. Picnic tables, washrooms and gasoline are all available here.

There is a lot of walking at each site, particularly at St. Albert, the largest of the four sites. The lagoons are located in wide open, exposed areas, away from any facilities. They provide no shade or shelter from the sun or rain. So dress accordingly and bring along fluids and/or snacks. The grass can be quite wet, particularly early in the morning. Be equipped with suitable footwear. A couple of the lagoon sites have substantial amounts of ragweed present which may cause problems for people with allergy issues, so be forewarned.Spotting scopes will be very useful. Also, if you have portable two-way radios, please bring them along. They are excellent tools on road trips to stay in communication with others in the convoy. Car-pooling is recommended, if possible, as parking at a couple of the lagoons is limited. Cars may be left at the Hudson Inn parking lot if you are able to double up with someone

If you have any question, please contact me by e-mail, or by telephone at 450-462-1459. If you are delayed on Saturday morning, please call me on the BPQ cellphone at 514-637-2141. We will leave Hudson at 7 am sharp. Should you arrive late, you will have time to catch up to us at our first stop in St-Albert.This is a full day of birding. We usually do not get back to the Montreal area until quite late in the afternoon. Should you choose to leave the group at any point during the day, there is easy access back to Highway 417 from any of the sewage lagoon locations.We look forward to a great day of birding on Saturday. Sheldon

Sightings for Saturday August 9

Yamachiche: The American White Pelican was still there (at Pointe Yamachiche) at 7:00 this Saturday morning.  MAP

I also saw 6 Great Egrets, 5 eagles (3 imm. 2 and adults), 2 Caspian terns and the other regulars to this site.

 I do not know if I was at high tide, but there was very little room for waders on the river accessible on the point. Like the species I saw: Solitary sandpiper (1), Greater yellowlegs (1) Lesser yellowlegs (3), Black-bellied plover (1), Killdeer (1) Semipalmated sandpiper (1) Least sandpipers (11), Semipalmated sandpiper (1)

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Pélican d'Amérique était encore là (à la Pointe Yamachiche) à 7h00 ce samedi matin.  CARTE

J'y ai aussi observé 6 Grandes Aigrettes, 5 pygargues (3 imm. et 2 adultes), 2 Sternes caspiennes et d'autres réguliers à ce site.

Je ne sais pas si j'étais à marée haute, mais il n'y avait que très peu de place pour les limicoles sur la rive accessible de la pointe. Comme espèces, j'ai vu: Chevalier solitaire (1), Grand Chevalier (1), Petit Chevalier (3), Pluvier argenté (1), Pluvier kildir (1), Pluvier semipalmé (1) Bécasseaux minuscules (11), Bécasseau semipalmé (1) - Jean Marc Béliveau

Sightings for Friday August 8

Pointe d'Yamachiche: We observed the American White Pelican this morning. He was at the mouth of the Petite Rivière Yamachiche

Nous avons observé le Pélican d'Amérique cet avant-midi à la Pointe d'Yamachiche.
Il était à l'embouchure de la Petite Rivière Yamachiche. - Michel Bourassa, Gelinas Jacques
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Escoumins: Black Skimmer was behind the fish market from about 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.  

Bec-en-ciseaux aux Escoumins, en derrière de la poissonnerie, entre environ 16h00 et 17h15. - André Cyr, Frédéric Bergeron.

Sightings for Saturday August 3

Victoriaville, réservoir Beaudet: 1 Franklins gull (Mouette de Franklin) - Claude Roy

Bird Protection Quebec, Summer Series 2014 - Field trip #5 Report

A warm and hazy day greeted 14 birders on today's Summer Series field trip to Parc Nature Pointe des Cascades. Everyone remarked that it's surprising that we don't hear much in the birding world about this park. It has a great mix of habitats; marsh, waterfront, rapids, wooded trails, all nicely laid out in an easy-to-follow route throughout the park. This looks like a spot that should be explored in the early spring and particularly during migration period.

It is also a nice historic site, situated at the mouth of the Soulanges Canal. There is an excellent trail to follow along the top of the canal itself where you can get a good look at the old stone walls and the old wood and steel gates to the locks that have long been out of service. There is also a very old lighthouse at the entrance to the canal which cliff swallows have adopted as a nesting area.

Unfortunately a few areas in the park are being used by fishermen as well as party-animal types who have left behind burnt-out campfire sites and large amounts of garbage. However the majority of the park is very well maintained and a few spots offer very scenic views of the surrounding waterways.

So, on to our field trip results. We finished the morning with a total of 43 species. There was evidence of breeding birds using the park as many young birds, particularly large numbers of cedar waxwings and yellow warblers, were seen in many locations. Here is today's list. Thanks to all the participants who turned out today. It was a fun morning. - Sheldon Harvey

Canada Goose 5, Mallard 6, Double Crested-Cormorant 8, Great Blue Heron 2, Green Heron 1, Osprey 1, Merlin 1, Spotted Sandpiper 4, Ring-billed Gull 25, Herring Gull 1, Caspian Tern 1, Common Tern 24, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2, Downy Woodpecker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 6, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Flycatcher Species 5 (in a group), Eastern Kingbird 6, Warbling Vireo 2, Red-eyed Vireo 2, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 2, Tree Swallow 8, Cliff Swallow 3, Barn Swallow 12, Black-capped Chickadee 8, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, American Robin 36, Gray Catbird 6, European Starling 30, Cedar Waxwing 50, Nashville Warbler 1, Yellow Warbler 45, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Song Sparrow 25, Swamp Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 2, Red-winged Blackbird 12, Common Grackle 10, Baltimore Oriole 2, American Goldfinch 15, House Sparrow 1

Bernache du Canada 5, Canard colvert 6, Cormoran à aigrettes 8, Grand Héron 2, Héron vert 1, Balbuzard pêcheur 1, Faucon émerillon 1, Chevalier grivelé 4, Goéland à bec cerclé 25, Goéland argenté 1, Sterne caspienne 1, Sterne pierregarin 24, Pic maculé 2, Pic mineur 2, Pic chevelu 1, Pic flamboyant 6, Grand Pic 1, Moucherolle espèces 5 (dans un groupe), Tyran tritri 6, Viréo mélodieux 2, Viréo aux yeux rouges 2, Geai bleu 2, Corneille d'Amérique 2, Hirondelle bicolore 8, Hirondelle à front blanc 3, Hirondelle rustique 12, Mésange à tête noire 8, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 2, Merle d'Amérique 36, Moqueur chat 6, Étourneau sansonnet 30, Jaseur d'Amérique 50, Paruline à joues grises 1, Paruline jaune 45 , Paruline à croupion jaune 1, Bruant chanteur 25, Bruant des marais 1, Cardinal rouge 2, Carouge à épaulettes 12, Quiscale bronzé 10, Oriole de Baltimore 2, Chardonneret jaune 15, Moineau domestique 1

NOTE RE: tomorrow's field trip to Parc Nature Pointe des Cascades:

Regarding tomorrow's field trip to Pointe des Cascades, a few people contacted me to let me know that there is generally a charge, perhaps as much as $10 per person, to enter the park. I had heard about this recently, but prior to choosing the destination I called the town of Pointe des Cascades to confirm whether or not there was a fee to enter the park.

I told them that we were a group from Bird Protection Quebec who wanted to visit the park on Saturday to look at the birds. The lady from the town told me that there would not have to pay a fee to enter the park. I don't know if this is exceptional; it seems like it might be though. If it is, then you can benefit by joining us tomorrow morning on the field trip! Let's hope the message from the town is communicated to whoever may be in charge at the park on Saturday morning. - Sheldon Harvey