Thursdays, Thrushes and Thrashers for Beginners at Ile Bizard nature park

Session #1 - Thursday 18 April 9:00 a.m. – noon / jeudi 18 avril  – 9h00 – 12h00
Leader: Barbara MacDuff, 514-457-2222 e-mail 

Tuesday Evenings with Peter Mitchell – Les mardis soir avec Peter Mitchell – l’Île Bizard

Tuesday evenings with Pete Mitchell @ Ile Bizard nature park

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm - Peter Mitchell: 514-489-1012

Tuesdays April 9 to May 22 inclusive 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – tous les mardis entre le 9 avril et le 22 mai compris 6h00 à 20h00.

Meet in parking lot at Île Bizard – Rendez-vous au stationnement Parc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard

Pete invites all alumni of the courses he gave with Bob Carswell and Steve Charlton to join him for evening walks on the boardwalk at Île Bizard. All other interested birders are welcome to join in.

Pete invite tous les anciens participants des cours qu’il a donné avec Bob Carswell and tout ornithologue amateur intéressé à se joindre à lui pour des promenades en soirée sur la passerelle de l’Île Bizard

“Hopefully we will be able to see most migrants during this period  of time. Looking forward to seeing everyone.”

"Nous espérons être en mesure d’observer la plupart des migrants à cette période de l’année. Je vous attends tous avec impatience."

Sightings for Sunday April 14

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Morgan arboretum: Had two Yellow-bellied sapsuckers (Pic maculé) this morning in the Arbo, they were being low key but maybe will find their voice and drumming as it warms up. Also had a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Pic à ventre rouge) in the woods at the top of the hill from Maple Corner. They didn't seem to be looking for nest holes but maybe it's too early in the morning yet. Lots of Pileated Woodpecker (Grand pic) drumming resonating all over the place. Also Eastern Phoebe (Moucherolle phébi) has been calling from just beyond the Bobolink field (first saw them on Wednesday so they have been here a while), Green-winged Teal, lots of Juncoes, Song Sparrows, both Nuthatches, Brown-headed cowbirds (Sarcelle d'hiver, beaucoup de Juncoes, Bruant chanteur, les deux sittelles, Vacher à tête brune) and the other usual suspects - Betsy McFarlane

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" April 13

Today's field trip to Baie-du-Febvre was very easy to lead because there was only the two of us. The roads on the way were all clear. So here is the of birds that you all missed. Snow goose 1000, Canada goose 2000, Wood Duck 4, Gadwall 12, American Wigeon 1, American Black Duck 6, Mallard 24, Blue-winged Teal 4, Northern Shoveler 6, Green-winged Teal 40, Northern Pintail 56, Redhead 8, Ring-necked Duck 40, Bufflehead 4, Gray Partidge 2, Wild Turkey 2, Great-blue Heron 1, Northern Harrier 4, Red-tail Hawk 1, (not counting the 5 on the way back), Rough-legged Hawk 5, American Kestrel 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, American Coot 1, Kildeer 10, Ring-billed Gull 12, Great-black-backed Gull 1, Rock Pigeon 2, Mourning Dove 8, American Crow 10, Horned Lark 2, Tree Swallow 1, American Robin 9, European Starling 15, American Tree Sparrow 5, Song Sparrow 25, Snow Bunting 30, Red-winged Blackbird 20, Common Grackle 25, Common Redpoll 12, House Sparrow 3

Oie des neiges 1000, Bernache du Canada 2000, Canard branchu 4, Canard chipeau 12, Canard d'Amérique 1, Canard noir 6, Canard colvert 24, Sarcelle à ailes bleues 4, Canard souchet 6, Sarcelle d'hiver 40, Canard pilet 56, fuligule à tête rouge 8, Fuligule à collier 40, Petit Garrot 4, Perdix grise 2, Dindon sauvage 2, Grands Hérons 1, Busard Saint-Martin 4, Buse à queue rousse 1 (sans compter le 5 sur le chemin du retour), Buse pattue 5, Crécerelle d'Amérique 1, Faucon pèlerin 1, Foulque d'Amérique 1, Pluvier kildir 10, Goéland à bec cerclé 12, Goéland marin 1, Pigeon biset 2, Tourterelle triste 8, Corneille d'Amérique 10, Alouette hausse-col 2, Hirondelle bicolore 1, Merle d'Amérique 9, Étourneau sansonnet 15, Bruant hudsonien 5, Bruant chanteur 25, Bruant des neiges 30, Carouge à épaulettes 20, Quiscale bronzé 25, Sizerin flammé 12, Moineau domestique 3 - Jean Demers, Clémence Soulard

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, April 13 - samedi le 13 avril
Baie-du-Febvre
Leaders:  Jean Demers and Clémence Soulard  514-694-8240 e-mail

8:30 a.m. Meet at the Route Janelle lookout at Baie du Febvre. Two possible driving routes. First route: Take Hwy 30 east to Sorel and then Hwy 132 east to Baie du Febvre. Look for Route Janelle on your left. Alternate route: Take Hwy 20 east to Exit 185 past Drummondville and then Rte 255 north to Hwy 132. Turn left and look for Rue Janelle almost immediately on your right. Allow 90 minutes driving time from Montreal. Looking for waterfowl, hawks, early spring migrants and thousands of migrating Snow Geese. All day.

8h30 Rassemblement au poste d’observation (cache) situé le long de la route Janelle, à Baie-du-Febvre. On propose deux trajets. Premier trajet : Prendre l’autoroute 30 en direction est jusqu’à Sorel puis prendre la route 132 en direction est jusqu’à Baie-du- Febvre. Tourner à gauche sur la route Janelle, juste après l’intersection avec la rue principale. Deuxième trajet : Prendre l’autoroute 20 en direction est jusqu’à la sortie 185 située après Drummondville. A partir de cette sortie, prendre la route 255 en direction nord jusqu’à l’intersection avec la route 132. Tourner à gauche sur celle-ci. Immédiatement après, tourner à droite sur la route Janelle. Durée du trajet : 1h30. À la recherche de milliers d’Oies des neiges, d’oiseaux aquatiques, de rapaces et d’autres migrateurs. Toute la journée.

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Sightings for Wednesday April 10

Montréal: Northern Mockingbird (Moqueur polyglotte) singing across from main entrance to Costco on Bridge street at noon
today Also, Red-Tailed Hawk (Buse à queue rousse) sitting on billboard between Victoria Bridge and Costco being dive-bombed by crows (corneilles).

Merlin's (Faucon émerillon) back in St Lambert and in St Bruno
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Repentigny 

Merlin's (Faucon émerillon)

Dwight Brown

Sightings for Tuesday April 9

Ormstown: Bohemian Waxwings that are here today. 25-30 of them.  They usually come every year at this time and eat all of the red berries.  The other birds do not eat these berries so when the waxwings don't come the berries stay on the tree until they dry up and fall off.

Jaseur boréal (Bombycilla garrulus) 25- 30 sont ici aujourd'hui.  Ils viennent normallement à ce temps ci tous les ans.  Quand ils ne viennent pas les baies reste dans l'arbre parce que les autre oiseaux ne les mangent pas. - Sandra Auger

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St-Mathias on the Richelieu river near the bridge of rte 112: 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 3 Wood ducks, 2 Black ducks, 4 Mallard, 50 Common goldeneye, 23 Commonmerganser, hundreds of Ring-billed Gull, 

Chambly Basin: 6 Double-crested Cormorant, xx Ring-necked Duck, 4 Northern pintail, 12 Swallows sp. xxxx Canada Geese

St-Luc, Chambly canal: 18 Hooded merganser, 2 Gadwall, American Wigeon 4, 12 Song Sparrow, 7 Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-billed, Herring and Great black-backed Gulls 

Avenues Sabrevois: 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 8 American tree sparrows, 2 Chippins sparrows, 17 Song sparrows. 1 Tufted titmouse, 6 Wood Ducks, 6 Mallard, 24 Ring-necked Duck, Northern flicher, Downy and Hairy woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay , White-breasted nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadees, American goldfinches, American robins 

St-Mathias.Sur la rivière Richelieu, près du pont de la route 112:1 Grèbe à bec bigarré,3 Canards branchus,2 Canards noir,4 Canards colvert,50+ Garrots à oeil d'or,23 Grand harle,des centaines de Goéland à bec cerclé

Au Bassin de Chambly:6 Cormoran à aigrettes,xx Fuligules à collier,4 Canards pilet,12 Hirondelles sp.xxxx Bernaches du Canada

Canal de Chambly à St-Luc:18 Harle couronné,2 Canard chipeau,4 Canard d'Amérique,12 Bruant chanteur,7 Cormoran à aigrettes,Goéland à bec cerclé, marin et argenté

Avenues de Sabrevois:1 Épervier de Cooper,1 Busard St-Martin,1 Buse à queue rousse,8 Bruants hudsonnien,2 Bruants familier,17 Bruants chanteur,1 Mésange bicolore,6 Canards branchu,6 Canards colvert,24 Fuligules à collier,Pics flamboyant, mineur et chevelu,Cardinal rouge,Geai bleu,Sitelles à poitrine blanche,Mésanges à tête noire,Chardonnerets jaune,Merles d'Amérique - Gilles Ethier

Tuesday Evenings with Peter Mitchell

Tuesday Evenings with Peter Mitchell - Les mardis soir avec Peter Mitchell - l'Île Bizard
PeterMitchell: 514-489-1012

Tuesdays, starting April 9 and continuing into May, 6:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - tous les mardis à compter du mardi le 9 avril jusqu`en mai, 6h00à 20h00.

Meet in parking lot at Île Bizard - Rendez-vous au stationnementParc-nature du Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard

Pete invites all alumni of the courses he gave with Bob Carswell and Steve Charltonto join him for evening walks on the boardwalk at Île Bizard. All other interested birders are welcome to join in.

Pete invite tous les anciens participants des cours qu'il a donné avec Bob Carswell et Steve Charlton and tout ornithologue amateur intéressé à se joindre à lui pour des promenades en soirée sur la passerelle de l'Île Bizard

Hopefully we will be able to see most migrants during this period of time. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
Nous espérons être en mesure d'observer la plupart des migrants à cette période de l'année. Je vous attends tous avec impatience.

Sightings for Saturday April 6

Baie-du-fevbre: With very cold winds. There were not many places open water. The two ponds were 95% frozen. 200,000 snow geese, 10,000 Canada Geese, Ross's Goose 1, 1 White-fronted Goose, Wood Duck 16, 3 Gadwall, 40 American Black Duck, 24 Mallard, 253 Northern pintail, 1 Green-winged teal, 3 Ring-necked duck, 8 Bald eagle, 2 Northern Harriers, 1 Red-tailed hawk, Rough-legged hawk 7, 1 Golden eagle, 1 American coot, 11 Horned lark, Snow bunting 44, and several other more comon species.

Avec des vents très froid. Il n'y avait pas beaucoup d'endroit d'eau libre. Les deux bassins étaient a 95% gelé. 200 000 Oies des neiges, 10 000 Bernache du Canada, 1 Oies de Ross, 1 Oie rieuse, 16 Canard branchu, 3 Canard chipeau, 40 Canard noir, 24 Canard colvert, 253 Canard Pilet, 1 Sarcelle d'hivers, 3 Fuligule à collier, 8 Pygargue à tête blanche, 2 Busard Saint-Martin, 1 Buse à queue rousse, 7 Buse pattue, 1 Aigle Royal, 1 Foulque d'Amérique, 11 Alouette hausse-col, 44 Plectrophane des neiges, et plusieurs autres espèces plus commune. - Marc Boisvert

Bird Protection Quebec (Field Trip Report) April 6

Lasalle & Verdun

Good morning everyone, I was "pinch hitting" for Diane Demers on yesterday's excursion. Hope you are feeling better Diane. We could have used your exceptional spotting skills! Yesterday's field trip to Parc des Rapides in Lasalle produced what has become an all too common refrain of late from many of the 24 participants, "maybe next week will be spring." Temperatures struggled to reach the freezing point by the end of the morning and a strong breeze with a definite northerly component caused severe attrition in our numbers. By the time we found a small patch of shoreline out of the wind near the Douglas Hospital only about eight of us remained.

The birds also think it is still winter with only 26 species confirmed and 3 other "probables." (These I upgraded from "possibles" on further reflection during the drive home. Rank has its privileges) We could not decide on a "bird of the day" (although seeing all the herons on their nests is always a treat) so the small group that was left at the end of the trip decided to break from tradition and name a mammal of the day. As we stood on the shoreline near the Douglas Hospital a seal broke the surface of the water directly in front of us about 40 metres away. It stayed in the immediate area cruising the shoreline and diving for fish for the last 20-30 minutes of our outing. At times it seemed as interested in us as we were in it.  None of us were experts in seal ID so we could not name the species with any degree of accuracy. But it was an interesting sighting. We all hope it finds its way home. (A mink loping along the bank at the park gave us good views but only ranks second on our mammal list for the day.) 

Our complete list of 26 (+3) avian species:  Double-crested Cormorant - 2, Great Blue Heron - 40, Great Egret - 8, Turkey Vulture - 2, Snow Goose - 60, Canada Goose - 400+, Gadwall - 2, American Black Duck - 5, Mallard - 50+, Greater Scaup - 50, Lesser Scaup - 10, Common Goldeneye - 60, Hooded Merganser - 10, Common Merganser - 12+, Bald Eagle - 1 (probable; high over Heron Island soaring away),  Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 (probable; uncooperative by flying straight away and never turning), Peregrine Falcon - 1 (probable; again far out over the island), Ring-billed Gull - 100+, Herring Gulls - 10+, Great Black-backed Gulls - 12+, Downy Woodpecker - 2, American Crow - 24+, American Robin - 6, European Starling - 24+, Song Sparrow - 4, Northern Cardinal - 4, Red-winged Blackbird - 50+, Common Grackle - 12, House Finch - 4

Cormoran à aigrettes - 2, Grand héron - 40, Grande Aigrette - 8, Urubu à tête rouge - 2, Oie des neiges - 60, Bernache du Canada - 400 +, Canard chipeau - 2, Canard noir - 5, le Canard colvert - 50 +,  Fuligule milouinin - 50, Petit Fuligule - 10, Common Goldeneye - 60, Harle couronné - 10, Grand Harle - 12 +, Pygargue à tête blanche (probable) - 1, la Buse à épaulettes (probable) - 1, le faucon pèlerin (probable) - 1, Goéland à bec cerclé - 100 +, Goélands argentés - 10 +, Grands Goélands marins - 12 +, Pic mineur - 2, Corneille d'Amérique - 24 +, Merle d'Amérique - 6, Étourneau sansonnet - 24 +, Bruant chanteur - 4, Cardinal rouge - 4, Carouge à épaulettes - 50 +, Quiscale bronzé - 12, Roselin familier - 4

Many thanks to all who braved the elements and came out. Jean and Clémence have promised better weather for next week or your money back! And a special note to young Samuel, I promise to stop calling you Daniel. (Although Daniel was really good at spotting birds!!) - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Friday April 5

Châteauguay: I spent about an hour this morning at Centre écologique Fernand-Seguin. It was pretty quiet and the trails were still covered. What I did not expect to see though, were two Turkey vultures sitting in the trees just off the trail. Also of note was a Rough-legged hawk being chased by a Raven. 

Canada Goose 14 (in flight), Great Blue Heron 1 (in flight), Turkey Vulture 2 (in a tree), Rough-legged Hawk 1 (in flight), Hairy Woodpecker 2, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 3, Common Raven 1 (in flight), Black-capped Chickadee 14, White-breasted Nuthatch 2, American Robin 8, American Tree Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 2, Dark-eyed Junco 1, Northern Cardinal 1


Bernache du Canada 14 (en vol), Grand Héron 1 (en vol), Urubu à tête rouge 2 (dans une arbe), Buse pattue 1 (en vol), Pic chevelu 2, Geai bleue 2, Carneille d'Amérique 3, Grand corbeau (en vol) 1, Mésange à tête noire 14, Sittelle à poitrine blanche 2, Merle d'Amérique 8, Bruant hudsonien 2, Bruant chanteur 2, Junco ardoisé, Cardinal rouge 1 - Tom Long
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Ormstown: Robin, Tufted Titmouse, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Turkey Vultures, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Black Capped Chickadee, Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Crows.

Merle d'Amérique ,Mésange bicolore,Sittelle à poitrine rousse ,Sittelle à poitrine blanche,Pic chevelu, Pic mineur, Geai bleu,'Urubu à tête rouge, Outardes, Oies Blanches, Mésange à tête noire, Tourterelle triste, Cardinalidae, Corneille d'Amérique - Sandra Auger

Turkey vulture \ Urubu à tête rouge

Rosita Labrie

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday, April 6 - samedi le 6 avril
Parc des Rapides, LaSalle and Verdun Waterfront
Leader: Diane Demers 514-729-3051 e-mail

8:00 a.m. Meet in the parking lot at Parc des Rapides, corner of LaSalle Blvd and 6th Avenue in Ville LaSalle (just east of Bishop Power Blvd). Take Hwy 20 to the Blvd de la Vérendrye exit. Heading west on de la Vérendrye, turn left onto the Stephens Street Bridge that crosses the acqueduct. Follow this street south to the waterfront on LaSalle Blvd. Turn right on LaSalle Blvd and follow it to the parking lot at the corner of 6th Avenue. Looking for waterfowl and early migrants. If there is enough time left, we will visit the riverfront at Nuns Island. Be prepared to drive. Half day.

8h00 Rassemblement dans le stationnement du Parc des Rapides. Celui-ci est situé à l'intersection du boul. LaSalle et de la 6e avenue à ville LaSalle (juste à l'est du boul. Bishop-Power). Prendre l'autoroute 20 et prendre la sortie du boul. de la Vérendrye. Aller en direction ouest sur ce boul. À la rue Stephens, prendre le pont qui traverse le canal de l'Aqueduc. Continuer sur la rue Stephens jusqu'au boul. LaSalle, qui longe le fleuve. Tourner à droite sur ce boul. et continuer jusqu'à stationnement, situé au coin de la 6e avenue. Espèces recherchées : sauvagine et migrateurs hâtifs. S’il reste suffisamment de temps, nous visiterons la rive du côté sud de l'île-des-Soeurs. Il faudra s'attendre à conduire. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Sunday March 31

St-Lazare, sand pits: One adult Golden Eagle (Aigle royal), American Crows (Corneilles d'Amérique), Turkey Vulture (Urubu à tête rouge).
Montee Chenier: Turkey Vulture (Urubu à tête rouge), a Rough-legged Hawk (Buse pattue) and a Killdeer (Pluvier kildir). 

Around the St-Clet fields: 5,000 Snow Geese; 150 Snow buntings and seven Rough-legged Hawks including one dark formAlso lots of Canada Geese (plus 1 Cackling), grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and Horned Larks. 
(5,000 Oies des neiges, 150 Bruants des neiges et sept Buse pattue dont une forme sombre. Aussi beaucoup de Bernaches du Canada (plus 1 Hutchins), Quiscales, Carouges à épaulettes et les Alouettes hausse-col - Mark Dennis
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Godemanchester, montée Smellie 9:00 - 12:00:

-5 Turkey Vultures (Urubus à tête rouge)
-7 Northern harriers (Busards St-Martin)
-3 Cooper Hawks (Éperviers de Cooper)
-1 Goshawk (Autour des palombes) (immature)
-4 Red-shouldered hawk (Buses à épaulettes)
-12 Red-tailed Hawks (Buses à queue rousse)
-3 Rough-legged Hawks (Buses pattues)
-1 American Kestrel (Crécerelle d'Amérique)
-3 Golden Eagles (all adults) (Aigles royaux (tous des adultes)

Pour un total de 38 rapaces.

Maple Grove at the end of rue MacDonald: 50 Green-winged Teal and a Bald Eagle and another 3 Rough-legged Hawks

Au bout de la rue MacDonald: 50 Sarcelles d'hiver ainsi qu'un Pygargue à tête blanche et 3 autres Buses pattues. - Daniel Daigneault, Samuel Denault

Sightings for Saturday March 30

Hudson: As I was finishing up the report of our Cap St Jacques trip which you just received, my wife, Mary, came in the door and asked if we had any unusual birds on our trip. I say "nothing out of the ordinary but some nice sightings" to which she replies "Well, there is a different looking woodpecker down the street with an all black back." I gave her the bird book opened at woodpeckers and she said "that one." Sure enough, we wandered back down the street to find a female Black-backed Woodpecker (Pic à dos noir)  chipping away at a Scotch Pine. My first sighting of one in several years. 

P.S. Much as I was sorely tempted, I upheld the birder's code of ethics and did not try to chase the bird up the street so I could put it on our property list. Hopefully it will join its friend the Easter Bunny at our feeder tomorrow! - Wayne
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St-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, parc des voiles: 2 Greater white-fronted goose (Oies rieuses) - Samuel Denault

Bird protection Quebec "Field Trip Report" March 30

Montréal, parc nature Cap St Jacques 

Hello everyone, Twenty-two birders participated in today's five kilometer walk around Cap St Jacques Nature Park and enjoyed bright sunshine, cloudless skies, calm conditions and warm temperatures. The mercury rose steadily during the morning from -2C to 6C but the sun made it feel warmer. Walking conditions were better than expected with mostly hard surfaces albeit a little slippery in places. The birding was fairly quiet by spring standards but we did manage to find 34 species including ten species of waterfowl. Birds of the day were chosen more for their behaviour than for their rarity. Interesting courtship and territorial displays of three Hairy Woodpeckers and the numerous groups of Common Goldeneyes on the open areas of water were intriguing to watch. Also of note was a very pale breasted Red-tailed Hawk which sat in a tree long enough for everyone to admire through the telescopes. Two groups of Snow Geese high overhead against the clear blue sky were also a standout. 

Our complete list of 34 species includes: Snow Goose - 100, Canada Goose - 150, Wood Duck - 8, American Black Duck - 2, Mallard - 30, Ring-necked Duck - 3, Bufflehead - 2, Common Goldenye - 60, Hooded Merganser - 8, Common Merganser - 20, Great Blue Heron - 1, Red-tailed Hawk - 1, Killdeer - 2, Ring-billed Gull - 8, Herring Gull - 2, Great Black-backed Gull - 4, Mourning Doves - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 1, Hairy Woodpecker - 4, Pileated Woodpecker - 2, American Crow - 12, Black-capped Chickadee - 10, White-breasted Nuthatch - 4, American Robin - 1, European Starling - 10,  American Tree Sparrow - 1 Song Sparrow - 2, Dark-eyed Junco - 6, Northern Cardinal - 8, Red-winged blackbird - 11, Common Grackle - 10, Brown-headed Cowbird - 1, Common Redpoll - 2, American Goldfinch - 1


Oie des neiges - 100, Bernache du Canada - 150, Canard branchu - 8, Canard noir - 2, Canard colvert - 30, Fuligule à collier - 3, Petit Garrot - 2, Garrow à oeil d'or - 60, Harle couronné - 8, Grand Harle - 20, Grand Héron - 1, Buse à queue rousse - 1, Pluvier kildir - 2, Goéland à bec cerclé - 8, Goéland argenté - 2, Goéland marin - 4, Tourterelles tristes - 2, Pic mineur - 1, Pic chevelu - 4, Grand Pic - 2, Corneille d'Amérique - 12, Mésange à tête noire - 10, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 4, Merle d'Amérique - 1, Étourneau sansonnet - 10, Bruant hudsonien - 1 Bruant chanteur - 2, Junco ardoisé - 6, Cardinal rouge - 8, Carouge à épaulettes - 11, Quiscale bronzé - 10, Vacher à tête brune - 1, Sizerin flammé - 2, Chardonneret jaune - 1

Many thanks to all the veterans and novices who came out to make it a very enjoyable morning. Special thanks to Jacques and Charlie for joining me in the "Designated Idiots" group of scope carriers. You helped more people get great views of some of our better birds. - Wayne Grubert

Sightings for Thursday March 28

Rigaud: This morning at home (Rigaud mountain) two Pileated woodpeckers (Grand pic), and at work (Rigaud) one Killdeer (Pluvier kildir) calling while looking for a dry spot in the fields, and Snow geese (Oie des neiges) overhead. Yesterday at work in the back field twenty to thirty Wild turkeys (Dindons sauvage) with three Toms displaying. - Jim Forster
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European starling \ Étourneau sansonnet

Dwight Brown

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

Saturday 30 March - samedi 30
Montréal, Parc-nature du Cap-St-Jacques
Leader:  Wayne Grubert  450-458-5498  514-774-0811 (Cell – Morning of trip only) e-mail

8:00 am Take Highway 40 West. Exit Chemin Ste-Marie. Turn left to Anse-à-l'Orme Road. Turn right and continue to the end. Turn right on Senneville Road (Gouin Blvd.). Continue for 2 km to the chalet d’accueil of the park. Parking: $8.00. Half day.

8 h 00 Prendre l'autoroute 40 ouest. Prendre la sortie pour le chemin Ste-Marie et tourner à gauche sur celui-ci. Continuer jusqu'au chemin de l'Anse-à-l'Orme. Tourner à droite sur celui-ci et continuer jusqu’au bout. Tourner à droite sur le chemin Senneville (boul. Gouin) et continuer sur une distance de 2 km jusqu'au chalet d'accueil du parc. Frais de stationnement : 8,00 $. Demi-journée.

Sightings for Sunday March 24

Saint-Blaise, 1re Rue: Greater white-fronted goose (Oie rieuse) -  Sylvain Mathieu

Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip Report"

Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue
Morgan Arboretum Aerobic Walking Event (with birds) 23 March 2013

This was some of the hardest birding any of us have done. A beautiful day, white, white snow, good company and that dead gap between the winter birds having left to go north while the early spring arrivals have not, as it were, arrived. Charming the birds out of the forest was like getting blood from a stone – but at the end of the day we totted up a not too bad (in the circumstances) 16 species, including some real stars. When we planned this field trip we foolishly assumed it would be like last year with almost no snow,
mild temperatures and plenty of mud and early returning birds. Hah, the birding gods thought otherwise.

This report is repeated with photographs at
http://sparroworks.ca/journal/?p=4205

No owls seen, but an owl pellet was dissected for the audience by Chris – much to the delight of a young lad who is going to grow up to be a great birder one day if he can keep up the enthusiasm he showed this morning.

We started with a remarkable 39 birders which gradually, as is the way of these things, whittled itself down to 18 by the time we finished our walk around noon. The trails were well walkable for the most part but narrow and looking back at one point seeing the single file troop Wayne commented that it was reminiscent of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. The bodies of those who did not stay the course will emerge from the snow in the next couple of weeks.

We started the day well with a Cooper’s Hawk perched in a tree overlooking the conservation centre and patiently waiting for us to depart so it could get on with stalking the Mourning Doves. This was shortly followed by a high and twittering flock of Redpolls and we thought we were on a roll but that’s when it
got tough and every bird seen or heard was a triumph. Huge thanks to Wayne and Chris in particular for helping to make sure that our large group was kept up with what was being seen at one or other end of the line.

In Pullin’s Pasture some of us saw a small flock of Bohemian Waxwings who got nervous and departed when the rest of the party arrived. Two pairs of these birds were performing pairing actions such as mutual beak-rubbing etc so maybe the next generation is assured.

About 10:45 the party split, with some heading back along the main trail to the car park while the rest set out along the snowshoe trail (sans snowshoes). The first group reportedly had great sightings of a Pileated Woodpecker near the trail ripping huge splinters off a dead tree while the latter group found a couple of Brown Creepers and across the fields at the southern end of the arboretum enjoyed lengthy views of a circling Red-tailed Hawk and a pair of Peregrine Falcons in the air above the Veteran’s Hospital. It was not clear if they were looking for a home on the concrete “cliff” it presents or just checking out the Pigeons for lunch.

The species recorded were American Crow, Common Redpoll, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Bohemian Waxwing.


Corneille d'Amérique, Sizerin flammé, Sittelle à poitrine blanche, Sittelle à poitrine rousse, Mésange à tête noire, Buse à queue rousse, Tourterelle triste, Faucon pèlerin, épervier de Cooper, Cardinal rouge, Pic mineur, Pic chevelu, Grand pic, Grimpereau brun,  Carouge à épaulettes, Jaseur boréal

An excellent morning in the snowy forest. - Richard

Hi Richard, To your list of 16 we should probably add the Rock pigeons (Pigeon biset) that were
of interest to the falcons (if not so much to us), several American golfinches (Chardonneret jaune) as we were leaving the woods and 5 or 6 Ring-billed gulls (Goéland  à bec cerclé) that flew over during the course of the morning. That makes 19 and counting. Wayne

I stopped at Blossom Corner to look at the active bird feeder. There was a solitary Dark-eyed junco (Junco ardoisé) - Gillian

along the entrance road I saw 5 European starlings (étourneau sansonnet) - David