Waterfowl through Owls

The three Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks photographed at Nature Park Pointe-aux-Prairies, Montréal 10 Jul (A. Rizi, ph.) were down to two birds 15 Jul and then one bird 29 Jul +. Increasingly reported in summer, this species was visiting the region for the fourth consecutive year. A single Barnacle Goose was lingering at La Rédemption 2 Jun (I. Turner). Single Mute Swans visited Saint-Césaire 2 Jun (M. Berlinguette, M. Maheu), Baie-du-Febvre 19 Jun and 21 Jul (C. Saint-Arneault), and Drummondville 26–31 Jul (J. Blackburn). Four Trumpeter Swans stopped at Davidson, Pontiac 1 Jun (V. Agnesi) while two stayed at Saint-Fulgence for the whole season (G. Savard, m. ob.). Single Eurasian Wigeons were found at Bridgeville 26 Jun (R. Gingras), Cacouna 1–10 Jul (M. Beaulieu), Rimouski 1 Jul (L. Pelletier) and Îles de la Madeleine 2 Jul (S. Denault et al). A male Tufted Duck at Sept-Îles 10–13 Jun was a nice find (P. Lalonde et al). An adult Eared Grebe was a nice surprise at Gatineau 1 Jun (R. Dubois et al). At least six pairs of Yellow-billed Cuckoo were found in extreme southern Québec, some of them carrying food for young.

Two American Oystercatchers at Fatima (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) 11–19 Jun provided a fifth regional record only and the first documented with a photograph (B. Vigneault, A Richard, ph.). A pair of Upland Sandpipers found at Val d’Or 2 Jul was accompanied with a juvenile the next day (C. Siano, R. Ladurantaye, F. Hamel), confirming a rare breeding record for Abitibi region. A single Ruff at the Barachois de Malbaie 9 Jun was probably a late migrant (P. Poulin et al). The 24 Stilt Sandpipers, all adults, tallied at Baie-du-Febvre 27 Jul appeared to be a record high number for the province (Y. Gauthier). Very rare in mid-summer, an adult Western Sandpiper in worn plumage was photographed at Sainte-Flavie 26 Jul (S. Dechamplain). An adult Long-billed Dowitcher was discovered at Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel 24 Jul (J. Lemoyne, P. Messier) and four adults at Baie-du-Febvre 27–31 Jul (m. ob.). Single Willets were found at Pointe au Père 16–19 Jun (N. Roy et al) and at Percé 8 Jul (M. Jaffré). A Red-necked Phalarope at Terrebonne 8-20 Jun was out of range and out of date (C. Gagnon, D. Guimond). An adult Mew Gull showed up at Pointe-au-Père 9 Jun (J.P. le Bel, G. Raboin, P. Saint-Pierre, ph.).

A Leach’s Storm-Petrel at Rivière-Ouelle 12 and 28 Jul was unusual for the period (T. Biteau). A Brown Booby perched on the Bella Desgagnés ferry between Blanc Sablon and Saint-Augustin on the North Shore 27 Jul provided only the second record for the province (I. Legault, ph.). An American White Pelican appeared in the Lachine Rapids 4–6 Jul (R. Guillet, m.ob.). Single Tricolored Herons were identified at Carleton-sur-mer 5 Jun (C. Marcotte), at Montmagny 8 Jun (JD. Poulin and L. Boissonneault), at Rivière Ouelle 10 Jun (L. Messely), and at Sept-Îles 11 Jun (J. Galineau, P. Lalonde). A Long-eared Owl photographed at Inukjuak (Nunavik) 9 Jun was probably the northernmost record in the region (E. Nastapoka).

Woodpeckers through Buntings

Single adult Red-headed Woodpeckers were reported at Saint-Philippe-de-Laprairie 8 Jun (D. Cormier), La Minerve 9 Jul (F. Mathieu) and at Pumpkinseed Bay, Calumet 12 Jul (J. Bouvier). It remains unclear if the two different sightings of a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher from Saint-Majorique 8 Jul (ML. Jetté) and Batiscan 20 Jul (J. Leclerc, S. Robert) involved the same bird or two individuals. Several Common Redpolls were reported at Rivière-Ouelle, Rimouski and l’Anse au Griffon in late Jul (m. ob.), south of their normal breeding range.

A presumed hybrid Field Sparrow x Clay-colored Sparrow was photographed and heard singing like a Clay-colored Sparrow at Godmanchester 2–3 Jul. This hybrid was seen accompanied by an imm sparrow, possibly a second-generation bird (R. Fortin, L. Lemay, N. Guénette, ph.). A Nelson’s Sparrow at Dundee 9 Jun was very unusual for this inland locality (J. Masson, M. Lemay). A pair of Orchard Orioles was still present in early Jun along the Tomifobia Trail at Stanstead, but a nesting attempt probably failed this year as the male disappeared soon after (S. Kohl); another pair was found near Pike River 29 May, but only the male remained in the area thereafter throughout 27 Jun (M. Asselin). For a second consecutive year, a male Painted Bunting made a one-day appearance at Fatima (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) 11 Jun (B. Chantale).

Report processed by Randi Minetor, 1 Mar 2021.

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