Québec: The Spring 2017

An American Avocet was spotted at Isle Verte 28 May (R. Saint-Gelais). Usually rare in spring, a flock of 35 Whimbrels was very surprising at Ile Dupas, Lanaudière 22 May (Y. Gauthier). A Black-tailed Godwit at Yamaska 13-17 Apr. provided the 6^th record for the province and only the second documented with a photograph (P. Messier, D. Jauvin, J. Lemoyne, m.ob.). Unusual in spring, single Hudsonian Godwits appeared at Chambord 13-16 May (D. Lavoie et al.), and at Macamic 14 May (J. Gagnon). Single Marbled Godwits at Chambord 14-18 May (J. Rousseau et al.), Sainte-Luce 17-24 May (C. Douville, G. Rivard), and Berthierville 26 May (Y. Gauthier) were noteworthy. Two different Ruffs in the Bécancour area 29 Apr.-4 May (D. Jauvin, P. Bergeron, m.ob.), single females at Rivière-Ouelle 12 May (C. Auchu) and at Saint-Blaise 14-15 May (G. & R. Boulet), and finally a male at Longue-Rive 19 May, relocated at Grandes-Bergeronnes 21 May (D. Turgeon) concluded a good season for the species. A Willet was identified at Baie-du-Febvre 30 May (G. Éthier, M. Rouleau). It was a very good spring migration for Wilson’s Phalarope with at least 12 records.

Jaegers through Raptors

Single Long-tailed Jaegers caused a surprise at Neuville 20 May (G. Cyr et al.) and at Pointe-aux-Trembles (Montréal) 29 May (Y. Gauthier). Rare for this locality 20 years ago, a total of 246 Common Murres was tallied at Rivière-Ouelle 27 May (C. Auchu, C. Girard). Single adult Little Gulls were good finds at Québec City 10-11 May (Y. Aubry et al.) and at Baie-du-Febvre 19 May (S. Robert, G. Laperrière). A Caspian Tern at Verdun 2 Apr., established a record early arrival date (C. Trudel, ph.). A Pacific Loon in breeding plumage at Pointe-au-Père 14 May apparently provided a record early arrival date for the province (J. Roy-Drainville et al.). Two American White Pelicans stopped at Saint-Étienne-de-Beauharnois 9 May (P. Laniel, ML. Beaudin), while two (the same ?) were reported at Terrebonne 20 May (M. Mondor et al.).

Single Tricolored Herons were found at Pointe-à-la-Croix 23 May (C. Vallée, ph.) and at Grosse-Île (Magdalen Is.) 27 May (B. Vigneault et al.). A single Cattle Egret was located at Boucherville 18 May (A. Duval et al.) as well as a Little Blue Heron at Pointe-au-Père 7 May (L. Jacques). Single Black Vultures were sighted at Saint-Barthélemy 15 Apr. (R. Gagnon, ph.), Lac-Castagnier (Abitibi) 9 May (S. Perron), and Isle Verte 31 May (JP. Ouellet, M. Lafleur). A Mississippi Kite was spotted migrating over the Valleyfield hawkwatch 24 May, a third record for the province (B. Barnhurst, M. McIntosh).

Woodpeckers through Warblers

An overwintering Red-headed Woodpecker in Godbout was observed at least until 26 Mar. while single adults were seen at Godmanchester 22 May (E. Tremblay, M. Leclerc), Rigaud 23 May (P. Bergeron) and Prévost 26-27 May (Y. Payette). A Loggerhead Shrike equipped with a transmitting antenna at Cap Tourmente 28 May was a great find (J. Bernier et al.). This bird probably originated from the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program in Ontario.

Two more Townsend’s Solitaires were added to last winter list of five: one at Val d’Or 20 Apr. (M. Roy) and one at Rouyn-Noranda 8 May (J. Gagnon). A presumed hybrid Pine Siskin x American Goldfinch was photographed at Stukeley-Sud 7 May onwards (R. Thomas) providing a second documented sighting in the Region. A male Prothonotary Warbler at Québec City 18 May was noteworthy (M. Côté). A presumed hybrid Mourning Warbler x Common Yellowthroat was photographed for the second consecutive year at the same place at Laval 20 May (S. Guertin et al.). Hooded Warblers made a nice show up this spring with single males at the Montreal Botanical Gardens 25-27 Apr. (L. D’Amours, m.ob.) and at Île des Soeurs (Montréal) 10 May (A. Schmidt), and a female at Angrignon Park (Montreal) 11 May (A. Gagné). The only Yellow-throated Warbler of the season was nicely documented at Saint-Arsène 9-11 May (D. Bérubé). A male Prairie Warbler was defending territory at Coaticook 11 May through at least 26 Jun. (G. Gilbert, m. ob.).

Towhees through Orioles

The Spotted Towhee that made it through the winter at Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux was last seen 25 Apr. (L. Dionne, D. Riou). A singing male Nelson’s Sparrow at Châteauguay 12 May was both early and a rarity for this locality (D. Auger).  A Dark-eyed Junco of the oreganus group was photographed at Val d’Espoir 17-19 Apr. (G. Roussy). The Summer Tanager continues to be a regular vagrant with single females at Dollard-des-Ormeaux 17-19 May (J. White), Cap Tourmente 20 May (R. Gingras), and Québec City 22 May (S. Blais). A first summer male Blue Grosbeak was at Drummondville 5-9 May (Y, Roy, m.ob.). An unprecedented number of Painted Buntings enlightened the Region with single males at Stoneham-Tewkesbury 7-21 May (D. Ferland, m.ob.), Fatima 21 May (S. Leblanc et al.) and Rivière-Madeleine 23 May (G. Blanchette). Rare in spring, Dickcissels brightened Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive 18-20 May (Z. Duchesneau), Sainte-Aurélie 25 May (S. Larivière) and Rimouski 31 May (D. Ruest, J. Roy).

A Western Meadowlark at Baie-Comeau 21 May (JP. Barry) was a new addition to the numerous sightings of this species on the North Shore in the past 15 years. An immature Orchard Oriole at Hudson 20 May was not completely unexpected (W. Grubert) but single females at Laterrière 23 May-1st Jun. (Y. Darveau et al.) and at Les Bergeronnes 31 May (P. Côté et al.) were exceptional sightings in these northern regions; additionally, for the second consecutive year, a pair was back at Stanstead 13 May and was seen building a nest 25 May (S. Kohl et al.).