Cottage birds (Dunham, June 13-15)

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus

Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis

Northern Green Frog Rama clamitans

The Shark Cloud

Mega-tardy birding notes from a rented cottage in Dunham, in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, where I spent a lovely weekend with Evelyn several weeks back. On Sunday it rained like a mofo, and there was a disconcerting thunderclap drumbeat of artillery coming from the nearby Farnham military base. Birding was mostly done through the back window and from deck chairs. Nothing unexpected, but there were some satisfying first-of-year birds around. First time in ages I’ve A) Been in a paddle boat, and B) Watched a DVD. Didn’t realize how much I’d missed both of those old-fashioned pursuits.

Haven’t checked my patch in a bit, innit.

Rained out

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Fumbled and swore with the rain-proof gear

AKA Rain day AKA Rain-nihilation redux

June 5, NDG

-I rolled out of bed early and when I saw that there was a steady, heavy rain outside, I should have slept in. But I didn’t! But…I should have.

-10 species, somehow, in less than an hour

-Only birds singing were the REVIs

-Heard a Yellow Warbler outside of my place a couple of hours later (only warbler on the day), as the rain ebbed and the sun sliced up the grey. It’s been hanging around for a week or two - perhaps singing for a mate that will never arrive? (Wipes tear from eye)

Indigo, Tennessee

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla

Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia

Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

(trio)

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

NDG, May 30, much belated

-Started slow but ended on quite a birdy note

-24 species in 2 hours

-11 degrees and sunny/windy/fresh (heavy rains the previous night)

-3 Red-eyed Vireos together

-2 male Indigo Buntings in song (Species #87 for the site)

-Still some warbler activity

-4+ Tennessee Warblers in song

-American Redstarts seemingly on territory

-Chipping Sparrows with nesting materials

Mourning Morning

Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca

Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea

Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea

Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus

Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Mourning Warbler spot

NDG, May 23, 2026

Best of the morning was my first warbler of the day. Something dark flushed from next to a steep, damp wooded trail, and ended up in some deep undertangle. After a minute or so, it relocated, and I got a quick look at an elongated, elegant bird with a greenish back, grey head, and a yellow belly contrasting with a black bib. Mourning Warbler! After the briefest of moments, it vanished. I never saw it fly off, but it did not reappear in spite of a silent 30-minute stakeout. It was my first record of the enigmatic species for the site (Warbler #20, Species #86). It’s been 10 years since I saw one properly… https://snowyowllost.blogspot.com/2016/05/o-canada-warbler.html

-->Other stuff

-27 species in 2 hours

-13 degrees and overcast

-2 personal first-of-year vireos: a pair of Philadelphia Vireos chasing each other through the treetops, and the return of the Red-eyed Vireos

-Warblers: 1 Mourning Warbler, 2 American Redstart, 10+ Bay-breasted, 1 Black-throated Green, 1 Magnolia, 1 Blackburnian

-No Tennessee Warblers in spite of hearing them ‘all over NDG’ earlier in the week

-A pair of Eastern Wood-Pewees

-3 Blue Jays moving overhead

-Eye bugs in full effect

-4-5 active Eastern Cottontails

Warbler Wane

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens

Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

NDG, May 16

-‘Just’ 28 species in 2 hours (2 warblers)

-I know the warbler pulse is still fully underway - I just didn't spot many this morning

-12 degrees and sunny, felt cool…last of the cool

-The trees have almost fully leafed out

-The little bugs that fly into eye holes are have started back up

-Single ('solitary') Blue-headed Vireo on the way in was my first of the year

-One singing Eastern Phoebe

-A flyover Red-winged Blackbird was my first confirmed record for the site (Species #85)

-No warblers for most of the outing, until I heard a Yellow-rumped Warbler on the way out

-A block from home, in a small church park area, several Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1 male and 2 females) and a Black-throated Blue Warbler were a nice way to cap off the walk. The Grosbeaks flew off in a hurry, whereas the warbler lingered high in the treetop, snatching at insects. I called Rose-breasted Grosbeaks ‘Cutthroat Finches.’