Île Saint-Bernard, April 4, 2016

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

Terrible record shot of a Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolour

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola

Common Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus

American Mink Neovison vison

American Mink Neovison vison

Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus

Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

  Unseasonably fresh but clear conditions yesterday, as Dan and I visited lovely Île Saint-Bernard in Chateauguay. It was remarkably birdy, and we saw some interesting mammal activity as well. The centrepiece of the island is a large reedy swamp – an amazing patch of habitat to see (swamps in Korea tend to get wiped out and apartmented over because they’re ever so ugly and unprofitable), and we’re excited to return there this summer to try our luck with rails and bitterns.

Canada Goose – 12+ (some banded and tame)

Wood Duck – 4

Mallard – 8+

Common Goldeneye – 30+

Bufflehead – 12+

Red-breasted Merganser – 2

Cooper’s Hawk – 1

Northern Harrier – 1

American Kestrel – 1

Ring-necked Pheasant – 1 vocal male

Ring-billed Gull – 10+

Greater Black-backed Gull -1

Rock Dove – 9

Great Horned Owl – 1

Belted Kingfisher – 1

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1

Downy Woodpecker – 4

Hairy Woodpecker – 4

Northern Flicker – 5

American Crow – 8

Black-capped Chickadee – 20+

Tufted Titmouse – 2

White-breasted Nuthatch – 8

American Robin – 20+

(Waxwing-like call heard)

European Starling – 15

Northern Cardinal – 4

American Tree Sparrow – 9 (skulking around the swamp)

Song Sparrow – 15+

Dark-eyed Junco - 3

Red-winged Blackbird – 40+ (with only one female)

Common Grackle – 30+

House Sparrow – 4

American Goldfinch – 3

Mammals

White-tailed Deer – 6

Eastern Grey Squirrel – 7

Meadow Vole – 1

American Mink – 1

Common Muskrat – 2