The week's birds and critters

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia

Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla

Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus

Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

female Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

female Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis

American Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

young Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

  This week was meant to be a Point Pelee week for Dan and I, but his cat and rat are both ailing, so that will have to wait - Pelee isn't going anywhere, and will be there next year. This past week has been marked by extreme temperature fluctuations, and moderate arrivals of migrants. There should be some great movement by week's end, with some promising southerlies on the way, at just the right time. Rubs hands together sneakily...
  A relatively quick jaunt through the Jardin Botanique on May 6th saw modest highlights in the form of several Yellow-rumped Warblers, and some confiding Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Chipping Sparrows.
  The following day, it was a sweltering 22° and sunny, so I headed out on a five hour walk to the Westmount Summit and 'both' cemeteries. No warblers and vireos in evidence at the summit, but I did see two Common Garter Snakes sunning themselves - they were about a foot long, with the thickness of a pencil. A band of six confiding Cedar Waxwings at Mount Royal Cemetery was a treat to watch, as they calmly worked through a fruiting tree.
  On May 9th, Dan and I went to Île-de-la-Visitation, followed by the Morgan Arboretum, on a day that was miles apart from the previous day, weather-wise. At one point it was snowing for a few minutes, with the temperature hovering around at a frigid 5°, made colder by the blustery winds. At our first stop, highlights were limited to several Blue-headed Vireos. The Arboretum was a bit birdier, with good long looks at an Eastern Phoebe, Least Flycatcher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, a dozen Cedar Waxwings, and a Black-and-white Warbler. An Osprey flashed overhead at one point, and had the look of 'heading north' about it. Several American Red Squirrels were also seen.
  May 10th felt birdy, as I embarked on an epic seven-hour 'Westmount Summit-Two cemeteries-Back to NDG' death march. The Summit was heaving with White-throated Sparrows, with perhaps 20 seen in a relatively small area. Also at the Summit in the late morning were at least four Black-and-White Warblers, two Blue-headed Vireos, three Yellow-rumped Warblers, and an Ovenbird. A young Eastern Cottontail was seen, and later an adult.

  At the cemeteries, sightings included several Turkey Vultures, at least two Cooper's Hawks, and single counts of Eastern Phoebe, Least Flycatcher, and Magnolia Warbler. Large numbers (at least 60) of White-throated Sparrows again, with a White-crowned Sparrow and several Song Sparrows mixed in.

  On the way home in the late afternoon, one final treat. At the base of the stairs below the lookout, I spotted a small bird flitting through the treetops. Northern Parula! Cracking bird, as Nial Moores would say.