Belated Cems

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

American Robin Turdus migratorius

American Robin Turdus migratorius
(Check out that trap-door tongue!)

Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator

Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator

Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
(Just doing Halloween things...)

Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

Mount-Royal Cemetery and Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery, October 28+31, November 11, 2020

  Been busy. My bird reports may be tardy, but I have been slipping out to bird every now and again.

  The cemeteries yielded 26 species on a brisk October 28th (5 degrees and cloudy). Evening Grosbeaks and Pine Siskins were unfortunately only heard in flight. Highlights included both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, a lone Pine Grosbeak (AKA ‘Mope’), and, in NDN along the north fence, 5 Winter Wrens and 6+ Hermit Thrush.

  Down to 19 species on Halloween. Sunnier, but cooler. Again haunted by more flyover Evening Grosbeaks with no satisfying views. Birds of the day: 6 Fox Sparrows in NDN along the north fence.

  Bizarre weather on Remembrance Day — gloomy and drizzly, but high teens in temp, in the midst of a week-long stretch of summery weather. Species count was 19 again, with more frustrating fickle finch flyovers (White-winged Crossbills, Common Redpolls). Pine Grosbeak numbers were up, and the ‘feeder Fox Sparrow’ was spotted. At dusk, the ground shook when a massive birch came down hard nearby, narrowly missing several graves. George L and Harry were quick on the scene to investigate, and chew big sticks into smaller sticks.

  On the snowy morning of Nov 4th at 8:15am, I witnessed a window-strike at close range in NDG. A mixed flock of finches came in low and fast across a side street, and two smashed into a large 2nd floor window that was reflecting the sunrise. Not the way I wanted to tick the first Pine Siskin and Common Redpoll for my neighbourhood. It was an absolute horror.