Royal Eagle

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus

Common Merganser Mergus merganser

Canada Goose Branta canadensis
(out standing in its field)

Great Egret Ardea alba

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

Slow down, Turbo, save some birds for the rest of us!

Marais de St-Timothée, (St-Louis-de-Gonzague) April 24, 2021

  Finally saw a Golden Eagle! Dunno why it’s taken me so long to see one. I always seemed to miss them on days when they were spotted at the cemetery. I blame the bill of my cap, and my penchant for staring down into the scrub. National Geographic won’t exactly be busting down my door for the 6-pixel record shot, but it makes me smile nonetheless.

  The Golden Eagle is called ‘Aigle royal’ in French. Royal Eagle works for me. It was wayyyy up there, too. Thank Odin for peripheral vision/spidey sense. The Bald Eagle, in case you were wondering, goes by ‘Pygargue à tête blanche,’ in French, which is a bizarre mouthful. Northern Harrier? Why, ‘Busard Saint-Martin,’ of course.

  All in all, a windy and sunny day out on the swamp, and a nice round 41 species logged. Felt like without the wind we could have picked up another sparrow sp or two.

  It was a day that featured plenty of staring at distant ducks through the phragmites. Thought we’d pick up at least one warbler species, maybe a Palm, but nothing. They’re on the way. The bugs have already arrived, and are waiting for them. Oh, I forgot to wear my anti-tick socks, and I was sure that my ankles were covered in seething masses of ticks the whole time.

  The American Tree Sparrows were feasting on the flying insects in the trees, and were acting rather like warblers, I thought. Spotted a couple of Barn Swallows making a quick pass…love me a Jebi – I forgot how orange they are here.