Vernal Returns

Your chances of being killed by a Tufted Titmouse are slim…

…but never zero.

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor

Great Egret Ardea alba

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

American Coot Fulica americana

Common Merganser Mergus merganser

with

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Wood Duck Aix sponsa
(doing Wood Duck things)

Woodland Vole Microtus pinetorum

Reserve Faunique Marguerite-D’Youville, Île Sainte-Bernard, Châteauguay, April 5, 2022

  A quick 7-hour walk under a balmy 15-degree sun…all the different parts of my legs are still a bit sore. Spring is indeed here – it was a day of FOY (first-of-year) birds. These included: Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, two American Kestrels, Turkey Vultures, two Northern Harriers, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Shrikes (two individuals), a Rusty Blackbird, an American Coot, Tree Swallows, and one unmistakable Barn Swallow over the Grande Digue (seems quite early for the province).

  There was also a vernal stirring of non-avian creatures at D-ville: Muskrats, Groundhogs, Meadow Voles, a Mourning Cloak butterfly, several unidentified frogs, and a Garter Snake. A probable American Eel (now thought to have been a Bowfin) was seen moving slowly through the shallow waters by the Grande Digue. Is that even possible? It was long, moving just below the water, and I got a quick glimpse of a long green dorsal fin.

  On the way out, I caught a whiff of warblers on the wind – they’re in the pipeline. A nice round total of 50 species was logged for the day.