Chips (n stuff)

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

  

  Zugunruhe.

Birds and stuff, lately

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus

Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

Northern Green Frog Rama clamitans

Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis vaualbum

Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

American Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Morgan Arboretum

-Relatively quiet at the Arbo, with no sign of the razzle-dazzle birds spotted there in recent days (Hooded Warbler, Field Sparrow).

-Loads of Northern Green Frogs calling at the flooded quarry.

-One of the birdiest spots, traditionally, Blossom Corner, was unfortunately populated with a bunch of chainsaw dudes. They seemed to be clearing the fallen branches from the recent ice storm, but perhaps also practicing climbing trees and testing equipment for a final exam or something. Has to be done, eh.

-A Compton Tortoiseshell was a nice first-of-year on the butterfly side of things.

-37 species in 4.5 hours.

-No warblers yet.

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

A Groundhog illusion

'Quiet Place' in NDG
-Windy, with brief bursts of rain (and…hail…maybe) at a ‘quiet place’ in NDG.

-A skulky House Wren was spotted in the shadows – a first of year (and personal first for the site). Shortly thereafter, a European Starling was heard engaging in some solid House Wren mimicry.

-21 species in 90 minutes.

-No warblers yet.

Vernal Arrivals

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Marbled Goblin

Big brush fire down in Kahnawake

Mount-Royal Cemetery, April 14, 2023

-Hot and sunny as heck lately, as the spring birds continue to arrive in Montreal.

-32 species logged in four hours.

-Two Cooper’s Hawks were engaging in aerial courtship displays.

-A Red-shouldered Hawk was energetically mobbed by American Crows.

-Fox Sparrows (best sparrow EVER) were found in most dark brushy areas, some of them showing uncharacteristically well.

-Plenty of Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen…but no Ruby-crowned.

NDG 'Quiet Place,' April 16, 2023

-28 bird species spotted in 90 minutes.

-Fox Sparrow and Winter Wren were personal firsts for the site.

-Loads of Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Northern Flickers were out and about.

-In contrast to the cemetery, plenty of Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen…but no Golden-crowned.

-A pair of Eastern Phoebes looked to be investigating a suitable nesting spot under the eaves of an old building.

-Could have sworn I heard a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a shorebird sp…but the European Starlings were quite sing-y, so who knows.

-Also notable were an Eastern Cottontail and several Mourning Cloaks.

Mud and Turkeys

Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
with Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
(banded)

American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis

Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Eastern Comma Polygonia comma

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa

Artificial owl nest

A man out standing in his field

Technoparc, April 10, 2023

  Went for a four-hour jaunt around the Technoparc yesterday, and turned up 46-ish species. Spring was in the air for sure! No warblers yet, but evidence of loads of movement. It was warm, sunny, and muddy. The butterflies and bees have arrived.

  Several Red-tailed Hawks were encountered, including a banded bird by the airport, and an individual that looked like it was nosing around a Groundhog hole at Monarch Field.

  Three Wild Turkeys were loitering around a feeder, and it was spectacular to get close looks at a displaying male ('freaky alien Cassowary'). Overhead, a male Northern Harrier was doing impressive aerobatic displays (courtship?).

  An Eastern Towhee was discovered behind a pile of logs and dirt near the golf course. It was tossing leaves around in the undergrowth, alongside several Fox Sparrows doing the same, but was skulky and silent. It was a non-showy Towhee.

  I think I got a sunburn.