The ‘Deej, August 16, 2025

Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta Canadensis

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

-23 sunny and finally not humid.

-Several Red Admirals around.

-The grass was really dry, hasn’t rained in weeks.

-17 species.

-Those little bugs that fly into eye holes were out in force.

-Spotted a Yellow Warbler, as well as several other warblers that went unidentified, as they were moving with purpose through the treetops – south, of course.

-Also spotted species #70 for the site, a lone Red-breasted Nuthatch creeping around in a quiet corner near a busy street.

NDG Birding Notes, July 26, August 2, August 9, 2025

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

European Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Bumblebee sp.

Haze from the wildfires out west

-->July 26

-16 species in a 90-minute loop.

-Hot and smoggy as hell – Montreal had the worst air quality in the world, yay.

-Monarch spotted.

-No American Redstart or Eastern Phoebe.

-‘They’ are keeping the grass low, in contrast to last year, where it was left to grow waist high over the summer. Not surprisingly, the diversity and numbers of dragonflies and butterflies is much lower than last year.

-Red-eyed Vireos vocalizing widely.

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

American Robin Turdus migratorius

Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Woodchuck/Groundhog/Siffleur Marmota monax

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa

-->August 2

-Sunny and 18.

-14 species encountered mid-morning.

-A bit less hot and humid, and less smoggy as well. I could actually see the river, and indeed the peaks of America.

-A pair of Eastern Phoebes this week, but still no American Redstarts in the dense hilly tangles where they summered last year.

-Plenty of young robins and sparrows out and about.

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Monarch Danaus plexippus

Looking for artifacts before they put up a (condo) parking lot?

Sturgeon Moon

-->August 9

-27 and hazy in the early morning.

-16 species in 90 minutes.

-Nothing unexpected for better or worse.

-Loads of tent caterpillars in Montreal this year (bring on the Cuckoos!).

-The thin edge of the warbler bell curve has already hit – they have started their southward voyage. Was hoping for some Mount Royal warbler shrapnel, but no dice. Thought I had some on the way out when I spotted small birds flitting around in a tree, but they were Chipping Sparrows (fool’s warblers).

-I will miss this quiet place when it’s been destroyed.