Ditch Chicken!

Virginia Rail Rallus limicola

  Ditch Chicken! I finally saw a Ditch Chicken! A ridiculously close look at a Virginia Rail was the hands-down highlight of a 44 species afternoon at the Technoparc – and probably of my Montreal birding year to date. Long-awaited lifer!
  The bird was spotted far from the oft-visited swamps at the site, and I was dealt a fairly thick slice of luck when I first spotted a ‘mini-Moorhen’ zip through the edge of my peripheral vision. It was super skulky at first, but after a while it...you know what? This encounter was so similar to my first brush with an Eastern Water Rail in Suncheon in October of 2015 (Click here to compare and contrast rail details) that I’ll just plagiarize that account, with several minor amendments:
  

  “...the best bird of the day by far was an Eastern Water Rail a Virginia Rail skulking in a reedy ditch. After catching a quick ‘Moorhen-like’ view of it scuttling to cover, I lay on the ground stood still, and after a few minutes, the bird came out and fed among the reeds. I spent an amazing 30 minutes watching it sneak around the murky reedscape. At times it vanished, only to burst from cover and comically skid to a stop, like a reluctant performer being pushed on stage.”

  All hail the Holy Grail Rail! Gidik gidik gidik!

Technoparc, May 26, 2018
Green Heron-1
Black-crowned Night Heron-1
Canada Goose-5
Mallard-6
Virginia Rail-2: 1 seen well, 1 distant ‘call and response’ heard
Spotted Sandpiper-2
Least Sandpiper-1
Ring-billed Gull-4
Downy Woodpecker-3
Hairy Woodpecker-1
Pileated Woodpecker-1 or 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee-2 or 3 singing
Willow Flycatcher-2 singing
Least Flycatcher-2
Eastern Kingbird-4
Warbling Vireo-4
Red-eyed Vireo-2
Blue Jay-3
American Crow-3
Barn Swallow-3
Tree Swallow-12+
Black-capped Chickadee-3
Red-breasted Nuthatch-1
Swainson’s Thrush-1
American Robin-4
Gray Catbird-3
Cedar Waxwing-8
European Starling-15+
Yellow Warbler-12+
Magnolia Warbler-1
Blackburnian Warbler-1 female
Black-throated Green Warbler-1 heard
Blackpoll Warbler-3+ heard
American Redstart-2
Common Yellowthroat-3
Northern Cardinal-3
Chipping Sparrow-1
Song Sparrow-6
Swamp Sparrow-2
Baltimore Oriole-2 to 4
Red-winged Blackbird-15+
Common Grackle-8
Brown-headed Cowbird-2
American Goldfinch-10+

The winds giveth, and the winds taketh away

Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus

Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis

  The southerly winds have been takething more than they’ve been givething of late, that’s how it goes – everybird must get up to their boreal breeding grounds, innit. A quiet day in the cemetery (37 species), especially when compared to the warblo-palooza of just a few days ago.
  I spotted what I suspect was the same Gray-cheeked Thrush from the 22nd, just hanging out in its little spot. I’ve got a post brewing about the Bicknell’s/Gray-cheeked "Catharus conundrum," so that oughta be good for a laugh.

  Geez, I haven't been to the Westmount Summit once this year, oh well. I have my reasons.

Mount-Royal Cemetery, (Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery), May 25, 2018
Mallard-2
Turkey Vulture-7+ (2)
Ring-billed Gull-2 (2)
Chimney Swift-2 (2 )
Ruby-throated Hummingbird-1 on Oak Ridge, 1 on Mountain View, (1 near Decelles)
Hairy Woodpecker-2 (1)
Eastern Wood-Pewee-1
Pileated Woodpecker-1 in D3
Great Crested Flycatcher-5 (2)
Warbling Vireo-(1)
Red-eyed Vireo-6 (4)
American Crow-4 (2)
Common Raven-1
Black-capped Chickadee-3 (1)
Red-breasted Nuthatch-1
House Wren-(1)
Eastern Bluebird-7 (2)
Gray-cheeked Thrush-(1 in the northern woods, more on this bird soon)
American Robin-2 (1)
Gray Catbird-2
Cedar Waxwing-1 heard
European Starling-(3)
Tennessee Warbler-20+ (2)
Orange-crowned Warbler-1
Yellow Warbler-(1 still singing along the northwestern fence)
Magnolia Warbler-(1 in the northern woods)
Yellow-rumped Warbler-3
Common Yellowthroat-(1 in the northern field edge)
Canada Warbler-1 female skulking in K
Indigo Bunting-2 (2)
Northern Cardinal-2
Chipping Sparrow-20+ (9)
Song Sparrow-5 (3)
White-throated Sparrow-(1 heard only)
House Sparrow-(4 near Decelles)
American Goldfinch-(3)
House Finch-(1 singing)

Bird the swamp! Bird the swamp!

male Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata

female Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Cedar Waxwing a'swaying

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris

Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Purple Martin Progne subis

Purple Martin Progne subis

Snow Goose Chen caerulescens

American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla

Least Sandpiper feeding

Marais me

  It’s starting to get “Dan passing out” hot out there. We got some fantastic looks at Blackpoll Warblers at the water’s edge at Halte des Pêcheurs in St-Louis-de-Gonzague. Oddly, I ticked my first Blackpolls at the exact same spot...on May 24, 2016. Neer-neer-neer-neer, neer-neer-neer-neer (Twilight Zone theme).
  We didn’t end up seeing any of the more coveted reed-skulking species at Marais St-Timothée, but it was great to see American Bitterns again, and, my birds of the day, Least Sandpipers. They displayed an interesting range in plumage coloration, and oh how they skittered. Dan thought the Marsh Wrens were goofy and hilarious.

Marais de St-Timothée, (St-Louis-de-Gonzague) May 24, 2018
Pied-billed Grebe-1
Double-crested Cormorant-3 (2)
American Bittern-1 in the ditch by the parking lot, 1 flushed when we went up the observation tower
Great Blue Heron-2 attending a nest
Great Egret-7
Snow Goose-(1)
Canada Goose-8 (5)
Mallard-25+ (2)
Blue-winged Teal-1
Turkey Vulture-3
Osprey-(1)
Northern Harrier-(1)
Wild Turkey-1 dead on the road nearby
Common Gallinule/Moorhen-1
Spotted Sandpiper-3
Least Sandpiper-6
Ring-billed Gull-3 (3)
Herring Gull-2
Great Black-backed Gull-1
Common Tern-1 (1)
Mourning Dove-1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird-1
Downy Woodpecker-1
Northern Flicker-1 (1)
Willow Flycatcher-2
Eastern Kingbird-4
Warbling Vireo-2 (2)
American Crow-2 (1)
Barn Swallow-1
Cliff Swallow-(12+)
Tree Swallow-10+ (6)
Purple Martin-4 in a random backyard behind the poutine place we ate at in Beauharnois
Marsh Wren-4
American Robin-5 (3)
Gray Catbird-4 (2)
Cedar Waxwing-(2)
European Starling-4
Yellow Warbler-10+ (9)
Yellow-rumped Warbler-(3)
Blackpoll Warbler-3 (6)
American Redstart-2 (1)
Common Yellowthroat-1 or 2
Song Sparrow-6 (8)
Lincoln’s Sparrow-(1)
Swamp Sparrow-1
Baltimore Oriole-1 (2)
Red-winged Blackbird-15 (9)
Common Grackle-10+ (6)
Brown-headed Cowbird-(2)
American Goldfinch-3 (1)

Warblers 19

Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina

Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis

Northern Parula Setophaga americana

Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina

Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla

Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia

American Redstart preening and singing

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii

SuperskulkyLincoln’sSparrowexpialidocious!

Lincoln's Sparrow foraging

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

  Big warbler day! The warbler waves started shallow in the early morning, until I stopped at a large tree where a field in northern NDN meets the UofM woods. A trickle of warblers percolated through the tree when a breeze picked up, and I chuckled when I realized that I’d just seen single examples of 10 different species – it was like looking at the first page in the warbler section in the field guide!
  The warbler waves intensified in Mount-Royal Cemetery, and by midday, every flowering tree was aquiver with mixed warbler balls, notably Tennessee Warblers. Trying to ID Orange-crowned Warblers among all that was a nightmare, but there were a few out there. The 6-hour (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) walk produced a count of 60 species, a satisfying way to wind-down what I think of as ‘golden week.’ Ow, my neck, ow ow ow.

Mount-Royal Cemetery, (Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery), May 22, 2018
Mallard-2
Turkey Vulture-1
Peregrine Falcon-(1 on the tower)
Merlin-1 low over Oak Ridge
Ring-billed Gull-2 (1)
Chimney Swift-(1 near Decelles)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird-1 on Oak Ridge
Downy Woodpecker-2 (1)
Hairy Woodpecker-1 (2)
Pileated Woodpecker-1 in D3
Least Flycatcher-3 (1)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-1 seen and heard on Oak Ridge
Great Crested Flycatcher-3 (1)
Warbling Vireo-2 on Oak Ridge, 2 on Pine Hill Side, (3 trilling in the northern woods)
Philadelphia Vireo-1 on Pine Hill Side
Red-eyed Vireo-3 (2)
Blue-headed Vireo-2 on Mountain View, (2 in the northern woods)
American Crow-4 (2)
Black-capped Chickadee-5 (2)
White-breasted Nuthatch-1 (1)
Red-breasted Nuthatch-1
House Wren-2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-1 (1)
Eastern Bluebird-2 on Mountain View, 2 in C5, 2 in D3
Swainson’s Thrush-15+ (12+)
Veery-2 on Mountain View
Gray-cheeked Thrush-(1 in the northern woods)
American Robin-2 (2)
Gray Catbird-3 (1)
Cedar Waxwing-8 on Pine Hill Side
European Starling-(2 near Decelles)
Tennessee Warbler-35+ (6)
Nashville Warbler-(1 in the northern woods)
Orange-crowned Warbler-2 on Oak Ridge mixed in with Tennessee Warblers, talk about a headache, (1 in the northern woods)
Northern Parula-1 on Oak Ridge
Yellow Warbler-(1 singing along the northwestern fence)
Chestnut-sided Warbler-1 male on Pine Hill Side
Magnolia Warbler-7 (5)
Cape May Warbler-2 males on Oak Ridge, 1 female on Pine Hill Side, (2 females in the northern woods)
Blackburnian Warbler-(1 male in the northern woods)
Black-throated Blue Warbler-1 on Mountain View, 1 on Pine Hill Side, (1 in the northern woods)
Black-throated Green Warbler-1 on Oak Ridge, 1 on Pine Hill Side, (1 in the northern woods)
Yellow-rumped Warbler-5 (6 in the northern woods)
Blackpoll Warbler-(1 male in the northern woods)
Bay-breasted Warbler-6 scattered throughout, (2 in the northern woods)
Black-and-white Warbler-1 on Oak Ridge
American Redstart-2 males on Oak Ridge, 1 female on Pine Hill Side
Common Yellowthroat-1 on Oak Ridge, heard only
Canada Warbler-2 on Oak Ridge, singing at times
Wilson’s Warbler-1 on Pine Hill Side
Rose-breasted Grosbeak-1 female on Pine Hill Side
Indigo Bunting-(2 males chasing each other in the northern woods)
Northern Cardinal-3 (1)
Chipping Sparrow-20+ (12+)
Song Sparrow-8 (4)
Lincoln’s Sparrow-2 or 3 on Mountain View, 2 on Oak Ridge
White-crowned Sparrow-1 in A4, 2 in D3
White-throated Sparrow-1 on Mountain View, 1 on Pine Hill Side
American Goldfinch-8+ (4)
House Finch-(1 singing near Decelles)

Up North

Cerulean blue...cerulean blue...

Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus

Joey didn't believe me that this was a...

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis getting after the sumac

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula

Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia

Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia

  Spent a day getting Joey buckets of lifers, mostly warblers. Lucky feller, I miss getting loads of lifers. The Boisé Ste-Dorothée woods were just lovely – birdy (62 species), quiet (as in no other humans), and remarkably unbuggy for this time of year. I imagine the place will be a mogie hellhole in another week. That was the case when Dan and I went there a couple of Junes ago to dip on some nutty warbler, when we got chomped up big-time. Unless of course it's a horrific sign that the bugs are almost all gone and we're all screwed.
  The bird action didn’t let up when we got to Joey’s backyard – we were still ticking off lifers from the back porch! It was badass to watch Blackburnian Warblers (among others) while sipping mojitos at dusk. A short walk to the nearby ‘Woodcock Fields’ after sundown did not produce any namesake peent calls, but we did spot a couple of Common Nighthawks feeding over the field, which was super-cool to see. We used to have those over NDG. Used to.
  Haven’t been taking so many pictures lately, as my camera is a steaming piece of feces, and it’s hunchback-heavy.

Boisé Ste-Dorothée, Laval, May 20, 2018
Great Egret-1
Green Heron-1
Canada Goose-5
Wood Duck-1
Mallard-2
Red-shouldered Hawk-1
Broad-winged Hawk-(1 from the road nearby)
Bald Eagle-1 high overhead
Ring-billed Gull-4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird-1
Belted Kingfisher-1
Downy Woodpecker-3
Hairy Woodpecker-2
Northern Flicker-3
Pileated Woodpecker-1
Least Flycatcher-6+
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-2 tureeing their way around the north end of the main swamp, watched well
Eastern Phoebe-1
Great Crested Flycatcher-5
Eastern Kingbird-4
Warbling Vireo-2
Red-eyed Vireo-6
Blue Jay-4
American Crow-5
Common Raven-1
Black-capped Chickadee-7
Brown Creeper-1
White-breasted Nuthatch-4
House Wren-1 or 2
Swainson’s Thrush-8
Veery-3
Grey-cheeked Thrush-1
Hermit Thrush-3
American Robin-5
Gray Catbird-6
Cedar Waxwing-4
European Starling-2
Tennessee Warbler-4
Yellow Warbler-12+
Chestnut-sided Warbler-1
Magnolia Warbler-6
Blackburnian Warbler-1
Black-throated Blue Warbler-1
Black-throated Green Warbler-3
Yellow-rumped Warbler-4
Bay-breasted Warbler-4
American Redstart-3
Common Yellowthroat-3
Ovenbird-4
Wilson's Warbler-1
Northern Cardinal-3
Song Sparrow-12+
Lincoln’s Sparrow-1
Swamp Sparrow-1
White-throated Sparrow-2
Baltimore Oriole-6+
Red-winged Blackbird-10+
Common Grackle-12+
Brown-headed Cowbird-6
House Sparrow-2
American Goldfinch-6+
House Finch-2 in the suburban helltopia near the trailhead

Down South

Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator

There was a Cerulean Warbler kicking around this area last year...

I used to draw this exact house in kindergarten

  Went down to the George Montgomery Sanctuary in Philipsburg with George L and a BPQ gang on Saturday morn (May 19th). The place tickled some musty memories, as I’d been there with Dan in 1989 (on a PQSPB trip), when I picked up my first Wood Thrush. 1989! We were just little towheaded lads back then, wearing short pants, and playing with penny-whistles and moon-rockets, spending all our pocket money on lick-em’ drops and spin-lollies.
  Here’s the list. I saw most of what was on there, and I also heard the distant but distinctive notes of a Yellow-throated Vireo. Discovering nesting Red-bellied Woodpeckers was another highlight.
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45835008