Sunday, January 14, 2007

Slow progress

Weekend - 13-14 January 2007

Saturday saw us out seeking a few species along the Richelieu Valley before ending up at the area where one or two Gyr Falcons roost of an evening.

We drove across Wild Turkey country, seeing none, and arrived at Noyen, south of Montreal, with the expectation of scanning the rafts of Common Goldeneye for a Barrow's. Typically there was not a duck in sight, the mild conditions had not pushed the ducks into the area so that was that. Compensation nearby was a Northern Grey Shrike, something I normally see on New Year's Day but a species that has been fairly scarce this winter. Geographically and morphologically this species differs from Great Grey Shrike but they remain steadfastly one species. Loggerhead Shrike is the Neararctic conterpart of Lesser Grey Shrike so why to two 'big' shrikes stay lumped is beyond me.

On the crest of a slump we decided to try the St-Armand area for Tufted Titmouse, a rather local species in Quebec but one that occurs in the St-Armand area and is a regular at winter feeders. Apart from distressing a feeder owner, who probably thought we were either burglars casing the joint or just perverts, we had little entertainment.

Moving north we dropped into Chambly Basin adding American Coot to the list and shivering a bit in the -10 wind chill. We then had a dilema, do we drive to the Gyr roost site, high above the rather dull town of Richelieu, or do we go via St-Basile-le-Grand, a regular site for Short-eared Owl and one occasionally frequented by a grey Gyr? The choices were dictated by route as one way went up the east side of the Richelieu, the roost side, the other the west.

We chose the former route and spent an hour in a busy car park looking at a cliff face trying to make lumps into falcons. Meanwhile, over the river, some other birders were enjoying the spectacle of the grey Gyr giving a Red-tailed Hawk a hard time, I almost feel a French swear word coming on!!

Sunday we had 'things to do' prior to a trip. In the afternoon, after watching Newcastle beat Tottenham 3:2 in one of the best matches I've seen in years, I ventured out around the St-Clet lanes. As usual St-Julie came up with the goods and I had good views of a female Snowy Owl on a telegraph pole. Little did I know that the nearby St-Lazare Pinade was providing another birder with American Three-toed Woodpecker and Red Crossbills, I feel another vacation day may be required.

Below a few photos. I'm giving up trying to put captions on them as they wander, I must be doing something wrong.






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