A week too early?

21-May 2007

Monday was a National holiday in Canada (and that does still include Quebec) so we took advantage and went north to the excellent and vast park at Mont Tremblant. We concentrated on the secteur Diable especially north of Lac Monroe, our targets were Olive-sided Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee and Spruce Grouse. In true keeping with our recent luck, we failed to see all three, although it is likely that the flycatchers are not all back yet. We’ll go again in a couple of weeks, I’ll start stocking up on the bug spray now as, although this trip was totally bug free, its only a matter of time.

Despite the dipping we had a very enjoyable day, starting with almost tripping over a Swainson’s Thrush while buying the permits to being entranced by a very brief view of a Wolf crossing our path. We also always hope for a Black Bear when visiting these places but so far no luck.

We did see some birds, chief amongst them being a fleeting view of a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher, a Quebec tick for me but away too quickly for Sandra to get a view. One nice little sun trap had a few warblers enjoying the warmth, each taking turns to have a little sing-song. Several Winter Wrens sang but only one showed. On the way north we paused above Carillon Dam and found a couple of Brents loafing on an island, our first of three year ticks for the day.

The next three to four weeks will now be very busy with a trip to Abitibi looming to search for another trio, Connecticut Warbler, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Le Conte’s Sparrow. The first two are lifers and we have dipped them before, surely our luck is due a change!

For the record the year list is now 215, the garden year list 61 and the overall year list 292 (after a short trip to the UK, see earlier post).
















Two Brents, spot the second eh.




















Wilson's Snipe, we often see this bird on its favourite post.




















White-winged Crossbills. They were feeding under bushes in the car park for Lac Monroe.








































A few warblers starting with Black-throated Green.


















Then Black-throated Blue.



































A couple of views of Magnolia Warbler, very common at Tremblant.

















A nice Bay-breasted in slightly adverse light.



































Its the wrong grouse Grommit! A Ruffed doing its chicken crossing the road impression.

















We ended our trip with a bouncy Veery that just would not face the camera.