17 November 2007
With the big year opportunities running out, the appearance of a Townsend’s Solitaire at Boucherville and a Carolina Wren that was not in someone’s garden was enough to tempt us to wander out to east Montreal. The wren had been seen around the feeders in part of the Montreal Botanical Gardens. The solitaire was found at one of the spots we always enjoy visiting, the Parc de la Freyer at Boucherville.
The day was bright but a brisk and decidedly cool breeze was enough to encourage us to don hat and gloves, good training for the forthcoming Andean exercise where it will almost certainly be windy and cool! It won’t come as a surprise to anyone to know that we saw neither target, its been that sort of year. Both had last been reported on November 15th but that means nothing here as observer coverage is not exactly at saturation point. As it happened we had a very nice day, especially when we got to Boucherville, and we saw some nice birds too.
At the Botanical Gardens we saw a few birds, House Finches, Dark-eyed Juncos and an alert Sharp-shinned Hawk intent on snacking. I managed a few snaps of the sharpie, they might have been better had a couple out strolling not marched up behind me as I stalked it. It was just bad luck that they had to walk the path where I was, we were the only people in the Alpine Garden and any of the seven or so other paths were available but no, they had to walk mine for the few minutes I needed it undisturbed!
At the Parc de la Freyer we hit birds straight away, a Long-eared Owl was ensconced in the top of a tangle and gave partial and entirely normal views for this species, we nipped back later when the admirers had moved on and took a few fuzzy shots. Further on and lots of calling indicated the fruit munchers` location, American Robins were in abundance along with some ridiculously tame Pine Grosbeaks. The grosbeaks were patiently destroying the crab apples and berries, oblivious to the clicks of the many cameras pointing their direction. As always seems to be the case with these birds, they may be close but they always have a face full of mush to detract slightly from their photogenicity.
In a more woody part of the park a Barred Owl was regretting choosing to roost in a fruit tree and the robins were giving it severe grief. Our presence, though tolerated, was just one more inconvenience associated with the task of avoiding the irate mobbing masses and killing something big for tea. The owl later chose to slip into a less obvious spot for some R & R, using its cunning and camouflage to hide behind a thin branch thus avoiding detection (see below).
It is a pity that the Parc de la Freyer is so far away, a 170KM round trip from home, I’m sure there must be something as attractive to birds out west here but as yet I haven’t found it. Visiting the parc has always been fruitful birdwise and the atmosphere is always good, the people we have met there are always very friendly and helpful.
Below are a few shots.
Just another 30 seconds and I would have been in place to avoid the branch across the sharpie's head, merci!
Male House Finch, they are not very common out where I live so it was nice to see a few healthy flocks.
Dark-eyed Junco showing its dark eye but I've never seen one's junco.
Are you a man or a mouse, I have to ask you understand.
Female/immature Pine Grosbeak, they outnumber the males about 4:1.
Male Pine Grosbeak. called a grossbeak either because their bills are large or that they are always 'gross'
Grosbeak feeding strategy, bite off big bits.
Almost decent, just needs a once over with a wet wipe.
They just look so out of place, surely something tropical?
The Barred Owl, virtually invisible thanks to its subtle plumage and careful positioning!
For those of you struggling to spot the owl in the photo above here is a close up, still tricky though as the branch partially obscures it, or am I just making excuses for a bad shot?
