Site fondé en 1993

A fairly wet and windy fall. I moved from St-Pierre to Miquelon where I retire, so I was very busy and not in the field enough, this will change hopefully, living now in the « big » island. We have one new species and a new breeding record. (village : applies to the village of Miquelon).

Pied-billed Grebe: One in St-Pierre November 7 first reported by PA was also seen by RE/DL the same day and by BL Nov. 9. Last seen by PA November 15 in the same pond.

Red-necked Grebe : Two off the west coast of Miquelon September 4 were the earliest ever, average is Sept. 25 and earliest Sept. 6. we had a maximum of 7 Sept. 15. First one seen in St-Pierre November 6 (RE), they were 3 November 8 (FPA/RE).

Shearwaters : No Greaters and Sooties were seen after August 11. That day there were about 100 Manx between Miquelon and Langlade, then only one August 21. A rather late one was seen November 3 (LJ) off the west coast of St-Pierre, latest date is Nov. 12, 1997.

American Bittern : One near Mirande lake August 11 and one in St-Pierre October 6 in St-Pierre (RE).

Great Blue Heron : One near the village September 21 (DD) and one reported by Claude Orsiny also near the village around Nov. 15 (fide RE).

Great Egret : One was seen in St-Pierre by several observers and photographed by PA and LJ. One Egret species seen by Michel Orsiny near Mirande on Nov. 11 could be this species. Another one was convincely described to me by Michel Boissel in Miquelon November 20.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron : One seen in St-Pierre by Daniel Abraham and the author August 3 was photographed by LJ the same day and seen and photographed by PA August 8. Last seen by PA August 15.

Canada Goose : Fairly common in late summer, apparently local breeders and their broods. Migrants have not come back yet to the Grand Barachois they have abandoned in 1985. Only 16 were seen there September 27 and three only between October 22 and November 11 (BL/LJ/SA/RE).

American Black duck : We had a record number of 429, October 28 in Grand Barachois (LJ).

Mallard : Two birds were shot on the Isthmus around mid-october (fide DD). One male was with the Blacks in Grand Barachois October 21 (RE)

Blue-winged Teal : One report, 3 birds in St-Pierre September 6 (LJ).

Northern Shoveler : The brood of nine found in July (a first) with 9 young had only 8 ducklings by August 8 (RE). A second brood with 8 young aged about 1 ½ week on the extreme north of the Isthmus was found by LJ August 2.

American Wigeon : The brood on a marsh of the Isthmus had 6 young about 9/10 adult size August 10 (RE).

Ring-necked Duck : A new long-awaited nesting record. Two adults and 10 young were photographed on the Isthmus by PB August 8. I found these two broods with respectively 9 and 5 young about ¾ adult size in the same area and in company with 3 others adults August 10. Seventeen individuals were still there by August 22. (RE).

Common Eider : The first ones (about 35) were seen in St-Pierre October 6 (RE) and the same day off the east coast of Miquelon, about 30 birds seen by LJ. A maximum of 400 birds were seen in St-Pierre November 20 (LJ) and November 30 (BL).

Harlequin duck : One male and one female Miquelon September 10 (LJ) were also seen, same spot, November 15 (BL) and one bird only November 27 (LJ). One was in St-Pierre October 9 and 25 (LJ).

Black Scoter : Scoters frequent an area off the Isthmus which not easy to observe except under very good conditions :BL estimated about 300 Scoters there, a mix-up of this species and Surfs, October 8. Twenty six were seen off Mirande October 21 (RE/BL).

Surf Scoter : See above. A few other observations between October 2 and November 15 in the three islands.

White-winged Scoter : About 300 birds, probably more were off the Isthmus November 11.

Common Goldeneye : The first one was seen in Mirande lake October 21 (BL) was six days earlier than average. There was a maximum of about 55 at Grand Barachois November 11 (RE).

Osprey : 10 reports between September 4 and October 5, one individual at a time, in the three islands (RE/SA/DG/JCH/JPA/LJ/MJB) One bird seen at sea September 26 seemed to be crossing from the Burin Peninsula to Langlade.

Northern Goshawk : Two birds in Southern Langlade are reported by MJB for the 1st of October.

American Kestrel : Four reports only, on bird at a time August 21 (MD), September 13 (PA) November 14 (LJ) and November 18 (PA).

American Coot : One well described by Thierry Gautier was on the Isthmus between November 21 and 25 (fide RE).

Black-bellied Plover : 3 near the village August 4 were right on average. This year they have been outnumbered by the Goldens. There were about 100 at Grand Barachois August 22. Last seen October 27 near the village (RE/DL).

American Golden Plover: 6 in flight in Cape Miquelon August 5 were quite early, average being August 25. Few birds until September 5 where DD had about 60 birds in the interior of Miquelon. Near the village there were about 150 October 2 (JCH) and about 240 October 20 (RE). At Grand Barachois there were about 150 October 2 (JCH). Last seen about 100 near the village November 1 (RE).

Lesser Yellowlegs: 10 were on the Isthmus August 10, and 4 near Mirande lake August 17. Two or three birds were near Grand Barachois August 22 and 5 or 6 at Mirande lake the next day. Last seen September 4 (RE).

Red Knot : About 25 at Grand Barachois August 10 were 15 day ahead of schedule. There was a maximum of 75 at Grand Barachois September 10 and 27 and October 21. Last seen, one with 2 Sanderlings near the village November 26 (RE).

Pectoral Sandpiper: One at Mirande lake August 23 with yellowlegs, One near the village September 15 and October 27 (RE).

Purple Sandpiper : About 30 birds were briefly seen in St-Pierre harbour November 28 (RE).

Dunlin : Three at Grand Barachois September 27 were 5 days later than average. about 10 were there October 21 (RE/DL), last seen 4, same area, November 18.

Short-Billed Dowitcher: 3 reports only ! 17 on the shore of Grand Barachois August 10; 6, same area, August 22 and 3 or 4 September 10 (RE).

Red-necked Phalarope : 5 between Langlade and St-Pierre September 8 (LJ).

Parasitic Jaeger: One was harrassing Terns at Grand Barachois September 10 (RE).

Black-headed Gull : The bird reported in June in a pond near the village was present and regularly seen until August 17 (RE). A maximum of 5 birds were in St-Pierre harbour November 30 (PA).

Iceland Gull: The first one, an immature was in St-Pierre November 6, three days later than average (RE). They were common, adults and immatures, in St-Pierre harbour November 22 (RE).

Tern sp.: Some were still feeding young near Mirande lake August 23 (RE). Last seen one immature in St-Pierre harbour between October 1 and 25 (LJ/PA).

Dovekie : Two birds off St-Pierre October 17 (LJ) is the only report ! ...

Mourning Dove : One near Mirande lake Septermber 27 was fairly late, average being Sept. 3. Fairly common and well reported, there were probably more than 20 birds present in the three islands (MD/LJ/DL/JCH/DG/PA/RE).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Joel Detcheverry had three birds in the town of St-Pierre August 21 and one only August 22 and 23 (fide LJ).

Red-headed Woodpecker : One was seen by JPA in the town of St-Pierre October 25 (fide LJ) this is our fourth record.

Red-eyed Vireo : One in the town of St-Pierre September 24 (LJ) and one in Miquelon September 27 (RE).

Tree Swallow : Four near St-Pierre August 18 (MD) 2 or 3 with a few Barns in the woods of Eastern Miquelon September 2 and one only with serveral Barns September 10 (PA).

Bank Swallow : One only at sea a few miles north of St-Pierre September 9 (JCH/RE).

Barn Swallow : Somewhat less rare than the others, there are 13 reports between August 10 and October 30 (MD/PA/PB/RE/DL/LJ) for a maximum of about 10 near St-Pierre harbour September 10 (PA).

Blue Jay : Not a common bird here. This year the first one was seen by PA October 31 in the town. The next day MD had 5 birds in the same general area. 2 to 3 birds were seen regularly in and around town throughout November. SA had 3 at her feeder from November 23 on. In the same period, 4 birds were reported in the village of Miquelon.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Rather on the low side, few birds heard and/or seen in the fall (RE/LJ), last seen two in Miquelon October 21 (RE).

Grey-cheeked Thrush : One at Langlade August 2 (PA) and one heard in Miquelon September 2 (RE/DL).

Hermit Thrush : One bird seen in the same area in St-Pierre Sept 3 (LJ), Sept. 7 (PA) Sept. 30 and October 10 (RE).

American Robin : Good migrants numbers were seen between October 21 and 29 (RE/LJ/PB).

Northern Mockingbird: One bird was in St-Pierre (almost annual there), between October 22 and November 30 (LJ/DG/PA).

American Pipit : MD had one on Colombier island August 4 while 2 or 3 were near Grand Barachois August 22 (RE). Migrants were seen regularly between September 15 and October 11, less numerous than in recent years, there was a maximum of about 20 near the village September 21 (RE) and on the Isthmus Sept. 29 (LJ) a few birds were seen Oct. 21 on the Isthmus and Oct. 25 in St-Pierre, and one in St-Pierre November 2 (PA).

Bohemian Waxwing : Two with 16 Cedars in St-Pierre October 25 LJ). One in the town November 11 (DG/FPA) and one in southern Miquelon November 25 (LJ).

Cedar Waxwing : fairly well reported in the three islands but more in St-Pierre between August 8 and November 8 for a maximum of about 20 at Langlade September 30 (JCH).

Northern Shrike : One in St-Pierre November 21 (LJ).

Tennessee Warbler: One only in St-Pierre October17 (PA).

Yellow Warbler : About as usual (RE/LJ/PA). Last seen in St-Pierre Sept. 14 (RE), 3 days earlier than average

Yellowrumped Warbler : Fairly common, arriving at the end of August (RE/PA), quite common between Sept. 26 and October 25 (RE/SA/LJ/JCH/FPA). Fewer afterwards, last seen two in the town November 23 (LJ).

Black-throated green Warbler : One only in St-Pierre September 26 (RE).

Pine Warbler : A new species for us, one adult photographed by PA in the town of St-Pierre November 7.

Prairie Warbler : One in St-Pierre October 23 (LJ) and possibly another one, same area November 15 (PA).

Palm Warbler : Fairly common between September 12 and October 10, more reported in St-Pierre than in the other islands (PA/LJ/JCH/RE).

Blackpoll Warbler : Fairly common, last seen October 6 in St-Pierre (RE).

Black & White Warbler : One at a time reported between August 9 and September 21 (RE/DL/PA).

American Redstart : One in Miquelon August 2, one young male in St-Pierre August 29, and one male also in St-Pierre September 27 (LJ).

Northern Waterthrush : Fairly common, last seen one in Miquelon September 15 (RE), average date is Sept. 10.

Common Yellowthroat : One at a time, 9 reports between August 29 and September 29 (RE/PA/LJ).

Wilson's Warbler : 4 reports only between August 23 and October 4 (RE/PA/LJ).

Indigo Bunting : One in Miquelon October 21 (RE) and one in St-Pierre the same day (LJ). One immature in St-Pierre at PAÎs feeder October 24.

Dickcissel : One in St-Pierre September 24 (RE). PA had one adult at his feeder October 28 and a different one November 8, and also an immature seen between October 31 and November 8.

Song Sparrow : One adult carrying food and one flying young in St-Pierre August 15. Five other reports, the last two in Miquelon, near Mirande, two birds October 21 and 27 (RE/DL).

Lapland Longspur : Three on the Isthmus October 21 (RE/DL) and about twelve, same area, October 25 (JCH).

Snow Bunting : Two in St-Pierre October, were ten days earlier than average (SA), the next one was seen on the Isthmus October 21 (RE/DL) Regularly seen from October 25 in the three islands (RE/DL/PB/PA/JCH/MD) None reported after November 18 ! ...

Red-winged Blackbird: Two males and one female or immature in the town of St-Pierre November 8 (DG). LJ saw one male in flight, also in St-Pierre, November 13.

Rusty Blackbird : Rather scarce these days : so 5 reports between October 25 and November 29 is worthy of a note (LJ/RE/FPA), there was a maximum of 6 individuals in the town of St-Pierre October 25 and November 12 (FPA). One bird was at JCHÎs feeder in Miquelon between November 12 and 15.

Common Grackle : Now more regular than the preceding one : LJ had twelve in the town October 14 and nine also in St-Pierre October 24 (LJ). DG had two at his feeder October 30 and there were 5 also in St-Pierre November 13 and 14 (LJ/DG).

Baltimore Oriole : Two females in St-Pierre October 11 is the only report (FPA).

American Goldfinch : Still resident in St-Pierre where PA had a maximum of 25 individuals at his feeder October 31.

Evening Grosbeak : A few were heard and one female seen near Mirande lake in Miquelon October 21 (RE).

Contributors : Frederic & Patricia Allen-Mahé (FPA); Sylvie Allen-Mahé (SA); Jean-Paul Apesteguy (JPA); Pascal Asselin (PA); Michel Borotra (MJB); Marc Dérible (MD); DG : David Detcheverry (DD); Dominique Gouverne; Philippe Hacala (PH); Jackie and Christine Hebert (JCH); Laurent Jackman (LJ); Danielle Lebollocq (DL); Bruno Letournel (BL).