The
spring migration (2001) in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon islands
A rather bad spring with a snow storm on May 1st
and 2nd and a lot of north-easterlies which delayed some migrants,
more or less as usual! Two strange Dove sightings one Purple Gallinule and very
few other exciting birds. Warblers are quite low in numbers once again.
Red-throated Loon : The first ones, a pair, was seen
near the village of Miquelon on May 23, while the average is April 30 (RE). One
pair was seen near the Isthmus on May 28 (LJ).
Common Loon : There was no important concentration
this year. Off cape Miquelon where a maximum of 120 was seen last winter I had
a maximum of 18 on March 22. Well reported throughout the season, in rather low
numbers and scattered along the coasts of the three islands. Less usual were a
group of 21 off the Isthmus on May 9 (RE/LJ), and 7 off St. Pierre the same day
(PA) and 19 off the west coast of Miquelon the next day (RE/LJ).
Red-necked Grebe : There was no concentration off Cape
Miquelon this winter where I had a maximum of 74 birds on March 22 (maximum last
year was 565 !). Off Mirande lake they were back (those from the Cape ?) in relatively
large number, I had a maximum of 280 birds there on April 12. In St. Pierre they
had a maximum of 40 birds on March 9 (BL). Last seen 9 off St. PierreÎs south
coast on may 9 (BL).
Northern Fulmar : About ten
birds were seen about 20 miles south of St. Pierre on may 22 (PB). Four birds
on three different sites were seen ashore on Grand Colombier island on May 26
(FPA). Will they nest one day ?
Sooty Shearwater : About twenty birds were seen from
the shore, off Mirande lake with some Gannets on May 31 (RE).
¤Manx
Shearwater : Two were seen near Colombier island on April 17 (LJ). I had
two birds between Green island and St. Pierre on May 21.
Northern Gannet : One bird was seen off the north-west coast of Miquelon
on April 5 (RE) (average date is April 25). The next one was seen by LJ on April
16. Very few through the end of the period.
Double-crested Cormorant : The first
one was an immature seen by PA in St. Pierre harbour on April 16. Regularly seen
then in relatively low numbers in Miquelon and St. Pierre. I had about 20 birds
in Miquelon on May 3. Once again I have observed a few birds diving on Mirande
lake to gather nesting material !
Great Cormorant : Unfortunately
not reported by St. Pierre observers ! In Miquelon I had a maximum of 32 birds
on Cape Miquelon on March 18 and 22.
Great Egret : One was seen in St. Pierre on April
13 by Patrick D€rible and reported by MD who saw it on April 17.
Green Heron : One seen on the east coast of Miquelon
April 21 (PH).
Canada Goose : No birds overwintered. The first three
birds were seen at Langlade on March 12 (fide LJ) 9 days later than last year.
BL had 93 birds on the Isthmus by April 5. I had 132 birds, also on the Isthmus
on April 17. There were 89 birds on the isthmus on April 29 (SA & Rachel Rio).
Reported in lower numbers in several others areas of the islands including St.
Pierre, the general picture is for higher numbers than in recent years. I had
a nest with four eggs on the isthmus on April 24.
American Wigeon : A rather
early male was on the Isthmus on April 20 (RE). I had a pair, also on the Isthmus
on May 6. In St. Pierre there was a pair seen on a pond near the harbour between
May 8 and 12 (PA), also seen by DG on May 16.
American Black duck : There were
314 birds at Grand Barachois (frozen about 60%) on March 1, and 25 on the salt
pond near the village of Miquelon the next day (RE) while on March 5 BL had about
35 birds in St. Pierre. This and other counts suggest that about 350 birds over
wintered this year. Then, when the marshes thaw they spread out across the isthmus
rendering counts difficult and the arrival of migrants hard to figure out.
Blue-winged Teal : One pair was seen in St. Pierre between April 26 and May 9 (BL/LJ/MD)
and one bird only seen by SA on May 27.
Northern Pintail : One male was on the salt pond near the village on March
2 (RE). The first migrant pair was seen on the isthmus by BL on April 8 (2 days
earlier than average). Then regularly, fairly common, about as usual. MD had a
brood of about 12 birds on the southern part of the Isthmus on May 26.
Green-winged Teal : One female
was seen several times in St. Pierre during the second fortnight of March (BL/PA).
On pair was seen ¼at sea‘ near the south coast of St. Pierre on April 1 (BL) and
regularly then, about as usual (m. ob.).
Ring-necked Duck : The first
one was seen by MD in St. Pierre on April 17 while Denis Detcheverry had one on
Mirande lake the next day. There was a maximum of 4 birds in St. Pierre up to
May 7 (m. ob.). There were two pairs on the Isthmus on April 20 (RE) and a few
scattered individuals or pairs, also on the Isthmus throughout the season. At
Langlade, MD had 5 males and 3 females on May 8 and one male only by May 27.
Greater Scaup : There were
3 males and one female on the salt pond near the village of Miquelon on March
2; five males and a female March 5 (RE) and 6 males and a female March 6 (LJ).
A few birds were also on the Isthmus for a maximum of six males and one female
on May 6 (RE/SA).
Common Eider : Highest count earlier in the season
include about 5000 in three groups off the west-north-west coast of Miquelon,
about 3000 off the east coast of the Isthmus and about 900 off the village of
Miquelon for a total of close to 9000 birds on March 9 (LJ). BL had about 2000
birds near Green island on March 5. On April 6, BL had about 4000 off the isthmus
and about 1500 off the west coast of Miquelon. I had a large flock in flight rather
far away off the Isthmus estimated to contain between 4000 and 5000 on April 24.
In early May there was about 700 birds off the village of Miquelon and about 650
off the south-west coast. Last seen about 100 birds in the latter area on May
23 (RE).
Harlequin Duck : One female
was off St. Pierre April 5 and 6 (LJ). One pair was seen on the north-west corner
of Langlade on April 8 (BL) and one pair was on the south-west corner of Miquelon
the next day (fide BL). Two pairs were off St. Pierre on April 26 (FPA).
Surf Scoter : One observation only : 2 off Mirande
lake on March 9 (RE).
White-winged Scoter : Several
hundreds off the Isthmus were reported to me by the crew of the St. Pierre-Miquelon
ferry on March 3. A few were off Mirande lake on March 9.
Black Scoter : A few birds off the isthmus on March 3 (RE).
Scoters are not always easy to see and often off the flat Isthmus which do not
offer any vantage point for observation.
Oldsquaw : Common as usual around our coasts.
Last seen two in flight off Mirande lake on May 3 (RE).
Common Goldeneye : About 50
birds were at Grand Barachois (about 60% frozen) on March 1 (RE). Last seen :
68 counted at Grand Barachois on April 22 (RE).
Red-breasted Merganser : About 75
birds were on the salt pond near the village (frozen about 55 %) on March 2 (RE).
About 80 were seen in flight off Mirande lake on April 5 (BL). about 50 were at
Grand Barachois and 12 on some ponds of the Isthmus by April 24 (RE). Then more
widespread and common, about as usual, the rest of the season.
Osprey : One bird only was seen in Cape Miquelon
by May 26 (RE). We had 5 spring records last year.
Bald Eagle : More or less as usual, a few adults
and immature reported throughout the season in the three islands. Christian Moullec
saw 6 birds in Cape Miquelon including 2 adults on April 9. More details on the
nesting season reports.
Northern Harrier : The first
bird was spotted by BL on southern Miquelon by April 30. Then a male was seen
in St. Pierre May 1 (LJ) and 2 (FPA) while DL saw a female the same day. One male
was seen around a known nesting area on May 3, 6 and 23 (BL/RE). One male was
seen on another known nesting area near Mirande lake on May 29 (RE).
Sharp-shinned Hawk : One bird was seen in St. Pierre
on March 12 (PA), 17 (MD) 23 (FPA). Then one, also in St. Pierre on May 7 (FPA).
Northern Goshawk : Four reports between March 1 and
21, in 4 different areas of Miquelon (RE/LJ); one failed to catch an arctic hare
on March 8 (LJ).
Rough-legged Hawk : The species nests only in St. Pierre (Grand Colombier island) and
migrants are not often seen in Miquelon, so these reports are a bit unusual :
the first one was reported by AE in Miquelon April 6. One dark phase bird was
above Grand Barachois on May 6 while MD had a light phase the same day around
the centre of Miquelon. We had one dark phase and one light phase bird at Langlade
on May 8 and 9 respectively (RE/LJ). In St. Pierre PB had an alarmed pair where
a pair nested many years ago. One was above Colombier island on May 26 (PA).
American Kestrel : One male
was in St. Pierre May 4 (LJ).
Merlin : I had a very early bird on the isthmus
on March 27. The next one was seen in St. Pierre May 5 (BL) and regularly then
in rather low numbers (m. ob.).
Peregrine Falcon : One bird
was seen three times near the kittiwake colony on Cape Miquelon : March 18 and
22 (RE) and April 9 (Christian Moullec).
Purple Gallinule : One bird
was found in the town of St. Pierre on March 18 or 19 and released (LJ/SA).
Black-bellied Plover : One bird
in winter plumage was seen at Grand Barachois on April 24. A winter survivor ?
One was last seen on February 2 (RE).
Semipalmated Plover : The first
one was seen near the village of Miquelon on May 3 (RE), while 2 birds were at
St. Pierre May 5 (MD); two were at Grand Barachois May 6 (RE) (average arrival
date is May 8). Few other reports.
Piping Plover : One bird only was seen near the gully of Grand Barachois on May 27 (RE).
Killdeer : One in the village of Miquelon April
30 (RE). Heard also
in the village of Miquelon May 23 and 25 (RE).
Greater Yellowlegs : Two birds were first seen in St. Pierre April 21 (FPA)
(average is April 25) and the next day on the Isthmus (RE). Regularly since, although
none were reported between May 9 and 20 (BL/MD/SA/AE/FPA/DG/RE). The last one
was heard on the Isthmus on May 27 (RE).
Lesser Yellowlegs : This species
as occurred here 9 springs out of 28. One was on the Isthmus by May 26 (MD).
Spotted Sandpiper : One at ?le-aux-Marins
(off St. Pierre) on May 9 was early (average is May 17) and was probably one that
managed to cross before the series of north-easterlies that so often plague our
area in spring (and bring European migrants to NFLD) ! The next ones were reported
on May 23 (Jean-Claude Detcheverry) and May 24 in St. Pierre (LJ) and May 26 in
Cape Miquelon (RE).
Red Knot :
6 birds were near the village of Miquelon between March 2 and 4 and only three
on March 13. Four were at Grand Barachois on April 24 and two only on May 13 (RE).
Sanderling :
One was seen by BL on the Isthmus on April 8 and I had 6 at Grand Barachois on
May 13.
Least Sandpiper : Late or
not seen earlier. The first ones were heard on the Isthmus on May 27 (average
is May 12). Four birds were also on the Isthmus on May 28 (LJ).
Purple Sandpiper : In St. Pierre they had about 30 birds on March 5 (BL), 9 on March
16 (BL) and 1 only March 24 (PA). In Miquelon there was a maximum of about 50
birds on the west coast on April 5 (BL) and 47, same general area, on April 14
(LJ). At Langlade, 12 birds were seen April 6 (BL). Last seen several birds in
Miquelon May 13 while the average departing date is April 19.
Dunlin : Three birds were at Grand Barachois
on May 13 (RE).
Common Snipe : One bird was reported at Langlade
on March 15 ! (fide RE). One was in St. Pierre April 10 (MD) a migrant ? The first
migrants were noted from April 21 on and regularly since (m. ob.).
American Woodcock : One was seen at Langlade by BL on
May 4.
Pomarine Jaeger : One bird
was seen harassing gulls about 20 miles south of St. Pierre on May 22 (PB).
Black-headed Gull : There was
a maximum of 17 birds, 10 adults and 7 immature in St. Pierre harbour on March
10 (PA). A single record in Miquelon : one adult March 27 near the village (RE).
Last seen two immature in St. Pierre May 19 (PA).
BonaparteÎs
Gull : Present in Miquelon for the second
consecutive early spring. One immature was near the village of Miquelon on March
27. The adult in St. Pierre harbour seen first on January 25 was seen regularly
(and photographed) up to April 14 (PA).
Ring-billed Gull : One adult
in St. Pierre on March 22 (PA) was the earliest ever, the average being April
3 and earliest March 26 (1996, 1998, 2000). In Miquelon two adults were near the
village on March 27 (RE). Abundant at Grand Barachois from mid-April on.
Iceland Gull : A few birds
were off Cape Miquelon on March 16 (RE). Still fairly common in late April in
St. Pierre harbour, mostly immature (PA). One immature was still in St. Pierre
harbour on May 31 (PA).
Lesser
Black-backed Gull
: The dark immature present in St. Pierre harbour in late February was confirmed
to be this species. Last seen March 22 (PA).
Glaucous Gull : One immature
was in St. Pierre harbour during the first fortnight of March. One immature was
near Mirande lake on April 4 (RE) and one immature in St. Pierre harbour on April
16 (PA).
Black-legged Kittiwake : They were
first seen (several hundreds) on the cliffs of Cape Miquelon on March 5 (RE) and
about as usual since. FPA counted 472 birds on Colombier island on May 26.
Caspian Tern : One was near Mirande lake on May 3 (RE).
Common and Arctic Terns : The two species (about 25 birds) were seen together
above a small islet barely emerging on Mirande lake by May 23 (5 days later than
average). A few hundreds were near the east coast of Miquelon by May 27 while
the same day there were 6 to 700 near the gully of Grand Barachois where it seems
that there were more Arctic than Common (RE).
Murre sp. : BL had several hundred birds at sea,
flying east on March 6.
Thick-billed Murre : One was
in St. Pierre harbour between March 22 and 27 and one in April 15 and 21 (PA).
Razorbill : A few birds were present on the south
coast of Langlade on May 8 (LJ/RE). ¼Not a single one‘ at an usual nesting spot
on St. Pierre island May 18 (PB). Between 20 and 30 birds were at Grand Colombier
on May 26 (MD).
Black Guillemot : The first
breeding plumaged bird was seen in Miquelon March 22 (RE). Common as usual all
around our coasts (BL/PA/LJ/RE/MD).
Atlantic Puffin : One breeding
plumaged bird was seen by LJ near St. Pierre on April 6. Several hundreds were
around Colombier island by April 27 (SA).
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE : One bird
first reported by Philippe Lucas in Miquelon when it hit a window on May 28 was
captured (and photographed) two days later on a building of the Agriculture department.
It is almost as pale as a Ringed-turtle Dove but the undertail coverts were more
like the Eurasian Collared-dove, while the bird had a pink bill. I talked on the
radio about this bird we thought was possibly an escapee but did not get any call.
So, probably we would never know the origin of this bird (see next species ! ˆ)
EUROPEAN TURTLE-DOVE : Earlier
than the previous species, between May 15 and 20, this species was seen and photographed
by Thierry Vogenstahl in St. Pierre ! ˆ So, two strange species of Columbidae
in our islands this spring. Can we consider them wild birds, and new species for
us ? ? ?
Mourning Dove : A few birds were seen throughout the spring,
mostly at feeders. One at Langlade April 14 (fide RE) was possibly a migrant.
SA reports courtship display and copulation attempts at her feeder on April 23.
Snowy Owl : All reports from St. Pierre : one
was reported by Pascale David on March 1 and 18. One, possibly the same, was seen
by Gregory Ziebacz on March 22. Last report one March 31 (fide MD).
Boreal Owl : One bird was photographed in St. Pierre
on March 1 (fide MD). One, or possibly the same was also photographed earlier
by Guy Jugan on February 24.
Belted Kingfisher : The first
one, a female, was seen by FPA on April 21 in St. Pierre. Regularly then mostly
in St. Pierre (m. ob.) for a maximum of three birds at a time on May 24 (PA).
The first one (also a female) was seen in Miquelon on May 6 (RE). One was also
reported near the west coast of Miquelon on May 8 (AE). One was seen at Langlade
by PH on May 20.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker : One was
at SAÎs feeder in St. Pierre on April 18. One male was seen also in St. Pierre
on April 21 & 22 (FPA/LJ). One was at Langlade on May 1 (BL).
Northern Flicker : The first
migrant was seen near the village of Miquelon on April 26. Seen regularly since
May 1 in good numbers until May 19. None reported since ! ˆ
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher : One seen on the east coast of Miquelon on May 28 (LJ) and one in
St. Pierre May 31 (SA).
Eastern Phoebe : One was in Cape Miquelon on April 29 (JCH).
Eastern Kingbird : Two in St. Pierre
May 8 (PA) probably deserve the same comments than the spotted sandpiper. Rather
scarce this year : one in St. Pierre May 22 (LJ), one on the Isthmus May 26 (MD),
one on east coast of Miquelon May 28 (LJ), and one in St. Pierre May 31 (SA).
Northern Shrike : One in St.
Pierre March 5 (FPA) and one March 9 (LJ).
Blue-headed Vireo : One in the
village of Miquelon May 4 (JCH). One singing at Langlade May 8 (RE) and one in
St. Pierre May 24 (LJ).
Blue Jay : In St. Pierre : One March 2 (LJ).
Two April 5, 15, 18, 22 and 24 (LJ/FPA/SA). One only April 20, 21 and May 6 (FPA/BL/PA).
SA had 3 birds at her feeder on April 23. In Miquelon 4 birds were reported in
the village on April 22 or 23 (Manolita De Lizarraga).
Common Raven : One was gathering nesting material in Cape Miquelon
on March 31 (JCH). One of the usual nests in Cape Miquelon had only one very young
chick, the female still brooding, on May 26, this nest was renovated fairly late
in the season. There is a new nest site on the Cape containing 2 young about 12
days old on May 26 (RE).
Horned Lark : A few birds over wintered. Four birds
were noted by MD at île-aux-Marins, near St. Pierre on March 17. They were
apparently migrants as none were seen there on several previous visits. The first
ones were singing in the village of Miquelon by March 23 (RE). In St. Pierre 6
were just south of the town on April 4 (TV).
Tree Swallow : The first one was reported by SA in
St. Pierre on May 7 while MD had 3 birds at Langlade the next day. Six other reports
between May 12 and May 31 for a maximum of 4 birds at a time (FPA/DG/PA).
Barn Swallow : Two in St. Pierre on May 5 (FPA/SA)
were 4 days earlier than average. 8 other reports, in St. Pierre, Miquelon and
the Isthmus for a maximum of 4 birds at a time, up to May 28 (FPA/RE/MD/PA).
Boreal Chickadee : Fairly common
as usual (m. ob.).
Brown Creeper : One in St.
Pierre on March 5 (SA), was a rather rare occurrence.
Winter Wren : None reported
for St. Pierre ! One male is singing near Mirande lake since April 26 (RE). A
few were heard singing at Langlade between May 4 and 9.
Golden-crowned Kinglet : Few or unreported
and only in St. Pierre between May 8 and 28. I must admit that I do not hear their
call anymore !
Ruby-crowned Kinglet : First seen
in St. Pierre by FPA on April 21 (6 days earlier than average) and up to April
23 (SA/LJ/MD). The first ones were heard singing in Miquelon by May 3. It was
abundant in both Miquelon and St. Pierre between May 4 and 8 (m. ob.) and fairly
common thereafter.
Gray-cheeked Thrush : Four were seen in St. Pierre on May 24 (LJ).
SwainsonÎs Thrush : One was found dead in St. Pierre airport on May 28
(LJ).
Hermit Thrush : The first one was seen by PA in St. Pierre on April
26 (10 days earlier than average). The next one was seen in the village of Miquelon
on May 3 (RE). Several were seen both in St. Pierre and Miquelon on May 5 (LJ/RE/MD).
Few singing here and there since (RE/PA/MD).
American Robin : One in St. Pierre on March 21 (PA) was possibly and over winterer. The
first migrant was spotted by JCH in the Cape of Miquelon on March 28 (JCH) while
LJ had four birds in St. Pierre the same day. Good numbers were noted on April
10 (MD) April 24 (RE) and May 5 (MD). One was carrying food in St. Pierre by May
27 (FPA).
Northern Mockingbird : One was seen in St. Pierre independently by PA and
LJ on May 24.
European Starling : One was carrying food in St. Pierre on May 29 (FPA).
Cedar Waxwing : One only seen so far by PA on May 31 in St. Pierre.
Tennessee Warbler : One report : two birds in St. Pierre May 23 (FPA) were
fairly early.
Northern Parula : A very early
female was in St. Pierre by May 8, the average arrival date (20 years out of 28)
is May 29 and earliest is May 20 (1983). One female, possibly the same was seen,
same area, on May 20 (PA).
Yellow Warbler : One very
early female was in St. Pierre on May 12 (FPA). Only in 1995 did we have an earlier
one : May 2 ! MD had possibly the same bird 3 days later while the next ones were
seen May 22 (LJ) and only May 27 in Miquelon (RE). Few so far.
Magnolia Warbler : One in St.
Pierre May 25 (FPA) and one heard in Miquelon May 28 (RE/DL) are the only records
so far.
Cape May Warbler : One in St.
Pierre May 9 (FPA) was 6 days earlier than the earliest in 1990.
Yellowrumped Warbler : The first two birds were seen in Miquelon on April 25 and 26 (RE).
DL had 2 in St. Pierre by May 2. Seen then regularly to the end of the period,
in rather low numbers, at least in Miquelon, as it is reported as fairly common
in St. Pierre (m. ob.)
Black-throated Green Warbler : 7 records
between May 22 and 31, one bird at a time (RE/DL/LJ/MD/FPA/PA).
Palm Warbler : Several birds were seen in Miquelon
(RE) and one in St. Pierre on May 3 (DL), one day earlier than average. Fairly
common and well reported in the 3 islands up to May 24 (m. ob.). Three birds landed
on a fishing vessel between 10 and 20 miles south of St. Pierre on May 5 (fide
MD).
Blackpoll Warbler : First seen
on May 19 in St. Pierre (MD/FPA) one day later than average. Regularly then in
relatively low numbers (PA/LJ/TV/FPA/PB).
Black and White Warbler : The first
one (male) was seen in St. Pierre May 11 (a week earlier than average). The next
one was seen two days later (PA). Regularly seen from May 19 on (MD/FPA/DG/PB/PA/RE).
I saw the first one in Miquelon only on May 23. Rather unusual were about 15 birds
seen by TV in St. Pierre May 22.
American Redstart : Two at Langlade
on May 26 (MD) is the only report.
Northern Waterthrush : One or two
were heard at Langlade on May 8, a week earlier than average (RE). One was seen
in St. Pierre on May 15 and 19 (MD). Regularly seen or heard from May 22 on in
fairly good numbers (RE/DL/LJ/PB).
Common Yellowthroat : One in St.
Pierre May 19 (MD) and regularly then in the three islands in rather low numbers
(FPA/PA/RE/LJ/MD/PB).
WilsonÎs Warbler : One male
was in St. Pierre May 20 (PA) two days earlier than average. Regularly then in
rather low numbers (RE/DL/MD/LJ/FPA/PA).
American
Tree Sparrow
: One only was in
St. Pierre March 6 (FPA) and between April 13 and 16 at SAÎs feeder.
Chipping Sparrow : One was in Cape Miquelon May 5 and
one at Langlade May 8 (RE). Two were seen in St. Pierre May 31 (PA).
Savannah Sparrow : As it is
often the case (11 years out of 28) a few birds are seen early, this year a few
individuals were in St. Pierre on April 10 (MD). One of the Ipswich ssp. was seen
by LJ in St. Pierre on April 22. The first one appeared in Miquelon on April 23
(RE). Regularly then in fairly good numbers (m. ob.).
Fox Sparrow : A few birds were seen at feeders in
St. Pierre this past winter (SA/LJ). The first migrants seen to have appeared
in St. Pierre on March 26 (fide MD). I heard the first ones in Miquelon only April
5. Common since, as usual. I had one adult with nesting material in Miquelon May
5 and young were seen in St. Pierre on May 31 (MD).
Song Sparrow : Seen only in St. Pierre from April
20 on (LJ/PA), singing here and there (PA/FPA/DG/SA/RE/DL).
LincolnÎs Sparrow : One was
with the White throats in Miquelon on May 4 (13 days earlier than average, although
we have one record for April 24 (1987). One was reported from St. Pierre between
May 20 and 28 (FPA).
Swamp Sparrow : Seen first
in St. Pierre by MD on May 5 and at Langlade on May 8 (RE). Regularly seen and/or
heard from May 19 on (m. ob.).
White-throated Sparrow : A few birds
over wintered in St. Pierre. The first migrants were apparently seen in St. Pierre
on April 21 (FPA) and at Langlade on May 1 (BL). Good numbers appeared on May
4 where there was about 50 birds or more near Cape Miquelon (RE/JCH), and also
some in St. Pierre. Fairly common since well distributed in fairly good numbers
(m. ob.).
White-crowned Sparrow : Two seen
in St. Pierre May 5 (DG) were quite, early equalled only last year ! ˆ I had one
in Miquelon May 26 (RE).
Dark-eyed Junco : FPA had
a maximum 42 birds at their feeder in St. Pierre on March 24 while they had, as
well as SA, about 30 throughout the month. In Miquelon-Langlade the first migrant
was seen April 22 (RE) and 6 at Langlade May 1 (BL). JCH had about 15 in Cape
Miquelon on May 4.
Snow Bunting : About 40 were on the isthmus on March
3. Ten were on St. Pierre March 11. Last seen one in breeding plumage in Miquelon
May 29 (LJ).
Bobolink : One male in St. Pierre May 31 (PA).
Red-winged Blackbird : One male
(apparently a first year) was in St. Pierre on May 8 (PA), also seen by FPA on
May 12. Seen again May 13 (PA). One female was present, same area, on May 31 (PA)
Rusty Blackbird : Eight birds were first reported April 24 in St. Pierre
(PA) and regularly then. The first and only one was seen in Miquelon May 5. A
pair was seen at Langlade on May 8 (MD).
Common Grackle : Three birds were seen for the first time in
St. Pierre on April 20. regularly then. PA reports at least four pairs nesting
in St. Pierre by May 31. Probably unprecedented was a flock of about 25 birds
in the village of Miquelon on April 24 (RE) where a few lingered until May 3.
Brown-headed Cowbird : One female
at LJÎs feeder between April 30 and May 3.
Pine Grosbeak : 7 reports
only between March 4 and May 27, mostly in Miquelon. PA had a pair collecting
food in St. Pierre by May 29.
Purple Finch : Seen in St. Pierre occasionally and
at feeders only between March 1 and May 6 (LJ/SA/FPA) for a maximum of 12 on May
5 (LJ). A young male was singing in St. Pierre on May 22 and 24 (RE/DL/PA).
Pine Siskin : 20 reports only for St. Pierre ! ˆ
for a maximum of 74 at FPAÎs feeder on March 12.
American Goldfinch : Reported only for St. Pierre were
it is now resident, LJ had a maximum of twenty at his feeder on March 29 and April
4. PA had a maximum of 13 on March 22 where they had a hard time with the Pine
siskins (PA).
Contributors : Fr€deric & Patricia Allen-Mah€ (FPA); Sylvie
Allen-Mah€ (SA); Pascal Asselin (PA); Marc D€rible (MD); Ang€lique Etcheberry
(AE); Dominique Gouverne (DG); Philippe Hacala (PH); Jacky and Christine H€bert
(JCH); Laurent Jackman (LJ); Danielle Lebollocq (DL); Bruno Letournel (BL); Thierry
Vogenstahl (TV).
Saint-Pierre
June 14, 2001
Roger Etcheberry
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