The nesting season (2001) in St. Pierre & Miquelon islands

A fairly quiet season, weather was about average, second fortnight of July was quite acceptable. Interesting shorebirds in early July and among them a very rare species for the area.

Red-throated Loon : One pair in Miquelon on June 7 had one nest and one egg. The site was checked on July 30, the pair was there with only one chick about 3 weeks old. It was injured or crippled, standing on its side, one leg paddling into the air ! ˆ was seen fed by one parent. LJ had one nest and two eggs near the north-east part of the Isthmus on June 19.

Common Loon : One bird in breeding plumaged was seen alone, possibly injured, between June 1 and 16 near the village of Miquelon. There is a total of 10 reports in June up to two bird at a time (RE/DL/FPA/BL). Two birds were seen on the south-west corner of the isthmus on July 12 (LJ).

Northern Fulmar : They have not nested yet ! ˆ prospecting now for 16 years. LJ had 8 birds off the east coast of Miquelon-Langlade on July 11.

Greater Shearwater : NONE REPORTED ! ˆ For the first time in 27 years, reflecting the scarcity of capelin around our coasts again this year. The latest arrival date on record is June 29 in 1996.

Sooty Shearwater : Two between St. Pierre and Langlade on June 16 (PA). A few between St. Pierre and Fortune (Burin peninsula NFLD) on July 10 and 13 (RE) are the only reports.

Manx Shearwater : About 100 birds were seen not far from Grand Colombier on July 1 (LJ) A few were near that island on July 13 (RE).

Northern Gannet : 19 reports between June 2 and July 21, few birds at a time (m. ob.). There was a maximum of ¼several tens‘ near Grand Colombier on July 8 (PA).

Double-crested Cormorant : Seen regularly between the Miquelon eastern rocks where they breed, Mirande lake and the salt pond near the village of Miquelon throughout the season. No census again this year.

Great Cormorant : About 30 nests with from 1 to 3 chicks each and about è adult size were counted by LJ on Grand Colombier island on July 27. No other nesting data.

Great blue Heron : One was first seen by Denis Fouchard near the village of Miquelon on June 16, was also seen the next day (RE).

Great Egret : One spent a few minutes on a bank of the salt pond near the village of Miquelon on July 9 (first reported by Remy Cox).

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron : One immature was seen in St. Pierre on July 26 by PA and PB.

Canada Goose : About 40 non-breeding birds were on the Isthmus in early June, then 55 were on a pond of northern Miquelon around June 20. We had about 20 broods again this year! ˆ (RE/DL/LJ/MD/PB/BL) ranging from 2 to the rather unusual 7 goslings. Only one of these was reported from Langlade. Lack of coverage or more disturbance by trout fishermen ?

American Black duck : One female was seen with 2 or 3 young on northern Langlade on June 2 (MD). One alarmed female was seen on the isthmus by AE on July 13. One adult was seen with one young on the N.E. side of the isthmus by PA on July 28.

Mallard : One male was with a pair of Pintail near the village of Miquelon on June 10. LJ had a female with a brood of 6 young aged a few days in N. Miquelon on June 20.

Blue-winged Teal : One male was seen near the town of St. Pierre on June 2 (SA/FPA).

Northern Pintail : About as usual, 11 broods reported between June 17 and July 30 at Langlade, Miquelon and the Isthmus (MD/LJ/BL/RE/AE/PA). 17 flying birds were seen near Grand Barachois on July 23 (RE)

Green-winged Teal : No broods reported. Up to 22 males were seen, as usual, on the isthmus in early July (RE/AE/PB).

Ring-necked Duck : Three males were on the southern side of the isthmus on June 10, two only the next day (RE/DL).

Greater Scaup : Two males were on the Isthmus one June 6 and 3 males, same area, on June 11 (RE).

White-winged Scoter : LJ had 14 birds off the East coast of the Isthmus on July 29.

Red-breasted Merganser : About as usual. Eleven broods reported between July 1 and 31 (m. ob.) on Mirande lake and vicinity, on the Isthmus and west coast of Miquelon.

Osprey : Two at Langlade on June 17 (MD) and one, also at Langlade, on June 26. (BL).

Bald Eagle : The pair on Cape Miquelon was reported last month as having two young. The pair in St. Pierre built a new nest this year and had two young aged about 3 weeks on June 13 (LJ). No data for Langlade where two pairs used to nest (one nest was destroyed last winter and not rebuilt, possibly the same thing happened on southern Langlade. One pair was seen on southern Langlade by BL on June 26.

Northern Harrier : Two pairs nested again this year. One in northern Miquelon had 4 young aged about 3 weeks on July 17 (LJ). The other pair was on southern Miquelon, the nest was not located though (RE).

Northern Goshawk : One ¼ferocious‘ pair was nesting as usual on north-western Langlade (LJ/BL/PB) the number of chicks is not known for obvious reasons !

Rough-legged Hawk : A new nest, about 2 m above the other was built this year on Colombier island and had 3 young adult size on July 27 (LJ). The next day PB reported 3 birds in flight above the same island.

Merlin : As said for a few years now, their rather low numbers reflects the low numbers of passerine birds. 5 nesting evidences were reported this year between June 16 and July 30 (RE/PA/PB/MD). Only MD reports seeing one flying chick on the east coast of Miquelon on July 19.

Sora : One summer resident of the Isthmus (where the bird was usually heard in late evening) recognised the call when I imitated it to him on June 11. I did not check it personally.

Black-bellied Plover : The first two were seen by PA on July 28 (PA). Their appeared fairly numerous on the banks of Grand Barachois on July 31, then the fog came for the rest of the day ! ˆ (RE).

American Golden Plover : About 15 birds in flight near the village of Miquelon, seen from a distance were probably this species on July 28 (RE).

Semipalmated Plover : Only three broods were reported (near the village of Miquelon) 1 on June 27 and 2 on July 9 (RE). The first migrants appeared around the end of July with a maximum of about 50 near the village of Miquelon on July 29 (RE).

Piping Plover : For the first time, on June 19, two nests containing four eggs each were found on the north-east side of the gully of Grand Barachois (LJ) were disturbance is minimum. One pair had 3 young aged a few days on July 1 on the opposite and more disturbed side of the gully (RE). Another pair, first seen on the west side of the isthmus was found alarmed by PB on the southern part of the isthmus where they have nested before. So, at least four pairs were present on the isthmus this year.

Killdeer : One pair had two young visible, aged about a week, near the village of Miquelon by July 15 (RE).

Greater Yellowlegs : Four reports between June 3 and 19 (PB/RE/DL/LJ) are somewhat unusual for a non-breeding species. One was alone at Grand Barachois on July 1 (RE). First migrants appeared on July 10 and regularly since, for a maximum of about 25 to 30 together on the east coast of Grand Barachois on July 22.

Lesser Yellowlegs : Two were at Grand Barachois on July 31 (RE).

Willet : One was seen near Grand Barachois on July 3 (RE) July 6 (PB) July 22 (FPA) and July 28 (PA).

Spotted Sandpiper : Well reported throughout the season. 8 broods or nesting evidences were reported between June 6 and July 21 (m. ob.).

Whimbrel : The first two were reported on June 28 by a visitor (Yann Mouzin from New Caledonia). Then 4 were seen, same area, by AE. Fairly large numbers were seen from July 19 on with up to 250 to 300 birds on the Isthmus (RE/PB) some around the village of Miquelon and a few in St. Pierre (PA/RE).

Hudsonian Godwit : A first June and July report for this species. One bird was near Grand Barachois between June 28 and July 7 (RE/PB). It was not a Black-tailed !

Ruddy Turnstone: One bird was near the village of Miquelon on June 1 (RE). First migrants (6) appeared on the Isthmus on July 22 (MD) while PA had about 50 birds, same area, on July 28.

Red Knot : Eight birds were at Grand Barachois on July 22 (FPA). A few were at Grand Barachois with some adults in breeding plumage on July 31, count was impossible under foggy conditions (RE).

Sanderling : One was at Grand Barachois on July 22 (FPA) while ¼several tens‘ were seen, same area, on July 28 (PA).

Semipalmated Sandpiper : Quite unusual were two birds near Grand Barachois on June 6 (RE).

Red-necked STINT : An adult in breeding plumage was carefully studied at close range at Grand Barachois on July 1, the possibility of the bird being a breeding-plumaged Sanderling was eliminated as well as the little Stint. Description (see below) sent to several bird watchers without naming the bird came back with the same comment ¼Red-necked Stint‘.

Least Sandpiper : A few here and there, about as usual, no nesting reports. More common, about as usual, around early July. (RE/PA/PB).

White-Rumped Sandpiper : One unseasonable bird was at Grand Barachois on July 1 as well as some unusual species for the period (see above and below). A few were at Grand Barachois on July 31.

Stilt Sandpiper : One adult in breeding plumage was at Grand Barachois with the Hudsonian Godwit between July 1 and 3 (RE/PB). This is only the second record for SPM.

Short-billed Dowitcher : One at Grand Barachois on July 2 was rather early ! (RE). Two were at Grand Barachois on July 28 (PA) and a few, seen just before the arrival of the fog on July 31 (RE). About 450 to 500 shorebirds were at Grand Barachois that day.

Common Snipe : About as usual. MD had a brood of three or four young on June 17 at Langlade. One pair was with an almost fledged young in Miquelon on June 2 (LJ). I had an alarmed bird, having probably a brood, in Miquelon, on July 4.

Pomarine Jaeger : Two were seen between Fortune and St. Pierre on July 13 (RE).

Black-legged Kittiwake : Probably due to lack of capelin in our area the colonies failed COMPLETELY this year. Not a single nest had young and the colony on the cliffs of Cape Miquelon had only 1/3 of its inhabitants by July 22 (RE). Same thing is reported for Colombier island on July 29 (LJ).

Common/Arctic Tern : The two species were fairly common in Miquelon and on the Isthmus. The nesting data is scarce, some nests or young were found here and there, mostly for the Common Tern. A group of Arctic tried to nest near the Gully of Grand Barachois were a couple of nests with eggs were found. The site is disturbed by 4x4 vehicles and although more than 100 birds stayed in the area up to the end of the period, no young were located.

Dovekie : One was seen on the east coast of Langlade on July 13 (LJ).

Razorbill : About 15 birds were seen on the cliffs of Cape Miquelon on June 7 (RE); this is more than on previous year. Reported as ¼about as usual‘ by PB on Colombier island.

Black Guillemot : Common as usual around our coasts.

Atlantic Puffin : Reported as ¼about as usual‘ June 30 on Grand Colombier (PA). 5 chicks aged about 2 to 3 weeks were found by LJ, same area, on July 27.

Snowy Owl : One was seen in St. Pierre by BL at the unusual date of June 25 ! ˆ

Short-eared Owl : One was seen in St. Pierre July 16 (FPA).

Belted Kingfisher : One or two were seen regularly in St. Pierre between June 1 and July 3 (m.ob.) no nesting evidence. One was seen in Miquelon on June 26 (RE) and two were at Langlade on July 26 (BL).

Northern Flicker : While good numbers were seen in migration, and while 4 broods were found for the first time in Miquelon last year, we had a poor nesting season. Several known nesting sites were not occupied either at Langlade and in Miquelon. One pair was thought as ¼probably nesting‘ on southern Langlade on June 16 (PA). One nest on western Langlade, July 8 had one young at the entrance of the cavity (RE).

Olive-sided Flycatcher : One or two were seen near Mirande lake on June 12 (MD). One was heard singing, same area, on June 26 (RE).

Eastern Wood-Pewee : One was in St. Pierre June 11 (LJ).

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher : Fairly common, well reported, mostly in Miquelon-Langlade (m. ob.). No nesting record.

Alder Flycatcher : One male was singing on June 19, 26 and 27 (RE), where the first nesting evidence was found last year.

Eastern Kingbird : Scarcer than usual. It is probably the first year I did not see a single one ! ˆ One was seen at Langlade (PA) and 2 in St. Pierre (FPA) on June 2. One was also in St. Pierre on June 14 (FPA) and 22 (BL). While DG had one at île-aux-Marins (near St. Pierre) on June 17.

Blue-headed Vireo : Two males were singing on the East coast of Miquelon on June 12 (RE/DL).

Red-eyed Vireo : One bird was singing near Mirande lake on June 26 and, later on, possibly the same bird about 1 km to the south on July 4 (RE).

Blue Jay : Rarer than last year : One was seen on June 3 (FPA) Two on June 6 (DG) and one on June 28 (FPA), all in St. Pierre.

American Crow : One nest had two eggs and two chicks, near Mirande lake on June 12 (MD).

Common Raven : Six nesting reports, in Miquelon, St. Pierre and Langlade (RE/FPA). The first ones out of the nest were found near Mirande lake by June 26 (RE).

Horned Lark : Fairly common as usual. PB had two flying young on the Isthmus by July 11.

Tree Swallow : No report for the month of July. All June reports for St. Pierre for a maximum of 5 birds on June 1 (DG). One pair was seen occupying a nesting box on June 13 and 16 (FPA) no more details.

Bank Swallow : Two or three birds were seen in St. Pierre on June 7 and 8 (PA/LJ). Two were on the Isthmus on July 18 (RE).

Barn Swallow : Rather scarce as well, 10 reports for a maximum of 3 birds at a time in St. Pierre, the Isthmus and Miquelon between June 2 and July 22 (SA/PB/PA/LJ/AE/MD/RE).

Black-capped Chickadee : Not a single report ! ˆ

Boreal Chickadee : Fairly common as usual, although certainly underreported. Two (of different pairs) were carrying food at Langlade on June 29 (RE).

Red-breasted Nuthatch : The first one of the year was heard in Miquelon on July 27 (RE) while PB had at least three at Langlade 3 days later.

Winter Wren : Several reports of singing males at Langlade and in Miquelon throughout the period (RE/DL/PA/PB). None reported from St. Pierre.

Golden-crowned Kinglet : Probably largely unreported. A few at Langlade July 10 (PB).

Ruby-crowned Kinglet : Possibly underreported, singing here and there in St. Pierre, Langlade and Miquelon between June 2 and July 4 (PB/RE/DL/PA).

Veery : One seen and heard by LJ in Miquelon on June 22 was a rather rare record.

Gray-cheeked Thrush : Rather scarce for several years in a row. Most reports from Miquelon, very few individuals at a time, between June 1 and July 4 (RE/DL). Nobody else reported it ! ˆ

SwainsonÎs Thrush : Very scarce. One nest on July 4 with 3 hatching young and one egg found on the ground at the bottom of a balsam fir in Miquelon was a surprise (RE). This is about the third nesting report for the species.

Hermit Thrush : A few, more often heard than seen, at Langlade and Miquelon between June 10 and July 21 (PA/RE/DL).

American Robin : About as usual, several nesting reports between June 7 and July 4 (RE/DL/LJ).

Gray Catbird : One only seen and photographed at Langlade between July 4 and 12 (PB).

American Pipit : One only seen on Colombier island on July 27 (LJ).

Cedar Waxwing : Quite scarce this year for the first time. One only seen in St. Pierre on June 4 (FPA) and 8 (LJ); one at Langlade June 9 (MD) and about 12 at Langlade July 26 (LJ).

Tennessee Warbler : 5 reports of singing males at Langlade only between June 26 and July 10 (RE/PA/PB).

Northern Parula : One male was singing and another individual was seen near Mirande lake on June 1 (RE).

Yellow Warbler : Fairly common and well reported throughout the season. The only nesting report came from PB who had adults carrying food in two different areas and two other adults with a flying young at Langlade on July 12.

Magnolia Warbler : One male was singing in Miquelon on June 12 and 19 (RE). One individual was in St. Pierre on June 14 (LJ).

Yellowrumped Warbler : Fairly common up to June 3 (SA/FPA/PA). One was calling in Miquelon June 19 (RE) and one male was at Langlade July 12 (PB). No nesting evidence this year.

Blackpoll Warbler : Fairly common, a few nesting records between July 9 and 21 (RE/PB).

Black and White Warbler : Rather scarce, four reports only, 1 bird at a time, between June 16 and July 10 (RE/DL/PA/PB).

American Redstart : Nine reports only, mostly one bird at a time, between June 1 and July 8 (LJ/RE/PA/MD/DL).

Northern Waterthrush : Still the most common although less numerous than in the past. One was carrying food at Langlade on July 12 (PB).

Mourning Warbler : All at Langlade : one heard and seen June 16 (RE/DL), Two or three heard on July 8 (RE). One singing male photographed by PB on July 10.

Common Yellowthroat : Fairly common and well reported (m. ob.). The only nesting reports come from PB for Langlade : One pair carrying food on July 10; one pair also carrying food on July 30; one male carrying food, young briefly seen in the bushes on July 31.

WilsonÎs Warbler : 7 reports only, few birds at a time between June 2 and 29 (PA/FPA/RE/DL).

Savannah Sparrow : Common as usual, although PA thinks it is less common than usual in Ile aux Marins and St. Pierre. Five nests were found between June 8 and July 19. (RE/DL/PB/LJ). In flocks by the end of the month .

Fox Sparrow : Fairly common as usual. Nine breeding evidence reported between June 1 and July 4 (RE/FPA/DL).

Song Sparrow : One male was reported singing in St. Pierre by PA on June 2, 9, 15 and 23.

LincolnÎs Sparrow : One was around my garden for most of the day in Miquelon on June 4.

Swamp Sparrow : Fairly common as usual. One breeding observation reported : one alarmed adult at Langlade on June 30 (PA).

White-throated Sparrow : Fairly common, about as usual, no nesting data (RE/DL/PA/PB).

Dark-eyed Junco : Observed in St. Pierre only. FPA had a few breeding evidence again around their feeder. Adults were seen with young on June 12 and 14 and on July 23 and 28.

Bobolink : One male was seen in St. Pierre between June 1 and 3 (FPA/SA/PA).

Rusty Blackbird : One pair was seen in St. Pierre on June 15 (BL), the species once fairly common is now quite uncommon around here.

Common Grackle : Two were in the village of Miquelon on June 1 (RE). At least two pairs were carrying food in St. Pierre on June 15 where one bird only was seen a month later (PA).

Brown-headed Cowbird : One female was at Langlade on June 10 (MD).

Pine Grosbeak : Rather uncommon and in Miquelon only (RE). Nobody else reported it !

Pine Siskin : One nesting record in St. Pierre : adults feeding two young on June 4 (FPA). PA had four birds, also on St. Pierre June 23.

American Goldfinch : Reported for St. Pierre only : 5 reports of few birds at a time between June 1 and July 31 (PB/SA/FPA/PA).

Contributors : Fr€deric & Patricia Allen-Mah€ (FPA); Sylvie Allen-Mah€ (SA); Pascal Asselin (PA); Patrick Boez (PB) ; Marc D€rible (MD); Ang€lique Etcheberry (AE) ; Dominique Gouverne (DG); Laurent Jackman (LJ); Danielle Lebollocq (DL); Bruno Letournel (BL)

Miquelon August 6, 2001

Roger Etcheberry

RARE BIRD REPORT

Miquelon July 2 2001

Description of a very rare bird seen July 1st at Grand Barachois Miquelon.

A few days ago I saw, too briefly, a Godwit near the south coast of Grand Barachois in Miquelon, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon island near position 46Ø58ÎN / 56Ø19ÎW. I returned today, July 1st, the bird was still there and I can confirm it to be an Hudsonian Godwit and not a Black-tailed Godwit. With it was Stilt Sandpiper, a second record for SPM ! ˆ While observing these birds I was struck by the bird described below. I returned the next morning with a camera but did not see the bird, weather was quite wet dark and foggy. I saw again the Godwit, the Stilt Sandpiper and also a short-billed Dowitcher. Below youÎll also see that I mention a White-rumped Sandpiper, which is also unusual that early in July. The only migrant we usually see at this time of the year is the Whimbrel ! ˆ

Description of the bird :

Peep, striking rufous colour from below the eye to the throat and upper breast, uniform in colour, without streaks, or, at close range with some very tiny specks of white. Below the rufous area and on the sides were very fine dark lines leading to an all white belly.

Dark, somewhat indistinct line through the eye, irregular stripes on top of head, darker in centre crown.

Some feathers on back with rufous colour and a fairly large spot almost heart shaped below but with a flat top.

Very dark or black legs.

Size : in between least Sandpiper (not much larger) and White rumped sandpiper (nearby), Bill strait, black, fairly thick at base and appearing somewhat shorter than the bill of a Least Sandpiper, about or less than the size of the head.

It was observed for quite a while, probably more than 20 minutes, in fact, as long as wanted to, through 8-42 Leica and Svarowsky telescope 25-60/80mm , standing most of the time, occasionally probing in the mud. I had the opportunity to see the bird from the back, from the side and from the front.

The possibility that the bird could be a breeding plumaged Sanderling was eliminated, the bird did not appear to behave like this species, and the uniform colour of the rufous area was very different from illustrations of the Sanderling. The bird did not have a white throat, thus eliminating the little Stint.

The bird is not in PetersonÎs field guide, fortunately, that day I had the Macmillan field guide to North Atlantic Shorebirds by Richard Chandler. Although the adult summer bird shown on page 97 is not very good, it was the only one that was approaching the species I was looking at.

Arriving home I checked on the internet and found a site mentioning the Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis, found 15 July 2000, at Pike's Beach near Cupsogue, Suffolk Co., New York, USA The bird shown on the site : http://www.best.com/~petrel/RNS.NY.html was absolutely identical to the one I had found at Grand Barachois, Miquelon.