Site fondé en 1993

A winter with very little snow but a lot of rain. Freshwater ponds were mostly frozen although some, on the Isthmus, somewhat thawed in February. The CBC took place December 21 with 9 participants.

Common Loon : Very few birds around the islands, except off the Cape of Miquelon, a new site discovered a few years ago. We had 65 birds, most of them there, during the CBC. There was a maximum of 112 birds also there February 3 (an unprecedented number !).

Red-necked Grebe : In St. Pierre there was a maximum of 88 birds February 16 (BL). The usual site, off dune de Mirande (E. coast of Miquelon) harbor much less birds in recent years, there was a maximum of 35 birds there in late January/early February. The new site (see above) had about 120-125 January 23; about 160, February 3 and more than 450 February 25 (RE). This is a total of over 500 birds for the islands.

Great Cormorant : We had 45 birds during the CBC, mostly on the cliffs of the Cape. Some birds were present on this site the whole winter, this is surprising as they are not known to breed there.

Double-crested Cormorant : Two birds were near the village of Miquelon December 14 (RE). Six were seen on the CBC. There are 6 other reports between January 11 and February 13 in Miquelon and St. Pierre, one individual at a time (RE/JCH/PA/LJ).

Canada Goose : One shot in St. Pierre December 9 (PA, fide PH) is the only report ! ...

Green-winged Teal : One bird was alone on the Isthmus January 6 (RE).

American Black duck : We had 463 birds at Grand Barachois during the CBC December 21 (a record high). The Barachois was almost entirely free of ice for most of the winter. We have a record high of over 400 birds wintering there : 478, Dec. 14; 427, Jan. 6; 473, Jan 13 (RE); 393, Jan. 27 (BL) 430, Feb. 3 (LJ), 395, Feb. 25 (LJ). Fewer birds than usual were seen in St. Pierre (BL).

Mallard : Two males were at Grand Barachois December 14 (RE). One only was seen on the CBC (RE/DL). One male was still at Grand Barachois Feb. 25 (LJ).

Ring-necked Duck : Unusual was a pair on the Southern part of the Isthmus December 7 (RE).

Greater Scaup : Three (1 male two females) were in St. Pierre December 9 (BL/PH). We had 4 at Grand Barachois on the CBC. One pair was in St. Pierre December 28 (BL). At Grand Barachois, there were 14, Jan. 27 (BL), 13, Feb. 3 and 22, Feb. 22 (LJ).

Common Eider : Around St. Pierre there were between 1000 and 1500 throughout the season with about 2000 from Jan. 21 to 27 (BL/LJ). Off the East coast of Miquelon, there were about 700 for most of the winter off the harbor of Miquelon and surrounding areas (RE/JCH/BL/LJ). Further south near Miquelon rocks BL had between 1500 and 1800 on Dec. 24.

Harlequin duck : There was 1 off the east coast of Miquelon Dec. 18 (PH), one off the East coast of St. Pierre December 25 (DG), one male off the N-W coast of Langlade Feb. 6 (BL) and Feb. 21 (LJ). Unprecedented.... were 14 birds off the West coast of St. Pierre February 15 (LJ) and 12, same site, Feb. 25 (BL).

Oldsquaw : 894 during the CBC had been exceeded only in 1986 (1034). Otherwise as usual, several hundreds around the islands throughout the winter. (m. ob.).

Black Scoter : On in the salt pond near the village Dec. 3 (BL); 4 or 5 off the S-W corner of the Isthmus Dec. 7 (RE). Two only during the CBC seen by BL/PH) and 6 off dune de Mirande February 25 (RE);

Surf Scoter : One or two with a few Blacks Dec. 7 (see above). 4 off the East coast of Langlade during the CBC (BL/PH). One pair in St. Pierre December 28 (BL). One off the East coast of Miquelon January 7 (BL).

White-winged Scoter : 162 was a record number for the CBC, seen off the E. coast of the Isthmus (BL/PH). Hundreds of Scoters, same area, Jan. 13, were difficult to identifiy to species, the closest ones were this species and 7 birds were off dune de Mirande Feb. 25 (RE).

Common Goldeneye : Seen as usual mostly at Grand Barachois were 91 were tallied on the CBC and 110 February 25 (LJ). About fifty birds were seen on the N-W coast of Langlade Feb. 3 (LJ) and Feb. 6 (BL).

Red-breasted Merganser : Only 86 were counted during the CBC (we had 123, 104, 102, 119 in 1979, 1986, 1994 and 1997 respectively). Well reported and about as usual throughout the season off Miquelon and the Isthmus (m. ob.). This species is always rather rare around St. Pierre and Southern Langlade.

Bald Eagle : 9 reports, mostly one or two at a time between Dec. 7 and Jan. 31. Unusual were 4 birds, 2 adults, 1 immature and 1 subadult seen by JCH on the Cape of Miquelon January 15.

Sharp-shinned Hawk : One spent the winter in St. Pierre last year. This winter observations are less numerous : One in the town Dec. 21 (PA), two December 25 (DG) One immature January 9 (PA) and one in flight above the town Feb. 13 (LJ), all in St. Pierre. One bird only was seen in Miquelon near Mirande lake February 1 (LJ).

Rough-legged Hawk : One was a first for a CBC for a bird that is always rare in Miquelon (LJ/SA) ! (we had a count week in 1995)

American Coot : One near Grand Barachois (RE/DL) was a first for a CBC. Probably the bird reported by Thierry Gautier in November.

Black-bellied Plover : Two at Grand Barachois December 9 (RE) and only one there on the CBC (RE/DL).

Killdeer : One near the East coast of Miquelon reported by Denis Detcheverry December 14.

Sanderling : 7 near Grand Barachois Jan. 1 (LJ) 5 of them had traces of oil on their belly ! Twelve birds, same area, with 3 with traces of oil were seen January 6 (RE) while BL had only one bird there Jan. 4.

Purple Sandpiper : We had 52 birds on the CBC. From 20 to 30 were seen in St-Pierre habour (RE/PA). We (RE/JCH) had about 100 birds near the village of Miquelon January 29.

Dunlin : One seen on the CBC, and, probably the same one near Grand Barachois Jan. 1 (LJ) and Jan. 6 (RE).

Common Snipe : One reported at Langlade by Georges Michel around the end of the year. Another one was recorded at St. Pierre by FPA Jan. 3.

Black-headed Gull : Seen throughout the season in St. Pierre and somewhat less regularly in Miquelon (PA/LJ/RE/BL/JCH). We have a record breaking number of 17 birds counted the same day : 8 in St. Pierre and 9 in Miquelon, January 21.

Herring Gull : 232 were counted on the CBC.

Iceland Gull : 63 counted on the CBC were exceeded only in 1987 and 1994. Now that I live in Miquelon I realize that this species in very common in winter only in St. Pierre harbor. In Miquelon I had about 30 birds off the W. coast of the Isthmus Dec. 29 and about 55 off the West coast Miquelon January 3.

Glaucous Gull : One only counted on the CBC. There were two immatures near the village January 21 (RE/JCH) and one adult at Grand Barachois January 31 (RE).

Great Black-backed Gull : 60 was a low number for the CBC.

Black-legged Kittiwake : 129 counted during the CBC were exceeded only in 1996 and 1997. There were at least 200, February 25 off the cliffs of the Cape where they usually breed (RE).

Dovekie : The first significant number (631) was seen, mostly by JCH off the Cape of Miquelon during the CBC. Several hundreds or possibly thousands were seen by BL off the North-West coast of St. Pierre January 2. The next day PA estimated about 200 in St-Pierre harbour. None reported in February !

Thick-billed Murre: One only on the CBC. A few birds were regularly seen in St. Pierre harbour by PA throughout the season. 15 Murre sp. were reported during the CBC while BL had hundreds of Murre sp. in flight off the South-east coast of St-Pierre December 28.

Razorbill : One bird near Colombier island December 16 (BL).

Black Guillemot : 133 was an absolute record for the CBC, due mostly to very good conditions of observation. They were mostly seen by JCH off the Cape of Miquelon. Otherwise, common around the islands as usual.

Mourning Dove : One in the village of Miquelon Dec. 2 (JCH), also two, same site, December 14 (RE). Eight counted in Miquelon during the CBC was equal to the record number of 1994.

Snowy Owl : One only seen in the highest point of St. Pierre February 13 (LJ).

Short-eared Owl : One in St-Pierre December 26 (BL).

Northern Flicker : One in St. Pierre December 12 (LJ); one at Langlade December 16 (BL) and one in Miquelon February 2 (LJ).

Horned Lark : 30, mostly on the Isthmus on the CBC was exceeded only in 1979 (31), and 1993 (32). 7 other reports between December 9 and February 28 mostly on the Isthmus and in Miquelon for a maximum of 8 birds January 31 (RE/LJ).

Blue Jay : Three birds were present regularly throughout the season at SAÎs feeder until one was found dead around mid February.

American Crow : 49 were counted on the CBC was exceeded only in 1994 (51).

Common Raven : 63 counted on the CBC was exceeded in 1990 (66) and 1994 (51). Fairly common in Miquelon throughout the season.

Boreal Chickadee : 15 counted on the CBC was a rather low number. Several reports in the 3 islands for a maximum of about 15 birds in W. Langlade January 23 and 17 or18 birds in Cape Miquelon Jan. 31 (JCH).

Red-breasted Nuthatch : One only seen by LJ/SA during the CBC on the east coast of Miquelon.

Winter Wren : One heard in Miquelon December 14 (RE).

Golden-crowned Kinglet : 8 only counted on the CBC was fairly low. 7 other reports, few birds at a time between Dec. 15 and Feb. 28 for a maximum of 5 in St-Pierre December 26 (PA).

American Robin : One in St. Pierre December 3 (MD). One at Langlade Dec. 7 (RE). Two in Miquelon Dec. 26 reported by Hervé Detcheverry and one in St. Pierre the same day (PA). One in the town of St. Pierre Jan. 6 (PA) is the last report of a species never encountered during the CBC ...

Northern Mockingbird: One in St-Pierre December 13 (LJ) Dec. 9 (PA) and January 20 (DG).

American Pipit : Three in St-Pierre Jan. 30 and 31 (PA) are the only reports.

Bohemian Waxwing : Two in the town of St. Pierre at DGÎs feeder January 3.

Northern Shrike : One only during the CBC seen in the Cape of Miquelon by JCH. No other report for a bird that was also rare last winter.

European Starling : One only was spotted on the CBC while I had 21 birds in the village of Miquelon Jan. 19.

Yellowrumped Warbler : 4 reports, one bird at a time between December 6 and 26 (LJ/PA/PA). Last seen, two birds in St-Pierre January 15 (DG).

Prairie Warbler : One in St-Pierre December 6 (PA).

Dickcissel : One male near the feeder in St. Pierre December 24 (PA). One also in St. Pierre at LJÎs feeder between early December and Dec. 26. LJ had another one near Mirande lake December 26.

Fox Sparrow : One in the Cape of Miquelon February 22 (LJ).

Swamp Sparrow : One in St-Pierre December 26 (PA) is a record late.

White-throated Sparrow : One in St-Pierre December 15 and 20 (LJ). One also in St. Pierre January 3 (FPA).

Dark-eyed Junco : Always very uncommon in winter : 4 only counted by JCH on the CBC on Cape Miquelon. JCH had at least 6 birds, also on the Cape January. 15. SA had between 6 and 8 birds throughout the season at her feeder.

Lapland Longspur : One only near the South coast of Grand Barachois December 9 (RE).

Snow Bunting : 192 was a fairly good number for a CBC. JCH had about 100 birds regularly at their feeder throughout the season although we didÎnt have much snow this winter. A few years ago, these birds were coming to the feeder only when the ground was snow covered ! A few here and there throughout the season.

Common Grackle : 4 reports, each of 5 birds at a time, all for St. Pierre between Dec. 1 and Feb. 13 (DG/PA).

Pine Grosbeak : The species have been much more common here this winter than in recent years. We had a record number of 33 for the CBC. 16 other reports between Dec. 14 and Feb. 28 (m. ob.). LJ had 13 birds near Mirande lake Dec. 27, and we (RE/JCH) had 30 to 40 birds in Cape Miquelon January 15.

Red Crossbill : Two only during the CBC on East coast of Miquelon. about 15 same general area January 1 (RE). and 12 on Eastern Langlade January 3 (BL).

White-winged Crossbill : 11 only counted by LJ/SA on the CBC on the East coast of Miquelon. Several other reports for a maximum of about 50 birds in the Cape of Miqueon January 15 (RE/JCH).

Common Redpoll : 4 reports all for Miquelon between January 14 and 27 for a maximum of about 30 birds January 14 and 27 (RE/JCH).

Pine Siskin : Two only seen by LJ/SA on the CBC on the East coast of Miquelon. PA had only one bird at his feeder January 1.

American Goldfinch : Seen only in St. Pierre, where it is now resident, in PA, LJ PA DG and SA çs feeders throughout the season. The maximum : about 60, was recorded by PA January 23.

House Sparrow : 22 were counted in the village of Miquelon on the CBC.

Contributors : Sylvie Allen-Mahé (SA); Frederic & Patricia Allen-Mahé (FPA); Pascal Asselin (PA); Marc Dérible (MD); DG : Dominique Gouverne; Philippe Hacala (PH); Jackie and Christine Hebert (JCH); Laurent Jackman (LJ); Danièlle Lebollocq (DL); Bruno Letournel (BL).