The Winter season (1996/97) in St-Pierre & Miquelon islands. Weather
was fairly rough with a lot of winds and more snow than last year. There were
a record high black ducks overwintering, a record late Northern Harrier, a 6th
record of Brown creeper and a couple of Dickcissels present for most of the winter.
Our CBC took place December 28. Common Loon : Very few birds reported,
throughout the season, we had 27 birds on the CBC, most of them near the Cape
of Miquelon. (RE/DL/JCH). Red-necked Grebe : Most of the reports for
St-Pierre between Dec. 4 and Feb. 28 for a maximum of 27, February 8 (DL). We
(RE/DL) had 14 birds in Miquelon Feb. 14 (RE/DL). Great Cormorant :
We had twelve birds in the Cape of Miquelon during the CBC. Canada Goose
: None overwintered in our islands, the last observation is one lone bird
in Miquelon Dec. 14 (LJ). Green-winged Teal : Rarely seen in winter.
One bird alone in St-Pierre seen January 31 (BL/PH) and Feb. 16 (Claude Arrossamena
fide LJ). American Black duck : 362 counted at Grand Barachois during
the CBC is an absolute record, for a CBC and in general for the month of December,
approached only in 1981 with about 350 birds. They were still 283, January 14
(BL) and 245 February 13 (RE/DL) while a few, up to 65 birds (January 28, BL/JPA),
were seen in St-Pierre and neighboring islands. Northern Pintail : Rare
in winter, one in St-Pierre January 7 (LJ). Greater Scaup : One in St-Pierre
Dec. 8 and 10 (RE/DL). 7 near the village of Miquelon January 28 (NF fide LJ).
Common Eider : 21 reports throughout the season. It is a bit difficult
to have a precise idea, of the number of birds actually present, without an organized
survey around the 3 islands the same day. Movements certainly occur between various
feeding sites and individuals reported in St-Pierre one day could be near Miquelon
the next etc. Anyway, there were about 800 birds January 28 (BL/JPA); about 900,
Feb. 5 (LJ) and a maximum of about 1000 birds Feb. 18, near St-Pierre (BL). There
were about 1000 near the village of Miquelon Feb. 12 (RE/DL) and Feb. 14 (BL)
while only 466 were counted there during the CBC (RE/DL). King Eider :
One immature male shot off the east coast of Miquelon December 17 (LJ). Oldsquaw
: Rather few, 189 counted during the CBC although conditions were good, chiefly
in the morning though. Few reports, about 100 birds between Miquelon and St-Pierre
February 12 (RE/DL). Black Scoter : One sighting only, for a species
fairly common in the past around the islands : about 30 off the East coast of
Miquelon February 1 (JCD/YD) White-winged Scoter : A few seen by MJB
on the West coast of Langlade became a CBC count week. There were at least one
hundred off the east coast of the Isthmus January 16 (BL) and Feb. 13 (RE).
Common Goldeneye : LJ had 72 at Grand Barachois Dec. 15 while PH had only
51, 8 days later. 74 were counted during the CBC, mostly at Grand Barachois. There
were about 120 birds also at Grand Barachois February 13 (RE/DL). Common
Merganser : One pair on the ice of a pond in St-Pierre January 6 (MJB).
Red-breasted Merganser : 57 were counted during the CBC. A few birds are
present around the islands as usual, probably underreported. We had 67 in Miquelon,
mostly at Grand Barachois, Feb. 13 (RE/DL). Bald Eagle : One immature
in the Cape off Miquelon Dec. 8 and one adult at Langlade Dec. 13 (JCH). One adult
on the Isthmus January 14 (BL) and one February 13 (RE/DL). Northern Harrier:
One male near Grand Barachois January 10 (JCH) was a first for Miquelon/Langlade
in winter. Only in 1991 one bird stayed until Jan. 9 in St-Pierre. One was also
seen in Langlade February 11, but unfortunately not identified to sex (JCH). This
is a first for that month in our islands. Rough-legged Hawk : One very
dark phase bird was seen several times in St-Pierre, often near the town, between
December 4 and February 4 (RE/DL/TD/LJ). Willow Ptarmigan : Few sightings
of the birds released as a reintroduction program last spring : 5 birds were located
in the center of Miquelon December 16 (LJ). Black-bellied Plover : Two
during the CBC on the Isthmus (LJ/MJB/PA). One in St-Pierre January 21 (LJ) was
more unusual. Sanderling : 20 on the Isthmus during the CBC is an absolute
record. One was seen in St-Pierre January 25 (PA) and February 17 (TD). Four on
the west coast of Grand Barachois February 16 and 7 the next day (LJ). Purple
Sandpiper : Quite scarce as compared with last year : 7/23 reports. None seen
during the CBC, it happened only in 1978, while in 1983 and 92 it was a count
week species. The first one was seen in St-Pierre Jan. 7 (LJ). The maximum was
only 10 birds in St-Pierre Feb. 28 (TD/RE/DL). Common Snipe : One in
the Cape of Miquelon January 2 (LJ) was unfortunately missed during the CBC.
Common Black-headed Gull : up to 3 birds were present in St-Pierre harbour
between Dec. 8 and Feb. 8 (RE/DL/LJ/TD), while 3 became count week species in
Miquelon Dec. 29. (RE/DL). Ring-billed Gull : One subadult in St-Pierre
harbour January 2 is the only report (RE/DL). Herring Gull : We counted
427 birds during the CBC. Iceland Gull: Fewer in St-Pierre harbour since
1992, due of the fishing moratorium. Maximum about 100, more adults than immatures
January 25 (RE). Four only were spotted during the CBC. Glaucous Gull :
One adult in St-Pierre December 12, one only near the village of Miquelon during
the CBC (RE/DL). Great Black-backed Gull : 112 were counted during the
CBC. Black-legged Kittiwake : 419 were counted during the CBC, the highest
number ever, due probably to excellent conditions of observation for a good half
of the day. Dovekie : No concentration or important migration noticed
this year, in fact rather few birds were reported and we had only 3 during the
CBC. Common Murre : We had 6 birds during the CBC. Thick-billed
Murre: The same thing is repeated every year, we do not go at sea enough to
have a good idea of the numbers present. The birds seen near the shores are usually
oiled birds as it was the case around the end of the year, apparently nothing
serious. Black Guillemot : No actual serious counts, however the species
seemed a bit more numerous than usual around St-Pierre, 50 to 60, Dec. 24 off
the South West coast. 59 were counted during the CBC which is also an absolute
record (see comments under Kittiwake). Mourning Dove : One only in the
village of Miquelon at Ghislain Detcheverry and JCH feeders between December 9
and 26 (JCH); One in St-Pierre Dec. 16 (RE/DL). Snowy Owl : The first
ones were present in November. A few birds were seen in the three islands throughout
the season, apparently involving no more than 3 to 4 birds (RE/DL/LJ/DG/MD/TD/JCH/BL).
Short-eared Owl: One in St-Pierre December 3 (RE/DL). Northern Flicker
: One heard and seen in St-Pierre January 10 (RE/DL). Horned Lark :
One in St-Pierre Dec. 15 was a rare sight for that island in winter (RE/DL). We
had 7 during the CBC, on the Isthmus while another 7 or 8 escaped our attention
near the village where they were seen the next day by PA. American Crow
: 34 counted during the CBC. Common Raven : 53 counted during the
CBC. JCH had 23 birds together on the Isthmus January 10. Black-capped Chickadee
: A few in St-Pierre December 16 (RE/DL). Boreal Chickadee : A few
here and there, more or less as usual. We had only 8 during the CBC. Red-breasted
Nuthatch : Scarce since last summer, two in St-Pierre December 16 (RE/DL);
one at Langlade February 16 (LJ). Brown Creeper : One at Langlade December
13 is only the fifth report for our islands. Golden-crowned Kinglet :
A few here and there, more or less as usual. We had only 6 birds during the CBC.
American Robin : One or two heard in St-Pierre December 16 (RE/DL). 6 reports
between January 5 and Feb. 23 for a maximum of 4 birds at a time January 20 (RE/DL/LJ/MD).
Northern Mockingbird : One bird remained in the village of Miquelon between
october 14 and December 28 thus becoming a new species for our CBC. (RE/DL/JCH).
American Pipit : One only on the Isthmus during the CBC (MJB/PA). Bohemian
Waxwing : 20 in St-Pierre January 13 (BL). Three in the town of St-Pierre
(DL) and two seen by LJ, same area, January 22. Northern Shrike : One
at PAÎs feeder was seen attacking a House Sparrow and eating a small mammal December
1. Three other sightings only : One in St-Pierre January 4 (RE/DL); and February
10 (MD). One at Langlade Feb. 13 (RE/DL). Dickcissel : All data from
PAÎs feeder : One from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 almost everyday; two birds Dec. 7, 12,
14 and 15. Then only one, except two January 18. Only one male throughout the
month of February. The latest record was January 2, 1995. Savannah Sparrow
: One during the CBC on the Isthmus (MJB/PA). One at MJBÎs feeder in St-Pierre
January 7 and 8. In Miquelon, JCH had a pale sparrow, they think could an Ipswich,
but they have no experience with the species, photographs will be submitted later
on. Song Sparrow : One in St-Pierre December 4 (RE/DL); One at LJÎs
feeder December 13 and 24. One present regularly at MJBÎs feeder in January and
February and another one from time to time. Dark-eyed Junco : The species
is almost always present here but in low numbers. It was somewhat more common
than usual this year, we (RE/DL) had about 15 together in St-Pierre December 3.
PA had about eight Dec. 16, a few others were seen in town at various feeders
up to Februay 13 (LJ/PA/RE/DL/JCH). Lapland Longspur : Two only, possibly
two others during the CBC on the Isthmus (MJB/PA); One photographed on the Isthmus
Feb. 26 (JCH). Snow Bunting : Fairly common, mostly in Miquelon, we
had 163 during the CBC, mostly on the Isthmus. JCH had between 50 to 100 at their
feeder for most of January and February, one of them, with one leg, is thought
to be the same bird coming for the third year in a row. Red-winged Blackbird:
A young male at PAÎs feeder was present throughout the season. Common Grackle
: One bird at PAÎs feeder seen regularly throughout the season. Brown-headed
Cowbird : One at PAÎs feeder was last seen December 1. Pine Grosbeak
: Two in St-Pierre Dec. 12 (PA), is the only report for St-Pierre, LJ had
2 males in Miquelon Dec. 14; 6 were seen during the CBC plus 4 finches sp. too
briefly seen that might have been this species. One in Miquelon Jan. 13 (JCH)
and two in the Cape of Miquelon the next day (BL). Purple Finch : Two
females at MJBÎs feeder throughout the season. White-winged Crossbill :
6 in St-Pierre February 9 (TD). Common Redpoll : 3 or 4 in Miquelon
February 14 (RE/DL). Pine Siskin : LJ had one at his feeder, Dec. 8
then two Dec. 13 and 24 while PA had also two from time to time between Feb; 3
and 23. There were about 15 regularly at MJBÎs feeder throughout the season.
American Goldfinch : A rare bird a few years ago, it is now a year round
resident ! About 20 reports all in St-Pierre mostly in the town for a maximum
of about 25 at LJÎs feeder December 24. House Sparrow : We had only
ten in Miquelon village during the CBC. Contributors : Jean-Paul
Apesteguy (JPA); Pascal Asselin (PA); Michel Borotra (MJB); Thierry Delpret (TD);
Marc Dérible (MD); Jean-Claude Detcheverry (JCD); Yvon Detcheverry (YD);
Nicolas FLON (NF); Dominique Gouverne (DG); Philippe Hacala (PH); Laurent Jackman
(LJ); Jackie and Christine Hébert (JCH); Danielle Lebollocq (DL); Bruno
Letournel (BL). |
