Site fondé en 1993

The nesting season (1997) In St-Pierre et Miquelon

Red-throated Loon : On nest with two eggs in Miquelon June 17 (LJ) is the only report.

Common Loon : Rather uncommon in this season, one off the Isthmus June 4 (RE) and June 7 (RE/DL). One singing in Mirande lake June 20 was rather usual as were 3 there 4 days later (LJ).

Northern Fulmar : Several reports between June 7 and July 22, for a maximum of about 15 off St-Pierre June 7 (TD), between 150 and 200, possibly more between St-Pierre and Miquelon June 17 (RE/MJB). Two pairs were on Colombier island and one in St-Pierre June 17 (RE). Apparently still prospecting (first presence noted on our cliffs in 1985 !)

Greater Shearwater : Seen only between June 13 and 22, (RE/DL/JCH/SA) for a maximum of several hundreds June 17 (RE).

Sooty Shearwater : Seen between June 13 and July 31 (RE/DL/PH/JCH/SA/LJ). Numerous only July 17 (RE) and 22 (SA).

Manx Shearwater : About 15 between Fortune (NFLD) and St-Pierre June 6 (RE); A few between Miquelon and St-Pierre June 13 (RE/DL); One only off St-Pierre June 15 (LJ) then none until July 20 : 3 or 4 between Miquelon and St-Pierre (RE/DL); 5 in flight, same area, July 25 (RE). Then about 40 between St-Pierre and Langlade July 31 (RE).

Northern Gannet : 16 reports for the month of June (JCH/RE/DL/PH/SA/JPA/LJ/MJB) for a maximum of about 20 birds. One report only, 1 bird between Miquelon and St-Pierre July 26 (RE).

Great Cormorant : Nesting numbers seems to go down, slowly but steadily : 5 nests at Langlade East (RE) instead of 12 last year, 1 in St-Pierre (JCH) where they was none last year, (several in previous years). On Colombier island LJ had 23 nests (about average). Unfortunately the rocks off the east coast of Miquelon were not investigated.

Double-crested Cormorant : Very scarce, one or two in St-Pierre June 2 (RE/DL); One in flight, and 3 adults and 3 immatures in a pond of St-Pierre June 4 (RE/DL).

Green-backed Heron : None seen for quite a number of years. One well observed in St-Pierre July 7 (RE).

Canada Goose : Very few non-nesting birds reported. About 10 pairs nested this year, 4 in Miquelon, 4 on the Isthmus and 2 at Langlade (JPA/RE/LJ). 40 adults, probably molting birds were in Miquelon July 7 (RE).

Green-winged Teal : The first brood, of 5 or 6 young aged a few days, was seen at Langlade June 20; one female, with one young only, aged about two weeks, was reported from Miquelon July 9; one brood of 5 young, adult size was reported in St-Pierre July 17 (LJ). MD had a brood of 8 or 9 downy young at Langlade July 23.

American Black duck : Scarce in the breeding season. One brood of 8 or 9 young aged less than a week at Langlade June 20 (LJ).

Northern Pintail : The best marsh of the Isthmus was not very productive this summer. Fewer broods than usual were reported. LJ had a female with one young only, aged a few days, at Langlade June 20. I had one nest with 5 eggs while LJ had one with 6 eggs July 8; there was one brood of 6 young, aged about 4 weeks, and one young alone, aged a few days July 22 (RE/DL) all on the Isthmus. I had one alarmed female in Miquelon July 25 (RE).

American Wigeon : Two males and one female in Miquelon June 11 (JPA).

Ring-necked Duck : 6 males were on the Isthmus June 11 (RE/MJB), while we (RE/JCH) had 8 males June 17 and the same number (RE/DL) June 29. LJ had one male in Miquelon July 9.

Greater Scaup : The species has been nesting in recent years, no evidence this year so far. There were two males on the Isthmus June 11 (RE); June 29 (RE/DL) and July 8 (LJ).

Common Eider : About 30 birds (4 males) were still near the rocks off the east coast of Miquelon June 1 (JCH). Two males and 1 female were seen in flight west of St-Pierre June 24 (RE).

White-winged Scoter : 9 adults in flight off the east coast of the Isthmus June 30 (RE/DL).

Red-breasted Merganser : Well reported throughout the season, with several non-breeders illustrated by the following reports : a flock of 28 in Grand Barachois June 11 (RE/MJB); a flock of 25 in a marsh of the Isthmus June 29 (RE/DL); 31 and 25 at sea off the West coast of the Isthmus respectively June 30 (RE/DL) and July 4 (PH). The first brood, of 9 downy young, was reported by DD in Mirande lake June 30, seen subsequently with 9 young July 1 (RE/DL) and probably the same one with only 5 young July 21 (RE/DL). LJ had one female with 19 young on the Isthmus July 8. One brood of 6 or 7 young, about 1/2 adult size, was reported by MD in Northern Langlade July 9. One brood of about 12 young seen from a distance on Mirande lake July 25 (RE) was probably the same reported by LJ with 14 young the next day.

Osprey : Four reports, between June 12 and 30 (RE/DL/JPA/LJ) as compared to none last year.

Bald Eagle : Several observations throughout the season. The nest in St-Pierre, visited by LJ June 11 had two young, one about 2/3 adult size and the other strikingly smaller about half the size of its sibling. The nest of Cape Miquelon had one young aged about 20 days June 22 (LJ). The nest at Langlade had one flying young July 31.

Northern Harrier : No breeding evidence this year although one male was seen at Langlade June 12 (JPA) and in Miquelon June 21 (LJ).

Rough-legged Hawk : up to 4 adults (3 dark one light phase) were seen a couple of times above Grand Colombier island (LJ). One pair (two dark phases) had one nest with 3 young about 2/3 adult size July 22 (LJ).

Merlin : Few reports, probably less common than in recent years. This certainly reflects less passerine birds present. I had one alarmed adult at Langlade June 25 and one alarmed female in Miquelon July 26.

Black-bellied Plover : The first fall migrants (9 birds) were on the Isthmus July 27 (LJ) while they got here August 4 last year.

Semipalmated Plover : One brood of two young, aged a few days, in the village of Miquelon July 11 (LJ). One alarmed pair in St-Pierre July 14 and 21 had certainly a brood (PA). They were termed, numerous by NB at Ile aux Marins (off St-Pierre) July 16.

Piping Plover : None seen in spring. The first one was seen by LJ June 19 ! We (DL/RE) had two birds June 30 and PH one July 21, all in the usual breeding site on the Southern part of the Isthmus.

Killdeer : Surprisingly, the species didn't deserves its "vociferus" name this year ! None were heard (or seen) at all this spring and, suddenly LJ saw one near the village of Miquelon June 19 and, one adult with three young, aged a few days, same area , July 13.

Greater Yellowlegs : One, in St-Pierre June 8 (RE/DL). The first migrants were seen early as usual with three on the Isthmus July 8 (LJ) and one near the village of Miquelon the next day (RE). There was about 15 individuals on the western part of the Isthmus July 22.

Lesser Yellowlegs : One only with 4 greaters near Grand Barachois July 22 (RE/DL).

Spotted Sandpiper : Fairly common and well reported throughout the season. Several nests and broods reported for the three islands (m. ob.).

Whimbrel : The first two were spotted rather early, June 26 (PH). DD had 2 birds June 27, one of them being a Eurasian ssp. (DD). We had about 12 birds June 30 RE/DL) all on the Isthmus. The numbers built up throughout July with a maximum number of about 250 on the Isthmus July 27 (LJ) and about 50 in St-Pierre July 20 (PA) and 27 (NB).

Eurasian Whimbrel : One on the isthmus June 27 (DD) and June 30 (RE/DL).

Ruddy Turnstone : One on the Isthmus July 27 (LJ) and 3 on Colombier island July 31 (RE).

White-Rumped Sandpiper : A few at Ile aux Marins July 16 were very early indeed (NB).

Least Sandpiper : Fairly common as usual, LJ had one nest with four eggs in Langlade June 20. One adult had possibly a brood in St-Pierre July 14 (PA). We had two young about 3/4 adult size near Grand Barachois July 22 (RE/DL).

Common Snipe : Fairly common, some birds were still winnowing by June 12 and 17 on the Isthmus and one in St-Pierre June 21. LJ had one adult with two barely flying young at Langlade July 4. I flushed one adult with a few flying young in the woods of Miquelon July 9 (RE).

Laughing Gull : On adult, possibly two were still with us up to July : One near the village of Miquelon June 17, photographed by JCH), was also there 2 days later (LJ) and near Mirande lake July 9 (RE). PA had one in St-Pierre harbour July 1.

Ring-billed Gull : Since last year, they have abandoned one marsh on the western side of the Isthmus, possibly because of the high water level. LJ had about 230 nests on the eastern side of the Isthmus, with both eggs and young by July 8.

Black-legged Kittiwake : A visit to our most important colony in Cape Miquelon revealed about 30% of the nests with young or eggs. some young were about 10-15 days old while others were about a week old. The colony on Colombier island had very few young (almost adult size) by July 31 (RE).

Tern sp. : Once again the level of water didn't allow the birds to nest on an islet of Mirande lake. One little colony further to the north had between 150 and 200 adults by July 21, an investigation revealed very few nests with eggs, and a few chicks aged a few days only. About 100 on a marsh of the Western part of the Isthmus apparently left the site probably for the reason mentioned above for Ring-billed Gull. LJ had about 30 nests, with from 1 to 3 eggs, and a few young in the eastern part of the Isthmus July 8. I counted 165 birds, adults and numerous last year's immatures at Grand Barachois July 8 (RE).

Common Murre : About 10 birds near Colombier island June 17 (LJ) and we (RE/MJB) had 3 birds, same site, July 8.

Razorbill : Only 3 were seen off Cape Miquelon June 9 (JCH). LJ had 32 birds off the usual nesting cliff of St-Pierre June 12, and spotted 2 " nests " with one egg each. There were at least 200 at Grand Colombier June 16 and at least 100 or more on subsequent visits (RE/JCH/MJB). Totally absent there several years ago, it is becoming the best nesting site for the species. Unfortunately no data for Southern Langlade.

Black Guillemot : Common, more or less as usual, LJ had one young almost adult size on Colombier island July 22.

Atlantic Puffin : Very common on Colombier island, as said previously we need a reassessment of the breeding population which seems to be in very good health in spite of the heavy pleasure boat traffic in the area.

Short-eared Owl : One only seen by LJ in St-Pierre June 9 and 10.

Hummingbird sp. One seen on Dandelion flowers in St-Pierre July 6 by non-birders was not identified to species. (fide NB).

Belted Kingfisher : One male on the western coast of Langlade June 7, where a pair nested 2 years ago (SA).

Northern Flicker : 4 reports only, between June 25 and July 23, all at Langlade where LJ had one nest with two young almost adult size July 10.

Eastern Wood-Pewee : One only in St-Pierre, seen June 24 and 26 (RE/DL).

Yellow-bellied flycatcher : Fairly common and very well reported throughout the season, from June 2 to July 26 (m. ob.). One breeding record only : One adult carrying food in St-Pierre July 18 (NB).

Least Flycatcher : One singing male was at Langlade June 12 (RE/DL). There were two other possible birds (not singing) in the same period : one in Miquelon June 11 (JCH), one in St-Pierre June 12 (LJ)

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER : This is a new species for us : One bird, well observed in St-Pierre June 26 (RE/DL). While searching for it, LJ found another one the same day in the town of St-Pierre, about 4 km from the first one.

Eastern Kingbird : 11 reports, from June 2 to 24 involving a maximum of 5 birds (June 12 -LJ-) all in St-Pierre except two sightings only for Langlade June 12 and 20 (RE/DL/PA/LJ).

Horned Lark : 3 breeding records only : one adult carrying food June 10, one nest with 3 eggs the next day and one adult carrying food June 30, all on the Isthmus (RE/DL).

Tree Swallow : Still extremely scarce, One June 8 (RE/DL) and two June 12 (LJ) all in St-Pierre.

Bank Swallow : 5 reports only, very few birds at a time, between June 2 and July 27 (PA) all in St-Pierre except one near the village of Miquelon June 17 (RE/DL) and one July 27 on the Isthmus (MD).

Cliff Swallow : 4 reports, all for St-Pierre involving one bird only between June 2 and 12 (RE/DL/PA).

Barn Swallow : Four sightings only, up to 5 birds only, between June 8 and 20 (RE/DL/PA/LJ).

Common Raven : One adult was carrying food in St-Pierre June 8; 1 flying young was on the Isthmus June 29 ; One adult feeding flying young in Miquelon June 30 ; One adult carrying food in Miquelon July 7 (RE/DL).

Boreal Chickadee : Apparently not very numerous. MD had one flying young at Langlade July 9 ; One pair was feeding several flying young in Miquelon July 21 (RE/DL).

Red-breasted Nuthatch : 5 reports only reflects fairly well the impression that, after years of abundance, the species was rather scarce. LJ managed to find a nesting evidence at Langlade : one adult carrying food July 11. Several birds heard in Miquelon July 26 suggested an arrival (RE).

Winter Wren : One singing at Langlade June 22 (LJ) and in the same general area 3 days later (RE). No other reports...

Ruby-crowned Kinglet : Quite common in spring, few reports this summer, one male was still singing in St-Pierre July 10 (RE).

Grey-cheeked Thrush : Once the commonest Thrush, now fairly rare. The first song was heard June 12. One only heard singing after è of a hour in the woods in Miquelon July 1 (RE). One adult was seen gathering food in Miquelon July 10 (RE).

Swainson's Thrush : Four reports between June 7 and July 21 (RE/DL/PA/LJ) : one adult was seen carrying food at Langlade July 10 ; One heard calling in the woods of Miquelon July 21 (RE/DL).

Hermit Thrush : 8 reports between June 7 and July 26, in the three islands (RE/DL/NB/MD/PA).

American Robin : Seen regularly carrying food between June 7 and July 20 (RE/DL/JCH/LJ/PA/NB). Flying young were seen June 20, July 7 and July 21.

Gray Catbird : The first nesting evidence was obtained in the Cape of Miquelon in 1992 by JCH ; in 1995 one nest with 3 young was found in Miquelon. Although present in St-Pierre on several occasions, the first nesting confirmation occurred only this year : one nest with 4 young aged about a week was found June 26 (RE/DL/LJ).

Cedar Waxwing : None reported from Miquelon. Eleven reports for St-Pierre and Langlade involved few individuals (RE/DL/LJ/PA/PH/NB), the maximum number was about ten at Langlade June 22 (LJ).

Solitary Vireo : One seen in St-Pierre July 8 (MD). One Vireo singing in Miquelon July 10, not seen, was possibly this species (RE).

Tennessee Warbler : Becoming scarcer every year : One at Langlade July 8 and 15 (SA).

Nashville Warbler : One in Miquelon June 12 (RE/JCH).

Northern Parula : One male in St-Pierre June 2 (PA).

Yellow Warbler : Fairly common and well reported by all observers. One female was seen lining its nest, very close to a road in St-Pierre June 21 (RE). This nest had 3 eggs June 26 and 3 young about a week old by July 17 (RE/DL). PA had a pair feeding a juvenile in St-Pierre July 14.

Magnolia Warbler : 7 reports between June 2 and 29, for a maximum of 4 birds at a time, June 10 and 11 in Miquelon (JCH). More unusual was a male in St-Pierre July 24 (PA).

Cape-May Warbler : One in St-Pierre June 2 (RE/DL).

Yellowrumped Warbler : Common in early June, they were at least one hundred in the Cape of Miquelon June 8, and numerous the next day in St-Pierre (PA), few up to June 11 (RE). The species is a very uncommon nester here : one bird was seen at Langlade June 25 (RE), another one was carrying food in St-Pierre July 24 (PA).

Black-throated green Warbler : 4 reports only, between June 3 and 12 (JCH/LJ/RE/PA) in Miquelon and St-Pierre, one bird at a time except for one pair near Mirande lake June 12 (RE/JCH)

Palm Warbler : One only June 8 in Cape Miquelon (PA).

Bay-breasted Warbler : 3 reports between June 7 and 12 : 2 at Langlade (PH), one in St-Pierre (PA). More unusual was one at Langlade July 9 (MD).

Blackpoll Warbler : Fairly common and well reported throughout the season in the 3 islands (RE/DL/JCH/SA/PH/NB). One female was carrying food in St-Pierre July 20 (NB) ; One male was seen with a juvenile, also in St-Pierre July 23 (PA).

Black & White Warbler : 12 reports, from the three islands involving very few birds at a time between June 1 and July 21 (JCH/PA/SA/RE/DL/PH).

American Redstart : 13 reports, one at a time and mostly females or young males between June 4 and June 22 (SA/RE/DL/JCH/PA/LJ). Only LJ had one pair at Langlade June 22. We saw the first adult male in Miquelon July 1 (RE/DL).

Ovenbird : A pleasant surprise, none seen in spring since 1994 : one in St-Pierre June 16 (LJ) and one at Langlade July 9 (MD).

Northern Waterthrush : Although still the most common warbler, number have also diminished for the last few years. I had one adult carrying food July 10 in Miquelon, while LJ had the same observation in St-Pierre the same day. On flying young was seen in Miquelon July 21 (RE/DL).

Mourning Warbler : The first migrant was seen in the town of St-Pierre June 3 (LJ). We (RE/JCH) heard the first one near Mirande lake June 12, one male was seen at Langlade (RE/DL) and one in the village of Miquelon the same day. One male was singing at Langlade June 25 and one in Miquelon July 9 (RE).

Common Yellowthroat : Fairly common and well reported between June 2 and July 20 (m. ob). One pair with flying young was seen in St-Pierre July 18, 19 and 20 by LJ, NB and PA.

Wilson's Warbler : 10 reports between June 1 and 12, few birds at a time (JCH/PA/RE/DL). MD found an adult carrying food at Langlade July 30.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak : One male in St-Pierre June 2 (RE/DL).

Indigo Bunting : One male, well described by Christian Fontaine in St-Pierre around June 6.

Vesper Sparrow : Two birds in St-Pierre July 12 were carefully observed by PA who seemed to have eliminated all other possibilities. It is the third sighting for our islands.

Savannah Sparrow : Very common as usual, surprisingly no nests found this year, several birds were seen here and there carrying food between July 7 and 19 (RE/NB/DL/PA).

Fox Sparrow : Fairly common everywhere, several flying young seen here and there throughout the season (PA/JCH/RE/DL/PA).

Song Sparrow : One singing in the town of St-Pierre between June 13 and 16 (NB) ; One at Langlade June 15, one in Miquelon June 29 (RE) ; 2 in St-Pierre July 19 (PA).

Lincoln's Sparrow : One male singing in St-Pierre June 8 (RE/DL). One singing in Miquelon June 12 (RE/JCH). No further sighting.

Swamp Sparrow : Common as usual (m. ob.). One adult was carrying food in Miquelon (RE) and one nest with 2 young about a week old was found at Langlade by MD, both on July 9. One flying young was found July 21 (RE/DL) and a few young, adult size and an adult carrying food July 26, all in Miquelon.

White-throated Sparrow : A few seen and heard singing here and there, not common. One adult was carrying food in Miquelon June 29 (RE/DL) ; One juvenile also in Miquelon July 5 (PH).

White-crowned Sparrow : One at JCH_s feeder in Miquelon June 12.

Dark-eyed Junco : Two near the east coast of Miquelon July 4 (PH).

Red-winged Blackbird : One female at JCH_s feeder June 6. One male was seen by Ghislain Detcheverry sometimes in July.

Common Grackle : A few here and there, apparently the species has nested in the three islands this year, possibly for the first time out of St-Pierre ; One pair was seen several times carrying food at Langlade June 24 (LJ) , 25 (RE) and three birds were seen there June 29 (RE/DL). One pair was seen with at least two flying young in St-Pierre July 7 and possibly another pair seen by PA July 14. In Miquelon a pair was seen near the village for quite a while by DD in the same area, and probably nested there.

Brown-headed Cowbird : One at JCH_s feeder June 2.

Pine Grosbeak : Quite scarce, two at Langlade June 15 (SA), 2 in Miquelon July 10 (RE).

Purple Finch : 8 reports, very few birds at a time, mostly in St-Pierre between June 2 and July 1 (JCH/PA/LJ).

White-winged Crossbill : One male in the Cape of Miquelon July 6 (PH) and two males in St-Pierre July 19 (PA).

Common Redpoll : So common last year..... One, July 7 and July 14 both in St-Pierre (PA) are the only reports.

Pine Siskin : A few individuals seen at JCH_s feeder in Miquelon and PA_s feeder in St-Pierre until the end of June. Fewer up to the end of the first fortnight of July. LJ got apparently only the second nesting evidence when he found an adult carrying food in St-Pierre June 11.

American Goldfinch : In Miquelon a few birds were seen only at JCH_s feeder between June 1 and 12. The species, now resident in St-Pierre was heard and seen regularly throughout the period. We have a second nesting evidence : one female gathering nesting material June 30 (RE/DL). At PA_s feeder they were present for 22 days in June, for a maximum of 10 birds, but commonly 1 to 3.

Evening Grosbeak : One only at JCH_s feeder in Miquelon June 11 (and the next day) and 2 pairs at PA_s feeder were seen the same day, June 11. One male was seen near the east coast of Miquelon July 21 (RE/DL).

CONTRIBUTORS : Sylvie Allen-Mahé (SA) ; Jean-Paul Apesteguy (JPA) ; Pascal Asselin (PA) ; Nicole Berthier (NB) ; Michel Borotra (MJB) ; Thierry Delprete (JPA); Marc Dérible (MD) ; David Detcheverry (DD); Philippe Hacala (PH); Jackie and Christine Hebert (JCH); Laurent Jackman (LJ); Danielle Lebollocq (DL).
Saint-Pierre August 10 1997
R. ETCHEBERRY