Quebec 
Ungav3 
Peninsula 
• Inukjuak 
Kuujjuaq 
Pierre Bannon 
Olivier Barden 
Normand David 
Samuel Denault 
Yves Aubry 
M ean temperatures for the spring 
were close to normal throughout 
Quebec, with anomalies ranging 
from -0.6° C on the Lower North Shore to 
+0.8° C in southern Quebec. Overall precipi- 
tation quantities were close to or below sea- 
sonal normals in most regions, with the ex- 
ception of some areas of extreme northern 
Quebec. The total of 16.7 cm received at La 
Grande between March and May represented 
the station’s highest amount since 1976. On 
the other hand, in many areas of the south 
and some areas of central Quebec, the season 
was characterized by below-normal snowfall. 
The number of hours of sunshine was partic- 
ularly higher than normal in Montreal, 
Quebec City, Gaspe, and Sept-Iles. May was 
also fairly windy along the St. Lawrence River 
Valley. In late May, strong westerly winds 
were associated with some spectacular diur- 
nal migrations of warblers flying windward 
almost at ground level on the North Shore. 
But these strong winds were probably not the 
ultimate cause for the appearance of some ex- 
treme rarities like Black-capped Vireo and 
Hooded Oriole. 
WATERFOWL THROUGH IBIS 
Greater White-fronted Geese were reported in 
above-average numbers, as evidenced by a to- 
tal of at least 44 individuals from 22 different 
localities. A rare blue-morph Ross’s Goose 
was reported at Cap Tourmente 18 May but 
without supporting photographs (S. Rioux, 
JS. Guenette). A Barnacle Goose found at Vic- 
toriaville 19 Apr was photographed by many 
until 9 May (CR). Single Trumpeter Swans 
turned up at Rouyn-Noranda 28 Apr Q- La- 
pointe), Fabre 7-10 May Q- Frechette), and 
Lac-Dufault 31 May (M. Lessard, S. Prince). A 
total of 8 Eurasian Wigeons was considered 
normal. A gathering of 150 Harlequin Ducks 
at Cap-Bon-Ami 24 May was an exciting hnd 
(S. Brodeur). Especially intriguing was an 
imm. female Willow Ptarmigan found dead 2 
Mar at Quebec City, presumably after a colli- 
sion with a building (ph. N. Davignon, Jide M. 
Gosselin). The specimen was sent to the 
Canadian Museum of Nature for examina- 
tion. The only other specimen for Quebec 
City dated back to Dec 1895. 
A count of 350 migrating Red-throated 
Loons in a one-hour period at Cap d’Espoir 5 
Apr was notable for this early date (AC). An 
Eared Grebe at Victoriaville 1-4 May was 
photographed by many (D. Gagne et al.). 
Only a handful of records exist for this species 
in the Region. Single Cattle Egrets showed up 
at Bonaventure 20 May (L. Arsenault), 
Eorestville 30-31 May (L. Boucher, /ide JPB), 
and ile Verte 31 May (C. Soulard et al.). A 
Green Heron at Tadoussac 30 May represent- 
ed just the 2nd record for the North Shore 
(SB, R Cote). The lone Glossy Ibis of the 
spring was seen at Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce 3 
May (L. Laflamme, N. Barden). 
VULTURES THROUGH CUCKOO 
A Black Vulture was located at Riviere-au-Re- 
nard 29 May-2 Jun (J. Bernatchez et al, ph. Y. 
English). An ad. Cooper’s Hawk at Gaspe 6 
May furnished a rare sighting for the Gaspe 
Pen. (S. Marchand). Out-of-range Sandhill 
Cranes were spotted singly in the Mag- 
dalen Is. 10-25 May (DGG, CA. 
Gaudet et al.) and at Ivujivik, Nunavik 
27 May (fide G. Cyr). A high count of 
40 was notable between Herouxville 
and Saint-Narcisse 10 Apr (fide M. 
Sokolyk). For the 3rd year, a pair suc- 
cessfully nested at Dundee (ph. DG). 
A stunning hnd was a Whooping 
Crane seen soaring over Mont Saint- 
Hilaire 25 Apr (C. Cote, M. Laramee). 
The plumage showed some faint 
brown color, on the back and on the 
head also, suggesting that this individ- 
ual was in its hrst year. 
A Piping Plover at Gaspe 22 May 
was apparently the hrst since 1973 for the 
Gaspe Pen. (ph. D. Jalbert). Single Willets at 
Baie-du-Febvre 19-23 Apr (record-early date) 
(M. Raymond), at Riviere-Ouelle 10 May (CG, 
CA), and at Port Saint-Frangois 22 May (D. 
Lever) were apparently of the inomata sub- 
species, while one at Barachois 31 May was of 
the nominate subspecies (PP, R. Bisson et al). 
Rare in spring, single Stilt Sandpipers were 
seen at Amos 18 May (P. Perreault) and at Riv- 
ito-Ouelle 20 May QE Rousseau). Even more 
surprising in spring, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper 
brightened Val-d’Or 30 May (ph. LI et al.). A 
Ruff visited Masson 5-7 May 0- Montplaisir et 
al). Single Wilson’s Phalaropes were consid- 
ered unusual at Longue-Rive 21-23 May (E 
Gallant et al.) and at Val d’Or 29 May (R. 
Ladurantaye). A total of 8 Little Gulls, all in 
May, was about normal for spring. Single 
Laughing Gulls were encountered at Paspebi- 
ac 14 May (AC) and Riviere-Ouelle 23 May 
(CA, CG). A hrst-cycle Eranklin’s Gull 
stopped at Pointe-au-Pic 30 May (D. Boutin, 
JL), while an ad. was at nearby La Malbaie 31 
May (G. Lemelin, K. La Plante), 
A Eurasian Collared-Dove at Sainte-Feli- 
cite 22-26 Apr provided our 6th Regional 
record (ph. J. Deschenes), while a White- 
winged Dove at Cap Tourmente 22-23 May 
was not totally unexpected, as close to two- 
dozen records are now known in the Region 
(D. Lavoie et al.). Rare in spring, single Yel- 
low-billed Cuckoos turned up at Laval 15 
May (E Bussieres) and Gatineau Park 23 May 
Q. & A. Brisebois). 
OWLS THROUGH WARBLERS 
Late Snowy Owls included singles at both 
Boucherville (M. Ostiguy) and Bergeronnes 
(R. Pintiaux) 30 May. Northern Hawk Owls 
were still widely reported in Mar, whereas 
Great Gray Owls were scarcer, with some lin- 
gering on the s. shore until May, as evidenced 
by singles at Riviere-Ouelle 10 May (CG, CA), 
Rimouski 15 May QM. Turgeon), and He Verte 
23 May+ (R Tranche, Y. Gauthier et al.). An 
encouraging count of 739 Chimney Swifts en- 
tering a chimney roost was tallied at Saint- 
Georges-de-Beauce 18 May (A. Beauchamp). 
Single Red-headed Woodpeckers were report- 
ed in the Laurcntides region at Lachute 9-10 
May (ph. C. Dagenais, C, Barfuss) and Blain- 
ville 11-14 May (ph. j. Desmeules, E, Rene). A 
total of 8 Red-bellied Woodpeckers was re- 
It was almost a miracle that the photographer encountered this va- 
grant Black-capped Vireo, which was present only for a short period at 
Pointe-aux-Outardes, near Baie-Comeau, Quebec 24 May 2009. Photo- 
graph by Jean-Pierre Barry. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
389 
