Quebec

emperatures in spring 2007 fluctuated from slightly above normal in northwestern Quebec to slightly below normal on the Lower North Shore.Elsewhere, they were pretty close to normal.Precipitation was above normal in both southern and northern Quebec but below normal in central Quebec and on the North Shore.A series of late snow storms hit the south in early April, which may have resulted in some mortality among early insectivorous migrants such as swallows.WATERFOWL THROUGH IBIS For the 2nd consecutive spring, a Pink-looted Goose visited the Chambly-Carignan area 1-9 Apr (R. Belhumeur, m.ob., ph.).There are now more than 10 records for the Region, all since 1988.A Barnacle Goose stopped at Baiedu-Febvre 25 Apr (GP, JP.Santerre).A firstyear Trumpeter Swan was identified at Rouyn-Noranda 12 May (kI), a 9th Regional record since 1990.A group of 4 Tundra Swans at Plaisance 7-15 Apr was notable (D. kauzon et al.).A Common Peafowl at Cantley 6-13 May (k.Laperriere, W Darou) was not clearly associated with an aviculturist.Two ad.American White Pehcans stunned lucky observers at Saint-Fulgence 2 May when they spotted these birds from their kitchen window (GS, CC).A Great Egret at Sainte-Martine 26 Mar furnished a new record-early date for the Region (M.Ouellet).Herons and egrets from the south were represented by a Snowy Egret at Grosse-ile 7-12 May (A.Richard), a Tricolored Heron at Saint-Methode 31 May (C.Launi•re), and a Cattle Egret at Cap Tourmente 24 May (PL et al.).Glossy Ibis were more widespread than usual, with 4 at Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce 23 Apr-1 May (N, Gagne, R. Poulin), one at Baie-du-Febvre 23-25 Apr (m.ob.), 2 at Saint-Alphonse-de-Caplan 25 Apr-1 May (B.Arse-nau10, one at Chateauguay 19 May (fide M. Groulx), and one at Saint-Blaise 20-21 May (R. & G. Boulet et al.).CRANES THROUGH OWLS As usual, several Sandhill Cranes were reported away from their main migration corridor in w.Quebec, induding one as far e. as Bassin (Magdalen Is.) 13 May (R. Vigneau).A Blacktailed Godwit, the first since 1984, was briefly seen by a lucky observer at Levis 21 Apr (G.kemelin), providing a 4th Regional report (as yet, no report is substantiated by photograph).Single Marbled Godwits stopped at Metabetchouan 8-11 May (M.Tremblay, D. Gervais et al.), and Val-d'Or 13 May (R. Moteau).A Semipalmated Sandpiper in alternate plumage was convincingly described at Riviere-Ouelle 6 Apr, an incredibly early date surpassing the previous early date by almost a month 0E Rousseau).Always rare in spring, a Stilt Sandpiper brightened the Sabrevois-Saint-Blaise area 14-18 May (M.Gauthier, m. ob.).A rufous-morph Ruff delighted observers at Blaise 4-7 May (R. & G. Boulet, m.ob.), while another or the same was at Baie-du-Febvre 9 May (JE Jette).Rare in spring, a Long-billed Dowitcher was discovered at Cap Tourmente 25 May (P.Offs, J. kaplante).Single ad.kaughing Gulls appeared at Rivi•re-Ouelle 1 May (E & R. Dion) and at Saint-Vaillet 26 May 0L, D. Boutin).The number of Black-headed Gulls built to 32 birds at Capde-l'Est 9 May (DGG), while Lesser Blackbacked Gulls reached 13 at ka Malbaie 24 May (OB).A Black-legged Kittiwake at kacdes-l•corces 16-17 May was a rarity for the kaurentians region (MA.Montpetit).A Caspian Tern at Angliers 22 May was also locally rare OF).A concentration of 500 Black Terns at Baie4u-Febvre 23 May was notable (OB).The Eurasian Collared-Dove that wintered at Gallichan (Abitibi) was still there 24 Apr (S.Rivard).Up to 19 Snowy Owls were present in the Lac 5t-Jean plain surrounding Hebertville 16 Mar (M.Savard, R. Bouchard).A Great Gray Owl in downtown Quebec City 1 May was most unusual, considering the paucity of records last winter (C.Charest).A high count of 22 Northern Saw-whet Owls was detected at Fug•reville 25 Mar OF).Ironically, only two nest boxes were occupied by the species out of 300 that were monitored farther n. in the Abitibi region, compared to 18 last spring (fide LI).SWIFTS THROUGH THRASHERS An interesting count of 130 Chimney Swifts came from Maria, Gaspe Pen. 30 May, in the ne.corner of their contracting range (C.kamarre).A very early Ruby-throated Hummingbird was noted 23 Apr at Matapedia (E Firth, P. Poirier, fide E 13eaupre).The season's only Red-headed Woodpecker was reported from Trois-Rivieres ll May, in the midst of a warm spell that brought many s.species, chiefly passerines, to the n. of their range 0-Richard, fide S. Richard).A male Redbellled Woodpecker was at Destot, Abitibi through 17 May (L.Beauregard), where it had apparently been present since Jan; wintering females in Saint-Hedwidge and Caplan were seen through 2 (I.Martel, A. Girard et al.) & 26 May (C.Saint-Denis), respectively.The species was found at four different locations in the Montreal area, where it is now regular and possibly prospecting new nesting sites.A Say's Phoebe was seen briefly at Saint-Anne-de-Bcaupre 18 May (R. Lapensee et al., ph.), a 6th spring record for the Region.An ad.Loggerhead Shrike at Penouille 29 May was most surprising 0-Cousinard, ph.).A White-eyed Vireo was at Saint-Anne-de-Sorel 11-12 May (P.Messier, J. Cadieux, ph.).A Yellow-throated Vireo at Cap Tourmente 18 & 31 May was locally unusual 0PO, RL).Only 4 Carolina Wrens were reported throughout the Region and without any evidence of breeding, somewhat perplexing and unlike the situation in 2002, following a mild winter similar to this year's.A total of 4 Bluegray Gnatcatchers in mid-May in the Quebec City region was excellent.Far less regular in spring than in fall, male Northern Wheatears were reported from the North Shore at Port-Cartier 19 May (L.Dub& M. Couette, ph.) and kes Escoumins 26 May (R. Pintiaux).Six Brown Thrashers in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region throughout the period was unprecedented (fide GS).WARBLERS THROUGH ORIOLES A male Blue-winged Warbler was at Quebec City 11 May (L.Messely) and another at Boucherville 24 May (DH, A. Boivin).Single Brewster's Warblers were at Frelighsburg 9 May (GP), Godmanchester 19 May+ (D. Ouellette), and Yamaska Park 21 May (G.Rossini, fide DH).Male Prairie Warblers were reported singly from Saint-Hyacinthe 11 May (R. Gauvin), Summit Park, Montreal 15 May (K.Emo et al.), and Cap Tourmente 23 May (PL).Rarely seen away from a few mature broadleaf forests in the sw.corner of the province, a

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