Quebec

lthough winter 2005-2006 was not nearly as warm in Quebec as it was in western Canada, Quebec also experienced above-normal temperatures, with most of the province being at least 2 ø C above normal.Overall, the province also experienced above-normal precipitation, a significant part of it falling as rain in the south.As a result, some rivers of southern Quebec had more open water than usual, prompting waterfowl to winter farther north.A prolonged spell of mild weather in early February lured some early migrants into the Region.WATERFOWL THROUGH HERONS Two Greater White-fronted Geese were located at Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague 5 Dec (LG).A first for the Saguenay region, a Snow Goose wintered at Saint-Fulgence (C.Cormier), while a flock of 40 very early migrants showed up at Elgin 5 Feb (C.Lemoyne).Canada Geese also appeared early in the Upper Richelieu valley, with counts of 100 on 4 Feb (E.Samson, A. Lacasse) and 250 on 5 Feb (MG); farther n., 2 wintered at La Bale (M.Tremblay, S. Tremblay et al.), while one was noted at Cap-d'Espoir 12 Feb (ML, C. Tremblay) and 2 at Barachois 12-24 Feb 0W).The number of wintering Wood Ducks was up significantly: a female survived at Beauport 0E Rousseau et al.), as did 2 at Boisbriand (15, PS); elsewhere, a male turned up at Noyan 1 Feb (MG, PB), a female at North Harley 19 Feb, and a female at Victoriaville in Jan 0-Ducharme).A group of 23 Gadwalls wintered successfully at the bottom of the Lachine rapids, Montreal (PB), but singles at Chandler 15 Dec-21 Jan (AC, m. ob.) and at Sherbrooke 19 Feb (SR, FG) were more exceptional.Afe-male American Wigeon was totally unexpected at Lac-Beauport 25 Dec-25 Feb (PL, J. Labrecque).A Northern Shoveler lingered at Gatineau until 18 Dec (R. Schreyer), but single imm.males at Sherbrooke 31 Dec (L.Germain) and Beauport 27 Jan-28 Feb (C.Chevalier, N. Halle) were unprecedented.A Northern Pintail at Sainte-Therese-de-Gaspe 12 Feb represented a first Feb record for the Gaspe Pen.(DM, R. Garrett).An apparent Mallard x Northern Pintail hybrid, a male, was photographed at Sherbrooke 19 Feb (SR, FG).A Green-winged Teal wintered at B•cancour (fide RB), while 3 at Barachois 18 Dec were late 0W); 22 at Lachenaie 18 Dec (SD et al.), increasing to 34 on 25 Dec (S.Robert), topped this exceptionally late influx.A Redhead at Chandler 9 Dec-3 Jan 0RL, m.ob.) and 2 at Cabano 18 Dec-1 Jan (M.Beaulieu) were late.A wintering Ring-necked Duck was reported at Sherbrooke 3-19 Feb (B.Turgeon), while up to 95 Greater Scaup spent the winter at Tadoussac (RP).A Surf Scoter at Cap Bon Ami 11 Feb was a first for Feb in the Gaspe Pen.(D. Jalbert, T. Bernier).It was an excellent winter for the Buffiehead in the Gaspe Pen., as evidenced by sightings from six different municipalities (fide PP).An apparent Hooded Merganser x Common Goldeneye hybrid, a male, was reported at Sainte-Catherine 4 Jan (PB); this hybrid combination is seldom reported.Single Common Loons lingered at I.Sainte-H•lene until 5 Jan (S.Guimond) and on L. Memphremagog until 3 Feb (BT).Piedbilled Grebes were well represented, with singles at LaSalle 4 Jan-7 Feb (P.Lamontagne, m.ob.), Sherbrooke 19 Feb (SR, FG), Boucherville 15 Feb (P Joly), and Magog 8-15 Jan (SR).The 125 Red-necked Grebes at Gascons 1 Dec represented a very high count for the date (AC, Y. Cyr).A Northern Fulmar at Les Escoumins 9 Dec was noteworthy (RP, V. Plante).A dozen Great Blue Herons spent the month of Jan at B•cancour, with one remaining until 16 Feb (RB).VULTURES THROUGH OWLS The last Turkey Vultures of the season were singles at Hebertville 4 Dec 0-Gauthier, D. Larouche, M. Savard) and Hemmingford 27 Dec (D. Ouellette), but migrants soon reappeared with the unset of mild weather in early Feb: one at Saint-Armand 4 Feb (PB, GZ), one at Orford 9 Feb (S.Bergeron), and a few feeding on a carcass at B•cancour in early Feb (fide RB).A very late Osprey was spotted at Saint-Paul-de-l'lle-aux-Noix 13 Dec (R. Saint-Jean).Bald Eagles were thriving this winter in the Region; among many sightings, 11 delighted observers at Eardly 26 Jan (D. Dal-laire).An ad.Cooper's Hawk wintered e. of its range at Rimouski (fide RS, m.ob.), and a Redshouldered Hawk spent most of the winter at Quebec City (P Otis, m.ob.); a Red-shouldered at Boisbriand 4 Feb was thought to be an early migrant (LS, PS).Gyr[alcons were widespread, including 2 birds roosting nightly at Mont-Saint-Hilaire (m.ob.).A record-late Virginia Rail at Rimouski 25 Dec was astounding (R. Pitre), while a Common Moorhen at Gatineau 18 Dec was very late, although previous winter records are known for the Region (fide M. Aube).A Killdeer at Lachenaie 17-18 Dec was also late(G. Cyr, J. Perras), as were 2 Sanderlings reported on the Magdalen Islands C.B.C. 10 Dec (C.Roy, B. Vigneault.).A Wilson's Snipe spent the winter at Val-d'Or, Abitibi for the 7th consecutive winter (C.Siano et al.), and 2 were at La Pocati•re, a locality where the species has wintered previously (C.Auchu, C. Girard).An ad.Franklin's Gull at Tadoussac 3 Dec (RP) and a Bonaparte's Gull at Cap-des-Rosiers 8 Jan (M.COt•, MC.Rancourt) were both record late.An ad.Ivory Gull at Capaux-Meules, Magdalen Is. 21-22 Feb was certainly one of the best finds this winter (A.Richard, DGG, CA.Gaudet et al.).A very late Forsterg Tern was a surprise at Barachois 6 Dec (AC).A peak of over 3000 Dovekies was counted at Les Escoumins 9 Dec (RP).

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