Itinerary, weather and summary
Sun.15th August — 08.15hrs flight Dublin to Gatwick; 15.30hrs Thomas Cook flight Gatwick to Montreal delayed until 20.30hrs. Arrived Montreal 23.30hrs local time c23C picked up hire car and spent night in "Best Western" Hotel outside Dorval Airport; c£20 per person.
Mon 16th — 2/8 hot and dry. Up at 05.30hrs, few r.b.gulls on verges outside hotel. Went back to airport to sort out problems with the hire car; picked up Dodge Super Caravan 7 seater. Headed north out of Montreal to Quebec City, arrived c15.00hrs seeing turkey vulture on the way. Stayed in a small hotel in the old city for c£20 per person, spent the rest of the day in this beautiful city.
Tues 17th — 2-5/8, hot with S3, dry. Drove north along the St.Lawrence to the Parks Canada and Ducks Unlimited Réserve Nationale de Faune Cap Tourmente. There’s a small entrance fee, $6CA then an information centre, series of footpaths and a few lookout points. It was very hot and in the end we were beaten back by biting insects but not before noticing a light movement of raptors high above, along the ridge and having a close encounter with a female black bear and her two cubs just 50m ahead of us on the path! Drove north and reached Baie Ste. Catherine 17.30hrs; had superb views of 4 minke whales whilst waiting for and crossing the Rivière Saguenay on the ferry. Stayed the following five nights in the excellent "Auberge Le Saint Paix" with views of the fjord, hummingbirds in the garden and elegant breakfasts.
Wed 18th — 5/8, still, very warm, few light showers around midday. Up at 06.00hrs and walked to the top of the hill behind the auberge. Excellent views of the fjord and c 20 belugas swimming up stream! Spent the day in the Tadoussac area walking to the point north of the fjord mouth, driving to the dunes a few km north and spending the evening watching from the rocks in the town. Saw several minke whales at close quarters from the shore, several Bonaparte’s gulls including a fresh juvenile, chipping and 2 swamp sparrows, magnolia warbler, 2 greater yellowlegs and 10 juvenile least sandpipers on the rocks.
Thurs 19th — Val’s birthday! Bright, warm, still until 08.30hrs then rain, showers, NW3 with dense fog, visibility occ. down to a few metres, clearing to a still, dry evening. Up at 6.30hrs and down to the shore to see belugas, minkes and white-throated sparrow. After breakfast drove north to Grand Bergeronnes and took a Zodiac trip with "Essipit" tours for $49CA per person. In calm conditions but poor visibility had fantastic views of belugas, large numbers of porpoises, several minkes and a single blue whale! Viewed down to c500m, the sound of its blow in the still conditions and the vast size of the animal were awesome. Unfortunately, the weather closed in and we headed for the shore. Ate lunch in an excellent diner just north on the main road, very cheap! Spent the afternoon in the rain watching waders on the north side of the bay at Les Escoumins. Excellent views at high tide of least, spotted, semi-p. sands, semi-p. plovers, a killdeer, s.b.dowitchers overhead and an adult little gull.
Fri 20th — 2 - 4/8 v.hot and still a.m. in Tadoussac, becoming W 3 — 4 but remaining dry all day. Up at 06.00hrs, went birding the streets and found a mixed flock of migrants in bushes next to the city hall including 2 least flycatchers, 3 r.e.vireos, 1 Tennessee, 1 Blackburnian, 1 Nashville and 2 blackpoll warblers and heard a possible n.waterthrush, plus r.b.nuthatches, b.c.chickadees, cedar waxwings and pine siskins. After breakfast, birds were moving through the garden including 2 Blackburnians, 1 b.t.green, 1 blackpoll, 1 Tennessee, 2 Nashvilles and a magnolia warbler. Headed c2hrs south to Parc des Grands Jardins; a fantastic national park where there are miles of tracks to drive and wander. Mammals were scarce, we found droppings of bear and moose and saw a woodland jumping mouse. Had excellent views of spruce grouse, two separate male rusty blackbirds, several raptors including an osprey; an olive-sided flycatcher, d.e.juncos and an American bittern in the evening. The insects became quite bad and we didn’t really give ourselves enough time to get off into the best habitats for woodpeckers or other boreal specialities but what a wonderful place. Could easily have spent several days walking and camping.
Sat 21st —- 1/8 still, v.warm becoming cool SW4 — 5 in the evening. An early morning walk in Tadoussac produced a dead skunk in the middle of the high street followed by a concentration of birds: c20 chipping sparrows, 3 r.e.vireos, 3 Tennessee and 3 Nashville warblers, a parula, 3 purple finch, r.c. kinglet and 3 downy woodpeckers. Took a slightly disappointing kayak trip around the bay then in the late afternoon visited the Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite. A woodchuck was sat out on the grass near the information centre; we followed a 6km trail to a viewpoint overlooking the fjord, there were no belugas. A g.n.diver, several d.e.juncos and a peregrine were seen. On the return trip as it was getting dark a woodland jumping mouse, spruce grouse and snowshoe hare were seen.
Sun 22nd — 3/8 SW-SE up to 4, dry and cool. Last morning on the Tadoussac rocks before breakfast; we saw c30 belugas and a passage of 460 hirundines across the mouth of the fjord, seemingly all bank swallows, a n.harrier also passed by and a juv. Spotted sand was on the rocks. We left the auberge and paid the bill c£15 per person per night B+B, not bad at all. Stopped for a short while at the dunes where a light raptor passage of broad-winged and sharp-shinned hawks had occurred. Drove north to Ste. Anne de Portneuf and booked into the basic but very friendly Maison de Fleur, £12 pp B+B. As the St.Lawrence was a bit rough our planned Zodiac trip was delayed so we spent some time along the shore at the Banc de Sable NR. Several semi-p.sands, a male surf scoter and a juvenile N.harrier were seen. Eventually, at 17.30hrs we set off with the "Crosières du Grand Héron" skipper in a zodiac, $45CA pp. The skipper was still concerned that we would be unable to leave the shelter of the harbour and promised a "no whales, no fee" trip. Over the following three hours we had the most fantastic encounter with whales imaginable. We spent about an hour and twenty minutes with two adult female blue whales feeding around the boat; lunging at the surface, raising huge pectoral flippers, tail flukes scything sideways out of the water and on one occasion a whale swam underneath our 4m boat! We saw them on the surface only a few metres away, their size and power bewildering. The skipper and his wife were equally impressed and considered it their best encounter in nine years. No other boats around, it’s hard to describe just what it was like. As it became dark we headed back to the jetty several miles east of our position. 4 g.n divers called in the twilight before taking flight from the surface. We joined a researcher’s boat on the way; all the talk was, naturally, of the amazing evening event.
Mon 23rd — 8/8 clearing p.m. SE 1-2. spent the first two hours after dawn in the rain at Ste. Anne De Portneuf beach, turnstone and grey plover were added to the trip list and there were several white-winged and surf scoter offshore. Drove north after breakfast and took a detour c16km north from Forestville where 5 purple finches were around a feeder and a family party of y.r.warblers included two freshly fledged juvs looking unusual in their heavily spotted and streaked plumage. Took the ferry from Baie Comeau to Matane. A two and a half hour crossing and costing c£35 for five people and the van! The trip was a great disappointment as we saw no cetaceans and few birds, long-tailed duck and razorbill were added to the list. At 17:00hrs we drove east from Matane along the beautiful Route 132. Several spouting rorqual whales were seen from the road and a fin whale surfaced several times. Stayed in a roadside motel at Grand Vallée for $145CA for 5 in two apartments, there was a handy restaurant attached!
Tues 24th Aug — dry all day with NW 4-5, ideal for raptors and migrants at Tadoussac! Up at 06:00 and continued east along the 132 seeing a spouting fin whale and 6 porpoises along the way we reached the Forillon National Park by 07.30. As we drove through the park we passed a porcupine walking alongside the road and also a woodchuck. Ate breakfast at the YHA Grand Grève from where we saw a fluking humpback and another fin whale. From 10.00 — 15.30 we walked the 7.6km round trip from Anse de la Sauvage to Cap Gaspé, a beautiful if a little too popular a walk. The NW wind brought raptors along the ridge heading back west along the southern edge. Views were excellent of 52 broad-wings, 37 sharpies, 3 red-tails, 1 juv harrier, 1 Am.kestrel and an osprey. A flock of 12 white-winged crossbills flew from a group of spruce trees below our path and offshore from the tip there were 3 fulmars and many gannets. Three minkes and a humpback, several red squirrels, 2 more porcupines and we missed a bear! We booked into the "Phorillon Motel" overlooking the scoter, eiders and the sea, $145CA for 2 apartments and ate at the nearby "Mona Restaurant". In the evening, we visited the east end of the Forillon National Park and as we drove in a bear walked slowly across in front of the van. We walked into the forest seeing a snowshoe hare and 6 white-throated sparrows before dark.
Wed 25th — 0/8, dry, still — NW3. A dawn walk along L’Anse au Griffon entrance to the Forillon National Park produced a few migrants in small flocks. Three red-eyed, a Philadelphia and a blue-headed vireo were all in one bush! Magnolia, black-throated green, black-throated blue and Nashville warblers, 4 redstarts plus both species of kinglet including recently fledged golden-crowneds. We finally pinned down Boreal chickadee along with our only blue jays and catbirds of the trip. Shaun saw another bear and there was some serious crashing about coming from the bush, were we close to a moose at last? Back at the car-park the corpse of a short-tailed shrew made the "dead mammals" list. After breakfast we spent 3hrs walking along a cross-country ski trail from the "Castor" car-park. We didn’t see any beavers but another bear crossed our path. Another flock of passerines included more vireos, warblers and a suspected willow flycatcher amongst the few empids. Highlight for Shaun was a ruffed grouse flushed form the path. Unfortunately by 14.00 we had to start the long journey back south- and arrived at Mont St.Pierre c17.00. The drive was fabulous and we booked into the unfeasibly cheap "Vermont Chalets", $80CA for all of us! At 18.00 we drove into the Réserve Faunique des Chic Chocs from the back of the town and walked several kilometres in search of a moose tower without any success in seeing moose or finding the tower! Chipmunk, woodchuck, a large bat and a female ring-necked duck were all we managed but the sunset views of the mountain tops in cloudless skies were staggering.
Thurs 26th - 4/8, v.cool early a.m. dry, W3. An 05.30 drive into the Chic Chocs and as I pulled into park, SR saw the back of a moose cross in front of us and into the forest before I could look up! A long walk was poor save for a few boreal chickadees and a brown creeper. Spent the rest of the day in the park which proved to be a little thin on birdlife. Eventually we did have excellent views of white-winged crossbills perched in the tops of spruce trees at eye level. The usual footprints and droppings told of moose in the area and we spent the last 2hrs at a viewpoint over a wide valley, slowly being eaten by insects. SR picked out a moose in a distant clearing and AR and MS managed to see it as well, it was gone before Val or BR got a view. We sat on in the dwindling light before I began facing up to the harsh truth of missing moose yet again! The 60km drive back started in silence as those who’d seen it couldn’t say much to comfort those who hadn’t. The headlights picked up four white legs at the side of the track and the van stopped. An adult female moose was standing about 10m in front of the van! She strutted around a little agitated, we turned down to the side lights and watched her trot away before coming back alongside us, she was huge and again jumpy. For fear of the doors getting kicked in I switched off the lights until she walked ahead, then after another short while she walked off into the night. The atmosphere in the van could have changed more quickly, suddenly we were all moosed up and everyone was ecstatic! We’d watched it for about ten minutes and were seriously in danger of arriving in town too late to eat so we sped on down the dust track as fast as we could and made it with a minute to spare for a meal and some beer.
Fri 27th — 8/8, still, v.humid and warm. Headed up to the park at 09.00 for the bus to the start of the 4km trail to the summit of Mont Jacques Cartier. In contrast to previous days the cloud base was very low and the summit hidden. The trail was quite steep and soon we were lost in the cloud, temperatures falling. White-winged crossbills were very common with a single flock of 140+. Frustratingly once we cleared the tree-line there was no view. You could only see the alpine flora at your feet and guess what it must look like. We were extremely fortunate in that first a female and then a stag woodland caribou crossed our path only a few meters in front of us! By the time we reached the summit at 2180m it turned out that most on the route had seen nothing. This is the only population south of the St.Lawrence, hence separated from all other herds since glacial times and considered by some to be genetically distinct; they number c150 individuals. After the descent we made our way, more or less straight back along the 132. A short stop at the airport at Mont Joli produced a horned lark and lots of killdeers. We stayed overnight at St.Fabien in a roadside motel $170CA for two apartments; two dead racoons were added to the corpse list!
Sat 28th — 1/8 v.hot, humid with a stiff W breeze. O5.30 — 09.00 visited the Parc du Bic, a very beautiful reserve especially at this time of day. Red fox, least weasel and white-tailed deer were all seen, alive, whilst a Least or Arctic shrew wasn’t! Several warbler species included a 1st w mourning warbler and there were also family parties of chipping and song sparrows. We carried on down the road after breakfast and stopped at the jetty where the ferry departs for Îsle Verte. Large numbers of waders were leaving the salt marshes as the tide rose, particularly semi-p plovers and least sands. A juvenile American golden plover was the best along with 2 peregrines wreaking havoc. Time was tight and we headed on to Great Cacouna; the road to the port proved most productive as the pool on the right had some water in this corner then a large, flooded lagoon held large numbers of duck and waders along the separating walls. Ten new species were seen including blue-winged teal, both species of scaup, a juv r.n.phalarope, a great white egret and then amongst the greater yellowlegs we picked out 2 juv stilt, 2 juv pectoral sands and 2 lesser yellowlegs! The place was fantastic. Onwards again and we cruised on into Montreal at dusk on a Saturday evening, jazz drifting from the radio. All seemed sweet for the end of our holiday until we discovered that the Grand Prix was in town and there wasn’t a bed to spare! We settled for the "Best Western" back at Dorval, where we’d started thought the staff weren’t so pleased we still wanted dinner.
Sun 29th — 7/8, cooler, still, dry. Spent the day around the city; eastern grey squirrel made the final mammal list and we flew out at 19.45hrs.
Common Loon Gavia immer — up to six seen on seven dates; all in breeding plumage and occasionally calling on the water.
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis — three passed distantly off Cap Gaspé 24th.
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus — a single was off Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd with 40+ from the Baie Comeau to Matane ferry 23rd then large numbers from the Gaspé Peninsula 23rd — 25th.
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus — seen daily from 17th — 28th with the exception of 26th when the whole day was spent in the Chic Chocs.
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus — a single flew across Étang Malbaie in Parc des Grands Jardins on the evening of 20th.
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias — seen on 11 dates with a maximum of 30+ 27th as we drove back along the shore from Cap Chat to St.Fabien.
Great White Egret A. alba — a single was at Great Cacouna 28th.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax — two adults were feeding amongst the seaweed at Grand Bergeronnes 19th and a juv. flew across a pool at Great Cacouna 28th.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor — two were on a roadside pool at Baie Ste. Catherine 17th and again 20th.
Canada Goose Branta canadensis — c60 were at Les Escoumins 19th followed by up to 20 on four further dates.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos — just north of its usual range a single was at Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd and three were at Parc du Bic 28th; a refreshingly scarce bird on the trip!
Gadwall A strepera — c50 were at Great Cacouna 28th.
American Black Duck A.rubripes — seen on eight dates with a maximum of c60 at Great Cacouna 28th.
Blue-winged Teal A.discors — c100 were at Great Cacouna 28th.
Northern Shoveler A.clypeata — 3 were at Great Cacouna 28th.
Green-winged Teal A.carolinensis — a female was with ducklings at Cap Tourmente 17th; 2 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd, a single 23rd and c200 Great Cacouna 28th.
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris — a single female was on a small pond at Mont St.Pierre on 25th and 26th.
Greater scaup A.marila — a single eclipse drake was at Great Cacouna 28th.
Lesser scaup A.affinis — 3 eclipse drakes and juv/female Great Cacouna 28th.
Common Eider Somateria mollissima dresseri — a single eclipse drake was off Tadoussac dunes 18th with 300 off Grand Bergeronnes 9th; this species was then seen all along the coast of the Lower St.Lawrence and the Gaspé Peninsula 22nd — 28th.
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata — a single was off Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd followed by 50+ there 23rd; 12 off Cap des Rosiers 24th and c80 along the shore drive to St.Fabien 28th.
White-winged Scoter M.fusca — six were off Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd.
Black Scoter M.nigra — four were off Tadoussac dunes 18th with 40 there 21st; 5 were off Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd and 2 there 23rd and 3 were off the Gaspé Peninsula 24th and 25th.
Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis — a single was seen from the Baie Comeau to Matane ferry 24th.
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula — two were at Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st; 4 were in the Chic Chocs 26th and a single at Great Cacouna 28th.
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator — 42 were off the Tadoussac dunes 18th , with at least 30 there on 21st.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus — a single was in Parc des Grands Jardins 20th and another over the Cap Gaspé 24th.
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura — a single was seen from the road between Montreal and Quebec 16th, 8 along the ridge at Cap Tourmente 17th, a single along the 138 en route to Parc des Grand Jardins 20th and 2 whilst heading south along the Lower St. Lawrence 28th.
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus - seen on six dates with a maximum of 10+ 28th along the shore and wetlands of the Lower St. Lawrence.
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus — seen on seven dates with a maximum of 37 during a movement of raptors along the Cap Gaspé 24th in a NW increasing breeze, undoubtedly many more individuals were involved than recorded.
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus - a single was at Cap Tourmente 17th; a single Tadoussac dunes 22nd, 52 during the raptor movement along the Cap Gaspé 24th; 2 were seen in The Forillon National Park 25th and 2 in the Chic Chocs 26th.
Red-tailed Hawk B.jamaicensis — three were in the Parc des Grand Jardins 20th and 3 during the raptor movement along the Cap Gaspé 24th.
American Kestrel Falco sparverius — singles were seen on 23rd, 24th, 2 in the Chic Chocs 25th and 3 on 27th.
Merlin F.columbarius — a juvenile crossed the Saguenay Fjord 19th, 2 Parc des Grand Jardins 20th, 1 Tadoussac 22nd and 1 juv Parc du Bic 28th.
Peregrine Falcon F.peregrinus — a single was over Cap Tourmente 17th, 1 Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st, and 2 Îsle Verte 28th.
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus — a single was seen beyond the Castor Trail at Forillon National Park 25th.
Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis — eight were seen in the Parc des Grand Jardins 20th, dust bathing, flushed from the path side and sitting tightly close to the path whilst a single female was seen at dusk in the Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st.
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola — a single along the beach at Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd and c20 Îsle Verte 28th.
American Golden-Plover P.dominica — a single juvenile was at Îsle Verte 28th.
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus — c20 were at Les Escoumins 19th and several hundred were at Îsle Verte on the incoming tide 28th.
Killdeer C.vociferous — a single was at les Escoumins 19th and 40+ Mont Joli airport 27th.
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca — two fresh juveniles were on the rocks at Tadoussac 18th followed by 40+ adults and juveniles Great Cacouna 28th.
Lesser Yellowlegs T.flavipes — two juveniles were at Great Cacouna 28th.
Solitary Sandpiper T.solitaria — a single flew across the road as we headed north to Baie Comeau 23rd and 4 were at Parc du Bic 28th.
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia — a single was at the Tadoussac dunes 18th, 4 Les Escoumins 19th, a single juvenile on the rocks at Tadoussac 22nd, 2 Forillon National Park 24th and a single juvenile along the Gaspésie shore 25th.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus — 10 were on rocks at Les Escoumins 19th, 2 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd and a single heard at Cap des Rosiers 25th.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres — three were along the beach at Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd and 11 Cap des Rosiers 25th.
Red Knot Calidris canutus — two were at Îsle Verte 28th.
Sanderling C. alba — two at Les Escoumins 19th was the only record.
Pectoral sandpiper C.melanotos — two juveniles were at Great Cacouna 28th.
Stilt sandpiper C.himantopus — two juveniles were at Great Cacouna 28th.
Semipalmated Sandpiper C.pusilla — an adult and six juveniles were at Les Escoumins 19th, c20 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd and hundreds at Îsle Verte 28th.
Least Sandpiper C.minutilla — the most numerous and frequently seen shorebird; 10 fresh juveniles were on the rocks at Tadoussac 18th, 40+ at Les Escoumins 19th, several large flocks at Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd, 2 Cap des Rosiers 24th and hundreds at Îsle Verte 28th.
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus — two were seen in flight at Les Escoumins 19th.
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus — a juvenile was on the lagoon at Great Cacouna 28th.
Little Gull Larus minutes — a single adult in winter plumage was at Les Escoumins 19th.
Bonaparte’s Gull L.philadelphia — seen daily along the shore, occasionally in large numbers.
Ring-billed Gull L.delawarensis — large numbers seen daily except 26th.
Herring Gull L.argentatus smithsonianus — seen in large numbers daily.
Great Black-backed Gull L.marinus — seen almost daily throughout.
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla — seen daily when on the shore often in large numbers.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo — two Tadoussac 19th, 1 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 22nd and 20 from the Baie Comeau to Matane ferry 24th.
Razorbill Alca torda — fifteen were seen from the Baie Comeau to Matane ferry 24th.
Black Guillemot Cepphus grille — a single was off the Tadoussac rocks 18th, 1 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd, 20+ Baie Comeau to Matane ferry 24th and 2 along the shore 25th.
Rock Dove (feral pigeon) Columba livia — refreshingly only noted on four dates.
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura — one to ten seen on nine dates, mostly on wires along highways.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris — c10 were at Cap Tourmente 17th, three Tadoussac 18th including birds coming to feeders in the garden of the B+B, 1 Tadoussac 19th, 1 there 22nd and 1 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd.
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon — a single was at Cap Tourmente 16th, 1 Parc des Grand Jardins 20th, 1 Ste. Anne de Portneuf 23rd, 2 Chic Chocs 26th and 1 28th.
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens — a single was at Cap Tourmente 17th and 3 Tadoussac 21st.
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus — a single at Mont Joli airport on 27th.
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi — a single was at Parc des Grand Jardins 20th
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum — two were along the Castor trail in the Forillon National Park 25th.
Least Flycatcher E. minimus — three were in Tadoussac 20th , a single along a road north of Forestville 23rd and 2 Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th.
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius — five were seen in the Forillon National Park 25th.
Philadelphia Vireo V.philadelphicus — a single was along track at the Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th.
Red-eyed Vireo V.olivaceus — three were in Tadoussac 20th with 3 more there 21st and 4 Forillon National Park 25th.
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata — a noisy flock of 16 were along the track at the Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th.
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos — seen daily throughout.
Common Raven Corvus corax — one to four seen on seven dates.
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris — a single was at the Mont Joli airport 27th.
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia — 460+ crossed the mouth of the Saguenay fjord 22nd.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica — a single was at Ste. Anne Le Portneuf 22nd and two adults were attending a nest with juveniles at the information centre of the Chic Chocs 26th.
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus — 2 to 15 were seen on eight dates.
Boreal Chickadee P. hudsonicus — three were seen along the track at the Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th and 6+ were seen in the Chic Chocs 26th.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis — up to 10 were seen on eight dates.
Brown Creeper Certhia americana — a single was seen in the Chic Chocs 26th.
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa — c15 were seen in the Forillon National Park 25th including adults with fresh juveniles.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet R.calendula — two were in Tadoussac 21st, 10 in the Forillon National Park 25th and 3 in the Chic Chocs 26th.
American Robin Turdus migratorius — a single was seen at Cap Tourmente 16th followed by singles on four other dates, 2 Forillon National Park 24th and 25 there on 25th.
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis — two were seen along the track at the Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th.
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris — seen daily when near large towns or the cities.
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum — upto 40 seen on eight dates most notably in the Parc des Grand Jardins 20th.
Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina — two were in Tadoussac 20th with three there 21st and a single Forillon National Park 25th.
Nashville Warbler V.ruficapilla — six were in Tadoussac 20th with 3 21st and a single 22nd; two were in the Forillon National Park 25th.
Northern Parula Parula americana — a single was in Tadoussac 21st.
Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia — a single was at Tadoussac dunes 18th, 1 Tadoussac 20th, 1 off the road north of Forestville 23rd; 6 Forillon National Park 25th , 1 Chic Chocs 26th and 1 Parc du Bic 28th.
Black-throated Blue Warbler D.caerulescens — a female was along the track at the Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th and a male at Parc du Bic 28th.
Yellow-rumped Warbler D.coronata — c20 Tadoussac 18th, 10 Tadoussac 20th with 15 there 21st; 2 adults were feeding 2 very fresh and odd looking juveniles along the road north of Forestville 23rd, plus another adult there and a single Forillon National Park 25th.
Black-throated Green Warbler D.virens — a single was in Tadoussac 20th, 2 Forillon National Park 25th and a single at Parc du Bic 28th.
Blackburnian Warbler D.fusca — three were in Tadoussac 20th and a single at Park du Bic 28th.
Blackpoll Warbler D.striata — three were in Tadoussac 20th.
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla — four were in the Forillon National Park 25th.
Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia — a single was at Parc du Bic 28th.
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas — three were at Cap Tourmente 17th, a single in Tadoussac 20th and 1 Forillon National Park 25th.
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina — 10+ were in Tadoussac 18th, a juvenile there 20th and c20 21st; 10+ were at Park du Bic 28th also including several fresh juveniles.
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis — a single was at Ste. Anne Le Portneuf 22nd with 15+ there 23rd, a single Chic Chocs 27th and 3 Îsle Verte 28th.
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia — seen in small family parties on six dates with 10+ at Parc du Bic 28th.
Swamp Sparrow M.georgiana — two were in a weedy lot at Tadoussac 18th.
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis — a single was in Tadoussac 19th, six were in the Chic Chocs 25th with 15+ there 26th.
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis — ten were in the Parc des Grands Jardins 20th, 3 Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st and six Chic Chocs 26th including several very fresh juveniles.
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus — two were at Cap Tourmente 17th, 2 in Tadoussac 21st and a single at Great Cacouna 28th.
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus — single breeding and non-breeding plumage males were seen in the Parc des Grands Jardins 20th.
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula — surprisingly not very common; four were in Quebec city 16th, 8 along the north shore road 23rd, 10 in the Forillon National Park 24th and another 10 along the track at the Forillon National Park, L’Anse au Griffon entrance 25th and a single flock of 50+ along the main road heading south 28th.
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus — a single was at Cap Tourmente 17th, 3 in Tadoussac 21st, five at a feeder off the road north of Forestville 23rd and 5 Forillon National Park 25th.
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera — a flock of 12 were at the Cap Gaspé 24th, two males and six females/imms were in the top of a spruce tree in Chic Chocs 26th and c170 were seen on the Mont Jacques Cartier trail 27th.
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus — upto 60+ were seen on seven dates.
American Goldfinch C.tristis — upto 30+ were seen on ten dates.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus — recorded only in the cities of Montreal and Quebec.
Mammal list
Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata — amazingly close encounters from the shore and ferry at Tadoussac with 4 17th, 6 18th, 2 and 4 Grand Bergeronnes 19th, 1 20th, 3 21st, 1 22nd, 2 from Route 132 north-east of Matane on the evening 23rd, 5+ Gaspé Peninsula 24th, 1 from Route 132 27th and 28th.
Blue whale B.musculus — a single from a Zodiac out of Grand Bergeronnes 19th and at least 2 females from the Crosières Du Grand Héron based at Ste. Anne de Portneuf 21st.
Fin whale B.physalus — 1 from Route 132 north-east of Matane on the evening 23rd and 2 Gaspé Peninsula 24th.
Rorqual whale spp. — three large rorquals were seen spouting distantly from Cap des Rosiers 25th.
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae — two were seen from the Gaspé Peninsula 24th.
Beluga Delphinapterus leucas — seen mainly from Tadoussac where there were 20 18th, c40 19th, 10 20th and c40 22nd; another c20 were seen from the Zodiac out of Grand Bergeronnes 19th.
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocooena— c50 were seen from the trip out of Grand Bergeronnes 19th, 6 from Route 132 between Grand Vallée and Cap des Rosiers with 6 more from the Gaspé Peninsula 24th, singles from Route 132 east of Cap Chat 27th and 28th.
Grey seal — seen almost daily when on the coast
Common seal — a single was seen from the Gaspé Peninsula 24th.
Black bear - a female with two cubs were at Cap Tourmente 17th, a single adult was in the Forillon National Park 24th and two further adults were seen in the park 25th.
Porcupine — four were seen in the Forillon National Park 24th
Racoon — two roadside corpses were seen along Route 132 26th
Skunk — a single adult was found dead on the road in the centre of Tadoussac on the morning of 20th.
Snowshoe hare — singles were at Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st, Forillon National Park 24th and Chic Chocs 26th.
Red fox — a single was at Parc du Bic 28th.
Moose — three singles were seen in the Chic Chocs 26th.
Woodland caribou — a male and female were seen in the thick cloud on the summit of Mont Jacques Cartier 27th.
White-tailed deer — two were at Parc du Bic 28th.
Red squirrel — very common in any coniferous forest, seen most days.
Eastern grey squirrel — a single was seen running across the road near a park in Montreal 29th.
Eastern chipmunk — upto 2 were seen on most days around the Tadoussac area, a single was in the Forillon National Park 24th and two there 25th.
Woodchuck — a single was outside the visitor centre at Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st, a single was along the roadside at the Forillon National Park 24th, another single in Mont St.Pierre 25th and another in the Chic Chocs 26th.
Least weasel — singles were at Cap Tourmente 17th and at Parc du Bic 28th.
Woodland jumping mouse — singles were at Malbaie in Parc des Grands Jardins on the evening of 20th and Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st.
Short-tailed shrew — a corpse of this species was found in the car-park of the L’Anse au Griffon entrance to the Forillon National Park 25th.
Arctic/Least shrew — a single was found dead in Parc du Bic 28th.
Bat spp. (small) — a single small bat was seen at dusk in the car-park of Saguenay Parc Baie Ste. Margarite 21st.
Bat spp. (large) — a single large bat species was seen in the Chic Chocs on the evening of 25th.