Brief account of family holiday with Denise and Robert to eastern
Canada staying in Quebec and Montreal. Very hot weather throughout
fortnight with only a small amount of rain whilst at Tadoussac.
| Wednesday 1st August |
Depart Gatwick via Canada 3000 @ about
1300hrs; pleasant flight arriving Mirabel Montreal @ about 1500hrs
Quebec time (5 hours later than BST). Met by Antoine; pm in
Montreal looking around Mont Royal and downtown Montreal. Stayed at
135 Jasper Ave |
| Thursday 2nd August |
Day in Montreal – took train from Mont
Royal to Gare Central with Jill; looked around underground shopping
and eating malls then took Metro to Eglise Notre-Dame.
Afternoon spent looking around old port region, in particular a
display of plant mosaics. Robert & I spent 30 minutes on
motorized scooters on the banks of the St Lawrence. Evening
spent at 135 Jasper |
| Friday 3rd August |
Left Montreal at 0740 for a long
journey SW towards Toronto and Niagara in Jills trendy Honda CVR
4-wheel drive. Initially troubled by speed of traffic on
Montreal highways (40E, then 20E until 401E in Ontario).
Stopped near Cornwall for Mac breakfast and concerned re “water
leak” (from air-conditioning). Few brief stops en-route but
excellent, mainly straight highway, until congestion on the routes
around Toronto and on the Queen Elizabeth Highway. Stopped
near Brighton for picnic lunch. Arrived eventually at Hampton
Inn at about 1830 – after rest, swim (Robert) we ate out (Italian)
in Niagara before walking to the Falls to watch at night and see the
Firework display over the falls. Robert unwell in the evening
– probably very tired and suffering from double Bagel and bacon! |
| Saturday 4th August |
Niagara Falls all day – took Red Bus
tours to the Spanish Aero-car; Niagara Glen; Niagara Horticultural
Gardens & Floral Clock; to up river in particularly behind the falls
then finally the Maid of the Mist boat trip. Pm tired but ate
at Montanas with plan to go back into Falls area but all “flaked
out”. Interesting evening in the Niagara Casina – to find cash
machine to accept my plastic! |
| Sunday 5th August |
Left Niagara after breakfast to retrace
route back towards Montreal – route to Toronto no problem but in
Toronto we clearly went wrong and ended up going through middle of
City past the Tower; found way back to correct highway without too
much difficult and certainly faster than the Friday evening route
down. Took Thousand Island Parkway from Gananoque to Rockport
– arrived The Boathouse at about 1430hrs – booked in and then went
on boat trip to Boldt Castle but unable to get off as USA immigrant
officials required correct and full visas. Pm spent around
Boathouse where had supper and sat on veranda into night. |
| Monday 6th August. |
Set off about 0930 to continue
eastbound journey – quick breakfast at BurgerKing before arriving at
Upper Canada Park in late morning. Most of day spent looking
over this interesting cultural museum (like Amberley) leaving at
1800hrs. Brief visit to Upper Canada Migrating Bird Sanctuary
before rejoining route back to Montreal. Evening supper at
Pizzahut in Cornwall and eventually arrived back in Montreal by
2100hrs. Night spent at Jasper |
| Tuesday 7th August |
Day spent by ourselves in Montreal.
Took train into Gare Central then Metro to Pie X11 where the Olympic
Stadium is situated. Most of morning and early pm spent in the
Biosphere display of natural history. Late pm took shuttle bus
(better to have walked) to the Botanical Gardens – looking
principally at the Water Gardens; the China Gardens and the Rose
Gardens. Evening joined Jill and Antoine for a meal at
Pickenmove in the underground world of Montreal. Later visited
a Lebonese fruit cocktail restaurant for a sweet. Night spent
at Jasper |
| Wednesday 8th August |
Left Jasper about 0900 (later than
hoped) to travel north to Quebec – on the 40E then through the
Tunnel to the 20E. An easy drive to Quebec arriving over an
impressive bridge. Found the underground car-park of the Hotel
de Ville before looking about Quebec – lunched in fashionable Saint
Anne Avenue with buskers and street painters; pm walked along the
Promenade Dufferin to the Citadel and looked over the Fields of
Abraham. Booked into hotel late pm and after rest shower etc
we went into the old port area – the first day of a French festival
so streets full of animation and locals dressed in medieval French
costumes. Dined in restaurant on old road to the port (2
dinners for $50). Robert too tired to continue with the
festivities so returned to Maison Doyal (Saint Anne Jardine) hotel
for the night. |
| Thursday 9th August |
Left Quebec after breakfast on the road
on the NW side of the St Lawrence heading north to Tadoussac.
Very pleasant journey with interesting scenery once away from St
Anne Beaupreu. Arrived Tadousac about 1330hrs (weather a
little showery) and booked into the Auberge de Paix (well signed).
Left car here and lunched at port then between 1530 and 1630 we went
on boat trip to see Whales – both ship and Zodiac same price ($41)
but ship had cover and naturalist on board. Several seal seen;
a single Beluga and several views of Minke whale (including some
photographs) in the Parc du Saguenay. Evening spent eating
pizza and wine in local hostelry before collapsing early. |
| Friday 10th August |
Dull start to day – am walk exploring
Taddousac – both species of whales seen easily from shore.
After breakfast leisurely drive south stopping where possible to
look at views and take a break at various point on HWY 362.
Looked at Saint Simeon (Ferry to other side St Lawrence) then lunch
at Macs at La Malbaie. Then on to Baie St Paul and to a
national wildlife reserve at Cap Tormelier near St Anne Beaupre.
Walked for 90 minutes seeing porcupine and several birds
(particularly coming to feeders). Left at 1700hrs for drive
via Quebec to Magog; retracing steps except around Quebec – took
longer than anticipated arriving well after dark – second Mac in the
day at Magog before finding cottage. After chat retired
exhausted |
| Saturday 11th August |
Day spent in the cottage with Antoine
and Jill– morning played badminton, swam and boat trip around Lac
Lovering; afternoon some pedalo and more boat rides – evening
bar-b-q with vino! Denise and Jill spent morning in shops and
drinking Tim Horton’s iced cappuchino. JN fell asleep in pm!! |
| Sunday 12th August |
Day much as yesterday; morning spent
planting some flowering shrubs in the cottage garden. Boat trip and
excursion on “ring”. Evening quiet with more bar-b-q |
| Monday 13th August |
Another quiet day but in am I found a
particularly good open portion of woodland to watch birds.
Morning spent in pedalo and swimming in lake. Lunch at Tim Hortons
before walking at Ile de Marais on the river and lake Magog –
excellent for birds and Turtles. Returned to Magag for
shopping and back to cottage for relaxing evening, |
| Tuesday 14th August |
Morning walk discovered tree across
drive (Robert and myself cleared); swimming and general tidying up
in cottage/garden. Pm trip out to the Abbeye at St Benoidt du
lac – interesting but not very ornate. Eventually left cottage
about 1800hrs to return on 10W to Montreal. Left Jasper
about 2120 to easily book in at Mirabel at 2200hrs. Flight
left about Midnight arriving at LGW at 11am on 15th
August. John picked us up from airport. |
Lots of chipmunks; various types of squirrels; Marmot at cottage;
skunk, deer, Minke & Beluga Whales and porcupine seen.
| Common Loon * |
One on Etang at Ile du Marais |
| Great Cormorant |
2+ from boat trip at Tadoussac |
| Double–crested Cormorant * |
Fairly numerous at Niagara; at Thousand Is and the
St Lawrence and Saguenay at Tadousac. |
| Green Heron * |
Single bird seen well at Upper Canada Migratory
bird Centre |
| Great Blue Heron * |
Seen at several locations |
| Snow Goose * # |
Five (out of a flock of 40 summering) at Cap
Tormelier |
| Canada Goose * |
Abundant near water |
| Mallard * |
Regularly seen near water or marshes |
| American Black Duck * |
At Cap Tormelier and Lac Lovering |
| Common Eider * |
Small parties in Saguenay Marine reserve |
| Turkey Vulture* |
Several in Niagara area and up to 2 over cottage –
seen from HWY occasionally |
| Osprey * |
Thousand Island and Ile du Marais |
| Northern Harrier * |
At least 3 seen all whilst on various highways |
| Coopers Hawk * # |
One at Ile du Marais (or was it Sharp-shinned?) |
| Broad winged Hawk * # |
Over cottage and from car on journey south
from Tadoussac |
| Red-tailed Hawk * |
Close views at Niagara |
| American Kestrel * |
6 at Cap Tourmelier were only sightings |
| Peregrine Falcon |
One chasing Ring-billed Gulls in old port Montreal |
| Spotted Sandpiper * |
At Rockport, Ile du Marais and Lac Lovering – only
waders except 3 peeps which flew past boat in Sagueney marine
reserve |
| Bonapartes Gull * # |
Numerous at Niagara and Tadoussac |
| Ring-billed Gull * |
Everywhere |
| Herring Gull * |
Thousand Islands and Tadoussac |
| Lesser-Bk backed Gull |
3-4 amongst large collection of gulls at Tadoussac |
| Great Bk-backed Gull * |
Thousand Island and Tadoussac |
| Black-legged Kittiwake* |
Plentiful at Tadoussac |
| Caspian Tern * |
Several passing over at Rockport – all heading up
the St Lawrence |
| Common Tern * |
Parties seen at Rockport and Upper Canada |
| Rock Dove * |
In cities |
| Mourning Dove * |
Seen at several sites – most regular bird on
telegraph wires |
| Chimney Swift * |
Common over Montreal, Quebec, Niagara and Magog |
| Ruby-thr Hum’bird * # |
Several sites including cottage – coming to feeders |
| Belted Kingfisher * |
Botanical Gardens; Ile du Marais and cottage garden |
| Northern Flicker * |
Upper Canada, Ile du Marai and cottage area |
| Yellow-bd Sapsucker * |
At least 3 in cottage garden regularly |
| Downy Woodpecker |
Rockport |
| Hairy Woodpecker * |
Rockport and Cottage (coming to feeder) |
| Eastern Wood Pewee* # |
Cottage area; Ile du Marais & several wooded areas |
| Acadian Flycatcher # |
Cap Tormelier |
| Alder Flycatcher # |
Ile du Marais |
| Eastern Phoebe * # |
Upper Canada Park |
| Gt Crested Flycatcher *# |
Ile du Marais |
| Eastern Kingbird * # |
Several sites – best views Ile du Marais |
| Red-eyed Vireo |
Several near cottage only vireo seen well
enough to +ve id |
| Blue Jay * |
Several near cottage – feeding on feeders at
cottage and Cap Tourmelier |
| American Crow* |
Ubiquitous |
| Common Raven* |
Thousand Island & cottage |
| Tree Swallow * # |
Several parties – over reeds at Cap Tourmelier and
Upper Canada |
| Purple Martin * # |
3, including adult, at Upper Canada Reserve |
| Cliff Swallow |
Party by rock cutting on highway on way to Toronto |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow * |
Several parties and smaller numbers at Niagara and
Upper Canada regions |
| Barn Swallow * |
Seemed to be most numerous hirundine – browner
bellied than UK version |
| Black-capped Chickadee * |
Most regularly encountered species in woods |
| Brown Creeper |
One near cottage on last morning |
| White-breasted Nuthatch * # |
Upper Canada and cottage – on feeders |
| Ruby crowned Kinglet * |
One juv in Botanical garden |
| Wood Thrush # |
Family party in wood near cottage |
| Veery # |
One briefly seen in wood near cottage |
| American Robin * |
Most places |
| Gray Catbird # |
Excellent views at Rockport |
| Brown Thrasher |
Brief views at Rockport |
| European Starling* |
Flocks by side of highway |
| Cedar Waxwing * # |
Surprisingly encountered in several locations |
| Northern Parula # |
With warbler flock at Tadoussac |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler *# |
Excellent views at Ile du Marais |
| Cape May Warbler |
In warbler party at Tadousac and near cottage |
| Magnolia Warbler # |
With warbler flock at Tadoussac |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
Rockport, tadoussac and in cottage garden |
| Black & white Warbler * |
Near cottage and Ile du Marias |
| Black-thoat Blue Warbler# |
Rockport – only sighting |
| Black throat Green Warbler |
Males and fall birds near cottage |
| Prairie warbler |
Cottage garden |
| Blackpoll Warbler |
With warbler flock at Tadoussac |
| Pine Warbler # |
With warbler flock at Tadoussac |
| Yellow Warbler #* |
Excellent views Upper Canada and cottage |
| Wilson Warbler *# |
2 in willow thicket in botanical gardens |
| Common Yellowthroat |
Near cottage |
| Field Sparrow #* |
Upper Canada Park |
| Chipping Sparrow |
Upper Canada Park |
| Song Sparrow * |
Several sites but coming to feeder in cottage
garden |
| Swamp Sparrow* |
Ile du Marais |
| White throated Sparrow |
Cap Tourmelier & near cottage |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak # |
Near cottage – included a nice male + Rockport |
| Northern Cardinal * |
Jills garden in Montreal; Botanical Garden |
| Red-winged Blackbird* |
Fairly numerous along roadside and at Upper Canada |
| Common Grackle* |
Fairly numerous in Ontario and cottage area |
| Baltimore Oriole* # |
Near cottage and at Ile du Marais |
| House Finch* |
IN Quebec; Cap Tormelier and Niagara |
| American Goldfinch* |
Fairly widespread in our travels |
| House Sparrow* |
In towns |
