Cedar Waxwings at Parc National de Plaisance: June 2020

Parc National de Plaisance is the best place to see migrating birds in Western Québec.

Here is a description from their brochure (if you are in the mood to try out your French).

Une visite au parc national de Plaisance crée des souvenirs marquants inspiré par la beauté, la diversité des paysages et le calme des lieux.

Beaver Lodge

Migration had finished long ago on the day of my visit and I did not see one aquatic bird or gull.

Cedar Waxwings, however, were in abundance.

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwings are the most nomadic of birds. I have seen dozens in all seasons for a few days and then none for months.

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

Other birds:

Alder Flycatcher
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Eastern Kingbird

2 butterflies:

White Admiral
White Admiral
Northern Crescent
Northern Crescent
Northern Crescent

I saw 2 plant species here for the first time. Both thrive in floodplain environment:

American High-bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
American High-bush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa)

Other botany:

Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)
White Bedstraw (Galium album)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Reed Canary Grass ((Phalaris arundinacea)
Reed Canary Grass ((Phalaris arundinacea)
Sedge
Sedge
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Birdfoot (Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Wood-sorrell (Oxalis stricta)
Carrion-flower (Smilax)
Goat’s-beard (Tragopogon)
Common Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)
Red Clover (Trifolium arvense)
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
Rough Cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica)
Chickweed (Cerastium)
Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Yellow Flag (Iris pseudocorus)
Basswood (Tilia americana) new leaf
Basswood (Tilia americana)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Sweet-cicely (Osmorhiza longistylis)
Timothy (Phleum pratense)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

NATURE POETRY

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every shining flower!   – Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Miles Hearn

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