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02 Sep Baird's Sandpipers ["Hans" ] 2 Sep northern rough winged swallow [John Nickerson ] 01 Sep Solitary Sandpiper ["snahmoot" ] 30 Aug FWD: Blue-winged Warbler & other recent Sightings from Brier Island ["Blake Maybank" ] 29 Aug Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Hartlen point ["Terry Boswell" ] 29 Aug Bon Portage - Birds of Note ["Lucas Berrigan" ] 29 Aug Bon Portage - Birds of Note ["Lucas Berrigan" ] 28 Aug possible Philadelphia Vireo with fledge (late report) [Lynn Karchewski ] 28 Aug Western Sandpiper and others at Grand Pre [Sydney Penner ] 28 Aug Western Sandpiper and others at Grand Pre [Sydney Penner ] 28 Aug Connecticut Warbler ["garrattdennis" ] 27 Aug White-winged Dove in Berwick? [Sydney Penner ] 27 Aug Buff-breasted Sandpiper [James Hirtle ] 27 Aug Pectoral Sandpipers(2) and Solitary Sandpiper [Hans Toom ] 24 Aug Possible Connecticut Warbler [Lois Codling ] 24 Aug Possible Connecticut Warbler [Lois Codling ] 24 Aug Solitary Sandpiper [Hans Toom ] 23 Aug Great Skua, Cory's Shearwater, Manx Shearwater - Halifax Pelagic Trip 22-08-2010 ["Blake Maybank" ] 21 Aug Buff-breasted Sandpiper-Big I. [Ken McKenna ] 21 Aug Buff-breasted Sandpiper-Big I. [Ken McKenna ] 19 Aug Western Kingbird [Hans Toom ] 17 Aug Marbled Godwit at Grand Pre [Richard Stern ] 17 Aug Marbled Godwit at Grand Pre [Richard Stern ] 16 Aug FWD: Belated news of a Swallow-tailed Kite in Annapolis County ["Blake Maybank" ] 16 Aug Update: Delhaven White-winged Dove not seen ["rachel_cooper_10" ] 15 Aug Great Egrets, McCormack's Beach, Eastern Passage [Andrew Horn ] 15 Aug Great Egrets, McCormack's Beach, Eastern Passage [Andrew Horn ] 15 Aug Black Vulture, Digby Neck ["P.L. Chalmers" ] 14 Aug Western Willets, Lwr LaHave, Lun. Co. ["Eric L. Mills" ] 14 Aug Western Willets, Lwr LaHave, Lun. Co. ["Eric L. Mills" ] 14 Aug Pectoral Sandpipers and Great Egrets [Hans Toom ] 13 Aug Update: Eurasian Collared-Dove is a no-show ["Blake Maybank" ] 11 Aug Solitary Sandpiper [Hans Toom ] 10 Aug Update: Eurasian Collared-Dove in Canso ["Blake Maybank" ] 06 Aug Laughing Gull ["garrattdennis" ] 5 Aug Re: Eurasian Collared Dove, Puffin ["Tom & Terri" ] 5 Aug Re: [NatureNS] Eurasian Collared Dove, Puffin ["Tom & Terri" ] 5 Aug FWD: Sandhill Crane at Belleisle Marsh, 4 August ["Blake Maybank" ] 4 Aug stilt sandpiper [John Nickerson ] 3 Aug yellow crown nightheron [John Nickerson ] 3 Aug FWD: archival sighting -- Caspian Tern in Cape Breton ["Blake Maybank" ] 02 Aug Western Sandpiper near Grand Pre [Sydney Penner ] 03 Aug Bonaparte's gull. ["Terry Boswell" ] 01 Aug Solitary Sandpiper in Grafton [Sydney Penner ] 31 Jul Delhaven White-winged Dove [Rachel Cooper ] 31 Jul Black-backed Woodpecker ["Aileen Smith" ] 30 Jul Black-headed Gull, Brier Island ["Eric Mills" ] 30 Jul Black-headed Gull, Brier Island ["Eric Mills" ] 29 Jul FWD: White-winged Dove in Kings County - update ["Blake Maybank" ] 29 Jul FWD: White-winged Dove in Kings County ["Blake Maybank" ] 28 Jul FWD: White-winged Dove in Kings County ["Blake Maybank" ] 28 Jul Am. Oystercatchers and more ["rachelhoogenbos" ] 27 Jul am. oystercatchers [John Nickerson ] 27 Jul FWD: Black-crowned Night-Heron in HRM ["Blake Maybank" ] 25 Jul Brier Island frigatebird ["Eric L. Mills" ] 24 Jul FWD: American White Pelican in Guysborough County 21 July ["Blake Maybank" ] 22 Jul Great Egret ["viaurita" ] 21 Jul great egret [John Nickerson ] 20 Jul Re: Field Trip For Beginners, Taylor (correction) Head, July 18/10 [Gayle MacLean ] 20 Jul Re: Field Trip For Beginners, Taylor (correction) Head, July 18/10 [Gayle MacLean ] 18 Jul Re: Nesting shorebird on video - Bedford basin [Bob McDonald ] 17 Jul Nesting shorebird on video - Bedford basin ["ebo2112" ] 15 Jul A. Oystercatchers still in Canso ["Tom & Terri" ] 15 Jul A. Oystercatchers still in Canso ["Tom & Terri" ] 14 Jul Great Crested Flycatcher [Angus MacLean ] 13 Jul 'A Birders Eye View' Live At 5, 5PM, Tues, July 13 [Gayle MacLean ] 13 Jul 'A Birders Eye View' Live At 5, 5PM, Tues, July 13 [Gayle MacLean ] 9 Jul Re: Scarlet Tanager in Berwick [James Churchill ] 8 Jul Re: Scarlet Tanager in Berwick [Richard Stern ] 08 Jul Scarlet Tanager in Berwick [Sydney F Penner ] 5 Jul Golden Eagle and other sightings, northern Cape Breton [Randy Lauff ] 03 Jul Whip-poor-will [Stuart & Rachel Smith ] 03 Jul Turkey Vulture, near Heatherton Ant. Co. [Bruce Stevens ] 3 Jul Clay-coloured Sparrow Still in Lakelands [Suzanne Borkowski ] 3 Jul Clay-coloured Sparrow Still in Lakelands [Suzanne Borkowski ] 03 Jul Re: Turkey Vultures Region 15 [Joan Czapalay ] Subject: Baird's Sandpipers From: "Hans" <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:12:55 -0000 There were(are) two juvenile Baird's Sandpipers at Sandy Cove's beach this morning. This sandpiper is among our tamest so is relatively easy to photograph well. The Eastern Kingbird continues to hunt from the local wires. By Saturday evening this beach will look completely different and will probably be loaded up witha fresh supply of kelp and flotsum, all the better to attract even more birds. Hans Subject: northern rough winged swallow From: John Nickerson <jonsannick AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 11:08:17 -0300 1 northern rough winged swallow at lr. clarks hbr. this morning at 9.38 across from the restaurant c.s.i. johnny sandra nickerson Subject: Solitary Sandpiper From: "snahmoot" <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:47:33 -0000 There was a Solitary Sandpiper at Sandy Cove's beach this morning and a Eastern Kingbird hawking insects from nearby wires. The pond here no longer drains to the sea so it has enlarged considerably. It also hosted Semipalmated Plovers and Greater Yellowlegs. The gulley at Duncan's Cove was active with migrating warblers including a flock of adult male American Redstarts! It was too hot and muggy to linger and check out all the birds. Hans PS-this posting was sent directly from the NS-RBA site on my alternate computer since my day to day computer is in for repair. I can be contacted at snahmoot AT yahoo.ca today. Subject: FWD: Blue-winged Warbler & other recent Sightings from Brier Island From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:10:13 -0400 Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:46:32 -0300 From: Brian Dalzell aythya AT nb.sympatico.ca Subject: Brier Island Migration Monitoring - Aug. 30/10 It took a couple of hours, but I managed to tweak out banding data for the past four days (Aug. 27-30). Migration has been slow and steady, as one would expect with the benign weather conditions. August 27 (27 birds). 8 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Magnolia Warbler 6 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 American Redstart 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 Swainson's Thrush 3 Northern Waterthrush 5 Red-eyed Vireo August 28 (68 birds). 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Cape May Warbler 3 Black-and-white Warbler 4 Yellow Warbler 1 Myrtle Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 1 Bay-breasted Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 2 American Goldfinch 2 Alder Flycatcher 1 Philadelphia Vireo 10 Red-eyed Vireo 6 Northern Waterthrush 2 Ovenbird 4 Magnolia Warbler 5 American Redstart 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 Purple Finch 2 White-throated Sparrow 1 Yellow-breasted Chat (hatch-year, female). August 29 (53 birds). 6 Alder Flycatcher 3 Common Yellowthroat 1 Mourning Warbler 1 Least Flycatcher 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 Boreal Chickadee 1 Philadelphia Vireo 4 Black-throated Green Warbler 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 Magnolia Warbler 1 American Redstart 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 Northern Parula 1 Purple Finch 1 Baltimore Oriole 1 Swainson's Thrush 7 Northern Waterthrush 2 Ovenbird 7 Red-eyed Vireo August 30 (69 birds). 2 Bay-breasted Warbler 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Least Flycatcher 2 Blackburnian Warbler 3 Canada Warbler 7 Common Yellowthroat 2 Blackpoll Warbler 4 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 1 Myrtle Warbler 1 Philadelphia Vireo 1 Alder Flycatcher 2 Wilson's Warbler 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 15 Black-throated Green Warbler 3 Magnolia Warbler 1 Brown Creeper 1 Northern Parula 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 American Redstart 1 Baltimore Oriole 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Yellow-breasted Chat (hatch-year, female). 7 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 Northern Waterthrush I missed a couple things, which is why the totals don't add up for today. Also seen today but not banded were a male Prairie Warbler and a male Blue-winged Warbler. My thanks to Lance Laviolette, for permission to post the results of our work. Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Hartlen point From: "Terry Boswell" <ta_boz AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:09:49 -0000 Whilst looking through the plentiful semipalmated sandpipers, on the way to back cove at Hartlen Point, I came accross an elegant Buff-breasted sandpiper in the kelpy flotsam. Other bids observed were: Ruddy Turnstone American Golden Plover Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Black-bellied Plover Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs (side by side for comparison) Semipalmated plover Northern Harrier (a very nice close-up) Terry Boswell Cork St., Halifax Subject: Bon Portage - Birds of Note From: "Lucas Berrigan" <coppersmithbarbet AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:34:54 +0000 For those of you who will be visiting the island on September 3rd, here is a list of interesting birds I have seen during my visit. In the past few days we've had some good birds including: August 29 Western Kingbird Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Dickcissel Philedelphia Vireo - banded August 28 Orchard Oriole Buff-breasted Sandpiper Rusty Blackbird August 27 Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Yellow-breasted Chat - banded Red Knot Birds from last week: Prairie Warbler White-rumped Sandpiper - 72 Killdeer Black-crowned Night-heron Philedelphia Vireo Olive-sided Flycatcher Bobolink - over a dozen Eastern Kingbird - 5 American Golden-plover I'll send another update before I leave. Cheers, Lucas -------------------------------------- Sent from my Blackberry. -------------------------------------- Subject: Bon Portage - Birds of Note From: "Lucas Berrigan" <coppersmithbarbet AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:34:54 +0000 For those of you who will be visiting the island on September 3rd, here is a list of interesting birds I have seen during my visit. In the past few days we've had some good birds including: August 29 Western Kingbird Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Dickcissel Philedelphia Vireo - banded August 28 Orchard Oriole Buff-breasted Sandpiper Rusty Blackbird August 27 Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Yellow-breasted Chat - banded Red Knot Birds from last week: Prairie Warbler White-rumped Sandpiper - 72 Killdeer Black-crowned Night-heron Philedelphia Vireo Olive-sided Flycatcher Bobolink - over a dozen Eastern Kingbird - 5 American Golden-plover I'll send another update before I leave. Cheers, Lucas -------------------------------------- Sent from my Blackberry. -------------------------------------- Subject: possible Philadelphia Vireo with fledge (late report) From: Lynn Karchewski <dlkarchewski AT live.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:11:21 -0200 Hi: On August 12 at Cranberry Lake, HRM, I observed two birds that I think may be a Philadelphia Vireo and fledgling. I'll give the description first and then some about the convoluted path I've travelled to reach this conclusion :0). I apologize for the lateness of this report. The adult bird was small (warbler sized) with a small bill (I didn't get a better look at this, unfortunately). The head had a dark gray crown (cap), with a white eyebrow, a black eyeline that went "through" the eye from the lores back. The rest of the head, back, rump, wings and tail were olive green. The throat, breast, and belly were whitish with a yellow wash alongside the wings. The undertail coverts were yellow and the underside of the tail feathers was dark gray with no white. The fledge was basically the same, with perhaps slightly yellower underparts, more "chunkier" looking (this could have been from its posture) and the corners of its mouth were still turned downward a bit. My personal experience with observing vireos is non-existant....they have been an elusive species for me....often heard but never seen despite my efforts. I have read and observed in field guides that they appear heavier (chunkier) than warblers and that they move much more slowly. I wouldn't have said that the adult was moving any more slowly than a warbler....it was gleaning and at least once was hovering. It didn't appear to be any heavier than any of the warblers that I have observed either and was foraging in the low to middle level of deciduous trees. The fledge was a slug by comparison but then they don't need to do much do they? :0) I initially was extremely resistant to considering these birds vireos, partly because of my own track record with the species, partly because I was "looking for" warblers, partly because of the adult's behavior and size, and simply because of sheer disbelief that my 10 min. jaunt into the woods would not only produce a vireo but an uncommon one at that. I spent a week trying to fit them into the warbler category and the closest I got was the Tennessee warbler, even though its undertail coverts are white. I have observed and read that colour is a weak field mark to rely on especially when comparing similar looking birds. Also, in the back of my mind, there was some other reason that the Tennessee didn't quite fit but I couldn't put my finger on it. I finally gave up, called it a "confusing fall warbler" and filed it under Mystery Birds (a large file :0)). I took up the challenge again this week and I think I have eliminated the Tennessee: First because the underside of the retrices on the male don't match and second because one of the most distinctive features of the birds that I saw was the dark gray crown which contrasted the lighter olive green of the nape and rest of upperparts. This contradicts the description of the spring adult female Tennessee as described in Garrett and Dunn's Warblers guide: "Forehead, crown, and hindneck olive-gray, contrasting only slightly with olive upperparts." The fall female according to the guide has all the upperparts olive green which doesn't match. I am interested in other's experiences with the Philadelphia and whether you think this is a match. Again, I'm sorry for the lateness of this....it would have been great if someone else could have observed them and I wish I hadn't been so reluctant at first to consider vireos. Thank you very much for your time. Wishing you all a good day. Lynn Karchewski Subject: Western Sandpiper and others at Grand Pre From: Sydney Penner <sfp AT sydneypenner.ca> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:31:26 -0300 I spent several rewarding hours at Grand Pre close to high tide this afternoon (Aug. 28). The overall number of shorebirds was much lower than on my previous visits (it looked like most of the Semipalmated Sandpipers had moved on), but the number of species was better than I've seen before and the birds often came really close to me. Here's the list of shorebirds I saw (estimates are quick and dirty for anything over a handful of individuals): Black-bellied Plover -- 3 American Golden-Plover -- 1 Semipalmated Plover -- 50 Ruddy Turnstone -- 2 juveniles (I think I also saw a flying adult, but not sure) Sanderling -- 4 Semipalmated Sandpiper -- 100 WESTERN SANDPIPER -- 1 (there were actually several individuals which looked suspiciously like Westerns, but I'm only sure about one) Least Sandpiper -- 60 White-rumped Sandpiper -- 1 I got a fantastic, extended view of the Western from about thirty feet away. It was also close to several Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, providing a great chance to compare the species. It was a juvenile with upper scapulars edged in rufous and lower scapulars gray with dark anchor with white/offwhite edging. It had a significantly longer bill than the other sandpipers around it. The bill drooped slightly. Black legs. The face was relatively pale, though within the range for Semipalmated Sandpipers. Now a question for those well-versed in sandpiper plumages: Sibley's mentions that Westerns molt earlier than Semipalmateds. The suggestion seems to be that birds that are mostly or entirely molted into nonbreeding plumage by this time of the year are likely to be Westerns. But am I right in thinking that around here -- where Westerns are rare -- a nonbreeding plumaged bird in August is still more likely to be an early-molting Semipalmated than a Western? The reason I ask is because I saw one or two birds that had almost entirely finished molting (they still had a few black scapulars with the edging worn off among the gray) that had relatively long, drooping bills that made me suspect Western. But I know that bill lengths can be variable and I wasn't sure how much to make of the fact that they were this far along with molting. Best wishes, Sydney Penner 114 Willow Ave. Berwick, NS Subject: Western Sandpiper and others at Grand Pre From: Sydney Penner <sfp26 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:31:26 -0300 I spent several rewarding hours at Grand Pre close to high tide this afternoon (Aug. 28). The overall number of shorebirds was much lower than on my previous visits (it looked like most of the Semipalmated Sandpipers had moved on), but the number of species was better than I've seen before and the birds often came really close to me. Here's the list of shorebirds I saw (estimates are quick and dirty for anything over a handful of individuals): Black-bellied Plover -- 3 American Golden-Plover -- 1 Semipalmated Plover -- 50 Ruddy Turnstone -- 2 juveniles (I think I also saw a flying adult, but not sure) Sanderling -- 4 Semipalmated Sandpiper -- 100 WESTERN SANDPIPER -- 1 (there were actually several individuals which looked suspiciously like Westerns, but I'm only sure about one) Least Sandpiper -- 60 White-rumped Sandpiper -- 1 I got a fantastic, extended view of the Western from about thirty feet away. It was also close to several Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, providing a great chance to compare the species. It was a juvenile with upper scapulars edged in rufous and lower scapulars gray with dark anchor with white/offwhite edging. It had a significantly longer bill than the other sandpipers around it. The bill drooped slightly. Black legs. The face was relatively pale, though within the range for Semipalmated Sandpipers. Now a question for those well-versed in sandpiper plumages: Sibley's mentions that Westerns molt earlier than Semipalmateds. The suggestion seems to be that birds that are mostly or entirely molted into nonbreeding plumage by this time of the year are likely to be Westerns. But am I right in thinking that around here -- where Westerns are rare -- a nonbreeding plumaged bird in August is still more likely to be an early-molting Semipalmated than a Western? The reason I ask is because I saw one or two birds that had almost entirely finished molting (they still had a few black scapulars with the edging worn off among the gray) that had relatively long, drooping bills that made me suspect Western. But I know that bill lengths can be variable and I wasn't sure how much to make of the fact that they were this far along with molting. Best wishes, Sydney Penner 114 Willow Ave. Berwick, NS Subject: Connecticut Warbler From: "garrattdennis" <garrattdennis AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:06:08 -0000 I spent a couple of hours this am in the small woodland at the back of Lois Codlings house in Sackville. I was lucky enough to connect with the Connecticut warbler that Lois had as a probable a few days ago. This woodland leads down to the back of Lois' back yard. The bird is in amongst a flock of 10 sp of warblers inc a couple of Nashville and brown creeper. Cheers Lois! Dennis Garratt Subject: White-winged Dove in Berwick? From: Sydney Penner <sfp26 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:08:59 -0300 At about 4:50pm today (Aug. 27) a dove flew over me as I was walking along Willow Ave. At first I thought it was a Mourning Dove, but then I noticed that it appeared to have a distinctly short, square tail. Unfortunately, it didn't take very long for the bird to disappear from sight, so I wasn't able to confirm my new suspicion that it was a White-winged Dove. I did not notice the white patches on the upper wings, but I'm also not sure how visible they are from below when the bird is flying. So I'm left rather unsure about whether it really was a White-winged Dove, though I am quite confident that it's tail was unlike that of most Mourning Doves. At any rate, if you're out in Berwick, you might want to give seeming Mourning Doves a second look. Best wishes, Sydney Penner 114 Willow Ave. Berwick, NS Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpiper From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:10:10 +0000 David Walmark and I had a buff-breasted sandpiper at Conrad's Island Beach (Sand Dollar Beach) at Lower Rose Bay today. James R. Hirtle Bayport Subject: Pectoral Sandpipers(2) and Solitary Sandpiper From: Hans Toom <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:07:30 -0300 The captioned birds, two Pectoral Sandpipers and one Solitary Sandpiper, were at Sandy Cove's beach this morning in company with a mix of peeps and a Greater Yellowlegs. At Duncan's Cove a mixed flock of Palm Warblers, Common Yellowthroats and Blackpoll Warblers were moving through the area. Hans _________________________________ Hans Toom Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada Website: http://hanstoom.com _________________________________ Subject: Possible Connecticut Warbler From: Lois Codling <loiscodling AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:21:52 -0300 In a group of juvenile warblers, we saw at noon yesterday, Monday, Aug. 23, at our home in L. Sackville, what appeared to be a young Connecticut Warbler. At first I thought I was looking at a young Nashville, but this bird had a pale grey throat, an eye-ring, grey head, noticeably different from the back, no wing-bars, yellow upper breast and undertail coverts with white lower breast. Unfortunately we did not observe the leg colour. We were hoping it would reappear today, but, though we had a good warbler mixture, we did not see that bird. Perhaps tomorrow! Lois Codling Subject: Possible Connecticut Warbler From: Lois Codling <loiscodling AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:21:52 -0300 In a group of juvenile warblers, we saw at noon yesterday, Monday, Aug. 23, at our home in L. Sackville, what appeared to be a young Connecticut Warbler. At first I thought I was looking at a young Nashville, but this bird had a pale grey throat, an eye-ring, grey head, noticeably different from the back, no wing-bars, yellow upper breast and undertail coverts with white lower breast. Unfortunately we did not observe the leg colour. We were hoping it would reappear today, but, though we had a good warbler mixture, we did not see that bird. Perhaps tomorrow! Lois Codling Subject: Solitary Sandpiper From: Hans Toom <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:04:45 -0300 There was a Solitary Sandpiper at Sandy Cove's beach this evening. Also present was a Greater Yellowlegs and four Least Sandpipers. Although the tide was high this beach is still popular with shorebirds due to the meandering stream that forms ponds in the sand. The beach is especially popular with shorebirds a week or two after a powerful southerly wind raises kelp heaps. Hurricane Danielle may provide a fresh supply of kelp and flotsam in a few days, and perhaps bring ins some pelagic birds along our coastline: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?5-daynl#contents Hans _________________________________ Hans Toom Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada Website: http://hanstoom.com _________________________________ Subject: Great Skua, Cory's Shearwater, Manx Shearwater - Halifax Pelagic Trip 22-08-2010 From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 9:18:23 -0400 23 August 2010 Halifax Pelagic Trip Results - 22 August Dave Currie has asked me to post the list of sightings from yesterday's Halifax pelagic trip out of Eastern Passage. We (14 of us) departed the wharf at 0600, and returned at 1900. We headed east for 40 km, and spent much of the day drifting in the gentle swells, with a charming chum slick spread out behind us. The weather was fabulous, sunny and nearly calm, the air temperature above 25 C, and the ocean temperature between 22 and 23, unusually warm. Our bird list (sightings well away from Halifax Harbour): - Northern Gannet -- 12+, all immatures - Northern Fulmar -- 1 - Cory's Shearwater -- 1 (but seen by only one member of the group (not me, alas) - Great Shearwater -- 200+, with a maximum of 120 in view at one time. The birds were often just centimetres from the boat, and put on an amazing show: flying, floating, swimming, diving. Note: the American Ornithologists' Union, in its just-published Fifty-First Supplement to the Check-List of North American Birds, has changed the name of Greater Shearwater to Great Shearwater. The reason? "The name was modified to conform to general worldwide usage." - Sooty Shearwater -- 6+ - Manx Shearwater -- 8+ - Wilson's Storm-Petrel -- 20+ - Leach's Storm-Petrel -- 4, including several side-by-side comparisons with Wilson's Storm-Petrel - Red-necked Phalarope -- 12+ - Red Phalarope -- 1 or 2, including one which remained near the boat for several hours with 4 Red-necked Phalaropes, making comparison very easy - Black-legged Kittiwake -- 2 adults - Ring-billed Gull -- 1 second-summer bird, most unexpected so far out - Herring Gull -- 50+, all ages - Great Black-backed Gull -- 25+, all ages - Common Tern -- 5, adults and juveniles - Arctic Tern -- 1 adult - Great Skua -- 1 subadult, near us for several hours. It spent most of this time sitting on the water, drifting with the chum slick for several hours, but it made three nice fly-passes of the boat. This was a lifer for many in the boat. - Pomarine Jaeger -- 2 adults Total: 19 species Non-avian List: - Blue Shark -- 3, with two taken on board for tag-and-release. The one that "got away" (actually refused to bite the bait) was very large, and swam close to and under the boat several times. Even when we couldn't see the large shark the birds seemed very aware of its presence, and avoided the area where the shark was (presumably) active. Other smaller sharks also kept their distance, which helped explain why we caught only two. - Orca -- 2 !!!, though at some distance - Humpback Whale -- 1 - Atlantic White-sided Dolphin -- several sightings, including one group that raced by (and under!) the boat while we were drifting. - Yellow-finned Tuna -- a nice feeding frenzy, with tuna leaping out of the water Our thanks to Dave Currie for organising this fun outing. His second (and last) pelagic trip of this season is scheduled for 6 September, and while the trip is full (and there is a short waiting list), I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you wished to have your name added to the waiting list. Dave's e-mail is: david_currie AT ns.sympatico.ca Cheers, Blake Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpiper-Big I. From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:38:13 -0300 Ken McKenna Box 218 Stellarton NS B0K 1S0 902 752-7644 Hi all I discovered and later photographed a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Big I., Pictou Co. about midday, Aug. 21. It was located at the far end of the bar at Savage Pt. on the west end of the island. It was keeping to dry sand and near the dune grass. It would flush from that area and move out to the sandbar if someone walked around the point but after a short period it would fly back to the point where it was not visible from the road. I was later able to get Karen and Linc. MacLeod and a birder from Oregon on to the bird. A bird of the year PIPING PLOVER was on the outer beach, midway along the main causeway to the island. This may have been a lingering member of the family rased on Big I. this year much to the great efforts of the guardianship of the MacLeods who made sure all who used the beach this summer were aware of the presence of the young plover chicks. cheers Ken Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpiper-Big I. From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:38:13 -0300 Ken McKenna Box 218 Stellarton NS B0K 1S0 902 752-7644 Hi all I discovered and later photographed a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Big I., Pictou Co. about midday, Aug. 21. It was located at the far end of the bar at Savage Pt. on the west end of the island. It was keeping to dry sand and near the dune grass. It would flush from that area and move out to the sandbar if someone walked around the point but after a short period it would fly back to the point where it was not visible from the road. I was later able to get Karen and Linc. MacLeod and a birder from Oregon on to the bird. A bird of the year PIPING PLOVER was on the outer beach, midway along the main causeway to the island. This may have been a lingering member of the family rased on Big I. this year much to the great efforts of the guardianship of the MacLeods who made sure all who used the beach this summer were aware of the presence of the young plover chicks. cheers Ken Subject: Western Kingbird From: Hans Toom <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:03:41 -0300 Laura and I decided to spend the evening watching cruise ships and other marine traffic, including birds, at Chebucto Head this evening. But, as it happens sitting on the wires between the second and third telephone poles from the gate sat a Western Kingbird. The brightness and extent of yellow on the belly would suggest an adult. I'll study my photos this evening to see if it might be something more exotic. Laura got sidetracked by blackberries so that as they say is that, although some juvenile Common Yellowthroats posed nicely for me in the setting sun. Due to the lateness of the day the Western Kingbird will almost certainly overnight in the area. Besides Chebucto Head Road, another good place to look would be Duncan's Cove and the gulley. Hans _________________________________ Hans Toom Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada Website: http://hanstoom.com _________________________________ Subject: Marbled Godwit at Grand Pre From: Richard Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:14:23 -0300 Hi, There was a Marbled Godwit flying around with a Willet at the Guzzle (E.end of Grand Pre) this evening, just after high tide and just before dusk. I managed 2 crappy but identifiable photos, which I posted on Page 2 of the RBA Shorebirds album on the NS-RBA Yahoo group site. They headed off in the direction of Boot Island. I suppose the Willet could be a Western, but I didn't see it well enough to be sure - I can't recall ever seeing a Willet there before, despite the regular presence of thousands of Peeps. There weren't that many Peeps around this evening, but 2 C.Nighthawks flew over heading west. Richard -- ################# Richard Stern, 317 Middle Dyke Rd. Port Williams, NS, Canada B0P 1T0 sternrichard AT gmail.com ################### Subject: Marbled Godwit at Grand Pre From: Richard Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:14:23 -0300 Hi, There was a Marbled Godwit flying around with a Willet at the Guzzle (E.end of Grand Pre) this evening, just after high tide and just before dusk. I managed 2 crappy but identifiable photos, which I posted on Page 2 of the RBA Shorebirds album on the NS-RBA Yahoo group site. They headed off in the direction of Boot Island. I suppose the Willet could be a Western, but I didn't see it well enough to be sure - I can't recall ever seeing a Willet there before, despite the regular presence of thousands of Peeps. There weren't that many Peeps around this evening, but 2 C.Nighthawks flew over heading west. Richard -- ################# Richard Stern, 317 Middle Dyke Rd. Port Williams, NS, Canada B0P 1T0 sternrichard AT gmail.com ################### Subject: FWD: Belated news of a Swallow-tailed Kite in Annapolis County From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:22:45 -0400 A fine adult Swallow-tailed Kite was photographed near Lawrencetown, Annapolis County, on 5 July by Diane Ackroyd, who, once she determined what the bird was, posted her sighting to eBird.com. I have seen the photos, and the identification is accurate. She was unaware of the Rare Bird Alert or NatureNS, but in any event the bird only lingered for 15 minutes, and was not subsequently seen. While this is the ninth record for the province it is only the 2nd or 3rd to be photographed. I will post the photos to the NS-RBA once I receive Diane's permission. Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Update: Delhaven White-winged Dove not seen From: "rachel_cooper_10" <rachel.cooper AT xcountry.tv> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:19:33 -0000 The last time I saw or heard the White-Winged Dove was last Tuesday, August 10th. It was here that morning and evening but had been visiting less frequently before that. My neighbour hasn't seen it since then, either. Rachel Cooper, Delhaven Subject: Great Egrets, McCormack's Beach, Eastern Passage From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT dal.ca> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:30:43 -0300 Hi all, Two Great Egrets, presumably the same ones seen at Cow Bay yesterday, were foraging along the shore of Lawlor Island at about 8AM this morning. Back Cove, Hartlen Point was very busy with warblers. Nothing unusual, and I'm guessing they were all local (they included some puzzling fledglings), but great practice. Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax Subject: Great Egrets, McCormack's Beach, Eastern Passage From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT dal.ca> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:30:43 -0300 Hi all, Two Great Egrets, presumably the same ones seen at Cow Bay yesterday, were foraging along the shore of Lawlor Island at about 8AM this morning. Back Cove, Hartlen Point was very busy with warblers. Nothing unusual, and I'm guessing they were all local (they included some puzzling fledglings), but great practice. Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax Subject: Black Vulture, Digby Neck From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:28:41 -0300 Just returned from a trip to Brier Island. On our way back today (14 August, shortly before noon) we stopped at Sandy Cove, on the Digby Neck, and drove across to the Bay of Fundy side of the community. While my sister was taking photos of the fishing weir, I noticed a vulture approach, coming from the west and following the shoreline. We had seen several in the last few days, but when I realized it had a dark head, I became more interested. I thought it was an immature Turkey Vulture, and perhaps a noteworthy observation for the Atlas. So I raised my binoculars for a proper look, just as I began to think its profile was rather odd. As it drew nearer I was startled to see that this bird was black, not dark brown, and had large white wing patches almost to the wingtips. As it tilted and glided overhead I could see that the white patches were visible from above and from below. I knew this pattern didn't match an immature Turkey Vulture, so watched it as long as I could until it flew out of sight, heading east along the shore, before I checked my field guide. A few minutes later an adult Turkey Vulture followed the same flight path, and I had opportunity to compare it with my recent observations. I have now checked several field guides and am certain that the first bird I saw was an adult Black Vulture. Patricia L. Chalmers Halifax P.S. While in Bear River this afternoon, I overheard a second-hand report of a whale carcass being found somewhere along the Digby Neck today. It might be a place to check for scavengers ... Subject: Western Willets, Lwr LaHave, Lun. Co. From: "Eric L. Mills" <e.mills AT dal.ca> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:35:22 -0300 Early this morning two Western Willets were feeding in a saltmarsh pool at Lower LaHave, Lunenburg County. They were conspicuously large and long-legged, giving them a godwit- like appearance; had pale gray plumage without any contrast between scapulars and coverts; featureless heads lacking a capped appearance; and long, mostly dark bills. Easterns are still here in some places - for example an adult and an immature at the Beach Meadows outlook, Queen's County (where they nest) later in the day. Subject: Western Willets, Lwr LaHave, Lun. Co. From: "Eric L. Mills" <E.Mills AT Dal.Ca> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:35:22 -0300 Early this morning two Western Willets were feeding in a saltmarsh pool at Lower LaHave, Lunenburg County. They were conspicuously large and long-legged, giving them a godwit- like appearance; had pale gray plumage without any contrast between scapulars and coverts; featureless heads lacking a capped appearance; and long, mostly dark bills. Easterns are still here in some places - for example an adult and an immature at the Beach Meadows outlook, Queen's County (where they nest) later in the day. Subject: Pectoral Sandpipers and Great Egrets From: Hans Toom <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:30:32 -0300 I arrived at Cow Bay's Salt Marsh, HRM, this morning at 9AM just in time to watch two Great Egrets lift off from the entrance channel at the western end of the marsh. They roosted in the trees west of the channel, where they still remained at my departure. An adult and juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers were feeding with Short-billed Dowitchers on the sand bar at the north end of the wash through. Hans _________________________________ Hans Toom Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada Website: http://hanstoom.com _________________________________ Subject: Update: Eurasian Collared-Dove is a no-show From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 6:45:7 -0400 Friday the 13th, August, 2010 I have been informed by Harry and Rose Ann that the dove has not been seen since Tuesday evening. Mourning Doves arrived for periodic feedings on Wednesday and Thursday, but the EUCD was not in attendence. They believe it has "flown the coop". They will let me know, however, if it returns. Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Solitary Sandpiper From: Hans Toom <htoom AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:18:30 -0300 A single, as usual, Solitary Sandpiper, was seen by Laura and I at 8:10PM in the west side ditch of Sandy Cove Road, HRM, about 200 metres from the intersection with Ketch Harbour Road. This species turns up here every year and usually ends up at Sandy Cove's beach at some point. Hans _________________________________ Hans Toom Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada Website: http://hanstoom.com _________________________________ Subject: Update: Eurasian Collared-Dove in Canso From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:52:0 -0400 10 August 2010 Update: Eurasian Collared-Dove in Canso Eric Mills and I drove to Canso today, and went to the home of Harry and Roseanne Delorey. We viewed the dove a couple of times between 10:45 and 11:30. The bird has now been present for eight days at this location. The dove usually makes three appearances daily, around 0730-0800, then sometime between 1030 and 1200, and again in the late afternoon. It only arrives with Mourning Doves, and then only after the Mourning Doves have begun feeding. The Collared-Dove is the last to arrive. It is easily spooked, and very wary, and can only be viewed from with the Delorey's house. Accordingly, please contact Harry and Roseanne in advance of your visit, and do NOT try to view the bird from outside, as it will not appear. The Deloreys welcome visitors, but ask that you conact them first. Their e-mail is: rahdel AT ns.sympatico.ca, and their phone number is 902-366-2680. Good luck. Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Laughing Gull From: "garrattdennis" <garrattdennis AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:33:28 -0000 Laughing Gull today at Cherry Hill Beach, present from 11.30am until at least 1.00pm Dennis Garratt Subject: Re: Eurasian Collared Dove, Puffin From: "Tom & Terri" <terri.crane AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 22:00:41 -0300 I've posted a photo of each on the NS-RBA page. Dove AT http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NS-RBA/photos/album/1517874316/pic/411919880/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Puffin AT http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NS-RBA/photos/album/415490743/pic/1529955490/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Tom K Canso ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom & Terri To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca ; NS-RBA AT Yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2010 8:54 PM Subject: [NatureNS] Eurasian Collared Dove, Puffin Hi All Last week I photographed "poorly" a Puffin off the entrance to Canso hbr. but the're doc shots just the same. Last evening an Eurasian Collared Dove visited the feeders of Harry and Roseanne Deloreys'. It returned again early this morning and fed heavily. It was seen and well photographed by Harry/Roseanne, Steph B. and Myself on a few different ocations today. Tom K Canso Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Eurasian Collared Dove, Puffin From: "Tom & Terri" <terri.crane AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 22:00:41 -0300 I've posted a photo of each on the NS-RBA page. Dove AT http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NS-RBA/photos/album/1517874316/pic/411919880/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Puffin AT http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NS-RBA/photos/album/415490743/pic/1529955490/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Tom K Canso ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom & Terri To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca ; NS-RBA AT Yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2010 8:54 PM Subject: [NatureNS] Eurasian Collared Dove, Puffin Hi All Last week I photographed "poorly" a Puffin off the entrance to Canso hbr. but the're doc shots just the same. Last evening an Eurasian Collared Dove visited the feeders of Harry and Roseanne Deloreys'. It returned again early this morning and fed heavily. It was seen and well photographed by Harry/Roseanne, Steph B. and Myself on a few different ocations today. Tom K Canso Subject: FWD: Sandhill Crane at Belleisle Marsh, 4 August From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 9:17:57 -0400 Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:26:58 -0300 From: Sydney Penner sfp AT sydneypenner.ca Subject: Belleisle Marsh birds, Aug. 4, including Sandhill Crane Despite the rain, I spent some time birding in Belleisle Marsh early this afternoon. I wasn't able to identify all the ducks, due to the poor visibility, but the birding was rewarding nonetheless. The best find was a first-year SANDHILL CRANE just north of the southwestern-most impoundment. My wife says there was a second bird like it that flew away in the opposite direction, but I didn't get a chance to see it. Best wishes, Sydney Penner Berwick, NS sfp26 AT cornell.edu Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: stilt sandpiper From: John Nickerson <jonsannick AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 19:16:35 -0300 1 stilt sandpiper in with 23 lesser yellowlegs at the guzzle c.s.i. 6.15 p.m. aug. 4 th johnny sandra nickerson Subject: yellow crown nightheron From: John Nickerson <jonsannick AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:22:11 -0300 1 immature yellow crown nightheron across from house 1309 lr clarks hbr c.s.i. found by murray newell cindy penney Subject: FWD: archival sighting -- Caspian Tern in Cape Breton From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 6:27:56 -0400 From: Anthony Timmons Subject: Caspian Tern - Cape Breton Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2010 Found a Caspian Tern, Saturday July 3, at Main-A-Dieu Beach. It was in the company of Herring and Black-backed Gulls. Tony Timmons Calgary Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Western Sandpiper near Grand Pre From: Sydney Penner <sfp26 AT cornell.edu> Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:12:25 -0300 I spent a couple of hours this afternoon and evening (Aug. 2) looking through thousands of Semipalmated Sandpipers in a couple of locations, but mostly at the eastern end of E. Long Island Rd. There weren't many birds of other species mixed in, but there were a few dozen Semipalmated Plovers and a handful of Least Sandpipers. The best find, though, was a Western Sandpiper. I first noticed it because of the obvious contrast in colour between the upper scapulars and the lower scapulars. The upper scapulars were edged in relatively bright rufous. It's bill was a bit longer than that of most of the other sandpipers around it, though it didn't strike me as so much longer that I would have suspected Western on that basis alone. I was able to observe the bird for a couple of minutes, including while it preened, before I lost it when the flock briefly flew out over the water thanks to a Merlin that flew over. I wasn't able to re-locate the bird after the flock returned. That's not surprising, given the size of the flock---my quick and dirty estimate was that the flock consisted of around five thousand birds. I watched the flock at close to high tide; some smaller flocks started peeling off as the tide started going out. Sydney Penner 114 Willow Ave. Berwick, NS sfp26 AT cornell.edu Subject: Bonaparte's gull. From: "Terry Boswell" <ta_boz AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:16:51 -0000 Pam and I took a trip to Fishrman's reserve (Aug 2nd.) and spotted a Bonaparte's gull on a sand bar to the left of the causeway. I suspect it is the same one that Blake reported in his earlier posting. The gull also had three Ruddy Turnstones, a dozen or so Short Billed Dowitchers and a host of Plovers for company. Terry Boswell Cork St. Halifax Subject: Solitary Sandpiper in Grafton From: Sydney Penner <sfp26 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:18:50 -0300 I saw a Solitary Sandpiper with a group of Killdeer near Grafton (in the Valley) earlier this afternoon (Aug. 1). A person resident in the area said that the sandpiper had been around for several days at least. If anyone wants directions, e-mail me off-list and I'll ask the owner of the property for permission to visit. Best wishes, Sydney Sydney Penner 114 Willow Ave. Berwick, NS sfp26 AT cornell.edu Subject: Delhaven White-winged Dove From: Rachel Cooper <rachel.cooper AT xcountry.tv> Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:00:17 -0300 The White-winged Dove is on the deck railing again this afternoon. It was absent for a few hours this morning but is still around. It chases away the mourning doves, but they come back after it leaves. Blue jays and the chipmunk are generally left alone. Please contact me for updates and directions. Thanks, Rachel Cooper http://www.rachelcooper.ca Canning, NS (902) 582 3251 Subject: Black-backed Woodpecker From: "Aileen Smith" <patandaileen AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:57:11 -0000 Aileen's daughter Julie had a good sighting of a male, chipping away at flakes of bark from a stand of mature re-growth pine in the woods behind Ingramport on July 28th, between 1 and 2 pm. Had a very loud, emphatic squawky call! Subject: Black-headed Gull, Brier Island From: "Eric Mills" <e.mills AT dal.ca> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:50:25 +0000 There was a recently fledged Black-headed gull in Pond Cove, Brier Island this morning. Origin - Newfoundland? Somewhere else? Other sightings: an adult Bonaparte's Gull and lots of local warblers with chickadees. The only obvious migrants were two grackles arriving from the N and a very out of place Red-breasted Nuthatch in the Pond Cove shrubbery early this morning. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device Eric L. Mills 286 Kingsburg Road RR#1, Rose Bay, NS B0J 2X0, Canada Subject: Black-headed Gull, Brier Island From: "Eric Mills" <E.Mills AT Dal.Ca> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:50:25 +0000 There was a recently fledged Black-headed gull in Pond Cove, Brier Island this morning. Origin - Newfoundland? Somewhere else? Other sightings: an adult Bonaparte's Gull and lots of local warblers with chickadees. The only obvious migrants were two grackles arriving from the N and a very out of place Red-breasted Nuthatch in the Pond Cove shrubbery early this morning. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device Eric L. Mills 286 Kingsburg Road RR#1, Rose Bay, NS B0J 2X0, Canada ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NS-RBA/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NS-RBA/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: NS-RBA-digest AT yahoogroups.com NS-RBA-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: NS-RBA-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: FWD: White-winged Dove in Kings County - update From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:31:27 -0400 Subject: White winged dove, Delhaven, Kings Co. NS From: George Forsyth Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:50:10 -0300 This morning (July 29) at 10 a.m. Harold and I saw the white winged dove at Rachel Cooper's home in Delhaven. It was exactly where she said it would be, sitting on top of the bird feeder on her deck. We drove into her driveway and the bird was sitting there waiting for us! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ George E. Forsyth New Minas, N.S. Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: FWD: White-winged Dove in Kings County From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 6:30:1 -0400 Last night and this morning a White-winged Dove landed on my deck railing, and I wanted to let birders know. Please contact me for updates and directions. Thanks, Rachel Cooper http://www.rachelcooper.ca Canning, NS (902) 582 3251 rachel.cooper AT xcountry.tv Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: FWD: White-winged Dove in Kings County From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:30:42 -0400 Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:38:22 -0300 Subject: NS Rare Bird Alert From: Rachel Cooper rachel.cooper AT xcountry.tv Last night and this morning a White-winged Dove landed on my deck railing, and I wanted to let birders know. Sincerely, Rachel -- Rachel Cooper http://www.rachelcooper.ca 1462 Pereau Road, Delhaven, RR1, Canning, NS B0P 1H0 (902) 582 3251 rachel.cooper AT xcountry.tv Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Am. Oystercatchers and more From: "rachelhoogenbos" <rachelhoogenbos AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:01:50 -0000 To confirm Johnny and Sandra's observation - I too have been watching the Oyster Catchers regularly and saw them with fledged chicks on Monday (July 26) evening, at low tide. Not only that, the Whimbrel they reported earlier was feeding in the foreground. I watched it devour 3 sizeable eels. Number 3 went down a lot slower than the first 2! The Black Crowned Nightheron is a regular as well. Plus: the last Piping Plover nest hatched at Daniel's Head Beach on tuesdaymorning (July 27)- feet from the new boardwalk. 2 chicks only - let's hope they have a better survival rate than the 4 at the Point, which resulted in only 1 fledged chick, the other 3 mysteriously disappeared when about 3 weeks old. Rachel Subject: am. oystercatchers From: John Nickerson <jonsannick AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:48:11 -0300 the pair of am. oystercatchers that nested at daniels head this summer hatched off two young the adult oystercatchers were feeding them on the sandbar johnny sandra nickerson Subject: FWD: Black-crowned Night-Heron in HRM From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:30:56 -0400 Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:50:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Donald Forbes brigus98 AT yahoo.ca I want to let people know that an immature black-crowned night heron has been hanging around the Shearwater Yacht Club all day today, looking a little lost, standing on docks, in the grass, etc. but able to fly and not obviously injured. I saw it first around supper time when I nosed my car into a spot and it stood at the edge of tall grass on one leg not 4 ft from the nose of the car unmoving and remained still when I got out of the car. At that point I suspected it was injured, but later it flew to a nearby rock near the shore. Regards Don Forbes "brigus98" Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Brier Island frigatebird From: "Eric L. Mills" <e.mills AT dal.ca> Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:08:17 -0300 Readers of Nova Scotia Birds will remember that I regularly urge people who see frigatebirds not to assume that they must be Magnificents. Great, Lesser and Ascension Island Frigatebirds have been recorded in the North Atlantic, along with Magnificent. However, the splendid pictures from June and Jamie Swift document a very clear female Magnificent Frigatebird from just off Brier Island. This is the first from the Brier Island area. There was an undocumented frigatebird at Sandy Cove (Digby Neck) a few years ago, but until yesterday no Brier Island record. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Eric L. Mills 286 Kingsburg Road RR#1, Rose Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2X0, Canada e.mills AT dal.ca ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Subject: FWD: American White Pelican in Guysborough County 21 July From: "Blake Maybank" <accentor AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 9:53:12 -0400 We have a cottage on Spanish Ship Bay (Guysborough Co.) and on the morning 7/21 at 7:30 an American white pelican swam in front of our house. It looked healthy - cruised around for a bit and then swam back out toward the outer bay. We are Americans who see pelicans sometimes when we are in the south - this was quite a surprise! Since Guysborough doesn't have an NSBS representative listed, I wanted to let someone know, since this is an unusual siting for Nova Scotia, I believe, and probably especially for the Eastern Shore. We are delighted to add it to our NS list! Jane Williams Forwarded by: Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://tinyurl.com/birdingns Downloadable Nova Scotia Maps for inside front and back covers: http://tinyurl.com/mr627d Subject: Great Egret From: "viaurita" <viaurita AT yahoo.ca> Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:06:29 -0000 Hi There was 2 Great Egrets at the Cow Bay Marsh this evening (July 21/10). Rita Viau Subject: great egret From: John Nickerson <jonsannick AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:45:23 -0300 1 great egret at daniels head 1.15 p.m. today also 1 whimbrel 2 am . oystercatchers johnny sandra nickerson _________________________________________________________________ Game on: Challenge friends to great games on Messenger http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9734387 Subject: Re: Field Trip For Beginners, Taylor (correction) Head, July 18/10 From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:07:25 -0700 (PDT) Oops! Sorry for mis-spelling the name of this beautiful Provincial Park.   Gayle --- On Tue, 7/20/10, Gayle MacLean wrote: From: Gayle MacLean Subject: [NS-RBA] Field Trip For Beginners, Taylor's Head, July 18/10 To: "naturelist" , "nsbird list" Received: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 2:26 PM   Many thanks to the organizers, Jim Cameron & Warren Parsons for arranging this wonderful outing this past Sunday at this simply spectacular provincial park. Jim Cameron led the walk which was preceded by a detailed look at the best types of binoculars & helpful equipment aids, how to properly focus binoculars, a look at good field guides, etiquette while participating on field trips, the steps to properly identify birds. The walk itself lasted a little longer than the planned 3 hours but nobody was complaining. It was a fairly rugged trail but we were able to see some great birds. Juncos were in and about as well as a number of Song & White-throated Sparrows. A Hermit Thrush landed close by as we were starting out For myself I saw my first Boreal Chickadee. We checked on a successful nesting colony of Common Terns. We saw both Lesser & Greater Yellowlegs, several of each actually perching on the same rock. Jim brought his scope so we were all able to see the detailed markings. We saw a number of rafts of Common Eider with young of different ages, various kinds of gulls in different stages of maturity. A female Common Yellow-throat made for a wonderful view thanks to a little 'pishing' by Jim to coax it out. One of the members also saw the male a further way along. A number of Yellow-rumped Warblers were happening into view now and then. An Osprey, as well as several Bald Eagles were noted in the air or on their nests. A number of  Pitcher Plants were growing along the trail in certain areas as well as flowering blueberry bushes and closer to the shoreline were quite a few Baked Apple berries, ate my first one. Delicious! A very memorable field trip. Thanks again!   Gayle MacLean Dartmouth __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: New Photos 2 Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___ Subject: Re: Field Trip For Beginners, Taylor (correction) Head, July 18/10 From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:07:25 -0700 (PDT) Oops! Sorry for mis-spelling the name of this beautiful Provincial Park.   Gayle --- On Tue, 7/20/10, Gayle MacLean wrote: From: Gayle MacLean Subject: [NS-RBA] Field Trip For Beginners, Taylor's Head, July 18/10 To: "naturelist" , "nsbird list" Received: Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 2:26 PM   Many thanks to the organizers, Jim Cameron & Warren Parsons for arranging this wonderful outing this past Sunday at this simply spectacular provincial park. Jim Cameron led the walk which was preceded by a detailed look at the best types of binoculars & helpful equipment aids, how to properly focus binoculars, a look at good field guides, etiquette while participating on field trips, the steps to properly identify birds. The walk itself lasted a little longer than the planned 3 hours but nobody was complaining. It was a fairly rugged trail but we were able to see some great birds. Juncos were in and about as well as a number of Song & White-throated Sparrows. A Hermit Thrush landed close by as we were starting out For myself I saw my first Boreal Chickadee. We checked on a successful nesting colony of Common Terns. We saw both Lesser & Greater Yellowlegs, several of each actually perching on the same rock. Jim brought his scope so we were all able to see the detailed markings. We saw a number of rafts of Common Eider with young of different ages, various kinds of gulls in different stages of maturity. A female Common Yellow-throat made for a wonderful view thanks to a little 'pishing' by Jim to coax it out. One of the members also saw the male a further way along. A number of Yellow-rumped Warblers were happening into view now and then. An Osprey, as well as several Bald Eagles were noted in the air or on their nests. A number of  Pitcher Plants were growing along the trail in certain areas as well as flowering blueberry bushes and closer to the shoreline were quite a few Baked Apple berries, ate my first one. Delicious! A very memorable field trip. Thanks again!   Gayle MacLean Dartmouth Subject: Re: Nesting shorebird on video - Bedford basin From: Bob McDonald <bobathome AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:16:32 -0300 Hi, Indeed, Environment Canada has been informed of the Spotted Sandpiper nest close to the infill at Crosby Island in the Basin, and the site has been visited by one of the EC's Enforcement Officers. He was able to speak to the developer, hopefully in time to protect the nest site. Still haven't heard whether or not we can save this site and other nearby natural shoreline from disturbance... Regards, Bob McDonald ----- Original Message ----- From: ebo2112 To: NS-RBA AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 12:09 AM Subject: [NS-RBA] Nesting shorebird on video - Bedford basin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAoenfm0gOI at 1:01 - 1:21 Is it a SPOTTED SANDPIPER nest with mother and two young? Just wondering if this is of interest to any of the group. The video was sent to me to highlight the problem of infilling of the Bedford Basin and may be of interest to some of you in its own right. (I see someone has started a facebook group too if that interests you.) Cheers, I. Marshall Subject: Nesting shorebird on video - Bedford basin From: "ebo2112" <foxhollow AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:09:10 -0000 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAoenfm0gOI at 1:01 - 1:21 Is it a SPOTTED SANDPIPER nest with mother and two young? Just wondering if this is of interest to any of the group. The video was sent to me to highlight the problem of infilling of the Bedford Basin and may be of interest to some of you in its own right. (I see someone has started a facebook group too if that interests you.) Cheers, I. Marshall Subject: A. Oystercatchers still in Canso From: "Tom & Terri" <terri.crane AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:19:04 -0300 Hi All I've posted 2 photos of the A. Oystercatchers on the NS-RBA site. My first sighting of them this year was on June 4th on the bar at the entrance to Squid Cove at the park and they are still here. I've noticed that theyonly show up during a faling tide when it's about half out and are only present for about 1 Hr or so each day. On a couple of ocations I haven't seen them for a few days but I believe this is when they have changed their feeding thime to take advantage of the other tide. I've never seen them either fly in from or out to their roost so I'm not sure if this is their main feding area or a secondary one. Tom K. Canso Subject: A. Oystercatchers still in Canso From: "Tom & Terri" <terri.crane AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:19:04 -0300 Hi All I've posted 2 photos of the A. Oystercatchers on the NS-RBA site. My first sighting of them this year was on June 4th on the bar at the entrance to Squid Cove at the park and they are still here. I've noticed that theyonly show up during a faling tide when it's about half out and are only present for about 1 Hr or so each day. On a couple of ocations I haven't seen them for a few days but I believe this is when they have changed their feeding thime to take advantage of the other tide. I've never seen them either fly in from or out to their roost so I'm not sure if this is their main feding area or a secondary one. Tom K. Canso Subject: Great Crested Flycatcher From: Angus MacLean <angusmcl AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:36:31 -0300 While driving on Brooklyn St. (W. of Kentville) this morning, a Great Crested Flycatcher flew across (S. to N.) the road & landed on the top of a dead tree. This is about 2.5 kms. east of the intersection with Lovett Road (called Brooklyn Corner on some maps). The north side of Brooklyn at this point is DND (Aldershot) land & thus not accessible. However, if nesting, this bird is more likely to be found on the south side where there are a number of houses. Angus Subject: 'A Birders Eye View' Live At 5, 5PM, Tues, July 13 From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:46:51 -0700 (PDT) Hello All,   Just saw an ad on TV for tonight's 'Live At 5', program on CTV. One of their segments is called 'A Birders Eye View', all about bird watching. I'll be tuning in. Am sure this might be interesting to most on these lists. The show is rebroadcast at 6AM, tomorrow morning on Ch. 7, (Dartmouth), A-ATL.   Gayle MacLean Dartmouth     Subject: 'A Birders Eye View' Live At 5, 5PM, Tues, July 13 From: Gayle MacLean <duartess2003 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:46:51 -0700 (PDT) Hello All,   Just saw an ad on TV for tonight's 'Live At 5', program on CTV. One of their segments is called 'A Birders Eye View', all about bird watching. I'll be tuning in. Am sure this might be interesting to most on these lists. The show is rebroadcast at 6AM, tomorrow morning on Ch. 7, (Dartmouth), A-ATL.   Gayle MacLean Dartmouth     Subject: Re: Scarlet Tanager in Berwick From: James Churchill <jameslchurchill AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 12:09:24 -0300 Hey folks, Sydney, thanks for the email! I lived on Willow ave for about a year as well, as you likely know! I have yet to encounter a Scarlet Tanager in the Berwick area or in some of the more highly forested areas north of the 101 (North Berwick, Grafton, Welsford, Somerset...). That is a great find and certainly a rare one as Richard mentioned. Although the season is getting late, keep your eyes peeled for any other evidence of breeding...presence of a female, fledglings, an adult carrying nesting material, or evidence of a nest. Also, if he is spotted again nearby, a week from the first sighting he could probably be recorded as holding a "territory" for the atlas...although, with the early breeding season this year, it's possible he is moving through as well... check out the atlas webpage for Scarlet Tanager observations reported by atlassers during the first (1986-1990)and current atlas(2006-2010): http://www.mba-aom.ca/jsp/map.jsp I know where you are talking about, used to walk it daily, and I'll try to pop in this weekend. James. On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 9:58 PM, Richard Stern wrote: > > > Hi Sydney, > > Scarlet tanagers are seen from time to time in the Valley in Summer, and > presumably are occasional nesters. I know of just 2 documented nests - 1 in > Palmeter Woods, in W.Kentville, and 1 on Wolfville Ridge, several years ago. > I have also seen adult breeding plumage males in different parts of > Kentville, and Paradise. I have heard that others have seen them in Keji. > In the 28 years I have lived in the Kentville area, I have very rarely heard > of any birders or bird reports from Berwick, so you have virgin territory, > waiting to be explored! I know, though, that James Churchill is doing a bird > study at the moment in nearby Somerset, and has several neat sighting, and > there are several good observers with atlas squares nearby. > > Cheers, > > Richard > > On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 1:23 PM, Sydney F Penner wrote: > >> >> >> I was very surprised this morning to hear and see a singing Scarlet >> Tanager while walking along Willow Avenue in Berwick. I've walked the >> road dozens of times in the last several weeks and lived here from the >> late 1980s to 2003---this is the first time I've seen a Scarlet Tanager >> here. I'm curious to know if others have recorded them in Berwick or >> nearby. >> >> I saw the bird a little after 9am in the oak tree by the road just >> before the bridge over the Cornwallis. >> >> Best wishes, >> Sydney Penner >> >> sfp26 AT cornell.edu >> Berwick, N.S. >> >> > > > -- > ################# > Richard Stern, > 317 Middle Dyke Rd. > Port Williams, NS, Canada > B0P 1T0 > > sternrichard AT gmail.com > ################### > > -- James Churchill Centreville, Nova Scotia jameslchurchill AT gmail.com mobile: (902) 698-3402 home: (902) 681-2374 Subject: Re: Scarlet Tanager in Berwick From: Richard Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 21:58:13 -0300 Hi Sydney, Scarlet tanagers are seen from time to time in the Valley in Summer, and presumably are occasional nesters. I know of just 2 documented nests - 1 in Palmeter Woods, in W.Kentville, and 1 on Wolfville Ridge, several years ago. I have also seen adult breeding plumage males in different parts of Kentville, and Paradise. I have heard that others have seen them in Keji. In the 28 years I have lived in the Kentville area, I have very rarely heard of any birders or bird reports from Berwick, so you have virgin territory, waiting to be explored! I know, though, that James Churchill is doing a bird study at the moment in nearby Somerset, and has several neat sighting, and there are several good observers with atlas squares nearby. Cheers, Richard On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 1:23 PM, Sydney F Penner wrote: > > > I was very surprised this morning to hear and see a singing Scarlet > Tanager while walking along Willow Avenue in Berwick. I've walked the > road dozens of times in the last several weeks and lived here from the > late 1980s to 2003---this is the first time I've seen a Scarlet Tanager > here. I'm curious to know if others have recorded them in Berwick or > nearby. > > I saw the bird a little after 9am in the oak tree by the road just > before the bridge over the Cornwallis. > > Best wishes, > Sydney Penner > > sfp26 AT cornell.edu > Berwick, N.S. > > > -- ################# Richard Stern, 317 Middle Dyke Rd. Port Williams, NS, Canada B0P 1T0 sternrichard AT gmail.com ################### Subject: Scarlet Tanager in Berwick From: Sydney F Penner <sfp26 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:23:00 -0300 I was very surprised this morning to hear and see a singing Scarlet Tanager while walking along Willow Avenue in Berwick. I've walked the road dozens of times in the last several weeks and lived here from the late 1980s to 2003---this is the first time I've seen a Scarlet Tanager here. I'm curious to know if others have recorded them in Berwick or nearby. I saw the bird a little after 9am in the oak tree by the road just before the bridge over the Cornwallis. Best wishes, Sydney Penner sfp26 AT cornell.edu Berwick, N.S. Subject: Golden Eagle and other sightings, northern Cape Breton From: Randy Lauff <randy.lauff AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 11:01:22 -0300 Three immature Golden Eagles at the north arm of Cheticamp Flowage and points north. Several families of Rusty Blackbird along that north arm. Two broods of Common Goldeneye on the north arm. Randy _________________________________ RF Lauff Way in the boonies of Antigonish County, NS. Subject: Whip-poor-will From: Stuart & Rachel Smith <rsmelbourne AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:10:39 -0300 The Whip-poor-will continues to sing daily. This morning it was at 5 a.m.. I was not in Little River Harbour this morning but the people in the area are continuing to hear it on a daily basis. Rachel Subject: Turkey Vulture, near Heatherton Ant. Co. From: Bruce Stevens <bstevens AT stfx.ca> Date: Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:36:58 -0300 Hi All, Spotted a Turkey Vulture cruising westward over the 104 just north of Heatherton, Antigonish County, on Thursday (Canada Day) about 10 am. Bruce Stevens Maryvale, NS Subject: Clay-coloured Sparrow Still in Lakelands From: Suzanne Borkowski <suzanneborkowski AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 15:18:18 -0700 (PDT) Hi Everyone; I tried to wait a week before checking on this bird again so that I could count it on territory (T) if it was still there; but I just couldn't help myself. I took a quick run out Hwy #1 and heard it right away as I drov in Red Spruce Way. This time it was closer to the start of Yellow Birch Drive. I still didn't get a good look at it. It's a fidgity little thing. But it's song is so loud and distinctive it's not hard to find. I don't have a camera. I'd love it if someone could get a picture or better yet, a recording of its song! Thanks! Suzanne Subject: Clay-coloured Sparrow Still in Lakelands From: Suzanne Borkowski <suzanneborkowski AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 15:18:18 -0700 (PDT) Hi Everyone; I tried to wait a week before checking on this bird again so that I could count it on territory (T) if it was still there; but I just couldn't help myself. I took a quick run out Hwy #1 and heard it right away as I drov in Red Spruce Way. This time it was closer to the start of Yellow Birch Drive. I still didn't get a good look at it. It's a fidgity little thing. But it's song is so loud and distinctive it's not hard to find. I don't have a camera. I'd love it if someone could get a picture or better yet, a recording of its song! Thanks! Suzanne Subject: Re: Turkey Vultures Region 15 From: Joan Czapalay <joancz AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:05:36 -0300 On Sunday last Ken Adams and family saw a group of large black birds at a distance which they believed may have been Turkey Vultures between West Advocate and Joggins. Could this have been a family group? I won't be able to check for another week, so hope others in the area will keep their eyes out for these birds. Thanks, Joan.