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11 Feb RE: Mute swan question, Sackville R. mouth, Feb. 4/12 -- was Sewer Stroll 2 [Dennis Hippern ] 10 Feb Birds around Glace Bay [Bev Crowell ] 10 Feb Re: eagles, scaup, goldeneyes [] 10 Feb Re: Pileated woodpecker ["andy dean" ] 10 Feb Mute swan question, Sackville R. mouth, Feb. 4/12 -- was Sewer Stroll 2 ["James W. Wolford" ] 10 Feb Re: Pileated woodpecker [Robert Stevens ] 10 Feb Shape-shifting Dinos [Lois Codling ] 10 Feb Re: Pileated woodpecker [Mike McCall ] 10 Feb Re: Pileated woodpecker [Robert Stevens ] 10 Feb Pileated woodpecker [AngelaJoudrey ] 10 Feb Re: Owls this morning ["andy dean" ] 10 Feb Owls this morning [Richard Stern ] 10 Feb Owls this morning [Richard Stern ] 10 Feb Flicker [John and Nhung ] 10 Feb re owl [win&Ina ] 10 Feb Re: Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba [Rob Woods ] 10 Feb Photos of an Owl, as Seen in its Habitat [Rick Whitman ] 10 Feb Sewer Stroll 2 [Dennis Hippern ] 09 Feb Yarmouth Harbour birds [John and Nhung ] 09 Feb Re: Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba [Henk Kwindt ] 09 Feb Possible Great Horned Owl West End Halifax Feb 9 [David Hughes ] 9 Feb Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba [Rob Woods ] 09 Feb Re: Cedar Waxwings [Don MacNeill ] 09 Feb eagles, scaup, goldeneyes ["James W. Wolford" ] 9 Feb Cedar Waxwings [Paul MacDonald ] 09 Feb DOWL ["Gary Murray" ] 09 Feb DOWL ["Gary Murray" ] 9 Feb shipping and stress to whales ["Andy Moir/Christine Callaghan" ] 08 Feb Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change", film screening ["P.L. Chalmers" ] 8 Feb Meteor low in sky. East of Scots Bay/Canning tracking South to North. 2130 hrs Weds night. ["Ian McKay" ] 08 Feb Re: Mystery? pale sparrow ["James W. Wolford" ] 08 Feb re 2 Northern Harriers - Snow Buntings ["James W. Wolford" ] 8 Feb Birds Feb. 4 and 5 [James Hirtle ] 8 Feb Influx of American Robins ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 8 Feb RE: Influx of American Robins [] 7 Feb RE: Influx of American Robins [Dennis Hippern ] 7 Feb Mystery? pale sparrow ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 7 Feb Re: Birds in Birch Cove ["Dusan Soudek" ] 07 Feb Northern Harriers - Snow Buntings [V Redden ] 7 Feb Birds in Birch Cove ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 7 Feb Lapland Longspur in Grand pre ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 7 Feb Re: Birds in Birch Cove [Blake Maybank ] 07 Feb Re: Birds in Birch Cove [I/N ] 7 Feb Glaucous Gull, Pt Pleasant Park [Andrew Horn ] 7 Feb Glaucous Gull, Pt Pleasant Park [Andrew Horn ] 7 Feb DOWList Spruce Grouse [Rick Whitman ] 7 Feb Dartmouth Cove this Morning ["Dave&Jane Schlosberg" ] 7 Feb Photo Date, Time, Camera, and Settings on smugmug [Rick Whitman ] 7 Feb Red-bellied Woodpecker still(?) in Pt Pleasant Pk [Andrew Horn ] 7 Feb Red-bellied Woodpecker still(?) in Pt Pleasant Pk [Andrew Horn ] 7 Feb Influx of American Robins [Blake Maybank ] 06 Feb Re: Birds in Birch Cove ["James W. Wolford" ] 6 Feb RE: The Depths of Winter (not the List) ["Maria" ] 6 Feb DOWL addition from Digby Neck ["John Kearney" ] 6 Feb Shorebirds at Cherry Hill Beach, Lun. Co. today ["Sylvia Fullerton" ] 06 Feb Pictou Co. birds-Killdeer etc. [Ken McKenna ] 6 Feb Birds in Birch Cove ["Elizabeth Doull" ] 6 Feb (Eurasian) Eagle Owl approaches and lands on security camera -- a neat short video ["Dusan Soudek" ] 06 Feb The Depths of Winter (not the List) [Peter Payzant ] 6 Feb DOWList White-winged Crossbill [Rick Whitman ] 6 Feb DOWL additions from Prospect [BSC NS Plovers ] 06 Feb Friday in dartmouth & Sun. Port Philip [V Redden ] 6 Feb RE: NS DOWL list update [James Hirtle ] 05 Feb Re: Re: Kings co birds ["James W. Wolford" ] 5 Feb NS DOWL list update [Blake Maybank ] 5 Feb Birds at Louisbourg [Bev Crowell ] 5 Feb dowl list [Peter Leblanc ] 5 Feb Purple Sandpiper, Common Loon Pt Pleasant Park [Andrew Horn ] 05 Feb Re: Kings co birds [Angus MacLean ] 5 Feb Fw: Pine Grosbeaks ["Nelson Poirier" ] 5 Feb Kings co birds [Stern ] 5 Feb Kings co birds [Stern ] 5 Feb DOWList Rough-legged Hawk, Snow Bunting [Rick Whitman ] 5 Feb Re: Waxwings, Robins [Paul MacDonald ] 05 Feb Waxwings, Robins ["Eric L. Mills" ] 5 Feb Re: DOWL updated [] Subject: RE: Mute swan question, Sackville R. mouth, Feb. 4/12 -- was Sewer Stroll 2 From: Dennis Hippern <dhippern AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:00:50 -0400 Jim is correct about the Bedford Mute Swan . It has been therefor several years due to the generosity of the local residentswho feed it.Dennis To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca; jimwolford AT eastlink.ca; Andrew.Boyne AT EC.GC.CA From: jimwolford AT eastlink.ca Subject: [NatureNS] Mute swan question, Sackville R. mouth, Feb. 4/12 -- was Sewer Stroll 2 Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:14:26 -0400 How long has there been a mute swan there?? I hope everyone knows this is an alien and nasty species that deserves not to be encouraged. And recall the very sad history of mute swans in Bedford Basin and mouth of Sackville River several years ago. First there was one, then someone felt sorry for the lonely single swan and carelessly and illegally released another one, leading to several years of reproduction there. How was it that authorities like the Canadian Wildlife Service never heard about this until it was much too late. Please keep everyone informed, birders, about any sightings of mute swans and their numbers and locations. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. Begin forwarded message:From: Dennis Hippern Date: February 10, 2012 12:07:46 AM ASTTo: naturens AT chebucto.ns.caSubject: [NatureNS] Sewer Stroll 2Reply-To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca I led a field trip for H.F.N. & N.S.B.S last Sat Feb 04. ............... Mute Swan At the mouth of the Sackville River............... Cheers, Dennis Hippern (DHH). Cole Harbour Subject: Birds around Glace Bay From: Bev Crowell <bevcrowell AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:14:44 -0400 Hi everyone. This afternoon was so nice that Dad (George) and I decided to go for a drive out to Homeville. Thought we'd look for the Mountain Bluebird but it appears to have gone. However, when we were crossing Homeville Bridge, we saw a Belted Kingfisher flying across the bridge. In the Port Morien, we had 4 Purple Sandpipers - skimpy, but that's all we could do! :)) Bev Crowell Glace Bay PS. In case Blake doesn't them yet for the DOWL, we saw 7 Great Cormorants in Glace Bay yesterday. Subject: Re: eagles, scaup, goldeneyes From: g4syth AT staff.ednet.ns.ca Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:46:08 -0400 Hi Jim, I haven't seen a scaup here for a while, since the fall I'm sure. I'll try to get out this weekend. George Quoting "James W. Wolford" : > FEB. 9, 2012 - In late morning along Hwy. 358 just north of Church > St., six bald eagles were perched together high and directly over the > highway. Then just south of the Canard River, I stopped my car to > view another six bald eagles on the ground in an open field. Without > my binoculars I would have missed two deciduous trees full of about 35 > bald eagles in the distance to the west (nowhere near a road). When I > drove back to Port Williams after 1 p.m., all but two of those eagles > had dispersed. > > Port Williams sewage ponds: I snuck up around the treatment building > and peered around its south side to view the northern pond -- with > about 100 mallards were at least five common goldeneyes (3 males, 2 > females) and a single drake scaup -- the scaup flew off before I could > scope its head, and I didn't get a good look at how much white was on > the trailing edge of the wing -- my guess is lesser scaup, but > hopefully someone will get the definite identification later (unless > George Forsyth already has?). > > Cheers from Jim in Wolfville Subject: Re: Pileated woodpecker From: "andy dean" <aadean AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:39:05 -0400 We find they like 'bird pies' Andy and Lelia Dean 86 Baden Powell Drive Kentville, N.S. (902) 678-6243 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike McCall" To: Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 5:00 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Pileated woodpecker > Bob: > > What's in the feeders that the Pileateds are going after? Sunflower? > > Mike McCall > > > On 2012-02-10, at 4:43 PM, Robert Stevens wrote: > >> At this moment we have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a single Hairy >> Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch feeding on our Canning feeders. >> The Pileated pair have been visiting since late January. The others along >> with flickers have been regular winter visitors. >> >> Bob Stevens >> >> On 2012-02-10, at 2:00 PM, AngelaJoudrey wrote: >> >>> Hi there. >>> >>> There was a pileated woodpecker knocking on a telephone pole at Three >>> Mile Plains School this am. >>> >>> Maybe spring was in the air? >>> >>> Angela in Windsor >>> >>> >>> "The significant problems of our time cannot be solved by the same level >>> of thinking that created them." >>> Albert Einstein >>> >>> "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the >>> rest of the world." >>> John Muir >>> >>> >>> >> > > Subject: Mute swan question, Sackville R. mouth, Feb. 4/12 -- was Sewer Stroll 2 From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:14:26 -0400 How long has there been a mute swan there?? I hope everyone knows this is an alien and nasty species that deserves not to be encouraged. And recall the very sad history of mute swans in Bedford Basin and mouth of Sackville River several years ago. First there was one, then someone felt sorry for the lonely single swan and carelessly and illegally released another one, leading to several years of reproduction there. How was it that authorities like the Canadian Wildlife Service never heard about this until it was much too late. Please keep everyone informed, birders, about any sightings of mute swans and their numbers and locations. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. Begin forwarded message: > From: Dennis Hippern > Date: February 10, 2012 12:07:46 AM AST > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > Subject: [NatureNS] Sewer Stroll 2 > Reply-To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > > I led a field trip for H.F.N. & N.S.B.S last Sat Feb 04. > ............... > Mute Swan At the mouth of the Sackville River............... > > Cheers, > Dennis Hippern (DHH). > Cole Harbour > > Subject: Re: Pileated woodpecker From: Robert Stevens <rocks AT xcountry.tv> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:07:43 -0400 Mike, It's a commercial Bird Pie made by Eco-Crust Co of Black Rock, B0P 1V0. It's cooked unleavened bread dough with various seeds, grains, peanuts, fruit and oil. The woodpeckers really like it and spend up to half and hour pecking away. They also give aggressive starlings the odd jab.They seem spend the longest time feeding just before a storm. Bob Stevens On 2012-02-10, at 5:00 PM, Mike McCall wrote: > Bob: > > What's in the feeders that the Pileateds are going after? Sunflower? > > Mike McCall > > > On 2012-02-10, at 4:43 PM, Robert Stevens wrote: > >> At this moment we have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a single Hairy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch feeding on our Canning feeders. >> The Pileated pair have been visiting since late January. The others along with flickers have been regular winter visitors. >> >> Bob Stevens >> >> On 2012-02-10, at 2:00 PM, AngelaJoudrey wrote: >> >>> Hi there. >>> >>> There was a pileated woodpecker knocking on a telephone pole at Three Mile Plains School this am. >>> >>> Maybe spring was in the air? >>> >>> Angela in Windsor >>> >>> >>> "The significant problems of our time cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." >>> Albert Einstein >>> >>> "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." >>> John Muir >>> >>> >>> >> > Subject: Shape-shifting Dinos From: Lois Codling <loiscodling AT hfx.eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:12:09 -0400 Some of you may be interested in this: http://www.ted.com/talks/jack_horner_shape_shifting_dinosaurs.html?awesm=on.ted.com_Horner2&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=on.ted.com-static&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=awesm-publisher Lois Codling Subject: Re: Pileated woodpecker From: Mike McCall <frogmore AT xcountry.tv> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:00:19 -0400 Bob: What's in the feeders that the Pileateds are going after? Sunflower? Mike McCall On 2012-02-10, at 4:43 PM, Robert Stevens wrote: > At this moment we have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a single Hairy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch feeding on our Canning feeders. > The Pileated pair have been visiting since late January. The others along with flickers have been regular winter visitors. > > Bob Stevens > > On 2012-02-10, at 2:00 PM, AngelaJoudrey wrote: > >> Hi there. >> >> There was a pileated woodpecker knocking on a telephone pole at Three Mile Plains School this am. >> >> Maybe spring was in the air? >> >> Angela in Windsor >> >> >> "The significant problems of our time cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." >> Albert Einstein >> >> "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." >> John Muir >> >> >> > Subject: Re: Pileated woodpecker From: Robert Stevens <rocks AT xcountry.tv> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:43:22 -0400 At this moment we have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a single Hairy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch feeding on our Canning feeders. The Pileated pair have been visiting since late January. The others along with flickers have been regular winter visitors. Bob Stevens On 2012-02-10, at 2:00 PM, AngelaJoudrey wrote: > Hi there. > > There was a pileated woodpecker knocking on a telephone pole at Three Mile Plains School this am. > > Maybe spring was in the air? > > Angela in Windsor > > > "The significant problems of our time cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." > Albert Einstein > > "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." > John Muir > > > Subject: Pileated woodpecker From: AngelaJoudrey <aljoudrey AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:25 -0400 Hi there. There was a pileated woodpecker knocking on a telephone pole at Three Mile Plains School this am. Maybe spring was in the air? Angela in Windsor "The significant problems of our time cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir Subject: Re: Owls this morning From: "andy dean" <aadean AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:56:06 -0400 ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Stern To: NatureNS ; NS-RBA ; Rick Whitman ; Christopher Marke Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 12:21 PM . Mid-morning I went to Grand Pre, at the spot Rick Whitman had seen a Short-eared owl. There were actually 4! Which part of Grand Pre please Richard ?? Andy Subject: Owls this morning From: Richard Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:01 -0400 Hi, This morning started off well with a Gt.Horned Owl calling from somewhere behind the house in the early hours. Once it got light enough to see silhouettes, I could see that it was perched in our lone tall poplar, the one which in the past has hosted all 3 accipiters. I was able to get a totally silhouetted shot using 30 sec. exposure time and ISO1600. Then it flew. Mid-morning I went to Grand Pre, at the spot Rick Whitman had seen a Short-eared owl. There were actually 4! Photos of both are here - http://richard-s.smugmug.com/Nature/Winter-2011-12-Birds-and/20880608_RpTxfb#!i=1705934972&k=TLv2Lt9 and the subsequent 3. As usual with Smugmug, click on the right hand picture for a bigger version. One of the nice things about all this was the general ambience. At dawn, the stars were visible, the moon was bright, the snow reflected the glint of the moon, and the owl was sillhouetted in the tree and hooting, with the setting moon above it. Later, at Grand Pre, it was a brilliantly sunny morning with bright blue sky and crisp white snow, no wind, and there was even some heat in the sun. (The photos of the Short-ears were into the sun - that's why the sky doesn't look blue). Richard -- ################# Richard Stern, Port Williams, NS, Canada sternrichard AT gmail.com ################### Subject: Owls this morning From: Richard Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:21:01 -0400 Hi, This morning started off well with a Gt.Horned Owl calling from somewhere behind the house in the early hours. Once it got light enough to see silhouettes, I could see that it was perched in our lone tall poplar, the one which in the past has hosted all 3 accipiters. I was able to get a totally silhouetted shot using 30 sec. exposure time and ISO1600. Then it flew. Mid-morning I went to Grand Pre, at the spot Rick Whitman had seen a Short-eared owl. There were actually 4! Photos of both are here - http://richard-s.smugmug.com/Nature/Winter-2011-12-Birds-and/20880608_RpTxfb#!i=1705934972&k=TLv2Lt9 and the subsequent 3. As usual with Smugmug, click on the right hand picture for a bigger version. One of the nice things about all this was the general ambience. At dawn, the stars were visible, the moon was bright, the snow reflected the glint of the moon, and the owl was sillhouetted in the tree and hooting, with the setting moon above it. Later, at Grand Pre, it was a brilliantly sunny morning with bright blue sky and crisp white snow, no wind, and there was even some heat in the sun. (The photos of the Short-ears were into the sun - that's why the sky doesn't look blue). Richard -- ################# Richard Stern, Port Williams, NS, Canada sternrichard AT gmail.com ################### Subject: Flicker From: John and Nhung <nhungjohn AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:50:00 -0400 To: All From: john sollows Date: Feb. 10/12 As I was driving through Argyle Sound today, a flicker flew across in front of me and landed on a power pole. Got a good enough look to him/her to identify it as same! Subject: re owl From: win&Ina <win AT eastlink.ca> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:30:52 -0400 Loved Rick's shots of the owl-did find them after a bit. BTW, I came here from Alberta- There the spruce grouse is known as the "fool hen" because it is easy prey to (human) hunters. W. Kettleson _Truro Subject: Re: Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba From: Rob Woods <rrtwoods AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:54:40 -0800 (PST) Edwin took me into the Reserve area, The main "road" through the reserve was built with bridges as the causeway to the key was going to continue out the east side. That project has now been cancelled. It is true more hotels are going in. At the the entrance to the park/reserve the main road swings up towards the beach. While in the reserve many trucks were dumping vegatative debris along the edge of the roadbed. Edwin explained that they are placing all the excavated mangroves and soil from the new resorts into the park to rebuild the soil level where they had build the wide road bed that is no longer needed. They have bulldozers then flaten the vegatation piles. It will be wait and see I guess.   Rob ________________________________ From: Henk Kwindt To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2012 9:19:21 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba Hi Rob and All,   I was at the Cayo last Oct. and biked to the far south tip. That area is already on the map identified as Parque Nacional de Cayo Santa Maria. There is only a handful of resorts now but there is a total of 20 resorts planned (you may have noticed 4 or 5 tall cranes along the shoreline, and I don't mean the bird variety), so I fear for the future of any preserve there. The only thing this area has going for it is that it does not have a beach, just mangroves. But then, I have seen the tip of the Varadero penninsula go from nature preserve into resorts just in a few years time and why do you think the government paid for the construction of a 48km long causeway to get to the Cayo? They are just waiting ( and expecting) for the americans to be allowed to travel to Cuba. B.t.w. the "trail" through the preserve where we biked on is as wide as the Cow Bay rd, as a matter of fact there were still 2 bulldozers there, one actively doing its destructive job. It's sad but it is hard to blame the Cubans, tourism is the main source of income for them and they don't have much else. Henk Kwindt, Cow Bay, NS. ----- Original Message ----- >From: Rob Woods >To: Nature Nova Scotia >Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 7:17 PM >Subject: [NatureNS] Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba > > >Last month I flew into Santa Clara Cuba to stay at a resort on Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba . > > >My guide Ernesto Reyes from a previous trip introduced me to Edwin who is studying the effect of the resorts on the natural  environment of the Keys and trying to create a nature preserve at one end of Cayo Santa Maria. > > >Edwin's email is edworn AT gmail.com > > >If you can only escape for a half day you would stay on the key which is 45KM off the mainland. I picked up 60 species with one bird trip an numerous walks near the resort I stayed at.  You would need a full day if you want to get to the mainland with more endemics. > > >Edwin spoke good english and was informative about birds, fauna, and flora. He is a new to guiding itself but certainly can take you to the good spots and show you what we see. On our trip we actually had two new species for the Key itself and I had a third later on my trip. It is a little be of an unrecorded territory. > > >Rob > > >No virus found in this message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4799 - Release Date: 02/09/12 Subject: Photos of an Owl, as Seen in its Habitat From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:42:27 -0400 Even non-photographers will realize that those of us who post bird photos on the Internet will only post our best or better photos, while discarding dozens. Therefore, I had doubts about posting three photos yesterday showing how a Short-eared Owl more or less disappears even when "out in the open". I felt the photos had some merit because they do show what I see with 10X binocs, even tho the photos are 24X. So I was pleased that 2 individuals e-mailed me to say they had enjoyed the photos & as owner of the site I can see that between 86 & 126 folks have looked at those 3 photos. Of course "owls are special". But it's great to know that quite a few can enjoy a realistic birdwatcher's view along with the closeups that we all try to get. For the few who don't follow NSRBA: http://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nature/Birds-January-March-2012/20950511_VD8zMC#!i=1705109791&k=FL4fB7w Some early morning thoughts--- (you won't be seeing my microscopic warblers etc. etc.) LOL. Rick Whitman Subject: Sewer Stroll 2 From: Dennis Hippern <dhippern AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:07:46 -0400 I led a field trip for H.F.N. & N.S.B.S last Sat Feb 04. Starting at McCormack,s Beach , Eastern Passage.Birds of note for the day included:- All three scoters, Black and White Winged between the mainland and Lawlers Isl and a breeding plumagemale Surf Scoter in Dartmouth Cove. Long tail ducks, Buffelhead, Com Eider, Canada Geese,Iceland Gull, B Guillemot, Lesser Scaup, Great CormorantIn Eastern Passage. Barrows & Common Goldeneye in Dartmouth Cove. Mute Swan At the mouth of the Sackville River. American and Eurasian Widgeon and American Cootat Sullivans Pond. N. Mocking Bird on the trail that links Shore Dr and AurtherLismer Dr in Bedford. I did a scouting trip the day before on Fri 03 Feb and found some birds that did not present themselves the next day. They include, dark phased Rough Leg Hawk over Devils Is,N Harrier at Hartlin Pt., Common Gallinule at Red Bridge Pond,Bald Eagle and Sharpe Shinned hawk near Herring Cove, RedNecked Grebe in Bedford. As I have mentioned earlier, Am Robins were everywhere.I did not see a single House Sparrow over the two days exceptfor the 15 to 20 that tend my feeders regularly. Cheers,Dennis Hippern (DHH).Cole Harbour Subject: Yarmouth Harbour birds From: John and Nhung <nhungjohn AT eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:38:44 -0400 This afternoon, off Rudders' and Killam's wharves, one Iceland Gull (flying between the wharves) and two common loons (out in mid-Harbour). Subject: Re: Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba From: Henk Kwindt <cbatl AT eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:19:21 -0400 Hi Rob and All, I was at the Cayo last Oct. and biked to the far south tip. That area is already on the map identified as Parque Nacional de Cayo Santa Maria. There is only a handful of resorts now but there is a total of 20 resorts planned (you may have noticed 4 or 5 tall cranes along the shoreline, and I don't mean the bird variety), so I fear for the future of any preserve there. The only thing this area has going for it is that it does not have a beach, just mangroves. But then, I have seen the tip of the Varadero penninsula go from nature preserve into resorts just in a few years time and why do you think the government paid for the construction of a 48km long causeway to get to the Cayo? They are just waiting ( and expecting) for the americans to be allowed to travel to Cuba. B.t.w. the "trail" through the preserve where we biked on is as wide as the Cow Bay rd, as a matter of fact there were still 2 bulldozers there, one actively doing its destructive job. It's sad but it is hard to blame the Cubans, tourism is the main source of income for them and they don't have much else. Henk Kwindt, Cow Bay, NS. ----- Original Message ----- From: Rob Woods To: Nature Nova Scotia Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 7:17 PM Subject: [NatureNS] Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba Last month I flew into Santa Clara Cuba to stay at a resort on Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba . My guide Ernesto Reyes from a previous trip introduced me to Edwin who is studying the effect of the resorts on the natural environment of the Keys and trying to create a nature preserve at one end of Cayo Santa Maria. Edwin's email is edworn AT gmail.com If you can only escape for a half day you would stay on the key which is 45KM off the mainland. I picked up 60 species with one bird trip an numerous walks near the resort I stayed at. You would need a full day if you want to get to the mainland with more endemics. Edwin spoke good english and was informative about birds, fauna, and flora. He is a new to guiding itself but certainly can take you to the good spots and show you what we see. On our trip we actually had two new species for the Key itself and I had a third later on my trip. It is a little be of an unrecorded territory. Rob No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4799 - Release Date: 02/09/12 Subject: Possible Great Horned Owl West End Halifax Feb 9 From: David Hughes <davidhughes AT accesswave.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:13:01 -0400 Looking out the window at work this afternoon, I noticed all the gulls in the rotary end of the Northwest Arm were up circling around. I looked to see if there was an eagle or peregrine around, but didn't see anything. Then I saw a large bird (which I that I believe was an owl) fly from the Rotary side of the Anglican church on Joseph Howe and head off toward the slope of Fairmount or the Chocolate Lake area. I just had a quick look, but the colour, shape, size and flight made me think G H Owl. Sent from my iPad Subject: Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba From: Rob Woods <rrtwoods AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:17:35 -0800 (PST) Last month I flew into Santa Clara Cuba to stay at a resort on Cayo Santa Maria - Cuba . My guide Ernesto Reyes from a previous trip introduced me to Edwin who is studying the effect of the resorts on the natural  environment of the Keys and trying to create a nature preserve at one end of Cayo Santa Maria. Edwin's email is edworn AT gmail.com If you can only escape for a half day you would stay on the key which is 45KM off the mainland. I picked up 60 species with one bird trip an numerous walks near the resort I stayed at.  You would need a full day if you want to get to the mainland with more endemics. Edwin spoke good english and was informative about birds, fauna, and flora. He is a new to guiding itself but certainly can take you to the good spots and show you what we see. On our trip we actually had two new species for the Key itself and I had a third later on my trip. It is a little be of an unrecorded territory. Rob Subject: Re: Cedar Waxwings From: Don MacNeill <donmacneill AT eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:10:52 -0400 After a heavy snowfall a few years ago, Bohemian Waxwings showed up and ate all of our holly berries down to the snow line. When it thawed, we still had berries on the lower part of the bush. Don Don MacNeill donmacneill AT eastlink.ca ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul MacDonald To: NatureNS Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 5:53 PM Subject: [NatureNS] Cedar Waxwings Hi All Today I was out finishing up my wood splitting for the winter. A flock of about 8 -10 Cedar Waxwings came by and went into my holly bush to feed on the red berries. It is a decidious holly - an Ilex mixture of some sort. Frost is reputed to remove the poison from the berries but the robins have not taken to it. The waxwings didn't seem turned off. About a dozen robins were feeding on the red berries on the Japanese barberry ( Berberis thunbergii). They had not touched them to the last couple of days. This schrub has a reputation of been invasive but the one in my garden is old and doesn't have any children - perhaps it needs another one to make fertile seed. Anyway the robins enjoy it. I went to town earlier and saw a Mallard drake who lost an argument with a car. I stopped to see if any feather would be good for trout flies and I was not disappointed. The interesting thing was that it had a silver band. The band had been on the bird so long it was wore down below the numbers. CWS has a procedure to read the numbers on these bands so I sent it off to them. They may tell me its history but I'm not holding my breath - LOL have a nice winter Paul Subject: eagles, scaup, goldeneyes From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:25 -0400 FEB. 9, 2012 - In late morning along Hwy. 358 just north of Church St., six bald eagles were perched together high and directly over the highway. Then just south of the Canard River, I stopped my car to view another six bald eagles on the ground in an open field. Without my binoculars I would have missed two deciduous trees full of about 35 bald eagles in the distance to the west (nowhere near a road). When I drove back to Port Williams after 1 p.m., all but two of those eagles had dispersed. Port Williams sewage ponds: I snuck up around the treatment building and peered around its south side to view the northern pond -- with about 100 mallards were at least five common goldeneyes (3 males, 2 females) and a single drake scaup -- the scaup flew off before I could scope its head, and I didn't get a good look at how much white was on the trailing edge of the wing -- my guess is lesser scaup, but hopefully someone will get the definite identification later (unless George Forsyth already has?). Cheers from Jim in Wolfville Subject: Cedar Waxwings From: Paul MacDonald <paulrita2001 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:53:35 -0800 (PST) Hi All Today I was out finishing up my wood splitting for the winter. A flock of about 8 -10 Cedar Waxwings came by and went into my holly bush to feed on the red berries. It is a decidious holly - an Ilex mixture of some sort. Frost is reputed to remove the poison from the berries but the robins have not taken to it. The waxwings didn't seem turned off. About a dozen robins were feeding on the red berries on  the Japanese barberry ( Berberis thunbergii). They had not touched them to the last couple of days. This schrub has a reputation of been invasive but the one in my garden is old and doesn't have any children - perhaps it needs another one to make fertile seed. Anyway the robins enjoy it. I went to town earlier and saw a Mallard drake who lost an argument with a car. I stopped to see if any feather would be good for trout flies and I was not disappointed. The interesting thing was that it had a silver band. The band had been on the bird so long it was wore down below the numbers. CWS has a procedure to read the numbers on these bands so I sent it off to them. They may tell me its history but I'm not holding my breath - LOL have a nice winter Paul Subject: DOWL From: "Gary Murray" <garymurray AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:55:50 -0400 Oh, I forgot. Pine Siskins American Goldfinches Purple Finches which are at the feeders now. Gary Murray Subject: DOWL From: "Gary Murray" <garymurray AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:40:05 -0400 Here are some recent yard birds in addition to the usual feeder species: Brown Creeper American Robin-today R.B. Nuthatch W.B. Nuthatch Blue Jay yesterday- absent since November. Mallard American Black Duck. Song Sparrow. Bald Eagles doing fly by's the lake. Tree Cougars (squirrels) and a Chipmunk poked his head out in the front yard one mild day. :) Gary Murray Tucker Lake, Beaverbank NS Subject: shipping and stress to whales From: "Andy Moir/Christine Callaghan" <slickdog1 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:49:48 -0400 Interesting that some alert scientists took advantage of the aftermath of 9/11 to run these tests. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/02/08/nb-whale-poop-stress.html Subject: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change", film screening From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:42:29 -0400 This may be of interest to some. Patricia L. Chalmers Halifax > * From: School for Resource and Environmental Studies > * Subject: "Qapirangajuq: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change", > film screening > * Renowned Inuit filmmaker, Zach Kunuk (Atanarjuat/The Fast > Runner) will screen and discuss his newest film, "Qapirangajuq: > Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change," with co- director Dr. Ian > Mauro (Canada Research Chair at Mt. Allison) > * at Ondaatje Hall, McCain Building, Dalhousie on Feb. 9th at 7 p.m. > * Kunuk's first feature film, Atanarjuat/The Fast Runner, is a > milestone in the development of an independent indigenous cinema. > In 2001, it won the Camera d'Or for Best First Feature at the > Cannes film Festival and six Genie awards in Canada, including for > Best Picture and Best Director. It is the first film in Canada to > be produced in an aboriginal language and the first film produced > in the Inuktitut language. For his achievements, in 2002 Kunuk was > made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Most recently Kunuk joined > with researcher and filmmaker Dr. Ian Mauro to co-direct the film > Qapirangajuq: Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change, which documents > the knowledge and experience of the Inuit hunting communities who > speak from the front line of environmental changes in the 21st century. > * This event is co-sponsored by SRES (School for Resource and > Environmental Studies), the College of Sustainability, the > Elizabeth May Chair in Sustainability and Environmental Health, and > Dalhousie's Visiting Scholars' Fund. Subject: Meteor low in sky. East of Scots Bay/Canning tracking South to North. 2130 hrs Weds night. From: "Ian McKay" <ian AT amimckay.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 21:36:51 -0400 Anyone else see it? If we get a few others in different locations we might be able to triangulate it a bit better. Ian McKay ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1325 / Virus Database: 2112/4796 - Release Date: 02/08/12 Subject: Re: Mystery? pale sparrow From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:24:47 -0400 Our overwintering Savannahs have no trace of yellow near the eye until Spring. Jim On 7-Feb-12, at 7:31 PM, Elizabeth Doull wrote: > Hi Jim > > I think it is not a Savannah sparrow because of its facial marks. > It did not have yellow lores. I know when I see a Savannah or > Ipswich sparrow. This mystery Lakeside sparrow has weak, pale > molars (?) and a smudgy dot with few pale streaks. The tail was > average. Not short or long. > > Cheers, > Liz > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: James W. Wolford > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 11:09 PM > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Birds in Birch Cove > > Liz, your small pale song?? sparrow might be a Savannah sparrow -- > that's the way our Canard wintering Savannahs look. A good clue is > the relatively shorter tail on Savannahs. Cheers from Jim > > Subject: re 2 Northern Harriers - Snow Buntings From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:04:07 -0400 Virginia, if your 2 harriers were a male and a female, you might have been seeing courtship, which involves steep dives from up high and also exchanges of food items (small mammals). Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. Begin forwarded message: > From: V Redden > Date: February 7, 2012 7:09:06 PM AST > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > Subject: [NatureNS] Northern Harriers - Snow Buntings > Reply-To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > > Today I saw a good size flock of Snow Buntings. I was not able to > stop and have a close look for other species that could be with > them. This was near Sinimicas Park, Cumb Co. > Later today I saw two Northern Harriers on the Tantramar Marshes. > They were interacting with each other, maybe dancing, maybe > fighting over food. > Virginia Redden > Port Howe Cumb Co > Subject: Birds Feb. 4 and 5 From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 13:40:29 +0000 Corkum's Island / First South, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 3:35 PM - 4:00 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) 16 species Mallard 4 White-winged Scoter 4 Common Loon 2 Horned Grebe 1 Bald Eagle 1 Herring Gull 2 Black Guillemot 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 5 Black-capped Chickadee 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 American Robin 2 European Starling 16 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 1:45 PM - 3:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 kilometer(s) 20 species American Black Duck 13 Mallard 6 Greater Scaup 40 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Herring Gull 81 Blue Jay 3 American Crow 11 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 American Robin 24 European Starling 15 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 Dickcissel 1 Purple Finch 1 American Goldfinch 4 House Sparrow 15 Lilydale/Centre/Back Centre/Front Centre, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 12:45 PM - 1:40 PM Protocol: Traveling 4.0 kilometer(s) 20 species Wood Duck 1 American Wigeon 1 American Black Duck 4 Mallard 51 Northern Pintail 1 Bald Eagle 2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Herring Gull 1 Mourning Dove 1 Blue Jay 11 American Crow 1 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 8 European Starling 8 Cedar Waxwing 3 American Tree Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed Junco 21 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Purple Finch 7 American Goldfinch 18 Rhodes Corner, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 12:40 PM - 12:45 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) 5 species American Black Duck 2 Mallard 9 Mourning Dove 1 American Crow 2 European Starling 1 Bridgewater, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) 10 species Common Merganser 4 Herring Gull 11 Rock Pigeon 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 American Crow 2 Black-capped Chickadee 3 American Robin 14 European Starling 3 Dark-eyed Junco 2 American Goldfinch 1 Caledonia/Harmony/Kempt, Queens, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 kilometer(s) 10 species Mourning Dove 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Cedar Waxwing 10 Purple Finch 10 American Goldfinch 29 Evening Grosbeak 36 Pleasant River/South Brookfield, Queens, CA-NS Feb 5, 2012 9:55 AM - 10:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 kilometer(s) 4 species Red-headed Woodpecker 1 American Crow 3 European Starling 11 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Feltzen South, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 4, 2012 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM Protocol: Traveling 3.0 kilometer(s) 4 species Herring Gull 33 Black-capped Chickadee 6 American Robin 5 European Starling 40 Bayport, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 4, 2012 4:35 PM - 4:40 PM Protocol: Traveling 2.2 kilometer(s) 2 species Canada Goose 40 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Lunenburg, Lunenburg, CA-NS Feb 4, 2012 2:35 PM - 4:25 PM Protocol: Traveling 5.4 kilometer(s) 12 species Mallard 4 Herring Gull 63 Iceland Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 2 Mourning Dove 6 Blue Jay 1 American Crow 3 American Tree Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 1 Dickcissel 1 House Sparrow 29 $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B $B!!(B Subject: Influx of American Robins From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 08:43:24 -0400 Hi Dennis Besides robins, how did the field trip go? Any interesting birds? Thanks. Liz ......... Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:46 PM Influx of American Robins I led a field trip, Sewer Stroll 2, for Halifax Field Naturalist and N.S. Bird Soc On Sat Feb 04. I also did a scouting trip the day before, Fri, Feb 03. We saw robins at almost every stop around the harbour, including Hartlin Pt, Eastern Passage, Sullivan's Pond & at least 2 dozen at Conrose Field. There must have been a large influx over this period. Cheers Dennis Hippern (DHH) Cole Harbour Subject: RE: Influx of American Robins From: bdigout AT seaside.ns.ca Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 06:56:38 -0400 (AST) > There are still a few robins around this area (Rich. Co.) The huge flocks seemed to have moved on, possibly the same ones being seen in the Halifax area. Our mountain ash trees and grape vines have been cleaned of fruit. Billy > I led a field trip, Sewer Stroll 2, for Halifax Field Naturalist and N.S. > Bird Soc On Sat Feb 04.I also did a scouting trip the day before, Fri, Feb > 03. We saw robins at almost every stoparound the harbour, including > Hartlin Pt, Eastern Passage, Sullivan's Pond & at least 2 dozenat Conrose > Field. There must have been a large influx over this period.CheersDennis > Hippern (DHH)Cole Harbour > From: bmaybank AT gmail.com > Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:26:24 -0400 > Subject: [NatureNS] Influx of American Robins > To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca > > I have had an American Robin in the yard for the past week. Last Sunday > afternoon, it was joined by an unexpected influx of 60 or 70 Robins that > cruised through the yard in a frantic search for berries. I assumed the > lone robin would join the larger flock, but the following morning that > bird was still present while the large group of robins had moved on. > Apparently the old adage " birds of a feather flock together" does not > always apply. > > > -- > Blake Maybank > > > White's Lake, Nova Scotia > > > > My Blog: CSI: Life > > > > > Subject: RE: Influx of American Robins From: Dennis Hippern <dhippern AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 23:46:17 -0400 I led a field trip, Sewer Stroll 2, for Halifax Field Naturalist and N.S. Bird Soc On Sat Feb 04.I also did a scouting trip the day before, Fri, Feb 03. We saw robins at almost every stoparound the harbour, including Hartlin Pt, Eastern Passage, Sullivan's Pond & at least 2 dozenat Conrose Field. There must have been a large influx over this period.CheersDennis Hippern (DHH)Cole Harbour From: bmaybank AT gmail.com Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:26:24 -0400 Subject: [NatureNS] Influx of American Robins To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca I have had an American Robin in the yard for the past week. Last Sunday afternoon, it was joined by an unexpected influx of 60 or 70 Robins that cruised through the yard in a frantic search for berries. I assumed the lone robin would join the larger flock, but the following morning that bird was still present while the large group of robins had moved on. Apparently the old adage " birds of a feather flock together" does not always apply. -- Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia My Blog: CSI: Life Subject: Mystery? pale sparrow From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:31:37 -0400 Hi Jim I think it is not a Savannah sparrow because of its facial marks. It did not have yellow lores. I know when I see a Savannah or Ipswich sparrow. This mystery Lakeside sparrow has weak, pale molars (?) and a smudgy dot with few pale streaks. The tail was average. Not short or long. Cheers, Liz ----- Original Message ----- From: James W. Wolford To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 11:09 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Birds in Birch Cove Liz, your small pale song?? sparrow might be a Savannah sparrow -- that's the way our Canard wintering Savannahs look. A good clue is the relatively shorter tail on Savannahs. Cheers from Jim Subject: Re: Birds in Birch Cove From: "Dusan Soudek" <soudekd AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:28:54 -0400 This Birch Cove, and the municipal Birch Cove Park, are located on the western side of Lake Banook in Dartmouth. Access is via Oakdale Cres. or Crichton Av. Dusan Soudek ----- Original Message ----- From: Blake Maybank To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Birds in Birch Cove On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 15:58, I/N wrote: I am wondering where your "Birch cove" is located, as I am familiar with a few (E. Petpeswick, Cumberland Co., and in the Bedford Basin HRM) Here is the Mapquest Page: http://mapq.st/wimdC2 Cheers, Blake -- Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia My Blog: CSI: Life Subject: Northern Harriers - Snow Buntings From: V Redden <reddenville AT nncweb.ca> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:09:06 -0400 Today I saw a good size flock of Snow Buntings. I was not able to stop and have a close look for other species that could be with them. This was near Sinimicas Park, Cumb Co. Later today I saw two Northern Harriers on the Tantramar Marshes. They were interacting with each other, maybe dancing, maybe fighting over food. Virginia Redden Port Howe Cumb Co Subject: Birds in Birch Cove From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:04:48 -0400 Hi Ian The Fox sparrow, cardinals, and Eastern towhee were in the tangles at the Lakeside Crescent corner ** outside the Birch Cove Park. The white breasted nuthatches, red bellied woodpecker, flicker, hairy woodpecker, and downy woodpeckers can be seen from the parking lot of the park. In the last few years, I would see a brown creeper at the Lakeside corner and have yet to see one this year. Good luck and happy birding Liz Subject: Lapland Longspur in Grand pre From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 18:44:59 -0400 Tuesday, Feb 7 2012 I did some birding in Grand Pre and saw a small flock of prairie birds on the east side of the road so I scoped and had a Lapland Longspur in the view! It was in full plumage. My first in two years! The others were Horned Larks. A savannah sparrow was amid a large flock of juncos across from the brick house. Cheers, liz Subject: Re: Birds in Birch Cove From: Blake Maybank <bmaybank AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:49:09 -0400 On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 15:58, I/N wrote: > I am wondering where your "Birch cove" is located, as I am familiar with > a few (E. Petpeswick, Cumberland Co., and in the Bedford Basin HRM) > Here is the Mapquest Page: http://mapq.st/wimdC2 Cheers, Blake -- Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia My Blog: *CSI: Life* Subject: Re: Birds in Birch Cove From: I/N <foxhollow AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:58:52 -0400 Hi there, I am wondering where your "Birch cove" is located, as I am familiar with a few (E. Petpeswick, Cumberland Co., and in the Bedford Basin HRM) Any help appreciated. Ian Marshall On 2/6/2012 8:16 PM, Elizabeth Doull wrote: > Monday, Feb 6 2012 > Found 16 species in the Birch Cove area (in the tangles, near parking > lot, and Lakeside corner yard). Birds worth mentioning were: > 1 red bellied woodpecker (at the feeder/ on trees by the parking lot) > 1 flicker > 2 cardinals (m, f) > 2 white breasted nuthatch > 1 eastern towhee (showed up at 4 pm) > 1 rather small, pale song?? sparrow > no sign of the fox sparrow found by Marty Z. > Cheers > Liz > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2112/4792 - Release Date: 02/06/12 > Subject: Glaucous Gull, Pt Pleasant Park From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT Dal.Ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:23:07 -0400 Hi all, A nice big adult Glaucous Gull was on the big rock at Black Rock Beach, Pt Pleasant Park, this afternoon. (Speaking of photo ops, there were also two young grey seals hauled up between the anchor and the fort at the tip.) Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax Subject: Glaucous Gull, Pt Pleasant Park From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT dal.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 15:23:07 -0400 Hi all, A nice big adult Glaucous Gull was on the big rock at Black Rock Beach, Pt Pleasant Park, this afternoon. (Speaking of photo ops, there were also two young grey seals hauled up between the anchor and the fort at the tip.) Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax ------------------------------------ Subject: DOWList Spruce Grouse From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:02:20 -0400 I spent several days in February 2011 looking for this species. It was never reported last year, which I don't like to see. This year is different !! Spruce Grouse male S or SE of Sheffield Lake, which is due N of Methals Lake, Kings Co. This is the same bird that I reported January 17th & which was also re-found on Jan 18th with Bernard Forsythe. I have documentation photos for today, not bad but not equal to those from Jan. 17th. http://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nature/Birds-January-March-2012/20950511_VD8zMC#!i=1702408237&k=PDPMNnq Spruce Grouse are well known for being tame. I don't know if that's exactly correct but I will say that when this specific bird is up in a tree, it does not leave that tree. It was on the ground the first time I found it & it did fly up into a tree after 5 minutes or so. But it certainly wasn't trying to leave or hide. The next two times I have found it up in a tree & I have found it entirely by sight i.e. very intensive searching. This bird sits next to the trunk & does absolutely nothing to reveal itself. And we are talking about a very dense spruce forest here. Also enjoyed today: 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 male Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3 Ruffed Grouse. And I should comment: When a grouse flushes a bit off your trail & leaves with lots of wing noise, you don't need to wonder as to which species that was. Rick Whitman Subject: Dartmouth Cove this Morning From: "Dave&Jane Schlosberg" <dschlosb-g AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:04:50 -0400 one Common Loon approx. 30 Scaup approx. 10 Goldeneye 3 Black Guillemot 7 R.B. Merganser 2 Black Ducks 2 Mallards 1 Herring Gull One pair of R.B.Mergansers were showing mating season behavior. Similarly a pair of Mallards. Yours....Dave S..... Subject: Photo Date, Time, Camera, and Settings on smugmug From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:36:34 -0400 At least three of us here use smugmug to post our public photos. If you ever want to know the exact date, time, camera model and most of the settings used for a specific photo, this is all available. When you have a specific photo expanded to viewing size, just mouse over to the right side of that photo. You'll see several items there, including a little blue box with an "i" on it. Click on that box and you'll have all the information for that photo. The term "Date Modified" refers to sharpening, etc. Rick Whitman Subject: Red-bellied Woodpecker still(?) in Pt Pleasant Pk From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT dal.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:49:45 -0400 Hi all, This morning a male Red-bellied Woodpecker was in the area bounded by Birch Road and Hemlock, Fir, and Maple Walk, where I'd seen one regularly last fall but not since. Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax Subject: Red-bellied Woodpecker still(?) in Pt Pleasant Pk From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT dal.ca> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:49:45 -0400 Hi all, This morning a male Red-bellied Woodpecker was in the area bounded by Birch Road and Hemlock, Fir, and Maple Walk, where I'd seen one regularly last fall but not since. Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax ------------------------------------ Subject: Influx of American Robins From: Blake Maybank <bmaybank AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:26:24 -0400 I have had an American Robin in the yard for the past week. Last Sunday afternoon, it was joined by an unexpected influx of 60 or 70 Robins that cruised through the yard in a frantic search for berries. I assumed the lone robin would join the larger flock, but the following morning that bird was still present while the large group of robins had moved on. Apparently the old adage " birds of a feather flock together" does not always apply. -- Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia My Blog: *CSI: Life* Subject: Re: Birds in Birch Cove From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:09:01 -0400 Liz, your small pale song?? sparrow might be a Savannah sparrow -- that's the way our Canard wintering Savannahs look. A good clue is the relatively shorter tail on Savannahs. Cheers from Jim On 6-Feb-12, at 8:16 PM, Elizabeth Doull wrote: > Monday, Feb 6 2012 > > Found 16 species in the Birch Cove area (in the tangles, near > parking lot, and Lakeside corner yard). Birds worth mentioning were: > > 1 red bellied woodpecker (at the feeder/ on trees by the parking lot) > 1 flicker > 2 cardinals (m, f) > 2 white breasted nuthatch > 1 eastern towhee (showed up at 4 pm) > 1 rather small, pale song?? sparrow > no sign of the fox sparrow found by Marty Z. > > Cheers > Liz Subject: RE: The Depths of Winter (not the List) From: "Maria" <maria AT seasidehighspeed.com> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 22:37:59 -0400 Ahhhh..I ALWAYS look forward to the "Depths of Winter" posting, good to know we're on the way to spring! Maria Debert NS From: naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner AT chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Peter Payzant Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 7:23 PM To: naturens AT chebucto.ca Subject: [NatureNS] The Depths of Winter (not the List) Well, it's that time again. Today and tomorrow are, considering one historical average, the coldest days of the winter. Starting Wednesday, the average temperatures begin to rise, on their way to their maximum in early August. For the curious, I'm using a data set provided by Environment Canada, showing long-term temperature normals for Shearwater Airport. The figures are called "Shearwater A, Smoothed Daily Temperatures 1951-1980." It would be interesting to see if more recent data indicated a different coldest date. Peter Payzant Subject: DOWL addition from Digby Neck From: "John Kearney" <john.kearney AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:45:14 -0400 Black-legged Kittiwakes- about 8 could be seen out in the Bay from shore. Subject: Shorebirds at Cherry Hill Beach, Lun. Co. today From: "Sylvia Fullerton" <sfullert AT dal.ca> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:32:21 -0500 Still holding on on the flats at the far end were: 2 Black-bellied Plover 2 Ruddy Turnstone 3 Red Knots Sylvia Fullerton Broad Cove, Lun. Co. Subject: Pictou Co. birds-Killdeer etc. From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken AT eastlink.ca> Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:22:09 -0400 Ken McKenna Box 218 Stellarton NS B0K 1S0 902 752-7644 Hi all Charlie Kendell and I saw the following this afternoon in addition to the usual ducks I reported earlier such as Gadwall, Pintail, American and Eurasian Wigeon etc, in the Trenton area. Between NCPC outflow and Greens Pt. we had a Kingfisher and a Killdeer. ( a new DOWL bird?) At Caribou R. bridge in Waterside there were 2 male Barrow's Goldeneye. We saw one of the over-wintering Baltimore Orioles in Pictou and a single Cedar Waxwing in Pictou as well. We had another Kingfisher at Weirs Gut bridge in Central Caribou. cheers ken Subject: Birds in Birch Cove From: "Elizabeth Doull" <edoull AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:16:43 -0400 Monday, Feb 6 2012 Found 16 species in the Birch Cove area (in the tangles, near parking lot, and Lakeside corner yard). Birds worth mentioning were: 1 red bellied woodpecker (at the feeder/ on trees by the parking lot) 1 flicker 2 cardinals (m, f) 2 white breasted nuthatch 1 eastern towhee (showed up at 4 pm) 1 rather small, pale song?? sparrow no sign of the fox sparrow found by Marty Z. Cheers Liz Subject: (Eurasian) Eagle Owl approaches and lands on security camera -- a neat short video From: "Dusan Soudek" <soudekd AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:48:42 -0400 The last two or three seconds are phenomenal. Click on link below. http://www.dogwork.com/owfo8/ Subject: The Depths of Winter (not the List) From: Peter Payzant <pce AT accesswave.ca> Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:23:07 -0400 Well, it's that time again. Today and tomorrow are, considering one historical average, the coldest days of the winter. Starting Wednesday, the average temperatures begin to rise, on their way to their maximum in early August. For the curious, I'm using a data set provided by Environment Canada, showing long-term temperature normals for Shearwater Airport. The figures are called "Shearwater A, Smoothed Daily Temperatures 1951-1980." It would be interesting to see if more recent data indicated a different coldest date. Peter Payzant Subject: DOWList White-winged Crossbill From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:49:35 -0400 Well, James Hirtle found the Golden-crowned Kinglet and I found the White-winged Crossbill. The boreal forest is looking good. White-winged Crossbills, 2 males 4 females were immediately S of Little Lake, Greenfield, Kings Co. I was able to get documentation photos, what you might expect with a 108 mm zoom. http://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nature/Birds-January-March-2012/20950511_VD8zMC#!i=1701007049&k=RPZs4gD I was surprised to find another male Black-backed Woodpecker at this location, also photographed & following the Crossbills at the link. This was well off trail & very rough terrain. I also surprised a bobcat when almost back to my car. Rick Whitman Subject: DOWL additions from Prospect From: BSC NS Plovers <nsplovers AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 10:34:29 -0400 Hi all, Had a cold, but lovely walk at Prospect on Sat., 4 Feb and observed following (also submitted to eBird.ca): 10 American Black Duck 9 Common Eider 9 Harlequin Duck 10 Long-tailed Duck 9 Common Goldeneye (apparently feeding along edge of slob ice along coast) 3 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Common Loon 2 Red-necked Grebe 1 Great Cormorant 3 Herring Gull 3 Dovekie (also found a fairly fresh Dovekie carcass on cobble beach) 3 Black Guillemot 200 American Robin (estimated number, likely many more; feeding in/moving through coastal barrens - after cranberries perhaps?) 1 American Pipit (seen in usual spot on cobble beach) Thanks, Sue Abbott Subject: Friday in dartmouth & Sun. Port Philip From: V Redden <reddenville AT nncweb.ca> Date: Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:39:25 -0400 At Dartmouth Cove I saw quite a few Eurasian Wigeons. In Cole Harbour near Rainbow haven Beach I saw a small flock of Common Eiders and another small flock of Common Mergansers. I went to see the Common Gallinule and it was crowded up to the culvert with many Mallards. They seemed to be getting along. There was also a house cat at the edge of the reeds but the ducks weren't minding it either. The pond was freezing over. Sunday at Port Philip Cumb Co In the open water under the Port Philip bridge there was a mixed flock of Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes. The birds were very skittish and kept flying off whenever I moved so I can't say for sure that there aren't Barrow's Goldeneye in the mix. Even the gulls were skittish but I think there were only Ring Bills,and Herring Gulls of various ages. I took pictures to practice identification but the cold wind made me shaky and the photos are blurry. Virginia Redden Port Howe Cumb Co Subject: RE: NS DOWL list update From: James Hirtle <jrhbirder AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 02:15:54 +0000 DOWL Today Dorothy Poole, Elizabeth Doull and I had a horned grebe at Corkum's Island. We had the wood duck at Back Centre and golden-crowned kinglets and yellow-rumped warbler along the Back Harbour Trail in Lunenburg. Also, on the Back Harbour Trail in Lunenburg just at the Starrs Road entrance there was a yellow-breasted chat which was feeding only about five feet in front of us. The Dickcissel along Lawrence St. found by Lise Bell and Shirley Cohrs was present. A pileated woodpecker was at First South. A female red-winged blackbird was at Front Centre. The red-headed woodpecker was present at Pleasant River, Queens Co. today. A flock of 40 evening grosbeaks was a nice sighting at Lakeview, Queens Co. James R. Hirtle Bridgewater From: bmaybank AT gmail.com Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 20:32:13 -0400 Subject: [NatureNS] NS DOWL list update To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Hi Everyone; With recent additions courtesy of Bev Crowell, Andy Horn, Eric Mills, Peter Leblanc, and others, the NS DOWL list is now over 100 species. The current list is here: http://tinyurl.com/nswinter I look forward to more updates. Cheers, Blake -- Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia Subject: Re: Re: Kings co birds From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford AT eastlink.ca> Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:24:51 -0400 Thanks, Angus. Was Stella also with you and Richard? Jim On 5-Feb-12, at 6:14 PM, Angus MacLean wrote: > Also we saw a small flock of Horned Larks at Grand Pre. New for DOWL? > > Surprised to find 30 Eagles in our Area at West Grand > Pre........about 25 more than I expected!! > Angus > > At 11:56 AM 2/5/2012, Richard wrote: >> Hi, >> >> 4 Pine siskins at our feeders this morning. A M. N. harrier at >> grand Pre. >> 25+ Bohemian waxwings at Grand Pre. >> >> Richard Stern >> sternrichard AT gmail.com >> Sent from my iPhone Subject: NS DOWL list update From: Blake Maybank <bmaybank AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 20:32:13 -0400 Hi Everyone; With recent additions courtesy of Bev Crowell, Andy Horn, Eric Mills, Peter Leblanc, and others, the NS DOWL list is now over 100 species. The current list is here: http://tinyurl.com/nswinter I look forward to more updates. Cheers, Blake -- Blake Maybank White's Lake, Nova Scotia Subject: Birds at Louisbourg From: Bev Crowell <bevcrowell AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 20:03:55 -0400 Hi all. I was to the lighthouse at Louisbourg this afternoon. Here is some of what I saw: 12 Common Eider 8 Long-tailed Duck 2 Black Scoters 9 White-winged Scoters 3 Black Guillemot See you. Bev Crowell Glace Bay, NS Subject: dowl list From: Peter Leblanc <peterwl52 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 15:40:19 -0800 (PST) 1 northen gannet        lawrencetown beach,hrm Subject: Purple Sandpiper, Common Loon Pt Pleasant Park From: Andrew Horn <aghorn AT dal.ca> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 18:42:42 -0400 Hi again, Pt Pleasant Park contributions to the DOWL. The purp (surprisingly, just one) was at the very tip of the point. Cheers, Andy Horn Halifax Subject: Re: Kings co birds From: Angus MacLean <angusmcl AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:14:01 -0400 Subject: Fw: Pine Grosbeaks From: "Nelson Poirier" <nelson AT nb.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 13:25:32 -0400 ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Nelson Poirier" Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 12:49 PM Subject: Pine Grosbeaks > Hi Nelson. Could you please inform NatureNS that we are watching Pine > Grosbeaks at the corner of Route 6 and the North Shore Road (the road to > the Jost Winery) > > Only because them seem so scarce this year. Also, 2 Barrows Goldeneyes at Pugwash Harbour with Common Goldeneyes. > > Thx > > Hank Scarth > > Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network > > Subject: Kings co birds From: Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:56:57 -0400 Hi, 4 Pine siskins at our feeders this morning. A M. N. harrier at grand Pre. 25+ Bohemian waxwings at Grand Pre. Richard Stern sternrichard AT gmail.com Sent from my iPhone Subject: Kings co birds From: Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:56:57 -0400 Hi, 4 Pine siskins at our feeders this morning. A M. N. harrier at grand Pre. 25+ Bohemian waxwings at Grand Pre. Richard Stern sternrichard AT gmail.com Sent from my iPhone ------------------------------------ Subject: DOWList Rough-legged Hawk, Snow Bunting From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:38:58 -0400 While doing a route on Jim Wolford's eagle & raptor count this morning, I was surprised to see two additions to the DOWList. A light phase adult Rough-legged Hawk was flying near the Gaspereau R, about halfway between Wallbrook & Avonport, on the river road on the S side. While parked at the commuter lot at the end of my route, near Avonport, and standing beside my car, a Snow Bunting came flying along & landed about 15' away from me. Rick Whitman Subject: Re: Waxwings, Robins From: Paul MacDonald <paulrita2001 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 07:34:20 -0800 (PST) Hi Eric and All Robins visit my yard daily lately - perhaps 20. First they cleaned of the Canada Holly and now they go for the Rosa Centrofilia They haven't touched the evergreen holly which has lots of fruit, highbush cranberries or there is another schrub with red berries - not sure what it is. Other winters these have always been cleaned off. They visit the brook daily - probably to get  stoneflies which  hatch in this kind of weather. It has not been cold enough to freeze except along the edges. Reminds me of the 77-78 winter. Enjoy the nice days. Paul ________________________________ From: Eric L. Mills To: naturens AT chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2012 11:12:00 AM Subject: [NatureNS] Waxwings, Robins Early this morning there was a flock of 14 Cedar Waxwings (all Cedars) along Princes Inlet Drive between Lunenburg and Mahone Bay. In downtown Chester, at the foot of King Street, a compact and very active flock of about 50 Robins was foraging on barberries in a single bush. Neither is particularly unusual, but the observations do indicate that overwintering birds are concentrating on the remaining wild food during this bitter DOW weather. Eric L. Mills 286 Kingsburg Road RR#1, Rose Bay, NS B0J 2X0 Canada e.mills AT dal.ca Subject: Waxwings, Robins From: "Eric L. Mills" <e.mills AT dal.ca> Date: Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:12:00 -0400 Early this morning there was a flock of 14 Cedar Waxwings (all Cedars) along Princes Inlet Drive between Lunenburg and Mahone Bay. In downtown Chester, at the foot of King Street, a compact and very active flock of about 50 Robins was foraging on barberries in a single bush. Neither is particularly unusual, but the observations do indicate that overwintering birds are concentrating on the remaining wild food during this bitter DOW weather. Eric L. Mills 286 Kingsburg Road RR#1, Rose Bay, NS B0J 2X0 Canada e.mills AT dal.ca Subject: Re: DOWL updated From: bdigout AT seaside.ns.ca Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:06:43 -0400 (AST) >You can add Northern Goshawk, Blake. I saw one in French Cove, rich. Co. this morning. Billy I have updated the NS DOWL list, now at 86 species, but with many more > possibilities. > > http://tinyurl.com/nswinter > > Keep the additions coming. > > Cheers, > > Blake > > -- > Blake Maybank > White's Lake, Nova Scotia > > My Blog: *CSI: Life* >