Nova Scotia Birds - NS Bird Society 56... · Rallids and Crane 14 Shorebirds 14 Gulls through...

Nova Scotia Birds A Quarterly Publication of the Nova Scotia Bird Society

Summer Season, 2014 Volume 56, Issue 4

Volume 56, Issue 4 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 1

Board 2012-2013 President David Currie Vice President Eric Mills

Past President Vacant

Treasurer Gillian Elliott

Secretary Joan Czapalay

Membership Secretary Ulli Hoeger

Director Chris Pepper

Director Kate Steele

Director Tuma Young

Director Helene Van Doninck

Chair, NSBS Sanctuary Trust Bob McDonald

Honorary Solicitor Tony Robinson

Honorary Auditor Ruth E. Smith

Formed in 1955, the Nova Scotia Bird Society is a member of Nature Nova Scotia and Nature Canada. The activities of the

Society are centred on the observation, study and protection of the birds of the province and preservation of their habitats.

Nova Scotia Bird Society

c/o The Nova Scotia Museum

1747 Summer Street

Halifax, NS B3H 3A6

E-mail: [email protected] Find us on Facebook Web: nsbirdsociety.ca

Rare Bird Alert: https://groups.yahoo.com/NS-RBA/

Cover: This beautiful SANDWICH TERN was found July 5 at Lower

LaHave, Lun, on the first day of the

appearance of numbers of exotic sea

seabirds delivered by Hurricane

Arthur. [Photo: Kevin Lantz]

ISSN 0383-9537

Bird Society News – President’s Message 3

Summer Bird Reports 4

Waterfowl 5

Galliformes 8

Loons and Grebes 9

Tubenoses through Cormorants 10

Herons 11

Diurnal Raptors 12

Rallids and Crane 14

Shorebirds 14

Gulls through Alcids 18

Pigeons through Woodpeckers 27

Flycatchers through Thrushes 28

Mimic-Thrushes through Wood Warblers 32

Sparrows to Dickcissel 35

Icterids to House Sparrow 37

List of Contributors 39

Field Trip Report 39

Other Reports:

A Birding Villanelle 40

A Murder of Crows 41

The Flight of the NSBS Hat 41

Bermuda Petrel: First Confirmed for Canada 42

A Zone-tailed Hawk in Nova Scotia 45

Jonathan Dwight’s Nova Scotia Collections 46

mailto:[email protected]

2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 4

Editor

Ian McLaren

Address below

Records Editors

Lance Laviolette

Address below

Elizabeth Doull

Copy Editor

Maxine Quinton

Events Editor

Kate Steele

Seasonal Bird Reports

James Churchill

Ross Hall

Ulli Hoeger

Ken McKenna

Ian McLaren

Eric Mills

Richard Stern

Rick Whitman

Graham Williams

Banner Artist & Line Art

Trevor Herriot

Direct e-mail Reports to:

Lance Laviolette

RR # 1, Glen Robertson, ON, K0B 1H0

[email protected]

Photo submissions to:

Ian McLaren

Address below

Other Items for publication to:

Ian McLaren

1755 Cambridge St

Halifax, B3H 4A8

[email protected]

Use of written material or photos from Nova Scotia Birds

needs permission from the Editor or photographer

respectively. Cost of this publication is partly provided by

the Nova Scotia Museum.

Foreword by the Editor

Summer is usually a somewhat dull season for birding,

although the important work of watching and counting birds

to assess their breeding and population status goes on. The

middle of this reporting season, however, was punctuated

by Hurricane Arthur, which scooped up large numbers of

coastal seabirds from the Carolinas and brought them

quickly to our shores. This was a bonanza for many new

birders who, excited and informed by the many photos and

directions given on the Society’s Facebook site, went forth

to add them to their life lists. An informative review of this

event is given by Eric Mills in his section on Gulls through

Alcids (p. 18).

Our analyses and reports on the seasonal bird records reflect

a lot of work by the various section editors listed in the

opposite column of this page. Regrettably, but

understandably, Nic Fieldsend decided he could no longer

enlighten us about the season’s Flycatchers through

Thrushes. This will also be the last issue with a report from

James Churchill whose accounts have graced these pages in

recent years. Finding time to write these accounts is difficult

for those with careers and families. Some of you might

know that most of our remaining section editors are retired

or semi-retired. So, to others of you among our Society

members who are experienced birders and who have

knowledge of the past and current statuses of Nova Scotia’s

birds and who have some time and interest in writing about

our birds, we’d be happy to have your help; contact our

President, David Currie, or me.

Finally, I echo President Currie’s plea (p. 3) that members

subscribe to the online rather than the printed version of

Nova Scotia Birds. This will help to save paper and costs,

and the many photographs we feature cannot be fully

appreciated or even understood without full colour, as

evident below.

A male AMERICAN REDSTART was in its full summer

glory, May 31 at Greenfield, Kings. [Photo: Richard Stern]

mailto:[email protected]


Message from the President, David A. Currie

It is very satisfying to see and feel the enthusiasm for birding these days. By the time you read this, we will have had our

Annual General Meeting and during it, we will have been told that our society is flourishing with significant new growth in

memberships since last year. With new members of such an active and productive birding community, we are seeing an

energy that makes our society and our province enviable.

Today, with instantaneous identification aids and the ability to seek help rapidly from others, learning about birds has

increased at a rate that was never dreamt of in the earlier years of our society. Digital photography and the many ways to

share often spectacular images to masses of interested people in ‘real time’ adds to the excitement and the feeling of

contribution. It is indeed an interesting time.

Over the summer CBC Television approached our society and requested that we become involved in a program on birding

for the popular Land and Sea series. The fact that television in the Maritimes is showcasing birding speaks volumes about its

increasing popularity and its contributions to active lifestyles for all ages. Watch for the program to air in mid-December.

The society's Sanctuary Trust Committee continues to have discussions with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust with the intention

of eventually ceding our properties to their care and protection. Surveyors began to catalogue the flora and fauna on our

various properties over the summer, and more action will be taken in 2015. It will be very gratifying for us to have our lands

retained as protected areas in perpetuity with a coordinated stewardship program. Many thanks go to our Sanctuary Trust

Committee for steering us in this direction.

Publishing a magazine four times a year, first by poring through the increasing numbers of reports and then attempting to

make some sense of it all, is no easy task and we appreciate the commitment and effort our editors make in producing a

magazine of content and quality like no other. I especially thank Nic Fieldsend and James Churchill for their wonderful

write-ups as they start a well-deserved break from editing their seasonal bird sections; well done!

Finally, we would like to encourage you to consider using the online version of this magazine, not only to cut down on the

use of paper, but to reduce our costs, enabling us to use those savings for other purposes. Members can easily access our

website (register at www.nsbirdsociety.ca) to view the present issue and all past issues of Nova Scotia Birds. Please help us

and help the environment.

After an exhilarating day at the

area’s bird-rich marshes, a few

society members at our out-of-

Halifax meeting at Amherst

posed with Dr. Phil Taylor, who

spoke of his research tracking

migrant birds with sophisticated

electronic devices. From left are:

Kevin Lantz (with Joan Czapalay

hiding behind) Chris Peters, Eric

Mills, Richard Stern, Fatima

Lopez Diaz, David Currie, Phil

Taylor, Patrick Kelly and Ian

McLaren.[Photo: Claire Diggins]


NOTE: The following are abbreviations and acronyms frequently used to save space, especially in parentheses. In

addition, months and most county names are usually abbreviated (except when stand-alone in the text), and the latter

are always in italics to distinguish them from towns with the same names. Well-known cities and towns, even some

small ones (e.g. Canso), are spelled out in full, without including their counties or municipalities. Cardinal and

ordinal directions may be abbreviated (as w., n.e., etc.) and capitalized when part of a place name. Note also that

bird names when first mentioned in each section are capitalized, but not thereafter. In addition, first mention of rare

or very rare birds as designated on the NSBS Checklist of Birds, and also those not on that checklist, are in boldface.

General terms

ABO = Atlantic Bird Observatory (reports from)

AOU = American Ornithologist’s Union

Ad., ad. = adult

Atlas = Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas, 80-90 &/or 06-10

BBS – Breeding Bird Survey

Bch., bch. = Beach, beach

Brk.= Brook

ca. = approximately

f. = female

fide = on the authority of

Hbr. = Harbour

Hd. – Head (as a headland)

Hway(s) = Highway(s) usually numbered

I. = Island (pl. Is.)

imm. = immature

incl. = including

juv. = juvenile (first post-nestling plumage)

loc. = location (pl. locs.)

Lr. = Lower

m. = male

m. obs. = many observers

n.d. = no details (unsupported by documentation)

no. = number

NP = National Park

nr. = geographically near

NSNT – Nova Scotia Nature Trust (properties surveyed)

obs. (as in ‘two obs.’) = observer(s), not observation(s)

Pk. = Park

Pen. = Peninsula

ph. = photographed

PP = Provincial Park

pr. = pair (not simply two birds)

Pt. = Point (not Port)

R. = River (not used when part of a community name)

Rd. = Road

rept. = report (pl. repts.)

Sanct. = Sanctuary

Sev. obs. = several observers

spec. = specimen

thr. = throughout a season, as in ‘thr. summer’

Tr. = established trail

var. obs. = various observers

WMA – Wildlife Management Area

yng. = young

+ or ++ with numbers = more; with dates = later

< > = less (or fewer) than, greater (or more) than

Geographical locations

APBS = Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary, Cumb

BPI = Bon Portage (Outer) Island, Shel

Brier I. = Brier Island, Digby

CBI = Cape Breton Island

CBHNP = Cape Breton Highlands National Park

CBRM = Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Hbr. = Harbour

HRM = Halifax Regional Municipality

Keji NP = Kejimkujik National Park

Keji Seaside NP = Kejimkujik Seaside National Park

NW Arm, Halifax = Northwest Arm, Halifax

PPP, Halifax = Point Pleasant Park, Halifax

Saltmarsh Tr., HRM = Saltmarsh Trail across Cole Hbr.

Seal I. = Seal Island, of the Outer Tusket Islands, Yar

Uniacke PP = Uniacke Estate Museum Park, Hants


Waterfowl By Ross Hall

For waterfowl, as for all birds, there are four seasons: spring is renewal, summer is growth, fall is preparation and winter is

hardship. This summer issue covers June and July when young ducklings or goslings grow rapidly, reaching near-adult sizes.

Fall will see them fine tune new flight feathers and build strength. A difficult migration and winter will lie ahead. Waterfowl

reports are relatively scarcer in summer as adult females keep young hidden amongst vegetation and males form bachelor

groups and moult into ‘eclipse’ plumage.

This drake SHOVELER, June 8 at the Amherst

marshes, is just beginning to acquire its summer

plumage. Curiously, in most ducks this dull ‘eclipse’

plumage is equivalent in sequence to the Alternate

breeding plumage of most birds, whereas their bright

winter and spring mating plumage is the equivalent

of the typical dull Basic plumage. [Photo: Richard

Stern]

CANADA GOOSE chicks as reported in NS Birds Spring 2014 issue, hatched as early as May 16 at Annapolis Royal Marsh.

There were summer reports of young families of Canada Geese throughout all parts of Nova Scotia, from Sydney (pair with

three young, at Lingan Golf Course, June 6, DBM) to Brier I. (sev. broods, ELM). Wayne Neily reported two families, two-

to-three weeks of age, as early as June 3 at Trimper Pond, Anna. Interestingly, on June 2 Phil Taylor observed at least three

pairs of Canada Geese with multiple young offshore at BPI. On June 29 Ken McKenna observed a possible re-nesting of

adults with three recently fledged young at Big Merigomish Island, Pict. On July 6 at Lower Barneys River Ken McKenna

and Steve Vines saw a mixture of adult and young Canada Geese, consisting of at least five broods. Val Smith reported four

almost full-grown goslings July 16 at Brookfield, Col. In August and September all these young of the year will be flying and

the family units will join into larger flocks.

WOOD DUCK was also reported throughout most of Nova Scotia. Areas notable for larger numbers are the Amherst area

and the Belleisle and Annapolis Royal Marshes. Richard Stern found a female Wood Duck with nine young June 5 at

Annapolis Royal, and reported finding another female with three young June 24 at Miners Marsh, Kentville. Once the female

begins incubation, the male loses interest in family affairs and spends more time away from the nest to join other males that

eventually form large groups. As mid-summer approaches, the males begin to move to undisturbed and sheltered areas to

shed old feathers. Some males may even leave Nova Scotia. To reach such areas, many thousands of males from breeding

grounds in the northeastern states are known to travel great distances to southeastern Canada.

GADWALL was observed in northern and western Nova Scotia. Reporting sites included marshes near Amherst, where

Donald Gorham provided the only confirmation of breeding – a female with seven young July 25 at a marsh along Tyndall

Rd., Cumb. They were also found, but not noted as breeding, at the Belleisle and Annapolis Royal Marshes, Anna, although

the 27 on the latter marsh July 31 may have been augmented by young. There was a single bird June 2 on BPI (PHT), and up

to five were noted by David Bell et al., June 15-July 5 on Seal I. where they have nested in the past. AMERICAN WIGEON

was not reported in large numbers but was widely distributed in the province. Only Ken McKenna provided information on


their breeding – a brood of 11 on Big Merigomish I., Pict, July 4. There were numerous reports, as expected, of AMERICAN

BLACK DUCK and MALLARD from throughout the province. Broods of up to eight-to-ten for both species were reported

beginning in early June. James Churchill observed a high count June 30 of 170 Mallards at Miners Marsh, Kentville. Hybrids

of these two are evidently thriving in the Wolfville area, where Phil Taylor tallied 30 on July 16. BLUE-WINGED TEAL

reports were few, but they were most plentiful on the eutrophic wetlands in northern Cumberland and at Belleisle Marsh.

David Bell and others saw two in mid-June on Seal Island. Single Blue-winged Teal were seen in Pictou and HRM; they are

not often found in HRM. NORTHERN SHOVELER was only observed at wetlands near Amherst and on the Belleisle and

Annapolis Royal Marshes, Anna, where broods of eight and five young were noted June 25 and July 8 respectively. There

were only five eBird reports (for Cumberland, Yarmouth, Inverness and Pictou) of NORTHERN PINTAIL through summer

and only in ones and twos. In contrast, GREEN-WINGED TEAL was moderately plentiful throughout the province, and

presumed broods of up to nine “immatures” were noted June 12 at the Tyndal Rd. marsh, Cumb (Donald Gorham), and eight

“juveniles” June 14 on Big Merigomish I., Pict (KJM).

RING-NECKED DUCK was also observed throughout the province. Ken McKenna observed “small young – freshly

hatched” July 4 at Egerton, Pict, and Wayne Neily found a family group with “young well-grown” July 8 at Woodvale,

Digby. Val Smith saw females with one and six young July 16 at Brookfield Marsh, Col. The female with one duckling had

two a few days earlier, and this underscores the many perils that young ducks encounter. At Grand Narrows, Inv, Cecil

Yarrow saw a brood of six “small” young. The Amherst area marshes and CBRM produced the most reports of Ring-necked

Duck. There were about 18 eBird reports of up to 40 individuals from the former area, and in CBRM there were up to 25

males and five females at the Tower Rd. lagoon June 21, and 12 males, 8 females and 12 young in North Sydney July 26 (all

DBM). Possibly the same lingering male GREATER SCAUP was spotted June 6 and 27 near the Pictou Causeway (KJM);

three LESSERS present July 1 at the Annapolis Royal Marsh (TEB, n.d.) were not otherwise reported.

This female-plumaged RING-

NECKED DUCK on the

Amherst marshes, June 22,

with its left wing stretched

out below the surface, is

preening its scapulars. It

presumably was unaware that

it looks quite comical; or do

ducks have a sense of

humour? [Photo: Lou-Anne

Bidal]

COMMON EIDER was abundantly reported from around our Atlantic Coasts. There were fewer reports from the Bay of

Fundy, and reports were largely lacking from the Northumberland Strait. Some of the reported crèches are listed here:

Date Locality Observer Comments

June 18 Taylors Head PP, HRM R. Moser “30 incl. 7 young”

June 28 Whale Rock, Shel D. Ringer “28 Eider hens and chicks”

June 28 Hemeons Head, Shel D. Ringer “40 Eider: females with small chicks and a few males”

June 29 West Head, Shel D. Ringer “35 Eider: several females with chicks [+] a couple of males”

July 11 Gaff Pt., Lun ELM “25 adults and 10 downy young”

July 12 Lockeport, Shel ROH “19 incl. juvenile (7)”

July 12 Hemeons Head, Shel ROH “Several groups of hens and young”

July 19 Rackets Islands, Lun NAD “100 Eider; many crèches of young”

It is interesting that there were almost no reports of male eiders, since they abandon the mostly island nesting sites and form

large moulting bachelor groups. The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has taken advantage of this behaviour to

band the otherwise hard-to-catch males.


There were two summer reports of HARLEQUIN DUCK. Phil Taylor saw an adult male with a flock of eiders June 1 off

BPI, and David Bell found an adult male and a second-year male July 5 at CSI. Ervin Olsen photographed another male July

28 off the wharf at Sandford, Yar.

There were 11 eBird reports of up to almost 50 summering SURF SCOTERS. Of these, Ken McKenna reported six on June

18, and 13 on June 25 at Big Merigomish I., Pict. He counted 29-35 there during three visits June 29-July 6, but only 13 on

July 27. One-to-three individuals were noted at eight other locations from Second Pen., Lun, to Aspy Bay, Vic. They were

outnumbered by nine eBird reports totalling 118 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER; this number included 90 observed in two rafts

June 21 at Port Morien, CBRM (DBM). They were in turn outnumbered by ten eBird reports of 147 BLACK SCOTER,

including 20 off Rissers Bch., PP, Lun, on July 11 (Kathleen MacAulay). Chris Peters also reported a raft of Black Scoters

via the NSBS Facebook July 1 on the Minas Basin and he wondered if they should be present at this time of year. It is

interesting to gain a wider view from eBird and note the huge number of Black Scoters still lingering in summer off the

Canadian and U.S. Atlantic coastlines. For example, on June 6 Luc Laberge reported 1000 Black Scoters off the Gaspé

Peninsula, and on July 22 David Bell counted 87 in one raft off East Point, PEI. The June 6 record might indicate that Black

Scoter is slower to move north than the other two scoters, but the July 22 PEI birds, like ours, were surely summering non-

breeders.

LONG-TAILED DUCK rarely stays here in summer, but Giselle D’Entremont’s photo (see below) nicely confirmed two

lingering into mid-June on Three-Fathom Hbr., HRM. BUFFLEHEAD was observed thrice: a male June 8 at Annapolis

Royal Marsh (JAH); a female found June 21 at Oakland on Mahone Bay on the NSBS field trip, described as a “small

grey/brown duck with distinct white cheek patch”; and a different one found nearby July 7 and 11 at the Marvins I. causeway

was an adult male with mostly uneclipsed plumage (PHT; ph). Finally, Keith Lowe photographed a female June 26 at Broad

Cove, Lun. The summer presence of COMMON GOLDENEYE was almost unnoted except for two reports: Gordon Parsons

found one June 8 at Dartmouth, and Ken McKenna saw a young male July 26 near Pictou.

One of these lingering

LONG-TAILED DUCK

drakes (foreground) June 15

on Three-Fathom Hbr., was

in full breeding garb,

something we rarely see in

our waters. [Photo: Giselle

D’Entremont]

There were 15 eBird reports of HOODED MERGANSER totalling about 40 individuals, with none for CBRM or for the three

westernmost mainland counties. There was a greater concentration of sightings along the Northumberland Strait lowlands.

On June 2, while walking the Brookfield Marsh trail, I observed a brood of Hooded Mergansers, perhaps one day old and

chasing surface insects; such are the delights of bird watching. Overall, Hooded Merganser is probably under-reported in

Nova Scotia during summer. COMMON MERGANSER is also probably under-reported during summer. Province-wide

there were about 30 eBird reports of about 130 individuals, although in addition three people observed 20-21 individuals July

26 in Mahone Bay Hbr. There were no reports from the five most western counties. Ken McKenna observed a brood of five

June 17 at Caledonia Bridge, Guys; Kate Steele found a brood of nine July 22 at Caledonia, HRM; and Alice Oliver observed

a brood of nine June 25 at Baddeck, Vic. There were only eight eBird reports totalling 16 individual RED-BREASTED

MERGANSERS, and no broods were mentioned.

http://www.novascotia.ca/natr/library/publications/naturesresources/pdf/6.1/usingHelicopters.pdf


Galliformes

By Richard Stern

Not surprisingly the most frequently reported species was RING-NECKED PHEASANT, with over 200 reports for the

Summer. A female with 14 young was found June 23 along Casey Rd. in Cumberland, and a male and female with 14 young

were found in mid-July at the same location (Donald Gorham). Singles and pairs were seen in every mainland county, but

only a handful on CBI: three found at Florence, CBRM, June 14 (DBM) and one near Cape North, Vic, June 16 (JAH). One

wonders if the latter was from a local release rather than signalling than a range spread.

The next most regularly encountered bird of this group was RUFFED GROUSE, a species more common than sightings

might suggest; unlike pheasants, they are rarely seen along roadsides or in backyards and open fields. Also unlike the

pheasant, the almost 100 Ruffed Grouse were all seen at 57 locations in counties north of Annapolis and Shelburne with the

exception of two at Goose Creek Marsh, Yar, June 22 (AAD) and six on Brier I., Shel, July 26 (AVB). These included ten at

six locations June 22 to July 27 in Victoria (var. obs.). A female used her distraction display when Carmel Smith encountered

her with a young bird June 4 at Middle Branch, Lun. Ken McKenna found a family of five in McArras Brook, Ant, as late as

July 21. Several were seen in Victoria and Inverness, CBI, including three by Rick Whitman while on a considerable hike

July 4 on Cape North Mtn., and a female with four downy young were seen by Robert Timberlake in CBHNP. SPRUCE

GROUSE are a prized find as they are restricted in their range and habitat. When found they tend to be very tame. There were

only three eBird reports for the two summer months, from Lunenburg, HRM, and Guysborough; curiously there were no

reports from CBI.

The lucky photographer

chanced upon a male

RUFFED GROUSE

cleansing its plumage by

‘dusting’ up a storm,

July 4 along a roadside

near Money Point, Vic,

at the very tip of CBI.

[Photo: Rick Whitman]

On the Society’s Facebook site Norene Brown belatedly posted a photo of a CHUKAR taken May 27 at Cape John, Pict, not

too far from where they seem to have established a local population (see Nova Scotia Birds, 2013, v. 55, no. 4, p. 9). More

surprising was Erin Macdonald’s July 25 Facebook report of seeing a Chukar two weeks earlier as it crossed a road with its

chicks at Cogmagun River, W. Hants. These may have escaped from captivity, but Ian McLaren commented: “the vaguely

similar Gray Partridge was once widespread in [nearby] Kings . . . but is thought to be extirpated. It would be good to have

details of the sighting in Cogmagun . . . just in case they were lingering Gray Partridge.”


Loons and Grebes

By Ross Hall

On June 1 David Bell observed “a distant, small, pale loon headed north” off Brier Island, presumably a RED-THROATED

LOON, and Tony and Angie Millard observed another Red-throated June 8 at Sober I., HRM.

There were many reports of COMMON LOON on inland lakes and coastal waters. Six observers provided breeding

information.

Date Location Observer Comment

June 23 New Germany L., Lun Larry Neily “2 adult and 2 young”

July 16 Lilydale, Lun Kevin Lantz “1 adult and 1 young, older than 2 weeks”

July 20 APBS Avery Bartels “Pair and 1 young”

July 22 Third Lake, HRM Chase Mosher “2 adult and 2 young”

July 23 Mill Lake, HRM Kevin Lantz “1 adult and chick several days old”

July 23 Springfield, Anna John Loch “including a chick but quite small for this late in the season”

Jim Mead counted 36 Common Loons on July 28 from Sea Parrot Ocean View Manor in coastal Victoria. Let us hope those

loons were feeding on Green Crabs.

We don’t often see

HORNED GREBE in

Nova Scotia in full

alternate plumage

like this beauty, June 30

off Hartlen Pt., HRM.

[Photo: Keith Lowe]

A summering HORNED GREBE in breeding plumage was photographed June 17 off Eastern Passage, HRM (AGH, Ricki

Hurst) and presumably the same one was still there June 30 (Keith Lowe; see photo above). Not including the regular reports

of PIED-BILLED GREBE at Miners Marsh, Kentville, there were about 35 eBird reports totalling about 106 individuals.

These reports were from regions of the province where there are more eutrophic marshes with aquatic vegetation used to

build rafts and floating nests, and most came from the counties close to the Northumberland Strait: Antigonish, Pictou,

Colchester and Cumberland. Pied-billed Grebes were also seen in the Amherst area marshes and the Annapolis Valley. With

the exception of a single one in Yarmouth there were no Pied-billed Grebe reports from any Nova Scotia counties that border

the Atlantic Coast including Cape Breton. Miners Marsh deserves separate treatment, since through June and July James

Churchill and others made 38 reports for this marsh alone. For many of these reports James included notes on his eBird

observations of the grebes’ nesting behaviour. With apologies to James for any misinterpretation, his notes with minor

paraphrasing are listed here.

June 12 “pair”

June 23 “4 fledglings; also nest building or creating a raft for young? Are known to double brood. Both adults


currently busily carrying grasses and muddy vegetation and packing it down into reeds with young floating nearby.”

June 24 “2 adults and 3 young”

June 25 “1 adult, 4 grebelings. Grebelings swimming and using raft built by adults this week.”

June 26 “1 adult and 4 grebelings; 1 adult with 2 older grebelings (2 broods but difficult to tell if same parents).”

June 30 “1 adult sitting on platform with grebelings around; second adult feeds fish to first and then replaces on

platform; likely joint incubating of eggs here. There are two groups of grebelings nearby. One group of two is larger

or older but possibly of the same brood but with different hatch dates. The other group has 3 grebelings.”

July 2 “2 adults. One adult is incubating. 5 grebelings are nearby.”

July 4 “3 grebelings are swimming with the adults that have a new nest in the centre of the marsh. These adults are

switching incubation duties on the nest; 2 grebelings are swimming independently at west edge of the marsh. A

third adult is foraging.”

July 7 “1 adult still incubating; groups of 4 and 2 grebelings.”

July 11 “1 adult incubating; 1 adult swimming with 4 grebelings. Another grebeling separated.”

July 14 “1 adult incubating. 1 adult swimming nearby. 2 grebelings swimming together and 1 lone grebeling

separated (with Mallards).”

July 21 “1 adult incubating. 7 grebelings swimming independently. 1 grebeling with Mallard.”

July 23 “1 adult incubating. 5 small grebelings and 1 solitary larger grebeling.”

July 24 “1 lone adult incubating. 1 adult swimming with 4 grebelings; 1 lone grebeling. The adults switched places

on the nest and at least 4 just hatched grebelings came out on the water and then climbed under the next

incubating adult.”

July 25 “1 incubating adult. 2 adults with 7 grebelings.”

July 29 “incubating.”

July 30 “1 adult incubating. 2 single adults. A group of 5 grebelings.”

July 31 “2 adults with 5 or 6 recently hatched grebelings, adults still incubating somewhat but grebelings in and out

of water. 1 lone grebeling and a group of 5.”

To say the least, the multiple visits by James show a grebe family profile that changed at each visit. It appears that young are

soon left to their independence as parents begin new clutches.

Ken McKenna provided other observations of Pied-billed Grebe nesting. He saw a pair June 19, at Egerton, Pict, near a nest

that may have been flooded by recent rain. On July 4 at this site there were two adults and four young and material was being

added to the nest site. On July 19, also in Pictou at a marsh on the Old Halifax Road, Ken saw two adults each with five

young and, in addition, one larger young.

Tubenoses through Cormorants

By Eric Mills

This summer started quietly in southwestern Nova Scotia for seabirds and for whale-watchers. Probably because of a lack of

food, the usual crowd-pleasing Humpback whales off Brier Island and Grand Manan, NB, were virtually absent until the end

of July. Off Brier I., I noted that the few cetaceans present were diving deep for food, meaning that surface-feeding seabirds

were not able to find much. Nonetheless, a few NORTHERN FULMARS were present off Yarmouth and Brier I. from the

beginning of June. One hundred and twenty (some of them dark-plumaged) just south of Halifax on June 26 were exceptional

for the date (DAC). Both GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATER were widely distributed (from the Cabot Strait to Yarmouth)

beginning in early June, although in relatively low numbers (maximum individual reports of about 150 Great and 30 Sooty).

These numbers are somewhat complicated because there appear to have been larger numbers in areas not usually frequented

by birders, and where, presumably, feeding conditions were better than in the areas we usually visit. The only MANX

SHEARWATERS reported were in June, and individual birds in each case: at Seal I., Yar; seaward of E. Passage, HRM; and

off Brier I.

Curiously, although the larger pelagics were scarce in the Bay of Fundy, WILSON’S STORM-PETREL was not; for example

there were about 30 off Brier I. on June 29, and lower numbers were seen there through the end of July. It appears that the

small food items favoured by storm-petrels (copepods, small medusae, etc.) were reasonably abundant at the surface although

larger prey stayed below the surface. A few Wilson’s Storm-Petrels were noted July 5 as a result of the passage of Hurricane

Arthur; all were at CSI (David Bell) or in HRM (DGA; David Bell). Eight LEACH’S STORM-PETRELS near The Hawk,


CSI (David Bell), were also a fallout from the storm. A compilation and analysis of the effects of Arthur is in the Gulls

through Alcids section of this issue of Nova Scotia Birds (p. 18). Fifteen Leach’s Storm-Petrels were attracted to a shark-

fishing boat June 26 about 25 km south of Halifax (DAC), and the colony on BPI appears to have thrived, judging by night-

time records (David Bell et al.; PHT).

NORTHERN GANNETS were present from one end of the province to the other in June and July, mostly in maximum

numbers of 40 to 60 (but 200 were seen near the Bird Is., Vic, July 28 by Jim Mead). By the end of July Gannets appeared to

be building up off southwestern Nova Scotia, perhaps responding to the food shortages in Newfoundland coastal waters that

resulted in breeding failures there. It would be helpful to have more information on the age of the birds involved; eBird

correspondents rarely mentioned this important information.

As ever in summer, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was ubiquitous. Of more than 1000 eBird reports of this species,

only a tiny fraction reported any information on age of the birds involved, or their breeding status; thus the majority of these

reports will have little or no long-term significance. GREAT CORMORANT was reported sparsely throughout the province

in June-July, mainly in numbers between one and four, except on the Bird Is., Vic, where there is a significant breeding

colony. A sparse breeder in the rest of the province, Great Cormorants were reported five times from s.w. Nova Scotia,

including a juvenile on Pearl I., Lun, in late June (BLM, JAH), and three adults and a juvenile on Thrum Cap, Queens

(AAD); both sightings almost certainly represent small breeding colonies of this large and seasonally uncommon cormorant.

Herons

By Ulli Hoeger

AMERICAN BITTERN was a regular sight this summer. The first was seen July 1 on the “cliff top” at Hartlen Pt., HRM

(DGA), and one (perhaps the same one?) was seen by several observers July 6 at nearby ‘Back Cove’. One of two flushed by

Peter Brannon July 30 from the harbourside beach, again near Hartlen Pt., “appeared to be a juvenile”, suggesting possible

breeding in the area. This species was also frequently reported by various observers from early June through mid-July from

the Amherst region, with up to five seen June 19 at the Amherst Marsh (JOK, KST) and four at the Eddy Marsh June 24

(RIW). They were also regularly reported from Belleisle Marsh, Anna, with up to four found there June 24 (Chris Peters).

Singles at L. Ramsey, Lun (JLC); Rainbow Haven PP, HRM; July 2-3 at the NSNT property on St. Marys R., Rd., Guys (sev.

obs.); at two places in Pictou; and a far-flung one heard June 1 near Mirror Cove, CBRM by Dave McCorquodale illustrate

the widespread presence of this secretive species in suitable habitats of our province.

Individual sightings of GREAT BLUE HERONS were frequent during the season. Accumulations of 15 birds June 24 at

Kimar Drive, Sydney (DBM), and 14 on July 4 at Big Merigomish I. (KJM) were near local nesting colonies. But later

gatherings of up to 23 at the latter location July 27, and ten on July 29 at Seaforth, HRM, probably included fledged young. A

ground-nesting pair on Seal I. (see photo below) was unusual. Two GREAT EGRETS were present July 7-12 on CSI (sev.

obs.). A vagrant TRICOLORED HERON was closely studied July 19 by Mike and Nancy Dowd on Chockle Cap, an island

in Mahone Bay.

A successful nest of a GREAT

BLUE HERON this summer,

placed between driftwood logs on

the cobble beach at “Ship Pond”

on Seal I., was most unusual,

although ground nesting has been

found occasionally on islands

elsewhere. [Photo: Rickey Jones]


Reports of BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON came from CSI where the species nests, and also from Round I. (near Seal

I.) and BPI, to which they wander. A wandering immature YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was photographed

July 11 by Bruce Stevens at Silver Sands Bch., HRM.

Beginning in the first half of July, during the days following hurricane Arthur, we had several reports of GLOSSY IBIS. The

first were four found July 6 at a pond in W. Berlin, Lun (ELM; sev. obs. July 7); another July 6 at Pinkneys Pt., Yar (ph., fide

AAD); one on July 8 at Silver Sands Bch., HRM (DAC; present to July 11, sev. obs.); and one on July 9 at Amiraults Hill,

Yar (RDE) to July 16 (AAD). Somewhat later appearing were one first seen July 16 by Val Smith and again the next day by

Frank Gummett at the Brookfield Marsh, Col, and a fly-over July 26 on Brier I. by Avery Bartels. A “pair” reported present

July 15 at Neils Hbr., CBRM was said by locals to have been “there for over a month” (Kim Lau), thus probably antedating

Arthur.

Diurnal Raptors

By Richard Stern

Summer is the quiet season for diurnal raptors, apart from nesting pairs that tend to be in deep woods or other places that are

hard to monitor, or are kept secret to protect the birds from mammalian (including human) interference and predation. A few

years ago the New World vultures were considered more closely related to Storks than to other raptors, but they’re now back

in their old place among the hawks and eagles. By contrast, there is strong genetic evidence that the falcons are not related to

the hawks and eagles, and they are now placed between the parrots and flycatchers; but our catch-all group of “diurnal

raptors” is a convenient label for tracking all these birds.

TURKEY VULTURE was widely reported from the western half of the province. These included up to ten counted by David

Bell and Daniel Giesbrecht June 1-2 along Digby Neck and nearby areas. Larry Neily had nine over the Middleton, Anna area

the next day, and six over Yarmouth, June 11. There were many other observations of ones and twos. Further northeast

sightings included five near Diligent River, Cumb, June 16 and another there July 11 (KFS), as well as a single bird over

Inverness, June 27 (PHT). There were no reports of even suspected breeding; there are still many unknowns about this

species in Nova Scotia.

Appropriately, the most widely reported summer raptor was the official provincial bird, the OSPREY. There were many

reports of birds on nests and/or with young during the summer months. They were reported from almost every county in the

Province, with the largest number of reports being from HRM (probably because it has the most birders). No large numbers

or unusual incidents were reported, but many fine photos of these birds nesting, carrying or eating fish, etc., were posted on

the Society's Facebook page. NORTHERN HARRIER seemed plentiful this summer, with widespread reports – as usual,

mostly of single birds, with the occasional twosome. The beautiful silvery adult males were specified as such on June 17 at

Belleisle Marsh, Anna (AAD), June 17 along Liscomb River Rd., Guys (KJM), and June 21 at Morien Bar, CBRM (DBM).

Full adult males are easily distinguished from females, but harder when birds are less than three years old, and many reports

did not specify age and sex. The ‘hotspots’ for this species seemed to be, as usual, Grand Pré (RIW et al.), Brier I. (m. obs.),

Big Merigomish I. (KJM et al.), and at other scattered spots around the province.

There were only 26 individual reports of SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, mostly ones and twos. All observations seemed to be

brief ones of birds flying by or circling overhead, as during the summer this species tends to disappear into the woods to nest,

and not hang around feeders where they are more obvious in winter. There were no reports of birds on nests or feeding

young. One NORTHERN GOSHAWK nest was monitored by Bernard Forsythe at a traditional location near Gaspereau,

Kings, and two chicks were fledged. No Cooper’s Hawks were reported. By contrast, our BALD EAGLE population seems to

be going from strength to strength, and not just in traditional haunts during winter. This summer season there were over 300

reports, from all over the province, with many immature birds included. Reports of urban nests with young included one in

Powell St. Park, Pictou, July 7 (KJM), and another in ‘downtown’ New Minas, Kings, through June and July (RBS). Only

two eagle nests were reported on the Project Nestwatch website, but Bernard Forsythe monitored 12 nests in e. Kings, all of

them successful. Jim Wolford also documented four active nests with young in the Kentville-Wolfville-Canning triangle in

mid-July. Numbers on the Bird Is., Vic, were counted and listed from one of the tour boats as 10 on June 8 and 20 on July 11

(Jerry Pruett, Vince van Schaick). That is a source of concern, as the nesting seabirds there are a known source of their prey.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK is seen in larger numbers during migration, but only scattered in larger areas of mixed woods


where they nest in summer. Spring migration extends into our summer season, and seven ‘kettling’ over Brier I. June 1 (RBS,

RIW) and four over Digby Neck the next day (David Bell) were presumably such late migrants. A pair June 1 at Barr

Settlement, Hants Co., however, were behaving as if they were already mated or nesting (Lou-Anne Bidal). The few other

sightings were of single birds scattered widely in most mainland counties. However, much to the amazement of Rick

Whitman and myself, the seven over Brier I. June 1 were briefly accompanied by what has to be among the most unexpected

bird sightings in the province for years – a ZONE-TAILED HAWK. Details and photos appear elsewhere in this issue (see

p. 46). RED-TAILED HAWK also seems to almost disappear in summer, as they tend to nest in densely wooded areas where

they are often hard to locate. A traditional nest in Port Williams fledged two young (RBS), and Bernard Forsythe saw a pair

nesting close by at the beginning of the season but the leaves later obscured the nest. Otherwise individual birds were seen,

mostly in Kings and Hants, with a few elsewhere from Annapolis to CBRM.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK, like this one June

11 near Economy, Cumb, is our smallest buteo,

but a handsome one as well. [Photo: Janet

Quinn]

There were no large movements of AMERICAN KESTREL in early summer, or reports of breeding birds. A number of

sightings of individuals around Belleisle Marsh, Anna, on several occasions in June and July (RIW; Keith Lowe) were

possibly of the same bird. Two adult males and two females were seen along North Wallace Rd. loop, July 7-16 (D.

Gorham). Another individual was in Oxford, Cumb, July 9 (S. Whalen), and several were in Pictou, mid-June through mid-

July (KJM). MERLIN is probably now the more common of the two small falcons here, and it is certainly easily heard

around its nests. One pleased participants during a June 1 field trip on the Shearwater Flyer Tr., HRM (KST et al.). Singles

seen June 2 and June 30 in Sir Sanford Fleming Pk., Halifax (sev. obs.) might have been residents. One was on a nest in

Wolfville June 13 (David Bell), and a noisy family was noted in Coldbrook, Kings (RBS). Several ones and twos were

observed by David Bell and party June 16-20 on Seal Island where they have nested in past summers. PEREGRINE

FALCON was evident in its usual haunts, indicated or confirmed as nesting in some cases. For example, two were constantly

harassing shorebirds at Avonport Bch., Kings, by late July (Jocelyne Marchand), and a pair was evident on various occasions

at Blomidon PP (m. obs.). Apparently the population nesting on the cliffs around the Minas Basin is doing quite well. A

yearling guarding its Rock Pigeon prey July 8 at Amethyst Cove, Kings, had field marks (see photo below) of the arctic

subspecies tundrius, the subadults of which are known to sometimes summer well south of their breeding range.

A somewhat fierce-looking ad.

PEREGRINE FALCON (left)

posed June 1 in Wolfville, but a

yearling (right) guarding its

Rock Dove prey at Amethyst

Cove, Kings, July 6, didn’t

seem quite sure of itself. Note

its buffy crown and narrow

moustache (although with

‘cheeks’ inflated) as marks of

subspecies tundrius. [Photos:

left, David Newcombe; right,

Wesley Pitts]


Rallids, Crane

By Ulli Hoeger

On June 15 Suzanne Borkowski sighted a bird near Walden, Lun, which she identified as a YELLOW RAIL. The bird was

described as a “Small sparrow-sized bird with long legs, virtually no tail, a broad black stripe through the eye, short conical

bill, light orange in colour. The bird's [overall] colour was tawny yellow, darker brownish on back. Legs were orange,

slightly darker than bill. My first impression was that it was a chick; but on closer inspection it had no down on it and the bill

was well formed.” There were no subsequent sightings of this bird which is extremely secretive and very rarely seen, but

probably more regular here in passage than we realize, and may have bred in the past.

Less surprising were repeated sightings of one to three VIRGINIA RAILS at Amherst and APBS marshes during June and

early July. Other reports of singles came from Broad Brook Pk. in Yarmouth town, and Goose Creek Marsh, Yar (AAD).

Reports of SORA were more common through the season, mostly of one-to-three birds from marsh ‘hotspots’, with up to six

recorded in the Amherst area, at Brookfield Wetlands, Col, and at Belleisle Marsh, Anna. Ones and twos were noted at

Miners Marsh, Kentville (JCH, RIW) and at two marshes in Pictou (KJM); and there were singles at Florence, Georges

River, and Point Aconi (all in CBRM).

A COMMON GALLINULE was seen June 19 at Amherst Marsh by Phil Taylor and John Kearney; the species has bred

there in the past and it would be good if a more concerted effort were made to get evidence of its nesting. A PURPLE

GALLINULE corpse found June 1 on BPI by Brad Woodworth and Taylor Brown had been “dead for some time . . .

probably since last autumn . . .”

Among several excellent images of SORA available

for this seasonal report, this particularly crisp capture

of one dashing for cover July 19 at Brookfield Marsh,

Col, seemed most evocative. [Photo: Chris Peters]

Shorebirds

By Rick Whitman

The first BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS of the season were three seen June 21 by Sylvia Fullerton at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun.

These were quickly followed by one at Big Merigomish I., Pict, June 25 (KJM) and 13 at Cape Sable, Shel, June 28 (AAD,

Keith Lowe). Additional early migration season reports in July came from only twelve locations between Pictou and

Yarmouth, and in moderate numbers to a maximum of 15 birds. A SEMIPALMATED PLOVER observed by Alice Oliver

June 25 at Baddeck, Vic, may have been an early migrant. The next earliest reports were all from Shelburne: July 6-8 at

Baccaro Pt. (one bird, David Bell); Hemeons Head (one bird, AVM); and Stoney Island Bch., CSI (two birds, Mike

MacDonald). By July 13 Susann Myers reported 46 at Three Fathom Hbr., HRM and by the end of the month estimates

peaked at 300 birds at three HRM locations: Martinique Bch. PP, Chezzetcook Inlet, and Causeway Rd., Seaforth. Other July

reports of Semipalmated Plovers came from Pictou, Cumberland, Kings, Digby, HRM, Lunenburg, Shelburne and Yarmouth.

Additional locations reporting 100 or more birds were: Evangeline Bch., Kings; Grand Desert Bch. and Three Fathom Hbr.,

HRM; Crescent Bch. and Cherry Hill Bch., Lun; and Breakwater, Shel. There were public reports of PIPING PLOVER from


12 locations in Victoria, Antigonish, Pictou, Lunenburg and Shelburne counties, with 10-12 birds (including juveniles) at

three locations. No doubt additional locations will be reported by Bird Studies Canada in their formal seasonal report, along

with apparent nesting successes. The public reports documented nestling survival after Hurricane Arthur from a few

locations. Once again, there were no reports of Piping Plover in HRM, giving further evidence of the elimination of this

species from all HRM beaches due to human beach-walkers and off-leash dogs. KILLDEER was reported from 25 locations

throughout the mainland and from Inverness with only six reports reaching the level of five-to-eight birds.

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was reported only from a small area near the south end of CSI: The Hawk, and at Cape

Sable and Fish I. Birds fly back and forth between Cape Sable and The Hawk and no doubt also between Cape Sable and Fish

I. The nine reports were all for one-to-two birds with the exception of a report of three birds June 8 on Fish I. (AAD). One

wonders if this species is declining here, as up to 18 birds (9 ad., 9 juv.) were reported in 2008 and “four pairs” in 2010 and

2011. It was a good year for BLACK-NECKED STILT with three widely separated July reports. On July 13, Jane

Alexander found three birds at West Head, Lockeport, Shel (see photo below). On July 18, Harold Forsyth observed one at

Miner’s Marsh, Kentville, and on July 19 David Currie and Eric Mills found one at Lower LaHave, Lun. Only this last bird

stayed on location for a second day, allowing several additional birders to enjoy it.

Soon after their discovery July

13 at West Head near

Lockeport, all three BLACK-

NECKED STILTS were nicely

lined up. [Photo: Bill Crosby]

SPOTTED SANDPIPER was reported from 12 counties on the mainland and from three counties on CBI. Most observations

were for one-to-six birds but on June 23 Keith Lowe found ten on Sambro I., HRM, and on July 25 James Hirtle found 11 at

Cherry Hill Bch., Lun. The first two southbound SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were found July 19 at Brooklyn, Queens (ELM,

DAC). Additional observations over the rest of July were of single birds: at APBS; McArras Brook, Ant; Belchers Marsh Pk.,

HRM; SAR Marshes, Yar; and Margaretsville, Anna. In addition, two-to-six birds were at Broad Cove, Lun, July 25-26 (JAH

et al.).

Our three larger Tringa species were all widely reported with numerous records. June records of GREATER YELLOWLEGS

may indicate breeding at some locations: June 3-23 at Tidnish Marsh, Cumb (1-2 birds, Donald Gorham); June 3 at St. Marys

Glenelg Bridge, Guys (2 birds, KJM); June 3 off West River St. Marys, Guys (“very vocal and likely more than one present”,

KJM); June 17 off Slate Rock Brook Rd., Guys (“near a boggy area where likely breeding”, KJM); June 17 off Liscomb

River Rd., Guys (“near possible breeding area”, KJM); June 19 along Benjies Lake Trail, CBHNP, Inv (1 bird, JAH); June 25

off Cheticamp I. Rd., Inv (1 bird, PHT); June 10 off Cox Brook Rd., Pict (1 bird, KJM); June 20 along Glasgow Lakes Look-

off Trail, CBHNP, Vic (1 bird, CHP, KST) and June 17 on Seal I., Yar (1 bird, David Bell). Four other June reports from

HRM and Cherry Hill Bch., Lun, were probably of non-breeding birds or failed breeders migrating early. Four birds June 30

at Three Fathom Hbr., HRM (SEM), were about one week ahead of numerous reports in the July 6-8 period that clearly

marked the start of southbound migration. Overall, seasonal reports were received from 12 counties on the mainland and

three counties on CBI. Most later July reports were of single digits with a maximum of 22 at Tidnish Marsh, Cumb, July 22,

24 (Donald Gorham). In August there will be counts in the range of 50-100 birds.

As a relatively common breeder, WILLET was reported from every county in the province except Richmond where they no

doubt also occurred. The June reports are more indicative of breeding locations, but as early as June 29 there were 100 birds

at Crescent Bch., Lun (Alvan Buckley, Mira Furgoch). The habitat suitability of that location is confirmed by three reports of


85-135 birds July 10-19 (JSC; ELM; DAC). Other high numbers were reported from Chezzetcook Inlet, HRM (100 on July

27, Angie & Tony Millard); Cape Sable, Shel (80 on July 13, AAD & Lou-Anne Bidal); Baccaro Pt., Shel (60 on July 13,

AAD); and Pubnico Hbr., W. Pubnico, Yar (50 on July 13, AAD).

LESSER YELLOWLEGS was reported from only ten counties on the mainland and two counties on CBI. However,

migration appeared stronger in July when there were three reports of numbers that exceeded all of the reported numbers of

Greater Yellowlegs for that month: APBS (40 on July 11, Keith Lowe); Rose Bay, Lun (38 on July 29, KEL); and Big

Merigomish I., Pict (36 on July 29, KJM). The maximum numbers in August will probably not exceed 50 birds.

A single WHIMBREL was seen June 28 on Cape Sable, Shel, by Alix D’Entremont and Keith Lowe. The next reports were

of single birds July 6 at Martinique Bch. PP, HRM (Keith Lowe) and July 7 Hemeons Head, Shel (AVM), and a nice flock of

seven birds July 7 at The Hawk, CSI (LNE). Overall, Whimbrels were seen at 15 different locations in Pictou, HRM,

Lunenburg, Shelburne and Digby. The only double-digit numbers were noted July 23-24 at Taylors Head PP, HRM (10-13

birds, Chase Moser) and July 12 at Prospect, HRM (16 birds, Mira Furgoch). A total of 70 Whimbrel was seen during this

period. The first HUDSONIAN GODWIT of the season was found July 7 at Cow Bay, HRM (DOU and Mira Furgoch). The

only additional birds were one on July 9 and two on July 28-29 on Big Merigomish I., Pict (both ALD) and four at

Breakwater, Shel, July 18 (AVM).

The first RUDDY TURNSTONES of this season were found at three locations on July 23: Kingsburg Bch., Lun (1 bird,

ELM); Taylors Head PP, HRM (9 birds, Chase Moser); and The Hawk, CSI (1 bird, STV). During the balance of the month

there were reports of 1-14 birds from ten additional locations in Victoria, Pictou, Kings, HRM, Lunenburg, Shelburne and

Yarmouth, totalling 66 birds during that period. RED KNOT was seen at two locations in July. On July 26 there were two,

and July 29 one at Rose Bay, Lun (KEL), and two and one respectively on July 27 and 29 at Big Merigomish I., Pict (KJM).

The first SANDERLING was found on July 18 at Big Merigomish I., Pict (KJM). The only additional locations with July

reports were: Martinique Bch. PP, HRM; East Point at Grand Pré, Kings; and Cherry Hill Bch. and Crescent Bch., Lun. Only

30 Sanderlings were seen during July with the highest count ten at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun (SJF).

A probable late-migrant SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen June 8 at Pinkneys Pt., Yar, by Laurel Marie Amirault.

The first southbound sightings of the season were: July 10 at East Point, Grand Pré, Kings (15 birds, SYP); July 11 at Horton

Landing, Kings (1 bird, RIW); and Rose Bay, Lun (3 birds, KEL). Observed numbers increased steadily for the rest of the

month, with reports from nine counties on the mainland plus Victoria on CBI. All of the higher estimates came from

locations between Evangeline Bch. and Hortonville, Kings, where between 1000 and 11,000 birds were recorded on six days,

July 23-29. Estimates in August peaked at 30,000-50,000, so these late-July numbers are reasonable. LEAST SANDPIPER

starts migration a bit earlier and the first sighting this year was at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun, where two birds were seen June 29

by Sylvia Fullerton. The next observations followed quickly: July 1 at Cape Sable, Shel (1 bird, AAD) and July 2 at Hartlen

Pt. HRM (1 bird, Keith Lowe). By July 6 reports were widespread and the species was seen in ten counties on the mainland

during July, but there were no reports from CBI. The highest number seen at one location was 76 birds at Cherry Hill Bch.,

Lun, July 13 (KEL & JAH). There were two reports of early-migrating WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Wayne Neily found

one on July 15 at Rainbow Haven PP, HRM, and Sylvia Fullerton found seven on July 19 at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun. There

have been a few July reports in most recent years. More unusual was a July 10 BAIRD’S SANDPIPER at East Point, Grand

Pré, Kings seen by Sydney Penner; also noteworthy was one July 25 from the Lawrencetown Bch. Tr., HRM seen by Kate

Steele. There have been early July reports in some years, and the earliest “fall” report is June 29. Two early PECTORAL

SANDPIPERS were found by Avery Nagy-MacArthur July 20 at Hemeons Head, Shel. A total of five STILT SANDPIPERS

was seen during July. These were seen July 12 at Overton, Yar (JOK); July 13-14 at Three Fathom Hbr., HRM (CHP, KST,

SEM); July 24 at Annapolis Royal (Marc Chelemer); and July 26 at Big Merigomish I., Pict (2 birds, ALD).

Two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were reported at Tidnish Marsh, Cumb on June 9 by Donald Gorham. These birds

would be very late northbound or failed migrants. The first southbound migrants of the season were 20 noted June 28 at Cape

Sable, Shel (AAD & Keith Lowe) and 15 on June 30 at Three Fathom Hbr., HRM (SEM). In the first ten days of July there

were numerous reports for this species from Annapolis, Digby, HRM, Lunenburg, Pictou, Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth.

Later reports were also received from Colchester, Cumberland and Kings. Seven different locations in HRM, three locations

in Shelburne, and one each in Lunenburg, Queens, and Yarmouth produced estimates of 100 or more birds in July. The two

highest estimates were of 1500 at The Hawk, CSI, July 23 (STV) and 1000 at Rainbow Haven PP, HRM, July 24 (Keith

Lowe).


This small group of SEMIPALMATED

SANDPIPERS, July 14 near East Pt., N.

Grand Pré, Kings, is a mere handful of the

hordes in the area during summer. They nicely

demonstrate the toe-webbing from which the

species gets its name. [Photo: Rick Whitman]

WILSON’S SNIPE was reported from 16 different locations in CBRM, Victoria, Inverness, Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou,

Guysborough, HRM, Kings, Lunenburg, Digby and Shelburne. Every record was of one-to-two birds with the exception of

five birds found June 2 at the Brookfield Wetlands, Col (ROH) and 6 and 33 birds July 19 and 27 at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun

(SJF). AMERICAN WOODCOCK was reported from only eight locations in Inverness, Antigonish, Guysborough, HRM,

Lunenburg, Kings and Yarmouth. Most reports were of single birds.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen five times during this period in Digby, HRM, Shelburne and Yarmouth. The only

large counts were from two whale-watching trips out of Brier I., July 20 (200 birds, Keith Lowe) and July 26 (1000 birds,

AAD). RED PHALAROPE was seen on three whale watching trips out of both Brier I. and Tiverton, Digby, July 20-26 (10

birds estimated by Keith Lowe, 1000 by Marc Chelemer, 10,000 by Alix D’Entremont). Alix D’Entremont and friends must

have had a wonderful trip on July 26.

This image of three RED and three RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, July 16 off Brier

I., nicely captures their distinguishing field marks [Photo: Ron d’Entremont]


Gulls through Alcids

By Eric Mills

The birding highlight of the summer period was produced by Hurricane Arthur which originated as a low-pressure cell over

the southeastern USA and entered the North Atlantic on June 28. It then began to intensify north of the Bahamas and reversed

direction, tracking offshore of the s.e. USA and making landfall in North Carolina south of Cape Lookout on July 3 as a

Category 2 hurricane with wind velocities of 160 kph. It then moved out to sea again, weakening south of Cape Cod to extra-

tropical cyclone strength (average winds less than 119 kph), and early July 5 made landfall almost exactly at Meteghan,

Digby, before crossing the Bay of Fundy and south-central New Brunswick the same day with peak gusts up to 130 kph (see

illustration of its path below).

Damage on land in Nova Scotia was significant, including widespread and long-lasting power outages, and parts of New

Brunswick were even harder hit. The only bright side was the bird fallout that resulted, mainly in s.w. Nova Scotia, where

there were probably more birders out to look for storm-strays than after any previous tropical storm. (See

for the flavor of the event from viewing

points at the extreme s.w. of the province). As tabulated in the following pages, the results of the fallout were outstanding

beginning July 5, 2014 when Arthur made landfall in western Nova Scotia.

The track of Hurricane Arthur from ca. June 28

to July 7. The landfall in NS was at Meteghan,

Digby, where the change of symbols indicates

weakening of the storm to a post-tropical

depression. The only landfall before NS was at

Shackleford Banks, just south of Cape Lookout,

North Carolina. Circles represent the storm as a

hurricane, triangles as a post-tropical storm.

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Tabulation of the seabirds of Post-tropical Storm Arthur, beginning July 5, 2014 when it made

landfall in western Nova Scotia. Figures in italics beside the totals for each species are the

number of individuals reported during an earlier storm, Hurricane Earl in early September 2010.

WILSON’S STORM-PETREL – 7 (Earl: 32+)

July 5 nr. The Hawk, CSI 3 David Bell

July 5 Eastern Passage, HRM 1 DGA

July 5 Cow Bay, HRM 3 DGA

LEACH’S STORM-PETREL – 8 (Earl: 500+)

July 5 nr. The Hawk, CSI 8 David Bell

LAUGHING GULL – 900+ (Earl: ca. 3000)

More than 900 individuals reported, nearly all between s.w. Digby and the Halifax area, probably representing

several thousand carried to NS by Arthur. Numbers peaked about July 8, were noted as “decreasing” by July 11,

and as “few remaining in the southwest” on July 19, although a few remained in Yarmouth (town) into


September and later. Peak numbers by date were: 20 at Lockeport, Shel, July 5; 45+ near The Hawk, CSI, July

5; 60+, Victoria L., Queens, July 6; 46+, Tusket/Yarmouth area, 7-8 July; 100, W. Pubnico, Yar, July 8.

BRIDLED TERN- 1 (Earl: 1)

July 5 Conrad Bch. PP, HRM 1 ad. DMW

BLACK TERN – 4 (2010 -12)

July 5 Cow Bay, HRM 2 (1 ph.) DGA, DAC

July 5 Hirtles Bch., Lun 1 imm., ph. KEL

July 5 Hemeons Hd., Shel 1 AVM

LEAST TERN – 2 (Earl: 5)

July 6 Kingsburg, Lun 1 JAH

July 7 Matthews L., Shel 1 AVM, R. Crosby

ROSEATE TERN -3 (Earl- 6)

July 5 Murrays Cove, Shel 1 David Bell

July 5-6 nr. The Hawk, CSI 2 Mike MacDonald, David Bell

COMMON TERN – 235+ (Earl: 625)

July 5 Riverport, Lun 5 ad. ELM

July 5 Kingsburg, Lun 5 KEL

July 5 Cole Hbr., HRM 4 Keith Lowe

July 5 Daniels Hd., Shel 2 Mike MacDonald

July 5 The Hawk, CSI 30 David Bell


July 5 Shag Hbr., Shel 15 David Bell

July 5 Pubnicos area, Yar 45 David Bell

July 5 Bunker I., Yarmouth 1 JOK

July 5-7 Hemeons Hd., Shel 4-8 AVM

July 6 Eastern Passage, HRM 10 Mira Furgoch

July 6 Lunenburg shores 6+ ELM

July 6 Kingsburg, Lun 10 David Bell

July 6 Rose Bay, Lun 2 KEL

July 6 Lockeport, Shel 4 David Bell

July 6 Louis Hd., Shel 8 AVM

July 6 Baccaro, Shel 15 David Bell

July 6 CSI 25+ David Bell et al.

July 6 Yarmouth Bar, Yar 6 David Bell

July 7 Conrad Bch. PP, HRM 2 DMW

July 7 Eastern Passage, HRM 10 KST, Chris Peters

July 7-8 Cow Bay, HRM 3-7 Chris Peters, Keith Lowe, m.obs.

ARCTIC TERN – 65 (Earl:16)

July 5 Kingsburg Bch., Lun 1 ad. ELM, AHM

July 5 Kingsburg Bch., Lun 2 David Bell



July 5 The Hawk, CSI 1-15 David Bell, Mike MacDonald

July 5 Shag Hbr., Shel 3 David Bell

July 5 Pubnicos area, Yar 13 David Bell

July 6 Baccaro, Shel 8 David Bell

July 6 CSI 10 David Bell


FORSTER’S TERN – 35 (Earl: 96+)


July 5 CSI 13, mainly ad. David Bell

July 5 Cripple Creek Wharf, Shel 2 AAD


July 6 Kingsburg Bch., Lun 1 KEL

July 6 Hirtles Pd., Lun 2 ad., ph. ELM, KEL, David Bell

July 6 Conrads I., Rose Bay, Lun 1 KEL

July 6 Riverport, Lun 1 ad. with Common ELM

July 6 Crows Neck Bch., Shel 4 David Bell

July 6 Bulls Hd., Shel 1 AAD

July 6 Mavilette Bch., Digby 1 CLS, CSS

July 7 Lr. Rose Bay, Lun 2 ad., 1 imm., ph. ELM, Bruce Stevens

July 8 Conrads I., Rose Bay, Lun 1 Phil Taylor

July 11 Cow Bay, HRM 2 DGA

July 12-13 Cherry Hill Bch., Lun 1 DAC, Keith Lowe, KEL

GULL-BILLED TERN – 16 (Earl: 7)

July 5-7 South Side Bch., CSI 3 David Bell, AAD

July 6 Stony I., CSI 2 Mike MacDonald

July 6-7 Hemeons Hd., Shel 2 Jane Alexander, AVM

July 6-7 Mavilette Bch., Digby 2-4 RDE, AAD, CLS, CSS, LNE

July 6-7 Salmon R., Digby 1 RDE, AAD


July 11-12 Cherry Hill Bch., Lun 2 ad. KAM et al.

SANDWICH TERN – 7 (2010 – 9)

July 5 Lr. LaHave, Lun 1 fall ad., ph. ELM

July 5 The Hawk, CSI 1 ad. David Bell

July 6 nr. Yarmouth Bar, Yar 2 CLS, CSS

July 6-7 Matthews L., Shel 1 Rob’t Turner, AVM, R. Crosby

July 8 Conrads I., Rose Bay, Lun 2 CJF, Alan Covert

CASPIAN TERN – 1 (2010 – 18)

July 5-6 Daniels Hd., CSI 1 CST, David Bell

ROYAL TERN – 38+ (Earl: 36+)

July 5 Hirtles, Kingsburg Bchs., Lun 1 ad., ph. KEL, ELM, AHM

July 5 Daniels Hd., CSI 1, ph. CST, David Bell

July 5 E. Chezzetcook, HRM 1 ad. KST, CHP

July 5 Hartlen Pt., HRM 1 DGA

July 5-10 Cow Bay, HRM 1+ DGA et al.

July 6 Big I., Pict 1 ad. KJM, STV

July 6 Hirtles Pd., Lun 1 ad. ELM

July 6 Hirtles Bch., Lun 2 David Bell

July 6 Kingsburg Bch., Lun 2 KEL, David Bell

July 6 Cow Bay, HRM 1 Bruce Stevens

July 6 Crescent Bch., Lun 1 RBS

July 6 Petite Riviere, Lun 1 ELM



July 6 The Hawk, Daniels Hd., CSI 2 David Bell, Mike Drenth, AAD

July 6 Smithsville, Shel 3 David Bell

July 6 Yarmouth Bar, Yar 3 CLS, CSS


July 6 Pembroke Bch., Yar 1 CLS, CSS

July 7 Lr. Rose Bay, Lun 2 ad., ph. ELM, BRS

July 7-10 Cow Bay, HRM 1 ad. D. Hippern et al.


July 9 Cole Hbr., HRM 1 Keith Lowe


July 12 Hirtles Pd., Lun 1 ad. ELM

July 12 Zinck Pt., Kingsburg, Lun 2 ad. ELM

BLACK SKIMMER – 75+ (Earl: 226+)

July 5 Overton, Yar 1 JOK

July 6 Seal I., Yar 12-15 Chris Mills

July 6 Yarmouth Bar, Yar 5 David Bell

July 6 Cape Fourchu, Yar 4 JOK

July 6 Bunkers I., Yarmouth 1 JOK

July 6 Overton, Yar 5-7 RDE, AAD, CLS, CSS

July 6 Salmon R., Digby 1 RDE, AAD

July 6-8 Mavilette Bch., Digby 14-22 RDE, AAD, CLS, CSS

July 7 CSI causeway, Shel 1 LNE

July 7 The Guzzle, CSI 1 Mike MacDonald, LNE

July 7 Overton, Yar 3 LNE

July 9 Surettes I., Yar 2 RDE, Sharron Marlor

July 12 Mavilette Bch., Digby 15 JAH, KEL

July 13 Cape Sable, Shel 1 AAD, Lou-Anne Bidal

July 18-19 Pinkneys Pt., Yar 12 feeding AAD et al.

July 24 Mavilette Bch., Digby 2 STV

PARASITIC JAEGER – 1 (Earl: 11)

July 5 The Hawk, CSI 1 imm. David Bell

LONG-TAILED JAEGER – 1 (2010- 2)

July 5 Hirtles Bch., Lun 1 imm., ph. KEL

These adult Laughing Gulls

were part of a group of about

60 feeding voraciously on

kelp flies on the beach at

Victoria L., near Liverpool,

July 6, 2014, the day after

Arthur. [Photo: Eric Mills]

LAUGHING GULL outnumbered all other storm strays by an order of magnitude and was no doubt under-counted, for it was

hard to find a place along the shore from at least Lunenburg to Brier I. that did not have at least a few. Yarmouth Harbour,

with nearby fast-food restaurants, proved to be a big draw for these human-adapted gulls, and a few remained in that area

through August and one beyond late September.


Apart from Laughing Gulls, Arthur gave us a wonderful display of terns, the most exciting of which was a BRIDLED TERN

found by Dottie Welch, not photographed, but with convincing details [see below]. This is only the province’s second record.

BRIDLED TERN. “On July 5 we were walking back from Conrad Beach [HRM] in midafternoon

just after tropical storm Arthur had passed by with significant wind still blowing. The tern flew

toward us and landed briefly on the rocks along the side of the road near the park gate just below

us. We had binoculars but we did not have a camera with us. . . . We could see clearly its grey

back, white breast, and black head with white stripe above eye and white collar. When it flew

across towards the rocky shore across the cove we could see the wide white edges on both sides of

the tail. . . . I looked for it again at dawn on the next few days without success.” [Dottie Welch]

Also attributable to the storm were the following terns: 2 LEAST; 16 GULL-BILLED; 1 CASPIAN; 4 BLACK; 235

COMMON; 65 ARCTIC; 35 FORSTER’S; 38 ROYAL; and 7 SANDWICH (one of the first storm-driven birds reported on

July 5 was a Sandwich Tern); and, giving them honorary tern status, at least 75 BLACK SKIMMERS.

The immature LONG-TAILED JAEGER found and photographed by Kevin Lantz on the morning of July 5 at Hirtles Bch.,

Lun, was an unexpected and interesting find.

Nearly all the Laughing Gulls and terns reported appear to have been adults, or at least beyond the juvenile stage. This

perhaps is not surprising as their arrival here was the result of such an early storm, and in marked contrast to the fallouts after

late summer and fall hurricanes in the past. The fallout from Arthur was remarkably restricted geographically, limited to the

area from just east of Halifax around the South Shore into Digby (where the shortage of observers probably accounts for the

dearth of reports from that county). Remarkably few Arthur-driven strays made it into New Brunswick, for example: a Royal

Tern at Machias Seal I. July 7; several Laughing Gulls near Grand Manan July 12; one as far as Miscou I. in north-eastern

NB July 26; plus Black Skimmers s.e. of Fredericton July 10 and at White Head I. July 11; on the Fundy shore east of St.

John July 15; and on Miscou I. July 19-24 (with thanks to Jim Wilson for this summary). Many birds left rapidly. During

limited sea-watching beginning July 5 I noted a steady south-westward movement of Laughing Gulls and (much less

abundant) Royal Terns that began immediately after the storm and lasted for about a week. Exactly two weeks after Arthur,

on July 19, Dave Currie and I did a survey of South Shore hotspots for remaining storm strays. We found nothing but a few

Laughing Gulls. Most of the displaced birds had moved rapidly south, nearly all of them within a week (see dates in table

above), as was noted first in our area after Hurricane Gladys in October 1968. (See Eric Mills, 1969. Hurricane “Gladys” and

its effect on the Maritime Provinces. Nova Scotia Bird Society Newsletter 11 (1): 6-16). Such an early tropical storm is almost

unprecedented, so direct comparisons with other hurricanes or post-tropical storms are difficult and probably not very

meaningful. Nonetheless, there are interesting things to be learned about location and timing by comparison with Nova

Scotia’s previously best-documented tropical cyclone, Hurricane Earl in early September 2010. (See track below; and for

more on the birds, see: Brinkley, 2011. Atlantic Provinces & St. Pierre et Miquelon. North American Birds 65 (1): 30-35).

Hurricane Earl from its origin off West Africa in late

August 2010 to its disappearance as a North Atlantic

depression off southern Labrador on Sept 8. Note that

it passed close to the arc of the Lesser Antilles and to

Puerto Rico and that its first direct landfall was in s.w.

Nova Scotia early on Sept 4. It was significantly more

powerful than Arthur, but its track was farther

offshore. Symbols as in the previous figure showing

the track of Arthur. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Note first the differences. Earl was a wide and powerful storm maintaining hurricane Category 1 strength (at least 120 kph)

right up to its first landfall near Western Head, Queens, about 10 am ADT Sept 4, 2010. Thus its ‘reach’ along the U.S. s.e.

coastline was likely at least as great as that of the smaller and weaker Arthur, which was closer to shore. Earl moved


northward about 140 km off Cape Hatteras, NC, whereas Arthur made landfall south of Cape Hatteras and left the coast near

it. It is difficult to ascertain the origin of some of the Earl birds not seen after Arthur, such as Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown

Pelican, Snowy Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, and Marbled Godwit; but at least some, notably the Frigatebird and Snowy Plover,

probably came from the Antilles (also possibly the Brown Pelican, a species seldom associated with hurricanes). There were

also much larger counts after Earl of Leach’s Storm-Petrels, jaegers, and even a South Polar Skua, all attributable to post-

breeding dispersal, not a factor for most seabirds in early July.

The similarity between the two storms is striking when terns and skimmers are considered, with the exception that there

appear to have been many more immature birds (mainly juveniles) among the captures by Earl in 2010, partly a result of the

later season and partly due to storm intensity. But if the numbers differ, the roster after Earl is similar and can be seen by

comparing my table and text to pp. 34-35 in Brinkley, 2011, cited above. Although many observers did not record the ages of

their birds, observations indicated that many Laughing Gulls and Black Skimmers brought by Earl were juveniles. Their

presence along the U.S. s.e. coastline in September, along with the strength of Earl, likely account for the larger numbers of

most species picked up and transported by the 2010 storm. As for the single Bridled Tern in each storm, this species has a

post-breeding pelagic range extending significantly farther north than Sooty Tern, and could have been picked up anywhere

between the Antilles and the offshore waters of southern New England.

Birds not attributed to a tropical storm may seem anti-climactic, but their significance in the great scheme of things is

probably larger than that of storm-driven strays. For example, after David Bell’s sighting of a BLACK-LEGGED

KITTIWAKE on June 15, several groups on whale and seabird cruises noted nests of this species on one of its few South

Shore strongholds, Pearl I., Lun, during the last week of June (fide BLM, JAH). The first BONAPARTE’S GULLS of

summer were five found June 7 at Big (Merigomish) I., Pict (KJM), and by June 19 there were 35 immatures in the area

(KJM et al.). Well before the massive influx with Arthur on July 5, an immature LAUGHING GULL was found on Big I.,

Pict, June 7, followed by an adult there, June 19-25 (KJM), and an adult was at Hemeons Hd., Shel, July 2 (AVM).

Thereafter, the few usual summer vagrants were submerged by a tidal wave of storm-driven birds. Five to six RING-BILLED

GULLS at Big (Merigomish) I., June 19 (KJM) could have been summering.

ICELAND GULLS lingering from the very large winter 2013-2014 population on CBI (rather than early arrivals) were: one

June 1 at Inverness, Inv; three immatures June 3 at North Sydney, CBRM (DBM); and one June 24 at Polletts Cove, Inv

(PHT). Certainly notable was a summering 3rd

-year GLAUCOUS GULL at Florence, CBRM, June 14 (DBM). LESSER

BLACK-BACKED GULL was noted twice: a 1st-summer bird June 19 at Seal I., Yar (David Bell et al.) and a 3

rd-cycle

individual July 4 at Arisaig, Ant (KJM).

Breeding BLACK TERNS were noted in the E. Amherst and Eddy Marshes, Cumb, several times between June 7 and July

29. “Dozens” of COMMON TERNS July 20 at Lr. W. Pubnico, Yar, seem to have represented the movement of adults and

juveniles away from breeding islands. ARCTIC TERN was found on colonies June 21 at Pearl I., Lun (BLM), and June 22 at

Sambro I., HRM, and 20 were seen flying west at sea north of Brier I. on June 27 (ELM).

The LONG-TAILED JAEGER (see table above) was among the rare finds courtesy of Arthur (see photo p. 27); they are

rarely seen inshore. Two SOUTH POLAR SKUAS were photographed July 11 off Brier I. (Penny Graham).

Nova Scotia could offer nothing as spectacular as the Tufted Puffin found and photographed June 17 by Ralph Eldridge on

Machias Seal I., NB, and then seen off and on for several weeks thereafter on or around the island. But there were interesting

and useful observation of our local alcids. On June 29, a few adult COMMON MURRES were reported off Brier I. (ELM)

and at their breeding areas on Green I., Yar (AAD), and Pearl I., Lun (RBS et al.). RAZORBILL, which seems to have a

successful breeding season in the area, was reported from the Bird Is., Vic, and Pearl I., Lun, between June 1 and July 20.

Alix D’Entremont found ca. 150 on each of Outer Bald I. and Green I., Yar, June 29. Richard Stern reported the unusual sight

of small groups July 30 on the water off Parkers and Delaps Coves, Anna, well inside the Bay of Fundy. BLACK

GUILLEMOT was not widely reported, but Blake Maybank estimated 250 adults and 200+ nests on Sambro I., HRM, June

22, and Alix D’Entremont found 70 on Green I., Yar, June 29 and 80+ in a colony on Peases I., Yar, July 20. Late-June

counts of adults suggested there were some 40-60 ATLANTIC PUFFIN nests on Pearl I., Lun, and a week later, Jane

Alexander estimated 20 individuals in the small colony on Ram I., off Hemeons Head, Shel. Forty breeders were on Green I.,

Yar, June 29 (AAD). June-July counts at the Bird Is., Vic, ranged from 300 to 500. At sea off Brier I., adult puffins were

frequent in June and July, but it is unknown if they were nesting birds foraging far from the colonies in Yarmouth and on

Machias Seal I., NB, or failed breeders, or non-breeders.


Below and on the next two pages is a portfolio of some outstanding images of outstanding birds delivered by Hurricane Arthur.

This rather grumpy LEAST

TERN was photographed

July 7 at Matthews Lake,

Shel. [Photo: Russel Crosby]

A GULL-BILLED TERN

put on a good show June 6 at

Mavilette Beach, Digby.

[Photo: Ron d’Entremont]


Except after hurricanes, we

don’t usually see summer-

plumaged adult FORSTER’S

TERN, like this one July 5 on

CSI. Its black-tipped bill and

pale primaries are distinctions

from our regular Arctic and

Common Terns. [Photo: Alix

D’Entremont]

This subadult SANDWICH

TERN, looking a little worse

for wear, was found July 6 at

Matthews Lake, Shel. [Photo:

Robert Turner]


BLACK SKIMMER is

elegant when skimming,

not so much when

lounging. This one was

found July 6 in the waters

behind Mavilette Beach

PP, Digby. [Photo: Alix

D’Entremont]

A series of rapid-fire photos,

a selection of which is

combined here, served

unmistakably to identify a

rare fly-by LONG-TAILED

JAEGER, July 5 at Hirtles

Bch., Lun. [Photo: Kevin

Lantz]


Pigeons through Woodpeckers

By Graham Williams

The summer season came and went without any sightings of rare pigeon or dove species, but ROCK PIGEON and

MOURNING DOVE were no less abundant than usual.

This was a good season for cuckoo sightings. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO,

rare here in summer, was reported from two locations. Hillary Dionne nicely

photographed one of these elegant birds June 28 on Big Tancook I., Lun, and

Gabrielle Beau reported hearing one calling June 26 at the Amherst Point

Marsh, Cumb. The more routine, but still uncommon, BLACK-BILLED

CUCKOO was reported from six locations, all between June 24 and July 2.

Ronnie d’Entremont found and photographed his first Nova Scotian Black-billed

Cuckoo (image at left) June 24 at Roberts I., Yar, the same day that David

Currie had one in his Dartmouth yard, and Ann Doull had yet another in her

South End Halifax yard! Were these wandering non-breeders or failed ones? A

few days later, June 30, Angus MacLean had one singing near his property in

Coldbrook, Kings. The remaining two sightings also came from Kings.

Reports of BARRED OWL and GREAT HORNED OWL were from

widespread localities this summer. Counts of ones and twos were the norm, but

several observers reported evidence of owlets and successful breeding. Diane

Cloutier-Wilbur was fortunate enough to host seven Barred Owls at once, July

27-28 in her backyard at Hammonds Plains, HRM,

Boreal Owl reports were lacking as usual, although they may still nest sparsely at remote northern locations. However,

Randy Lauff reported that NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were very successful in a few monitored nest boxes. Nests in

Upper Springfield and Alder River (both Antigonish) fledged six and three young respectively. Two additional nests in Bay

St. Lawrence, Vic, fledged six and five young. These nests were said by Randy to be his “only successful nests in three

seasons”. This was likely due to an abundance of prey this summer, as it was also noted that prey stores were large within the

nest boxes, “often with over ten items in the nest.” Hopefully this bode well for other unmonitored owl nests in natural

cavities around the province. Short-eared and Long-eared Owl reports were absent from the summer period, as they often are,

as were reports of SNOWY OWL, except for two individuals that were found dead. The first was a recently deceased

individual recovered June 12 in the Pollys Cove area, HRM, which “seemed emaciated, and so perhaps died of starvation”

(BLM). The second, reported by David Bell, was “a long dead Snowy Owl, likely a remnant from last year’s invasion” found

June 16 on Seal I.

COMMON NIGHTHAWK returned right on schedule in late May (see last issue) and sightings quickly became widespread

in June and July, with reports from every mainland county and CBRM. Counts on eBird ranged from one to seven individuals

over the season, rather few compared with decades ago. The breeding population of this species has decreased by roughly

80% here since 1970 (BBS), and we only see them in numbers as migrant flocks in late summer.

CHIMNEY SWIFTS were well monitored over the summer season at several known roost locations, and overall counts

seemed to be slightly higher than last season. The Regional High School in Middleton, Anna, boasted the highest seasonal

count of all, with 517 swifts

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