FOR THE BIRDS

JUNE 2006

By

Helen O'Shea

Ø     Geraldine MacKeigan called to report a Yellow-Shafted Flicker outside Eileen Bussey’s home on Huntington Avenue on June 7.

Ø     In late May, Pearl Magee heard a Magnolia Warbler, saw 2 Tree Swallows and had a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird visit her feeder. By the first week of June she had a Catbird in her lilac bush and the next day down at the end of her driveway.  She also had a couple of Song Sparrows and four White-throated Sparrows.  She was not sure if she saw a Turkey Vulture near Mira Road.

Ø     Dorothy Magee described a bird visiting her yard to Pearl that could only be a Catbird.

Ø     Margo (Lewis ) Patrick at Catalone Gut got a fine photo of a male Indigo Bunting sitting across from an American Goldfinch on her feeder June 2.

Ø      Bill and I  have watch all the small birds—Purple Finch, Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, land on our window feeder. A Blue Jay hits with a loud thump when he lands on the feeder trying to grab a black-oiled sunflower seed.

Ø     Our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrived the last week of May although Pearl Magee’s arrived in time for the Spring Migratory Bird Count.  A male and female Yellow Rumped Warbler have been visiting the Maple Tree in front of our house for the last couple of weeks.

Ø     Margie and Donald Cameron have a fine assortment of Purple and American Goldfinch, Blue Jays and Chickadees at their feeders.  A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak also visited for one day.

Ø     Patrick O’Shea has Purple Finches nesting in his hanging flower baskets in Cornwall, Ontario, and his son Will is watching the birds land at a suction cup feeder on a window of their home.  Who says you cannot influence your children? 

Bill and I traveled for a quick visit to Ontario. It wasn’t until we were near the Quebec/Ontario border that we saw our first Great Blue Heron for the season.  By then the Turkey Vultures were numerous.  In Ontario and Quebec there were more male Red-winged Blackbirds by the side of the road than Crows in this part of Nova Scotia.  We made the obligatory stop as the rain eased off to see the Ducks Unlimited site behind the Sackville, New Brunswick, High School.  Blue and Green-winged Teal were there as well as Gadwalls, Mallards, Tree Swallows, and a Yellow Warbler in an apple tree.  Male Northern Harriers were numerous on the medians of the divided highways—often being chased by Crows.  A lone Canada Goose was on the grass of an inlet before St. Peter’s. 

The Cliff Swallows are back at the Fortress site building their mud-jug nests under the eaves.  The Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows are also nesting in the neighborhood. Life is speeding by so quickly that I have only had time to make the occasional note in my sightings diary this month.  Now that I am back to work there is little time to observe the birds or chat with others who share the hobby.  Tonight, walking out toward the bus loop, I noted a Savannah Sparrow.  We also saw Terns flying along the coast on Sunday as we entered the site via the service road. Hopefully over the past 15 or more years of this column in the Seagull more people have developed the joy of birding and share their finds with others 

May you all have a wonderful summer.  Keep the hummingbird feeders full and binoculars at the ready.  JUST DO NOT BIRD AND DRIVE YOUR CAR AT THE SAME TIME.  IF NECESSARY, PULL OVER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE TO GET A BETTER LOOK.  USUALLY THE BIRD IS AN OSPREY, OR MYSTERY HAWK THAT IS CIRCLING OVERHEAD.

Helen O’Shea

Extracted from © The Seagull, Helen O'Shea, For the Birds

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