FOR THE BIRDS

May 1994

By

Helen O'Shea

Spring has arrived with the Great Blue Herons.  I saw my first at the Havenside Barachois on April 13 and Jackie Williams has observed three.  Charles Burke reported one in the same location.  Ian Harte has seen one Kildeer and I saw three beside Warren Bagnell's on Beatrice Street on April 12.  The Fox Sparrows were last seen that same week.  In mid-April Carol Corbin saw 20--30 Brown Headed Cowbirds.  By April 14 all the goldfinch are in their summer plumage.  Twelve Evening Grosbeaks arrived at my feeder April 15. 

The next day there were two Northern Flickers on the road to Catalone. They have been spotted on the road to the Fortress Administration Building and other backroads.  NORTHERN FLICKERS are 32 cm (12 inches) in length.  The brown back and conspicuous white rump, visible as the bird flies up, is the best field mark.  Flickers are our only brown-backed Woodpeckers. Females lack the red or black whisker stripe.  Overhead this species flashes considerable yellow under the wings and tail.  Close up a wide black crescent shows across the breast, and a red patch on the nape. 

On April 23 a Sharp-Shinned Hawk was waiting in a tree by the Seniors Apartments on Lorway-- probably watching the pigeons in Everett Beaver's yard.  The next day we spotted a female Northern Harrier searching the area near the Royal Battery.  On May 3 there was a male Sparrow Hawk swooping near the Visitor Centre. 

There have been large flocks of Grackles throughout the town.  The largest was approximately 100 in the trees on Lorway Street on May 2. As many as 7 Green-Winged Teals have been observed at the Fortress Barachois. There was an Icelandic Gull (April 17) by the sewer outfall on Commercial Street.  The same day we saw a Bald Eagle with a bird in his talons being chased by three Herring Gulls.  A Dovekie was swimming near the Government Wharf.

April 24 a Black Guillemot in summer plumage was swimming off the Government Wharf.  A Belted Kingfisher was spotted at the Fortress Barachois.  The first male and female Purple Finches were reported on May l. 

In mid-April Alex Storm spotted a bird on Riverdale Street near the bypass.  He drew an illustration that Susann Myers identified as a Short-Billed Dowitcher. 

Mrs. Harvey (Mona) MacLeod had a tree swallow on May 3.  There were at least 20 Robins on the Tom Meagher's front lawn on Saturday, May 7. 

Remember to give me a call if you have any sightings or questions.  The deadline for the June edition of the Seagull is June 8.  My number is 733-2873.

Helen O’Shea

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

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