FOR THE BIRDS

October 1994

By

Helen O'Shea

JUNE THROUGH EARLY OCTOBER 1994

Victor Anderson reported a pair of Ruby Throated Hummingbirds in his yard throughout the summer.  My first hummingbird arrived June 2 and departed mid-September.  Eileen Anderson spotted a Nighthawk in Greta Beaver's yard on June 14. I saw a Red Winged Blackbird and a Ruffed Grouse on June 23. 

There were a lot of Common Terns visible around the harbour this summer.  Ervin Langille called with the explanation of this phenomenon in July.  He reported a colony of approximately one thousand Common Terns off White Point.   

On July 14 David Grey rescued a nest with three fledged Juncoes.  After feeding them for a day he replaced them in the long grass near a backyard shed and they were accepted by the adult birds. 

Last year we had a Robin's nest over our back door.  This year it was the turn of Diane and Gordon MacLean.  The second batch of eggs was there on July 25.  By August 5 we saw one of these young robins in our maple tree.  It was the size of a short plump sparrow. 

Pearl Magee spotted a Three-Toed Black Woodpecker in her yard July 25.  These birds have an extensive yellow cap and are found in coniferous forests.   

Frank Stacey called to report a White-Winged Dove on July 31.  As an experienced birder he said this accidental sighting had white wings and white tail while the rest of the body was brown.  It was larger than a homing pigeon. 

On August 12 Bill and I spotted 3 Pomarine Jaegers, 9 Ruddy Turnstones and a Black-Bellied Plover at Havenside.  The Plover was joined by a friend on several occasions and Ian Harte confirmed the Black-Bellied Plover was there until mid-September. 

Two Greater Yellowlegs have ranged from Havenside to the Fortress Barachois from August 16 through October 5.  Jean Bagnell and several others have spotted them on several occasions.  We have seen from 4 to 9 Killdeer from August 22 to October 5.  Low tide is the best time to look for shore birds.  Great Blue Herons feed at this time frequently.  Charles Burke reported up to seven on Havenside on August 22. 

August 17, Bill and I spotted 40 Common Terns and 30 Bonaparte Gulls just past Lake Ainslie.  We saw 30 Great Blue Herons at low tide off the government wharf at Mabou with 10 Cormorants nearby.  There were 50 Starlings at Leitches Creek and a male Merlin at Orangedale.   

Pearl Magee saw an Eastern Peewee Flycatcher on September 1.  With the arrival of flying ants on September 3 we had a male Cowbird feasting on them in our yard and a male Hairy Woodpecker. 

Susann Myers called to report a Yellow-Breasted Chat in her yard the morning of September 8.  She was able to observe it carefully. She also had a very territorial female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird that chased warblers, siskins, sparrows and Susann when they went near the garden. 

September 10, I saw 2 Kingfishers, 2 Killdeer, 30 Cormorants, 2  Common Terns, and a Great Blue Heron at Havenside.  September 23 Sheryl Holman saw 7 Red-Tailed Hawks on the service road on the way to the Fortress at 7 a.m.  There were two of these birds in early afternoon September 27 near the Old Visitor Centre.   

Pearl Magee spotted a Golden-Crowned Kinglet on September 14.  She had several Northern Orioles first thing in the morning.  Susann Myers had one female Northern Oriole June 8 and an immature on Sept.3.  The fall migration of warblers began on August 3.  Susann reports this as beginning two weeks earlier than for the past three years.  She had frequent sightings of Myrtle, Magnolia, Black and White, Yellow, Palm Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, and American Redstarts.  She had occasional sightings of Mourning, Black-Throated, Green, Blackpoll, Canada, Tennessee, Wilson's, and the Northern Waterthrush.  As of a note from Susann on September 12 the fall migration was on-going.  She also saw a Red-Eyed Vireo, Ruby-Crowned, and Golden-Crowned Kinglets.   

Pearl Magee has confirmed many of these warbler sightings and also closely observed a Black-Throated Green Warbler, and a Young Hermit Thrush as they lay stunned after flying into her window.  She had a pair of Boreal Chickadees for two weeks.  She watched warblers devour the cranefly bodies as the insects rested on the side of her house.  They also ate the insects from her dahlias.   

On October 6, I saw 20 Killdeer at the Fortress Barachois.  

We have had a least four large flocks of Cormorants gather in the area before migrating south for the winter.  There appears to be another flock of approximately 30 gathering on the pilings near the Government Wharf.   

As a Christmas gift give your favourite birdwatcher a copy of the Peterson Field Guides Eastern Birds. You can get it at Coles. Remember to give me a call at 733-2873 if you have any sightings or stories to relate for the next edition of the Seagull.

Helen O'Shea

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

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