FOR THE BIRDS

September 1999

By

Helen O'Shea

FOR THE BIRDS September 1999

Another summer has come and gone and what a summer it has been. Welcome back to another season of For the Birds. This will be a briefer than usual submission.

There was a record brood of 8 Great Blue Heron this summer at the Havenside and Fortress Barachois. It seems to be the result of two breeding pair.

We had at least two pair of Green-winged Teal breed at the Fortress during the summer. On several occasions we watched the mothers with up to five ducklings each. At one point we saw 9 mature male Green-winged Teal paddling around in the Fortress barachois.

Doug Pearl reported a Sandhill Crane in August. It flew by his wharf while he was painting his boat. The same day he also spotted a large sea turtle in the harbour.

Sheila Fudge reported an immature Turkey Vulture near Black Rock. Terry Campbell saw an immature Osprey on the park Service Road. Brent Baker and Victor Anderson shared a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They also reported an enormous female hummingbird. Alas, I have not been lucky enough to see her.

On forays round the area of Mira, Port Morien, Wadden’s Cove and Glace Bay we saw a Great Egret, several Great Blue Heron, a dozen Black-bellied Plover, 5 dozen Semi-palmated Plover, 4 dozen Semipalmated Sandpiper, 6 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Ruddy Turnstones, 7 mature and 2 immature Bald Eagles, 5 Hudsonian Godwits, 15 Whimbrels. A pair of Canada Geese have been at Port Morien for the month of August.

Bill spotted a couple of Spruce Grouse on the Compound Road and a pair of Northern Harrier have been observed throughout the Fortress site. In the Housing Area we saw a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, a half dozen Mourning Doves and numerous Robins. Since the last week in August the female Purple Finch, Juncoes, American Robins, and a couple of Yellow-shafted Flickers have made themselves more visible. Bill saw the Hummingbird being chased by a large Dragon Fly one evening. The Hummingbirds generally ignored my two feeders this summer and were more interested in the plants. They liked the Fuschia but were particularly interested in the red Bee Balm (Monarda).

Many lawns have been destroyed by Crows in search of the Crane Flies. There have also been a conspicuous number of very hairy Woolly Bear Caterpillars within the past week.

The Sunday of the Labour Day weekend we spotted several Greater Yellowlegs, Arctic and Common Tern in North Sydney. There were numerous Ring-billed Gulls in the North Sydney area as well as the regular Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.

We saw 8 Common Loon at Mira Gut and I was able to see two Wood Duck in their eclipse phase at the Two Rivers Wildlife Park. An Osprey was continuously circling the fish ponds. This park is a great opportunity to observe birds and an enjoyable place to visit. The many Crows in the area steal the animal kibble.

Please call me with your reports about birds - 733-2873.

Helen O'Shea

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

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