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

Winter Season 2013-14 Volume 56, Issue 3

2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

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: contact@nsbirdsociety.ca Find us on Facebook Web: nsbirdsociety.ca

Rare Bird Alert: http://groups.yahoo.com.group.NS-RB

Cover: A CANADA WARBLER pouring

out its song May 25 along the Shearwater

Flyer Tr., HRM, celebrates a national

name bearer and captures the delights of

birding in spring. [Photo Lou-Anne Bidal]

ISSN 0383-9537

Bird Society News – President’s Message 4

Spring Bird Reports 5

Waterfowl 6

Galliformes 10

Loons, Grebes 11

Tubenoses through Cormorants 12

Herons 12

Diurnal Raptors 15

Rallids and Crane 19

Shorebirds 20

Gulls through Alcids 22

Pigeons through Woodpeckers 24

Flycatchers through Thrushes 26

Mimic-Thrushes through Wood Warblers 30

Sparrows and Cardinalids 34

Icterids to House Sparrow 40

List of Contributors 39

Field Trip Report 40

Other Reports 44

Unusual Behavior of Loons 45

Possible Common Snipe in Nova Scotia 47

Erratum 50

Birds in Our Past 50

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 3

Production Editor

Ian McLaren

Address below

Records Editor

Lance Laviolette

Address below

Copy Editor

Maxine Quinton

Events Editor

Kate Steele

Seasonal Bird Reports

James Churchill

Nic Fieldsend

Ross Hall

Ulli Hoeger

Ken McKenna

Eric Mills

Richard Stern

Rick Whitman

Graham Williams

Banner Artist & Line Art

Trevor Herriot

Bird Reports to:

Lance Laviolette

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

Lance.laviolette@Imco.com

Photo submissions to:

Ian McLaren

Address below

Other Items for publication to:

Ian McLaren

1755 Cambridge St

Halifax, B3H 4A8

iamclar@dal.ca

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 Production Editor

The end of winter is enjoyed by almost everyone, but spring

is doubly pleasurable for birders. It has been especially

delightful to monitor the observations and photos of birds

on the Society’s Facebook group. Birds that may be

commonplace to experienced birders are being seen with

fresh eyes. They help us recall our first woodcock trilling in

the twilight sky, or our first dazzling overhead view of a

Blackburnian Warbler in a dark spruce. Of course even the

long-time birders among us still delight in the beauty of

birds; we need our spring-warbler ‘fix’, and our cover photo

celebrates that feeling.

Spring is not generally the liveliest season for the ‘twitcher’

in hot pursuit of provincial rarities, and indeed with one

important exception, there were no truly outlandish finds

this year. The exception was the Nova Scotia’s and

Canada’s first fully confirmed BERMUDA PETREL,

found and photographed by US cetacean and seabird

surveyors within Canadian offshore limits. That very rare

species will remain out of reach of birders, unless they can

charter a sufficiently large vessel to take them far out to the

right place at the right time. However, there were some real

rarities, e.g. SAY’S PHOBE, along with ‘routine’ vagrants,

like the usual ‘reds’ and ‘blues” at feeders and an almost

complete array of overshooting ‘southern’ herons, egrets

and Glossy Ibis These gave pleasure to many, including our

Facebook members.

In this issue we have abandoned what may have seemed

traditional – our tabulations of many reports of birds seen

during the season. In fact, these tabulations were only

introduced a decade ago by then Editor Blake Maybank,

who correctly decided that there was no other archive of our

everyday sightings for long-term monitoring of seasonal

patterns and trends. Our Christmas Bird Counts and

Breeding Bird Surveys have long served that purpose, but

only for restricted seasons. Then along came eBird, to

which most of our active birders now send their birding trip

lists and even backyard sightings. Thus eBird, for which

strong international support promises some permanency, has

become the major source of data for our seasonal

summaries. It is also much more readily useable than our

published lists for probing long-term changes with methods

developed for analysis of ‘big data’. We have heard over the

years from many members that they do not read the tables,

but only our written accounts to get interpretations of the

season and relive their own experiences. So, with this issue

we have reverted to the somewhat longer written accounts

of our collective sightings. In these, we will continue to

record the timings of seasonal arrivals and departures, fully

document rarities, and search for meanings in the numbers

and distributions of the birds we collectively find. Let us

know what you think.

Volume 56, Issue 2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 4

Message from the President, David A. Currie

It is with a deep sense of sadness that my message this issue begins with a farewell. With the passing of Barbara Hinds and

Margaret Clark, we lose two devoted long-time members of the Nova Scotia Bird Society. Like many of you, I had the great

pleasure of knowing Barbara and Margaret, and over the years I was honoured to work with them on society matters. Both

women were members of the Executive; Barbara sat on numerous committees and Margaret served as President, Past

President, and was a long time field trip leader. Their contributions will always be remembered as will their passion for birds

and birding. These splendid personalities will be missed.

Our society to which Barbara and Margaret were so dedicated, is flourishing. Several members have recently spoken to me

about the growing public awareness of Nova Scotia birding and its increasing appeal. Whether it's about a rare bird, or an

educational or conservational issue the society is involved in, television, radio, newspapers and magazines are spreading the

word. Much media attention was generated by the startling occurrences in the province of mega-rarities like Ross's Goose,

Burrowing Owl, Crested Caracara and Tundra Bean-Goose. Coverage of these vagrants put many people on the lookout for

stories about rarities blown into the province by this year's early post-tropical storm Arthur. The NS Bird Society will keep

our media contacts up to speed on matters of birding interest; if anyone is sponsoring or working on bird-related projects in

the province, let us know.

Our volunteers are always busy sharing knowledge and giving support. Each year we set up a weekend booth at the Atlantic

Outdoor Sport and R.V. Show, and this year we shared a booth with the Young Naturalists Club for the Scotiabank Blue Nose

Marathon at the Active Living Expo in the World Trade and Convention Centre. We joined with the Nova Scotia Nature

Trust as it celebrated the acquisition of the 100 Islands Preserve on the Eastern Shore, and we helped with the bird portion of

the Annapolis Valley First Nations' BioBlitz near Cambridge. All these events were successful in so many ways.

Chimney Swifts are in a long-term steep decline and are considered "Near-Threatened" by the International Union for

Conservation of Nature (IUCN). One of our more pressing projects this year was to establish a better understanding of the

fate of Nova Scotia Chimney Swift roosting sites. In partnership with Blomidon Field Naturalists, Bird Studies Canada, and

JustUs Coffee we created the second annual A Swift Night Out in Wolfville. A Swift Night Out is part of a North American-

wide effort to increase awareness and interest in Chimney and Vaux's Swifts. Our "Night Out" was very successful and a

second one followed in New Glasgow at the Temperance Street School, spearheaded by the Pictou County Naturalist Club.

The Temperance Street School has a very large population of roosting swifts, but its future and the safety of the swifts is

uncertain; the school has been closed, and the building is for sale. So far, public officials have shown little interest in helping

to preserve these endangered birds. We hope to change that. On a brighter note, the established swift roost in the new Truro

Library (formerly the Normal College) appears to have been saved. The contractor and town council acting on input from

concerned citizens, Bird Studies Canada, and NSBS members, and guided by the expertise of Jeff Ogden, Helene Van

Doninck and Andrew Hebda, have found a way to do the renovations necessary to protect the endangered species there. This

is a momentous victory and everyone involved should be commended.

Sharing the cost with The NSBS Sanctuary Trust, this year our society helped the Ecology Action Centre continue the work of

educating the public about the enormous benefits to birds and other animals (as well as to the cats themselves) of keeping

cats indoors. A Bird Committee has been established that meets monthly at the Ecology Action Centre in an effort slowly but

surely to move public opinion away from the accepted practice of allowing cats to roam free.

And finally, it is truly satisfying to report that our membership continues to grow and that our NSBS Facebook group is off

the charts with over 3300 members.

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 5

Important Agenda Item for the Society’s Upcoming AGM

In order to comply with recent changes to the Canadian Income Tax Act, our “Memorandum of Association” needs a further

amendment to its present wording: it now requires a reference to a specific subsection of the Act. This change requires a

“special resolution” to be passed by the membership at the next Special/Annual General Meeting.

NOTE: The following are frequently used abbreviations and acronyms to save space. In addition, months and most county

names are abbreviated (except when stand-alone in the text), and the latter are always in italics to distinguish them from

towns with the same names. Some well-known cities and towns, even some small ones, are spelled out in full, without their

counties or municipalities. Cardinal and ordinal directions may be abbreviated (as w., n.e., etc.) and capitalized when part of

a place name.

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

CBC = Christmas Bird Count

DU = Ducks Unlimited wetland

f. = female

fide = on the authority of

Hbr. = Harbour

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

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

Pk. = Park

Pen. = Peninsula

ph. = photographed

PP = Provincial Park

Pt. = Point (not Port)

pr. = pair (not simply two birds)

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

Rd. = Road

rept. = report (pl. repts.)

Sanct. = Sanctuary

spec. = specimen

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

Tr. = 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) I., 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 Is., Yar

Uniacke PP = Uniacke Estate Museum Park, Hants

Volume 56, Issue 2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 6

Waterfowl

By Ross Hall

A single SNOW GOOSE photographed near Truro Mar 23 by Kate Messer (see photo below) appeared to be a “Lesser”. Two

more were observed nearby May 2 (JBO). Interestingly, a single Snow Goose was found May 6 at Quaco Head in New

Brunswick. Was it one of ours, with its bearings corrected, heading to join the tens of thousands of Snow Geese staging at

such locations as Cap-Saint-Ignace on the Saint Lawrence River?

This wandering SNOW GOOSE, its short

neck and bill suggesting the more western

“Lesser” subspecies, was nicely captured in

flight Mar 23 near Truro. [Photo Kate

Messer]

BRANT were on the move Mar 14-17, when groups of 4-17 were seen in five HRM locations by Keith Lowe and Paolo

Matteuci. Keith obtained an interesting photograph (below) of two Brants at Rainbow Haven PP, HRM, each with single

aluminum bands on both right and left legs. Paolo Matteuci counted groups of 55 and 106 at Brier I., Apr 6; Alix

D’Entremont found 43 at Abbotts Hbr., Yar, Apr 13; and a few more were found elsewhere. But as usual, the largest numbers

were seen around CSI, where John Nickerson observed a fly-out Mar 30 of ca. 6500 Brant. For readers unaware, Brant fly

offshore at night and return to shallow coastal areas in daylight to feed. The latest reported were two on Brier I., May 18

(PMC).

These Brants (mates?) Mar 16 at Rainbow Haven PP each has a band on both right and left legs. The bands on the bird at left are easy to see, but they're not clear on the bizarrely ruffled one at right. [Photo Keith Lowe]

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 7

Several large flocks of CANADA GOOSE in coastal HRM in March and early April had probably wintered locally, but

others seen elsewhere were probably passing through. For example, an estimated 2000 were at Canning, Kings, Mar 27; 1000

were at North River, Col, Mar 28 (ROH); and there were flocks of 2200 and 400 at Onslow, Col, Apr 4 (JOK). At Aboiteau,

near Canning, Kings, Judy Tufts observed 600-700 arriving Apr 10 “...about an hour after high tide as river edges became

exposed . . . beginning to feed or just rest.” Eric Mills commented on flocks of 200-400 seen Apr 6 at Windsor, saying, “Most

were big, pale-breasted Branta canadensis canadensis. Six to ten slightly smaller, very dark-breasted birds were B.c. interior.

The latter is a more northerly breeder and has extended its range to Greenland.” After the passage of large migrating flocks,

resident breeding Canada Geese quickly dispersed to nesting territories; John Ogletree reported six chicks hatched May 16 at

Annapolis Royal Marsh.

No WOOD DUCK were seen in March, but migrants made a timely return beginning Apr 4 with a male and female at Miners

Marsh, Kentville (JLC). Thereafter, they were observed throughout Nova Scotia. Over 130 individuals at about 50 locations,

included an impressive 20 (almost all males) May 24-25 on a settling pond at the Jeremy’s Bay Campground in Keji NP

(DAC). As documented in the last issue of Nova Scotia Birds, a few GADWALL overwintered in Nova Scotia at locations

such as Sullivans Pond, Dartmouth, and the NSPC outflow at Trenton. Plausible first migrants appeared Apr 4: one at Pt.

Edward, CBRM (DBM), and four at Waterford, Digby Neck (PAO). These were followed Apr 7 by five at the Belleisle

Marsh, Anna (PAO), and three on North River, Col (ROH). Thereafter, they were widely reported, with counts of 20 at

APBS, Apr 23 (B. Haley), and 30 on Apr 27 at Belleisle Marsh, Anna (DAC). It is excellent that the Amherst area was visited

this spring by several birders, including an NSBS field-trip group May 3. With the Cumberland reports combined with the

many CBRM reports from Dave McCorquodale, the seasonal distribution of waterfowl throughout Nova Scotia is better

presented. There were about 25 eBird reports for March and April of up to four EURASIAN WIGEON in HRM, primarily at

Sullivans Pond, Dartmouth. One male was also seen Apr 7 at North River, Col (ROH). Many AMERICAN WIGEON

overwinter in Nova Scotia and move as weather warms to suitable breeding marshes and ponds where we hear the distinctive

male courting call. Many American Wigeons overwintered near Truro and are common nesters in Colchester (although four

Apr 4 at North River [ROH] might have included migrants). Their numbers diminished in HRM as spring progressed, and it

is perhaps a fair speculation that some HRM birds moved in May to the Amherst area marshes.

This slightly odd drake

GADWALL found Mar 5 at

Lunenburg, has a ring around

its neck that may reflect a

genetic trace from some other

duck species, but it’s hard to

think of which one; its plumage

is otherwise ordinary enough.

[Photo Kevin Lantz]

AMERICAN BLACK DUCK is another waterfowl species that overwinters abundantly in coastal Nova Scotia as well as the

northeast US coast. This spring there were large counts (150 or more) during March: 300 around Grand Pré, Kings, Mar 1;

280 at North Sydney, Mar 2 (DBM); 180 around Glace Bay, Mar 9 (DBM); 200 around New Glasgow, Mar 15 (KJM); and

200 around Gold River, Lun, Mar 3-6 (Brenda Hiltz). In April, the only such large counts were 150 and 165 around Horton

Landing to East Pt., Kings, Apr 4 and 6 (RIW), and 263 at Lyons Brk., Apr 14 (KJM). In May, the largest count was 42 at

North Sydney, May 4 (DBM). With spring, breeding Black Duck pairs disperse very early to many inland nesting habitats. In

March it is common to see drakes in courtship flights to impress females, and battling with other drakes for territory. Once, as

a recent biology graduate doing waterfowl spring migration surveys with the CWS, I was told that in March any paired Black

Ducks sitting separately from large flocks along a coast were likely to nest locally, while the flocks were on temporary

migration stops. MALLARD, described by Tufts in the 1961 edition of his book Birds of Nova Scotia, p. 70, as “formerly a

rare autumn visitor” and now “occasional in winter”, is numerous throughout the province. Large counts of 120 in North

Volume 56, Issue 2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 8

Sydney, Mar 3 (DBM), and 400 around North River, Col, Mar 28 (ROH), matched the largest flocks of American Black

Duck. Dave McCorquodale noted the many Mallard x American Black Duck hybirds seen in North Sydney parks where

people feed ducks. According to Ducks Unlimited, the clearing of forests that once separated Mallards from Black Ducks

provides more interaction between the two species during the nonbreeding season. Since this is the time when waterfowl

form pair bonds for the upcoming breeding season, opportunities for hybridization increase.

There were no March reports of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, but on April 11 Peggy Scanlan saw four in Waterside PP, Pict, and

in May they were seen in good numbers on the fertile wetlands near Amherst and on the Belleisle Marsh, Anna. This teal

seemed oddly rare in the southern parts of Nova Scotia. Single birds were seen on CSI April 21 (CHP, KST) and May 2

(David Fraser). Two seen by Alix D'Entremont (thought to be a pair) were seen on Roberts Island, Yar, April 28 and May 2.

NORTHERN SHOVELER is another species with few overwintering birds (none reported last issue after Jan 1) whose

numbers are augmented with an influx of spring migrants. One appearing at the Frog Pond, Halifax, Mar 28 (Keith Lowe)

and a “pair” at the Trenton NSPC outflow Apr 4 (CHK, KJM), were most certainly arrivals from elsewhere. Numbers

swelled through April, and by Apr 27 up to 20 were at the Belleisle Marsh, Anna (DAC). The next day there were ten at

River Hebert, Cumb (KFS). Through May there were several reports of two to six Northern Shovelers on Amherst area

marshes. There were about 22 eBird reports of 50+ NORTHERN PINTAIL through the spring. Seven, found Mar 15 in New

Glasgow (KJM) where none had overwintered, may have been early arrivals, as certainly were another seven at Big I., Pict

(KJM). Through April and May about 30 were noted as singles or pairs from Annapolis to CBRM. There were March eBird

reports of GREEN-WINGED TEAL from where they had wintered: about ten at six locations in HRM, including up to four at

the Trenton NSPC outflow; seven at the latter locality Apr 4 suggest new arrivals. Migrating flocks of 40-80 Green-winged

Teal were recorded by Ken McKenna throughout April in Pictou, and an impressive 25 were also seen Apr 19 at Little Dyke

DU Marsh, Col (ROH). That flock included three COMMON TEAL, a European vagrant now listed by the AOU as the

same species as our Green-winged Teal, but still considered separate by European authorities. A single Common Teal was

photographed by Guylaine McGuire Mar 21 at Lawrencetown Bch., HRM. Ken McKenna also saw singles Apr 12 at Lyons

Brook, Pict; Apr 13 at North River, Col; and Apr 29 at Big Merigomish I., Pict.

These are images of one of the season’s three COMMON TEAL (Eurasian Green-winged

Teal). They nicely show the diagnostic white border of its scapulars (largely hidden in flight)

instead of the vertical white stripe seen on the breast of the Green-winged Teal (American).

The leading border of the speculum also shows little or no buff, unlike its American cousin.

The distinct white borders of its green face patch also are diagnostic. [Photos Guylaine

McGuire]

Small numbers of RING-NECKED DUCK were seen in March, including two Mar 9 (“first of spring”, DBM) at Albert

Bridge, CBRM, likely from the region. Keith Lowe and Paolo Matteuci observed six Ring-necked Ducks at Little Indian

Lake, HRM on Mar 21, but there were up to 40 in HRM in early February (see last issue). Thirty at Fall River, HRM, Apr 2

(Peter Brannon) might have included arrivals, and there were several reports beginning Apr 7 and through the month, of

flocks of 25 to 80 in Annapolis, Hants, Colchester, Cumberland and Pictou. An estimated 50 were in APBS May 3 (NSBS

field trip group), but most of these were scattered in breeding locations. Thereafter they were reported in smaller numbers in

most mainland counties and CBRM. Overwintered male TUFTED DUCKS were in spanking breeding plumage at least to

Mar 9 at Glace Bay (DBM) and Mar 14 on the Northwest Arm, Halifax (Josh Barss Donham, ph.), and a (different?) male

was apparently on the move Mar 12 at Conrad Bch., HRM (Peter Brannon, ph.). There were 200+ eBird entries of

GREATER SCAUP. Some of the higher counts were: 120 on Mar 2, and 245 on Mar 8 on e. Bras d’Or Lake, CBRM; 460 on

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 9

Mar 9 at Albert Bridge, CBRM; 185 on Apr 5 at North Sydney (all CBI reports by DBM); 60-110 at PPP, Halifax (var.obs.);

1700 on Mar 9, and 580 on Apr 9, at the Pictou Causeway (KJM); and flocks of 100-200 in March and April in Lunenburg at

such locations as Black Harbour, Lilydale and Corkums Island (var. obs.). There were 50+ ebird reports of LESSER

SCAUP. Flock sizes were much smaller, with a range of one-to-nine birds. Most records were from Pictou, HRM, and

CBRM. More widespread reports included one or two birds Mar 18 at Dennis Point Wharf, Yar; Mar 29 at Baccaro, Shel; Apr

7 at North River, Col; Apr 20 at Lilydale, Lun; and May 15 at Amherst (var. obs.).

COMMON EIDER was well reported with 500+ eBird entries of almost 9000 birds. Large counts (100+) in March included

275 and 230, Mar 8 and 15 respectively at Point Aconi, CBRM (DBM); and 138 off Baccaro Pen., Shel, Mar 29 (JAH). There

were more widespread counts of 100+ during April, including 230 around Petite Passage, Digby, Apr 5 (PAO); 140 in

Pubnico Hbr., Apr 11 (AAD); 110 around Pt. Michaud, Rich, Apr 20 (DBM); 100 around CSI, Apr 26 (CHP, KST); and 100-

150 at sites around Halifax Hbr. through the month (var. obs.). Does this represent some migratory movement through the

province? As might be expected, such large counts were submitted only up to early May: 104 off Sober I., HRM (Keith

Lowe); 200 around CSI on Mar 3 (AAD); and 250 at Pt. Aconi, CBRM, May 4 (DBM). There were 11 eBird reports of

HARLEQUIN DUCK for March and April, with numbers totalling 64. These were at CSI, Baccaro, and Hemeons Head in

Shel; Port George, Anna; and Prospect, Terence Bay, Duncans Cove and Sober I. in HRM. Frank Gummett made the highest

count of 12 at Prospect, Mar 9. There were about 100 non-replicated eBird reports of each of the three scoter species through

spring. Much the largest count of SURF SCOTER was made by Ken McKenna of 320 on May 4 at Big Merigomish I., Pict,

and he found 117 still there on May 24. The largest count elsewhere came from Adam Timpf, who counted 30 Surf Scoters at

West Advocate, Cumb, May 17. Numbers dwindled thereafter to five or fewer by late May. The eBird reports of WHITE-

WINGED SCOTER totaled 582 individuals. Largest counts were 75 off Grand Pré on Mar 1 (PHT); 43 at Florence, CBRM,

Mar 8 (DBM); and 53 at Baccaro, Shel, Mar 29 (JAH). In all, slightly more than 2000 BLACK SCOTER were reported on

eBird. The high counts of Black Scoter in February off PPP, Halifax, continued into spring, with an estimated 200 on Mar 4

(BLM), and 105 on Apr 18 (Keith Lowe). Other high counts of Black Scoter were 75 at Baccaro, Shel, Mar 29 (KEL); 75 off

Point Aconi, CBRM, Apr 12 (DBM); and 52 at Big Merigomish I., Pict, Apr 15 (KJM).

These HARLEQUIN DUCKS

provided a striking image as they

flushed from the surf off seaweed

covered rocks, Apr 21 at Peggys

Cove, HRM. [Photo Blake

Maybank]

There were 154 non-replicated eBird entries totalling almost 1500 LONG-TAILED DUCKS. Interestingly, there were only

nine reports of 110 in May; all of them, except for a pair May 3 off CSI (AAD), were in Pictou, Richmond, and CBRM. The

latest were seven off Big Merigomish I., May 24 (KJM). These records reflect their haste compared with the scoters for

movement towards their more northerly nesting areas. BUFFLEHEAD was also well reported, with 172 eBird entries

totalling slightly more than 2000 individuals. Most reports were from CBRM (25); Pictou (17); HRM (48); and Lunenburg

(40). There were only 15 reports of Bufflehead in May. The largest count was May 15 on the Tower Rd. Lagoon, CBRM, by

David McCorqudale, who noted them as “the most numerous duck today” and “almost all females”. A laggard was at

Crescent Bch., Lun, May 24 (Keith Lowe), but in general the numbers reflect departure to nest in the northern parklands of

Canada using tree cavities excavated by Northern Flickers (as noted in a previous issue of Nova Scotia Birds). Like

Bufflehead, COMMON GOLDENEYE is gone early from the province, and is most widely observed in March and April.

Through spring there were about 335 non-replicated eBird entries totalling almost 3250 birds province-wide, mostly in

CBRM (56 repts., 594 birds); Pictou (84 repts., 1074 birds); HRM (158 repts., 845 birds); and Lunenburg (50 repts., 490

birds). After May 10 there were no further Nova Scotia entries for Common Goldeneye. The small wintering flocks of

Volume 56, Issue 2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 10

BARROW’S GOLDENEYE monitored in CBRM by David McCorquodale included a maximum of 14 at Westmount, Mar 8,

dwindling to three on Apr 5. A male wintering at Waterside, Pict, was seen up to Apr 5 by Ken McKenna, and was joined by

another on Mar 9. John Kearney found two Barrow’s Goldeneye Mar 1 at Barrachois Hbr., Col. Chris Pepper reported an

adult male Mar 5 at West Petpeswick, HRM, and Paolo Matteuci found another Mar 23 on the Northwest Arm, Halifax, that

was later seen and photographed by others.

All three mergansers were well observed through spring, with up to four HOODED MERGANSERS continuing from winter

up to Mar 26 around Sullivans Pond, Dartmouth (m. obs.). Small numbers into early April in Pictou and Lunenburg were

likewise probably lingering from larger numbers in winter. Two on Cranberry Bog, Yar, Apr 6 (AAD), five on Lily L., Anna,

Apr 8 (Brad Thoms), and two pairs at Miners Marsh, Kentville, Apr 9 (JLC), are good candidates as early arrivals. They were

widely observed thereafter, with 43 eBird reports of 118 birds in mainland counties from Annapolis to Antigonish, the latest

one May 23 at Twin Lakes, Anna (David Patick). There were about 181 independent eBird reports of about 1725 COMMON

MERGANSER through the season. It is difficult to discern any migration in this commonly overwintering species, including

the many in Pictou that, as speculated in the last issue, are attracted by ample fish supplies there. Nonetheless, as ice cleared

from rivers, females, along with males in their (alternate) white plumage and brilliant red bills, were often encountered on

riverside breeding habitats. More RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were reported – about 228 independent counts of some

1150 birds in March, 167 reports of 1305 in April, and 70 reports of 560 birds in May. The total of 3025 reflects its broader

distribution in our coastal waters, and the sharp drop in May perhaps indicates its departures to more northerly breeding

grounds. Many, perhaps most, Red-breasted Merganser records are from HRM. This is a reflection not only of birder density

near HRM but also an abundance of the species there. But the largest counts came from Pictou: e.g., 140 at Abercrombie, Apr

7, and 310 at Big Merigomish I., Apr 11 (KJM).

Finally, the single female RUDDY DUCK that appeared Dec 31 at the Trenton NSPC outflow overwintered successfully and

was last seen Apr 12. What “looked like a female” to Ken McKenna the next day on a gravel-pit pond in North River, Col,

presumably was not the same bird.

Galliformes

By Richard Stern

Once again, we didn't have any reports of GRAY PARTRIDGE lingering in their former regions, even at their last toehold in

the Truro area. There was a grand total of 564 independent eBird reports of slightly more than 1000 RING-NECKED

PHEASANT this season; this included every county on the mainland, but only one from CBI, Mar 8 at Pt. Edward, CBRM

(DBM). Steve Vines found 19 on his Spring Migration Count May 10 in Pictou. They are obviously widespread and doing

well. My dog has chased, but not caught, several on our property near Kentville, and I suspect the local Coyotes are after

them too.

Apparently this garish display by a male

RING-NECKED PHEASANT is used both in

courtship and intimidation, presumably the

latter directed at the photographer in this

instance. [Photo Dianne Hearn]

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 11

It was a good Spring for RUFFED GROUSE, with 185 independent eBird reports of about 300 individuals, a number of them

heard drumming. Two were a nice find on an NSBS field trip to the woods of the South Mtn., Kings Co., May 17, as were

two on another NSBS trip to Uniacke Pk. two days later. There didn't seem to be any particular trends, movements, or

unusual numbers. If you spend enough time in wooded areas year round in Nova Scotia, you will see them there. SPRUCE

GROUSE is much less frequently encountered than Ruffed Grouse, and is a "target bird" for many birders. There were 17

independent eBird reports totalling 26 individuals this spring, all except four from HRM. Among them, an unusual

achievement was a total of seven birds found during a two day camping trip, Apr 4-5 near Higginsville, HRM (CHP, KST,

TEB). Lucky Colleen Whelan Smith had one watching her feeders along Old Route 5 on Boularderie I., Vic, Mar 30.

Oddly, although Ruffed Grouse is more common than the

elusive SPRUCE GROUSE, the latter is tamer and more

readily photographed. This fine image of a red-morph

male (unbroken black tail band) was obtained Apr 9 in a

backyard near Brookfield, Col. [Photo Cliff Sandeson]

Loons and Grebes

Ross Hall

There were ten eBird reports through March and April of 14 RED-THROATED LOONS. Half were seen along the Fundy

Shore off Port George and Margaretsville, Anna, and Horton Landing, Kings. The rest were found in HRM and Lunenburg.

One off Margaretsville and two at Port George May 10 were the latest noted (WPN). COMMON LOON was well reported

with 300+ ebird reports throughout the province and spring. The first reported sighting on a lake was by Linda Giddens who

emailed that with enough ice-free water Mar 16 on Little Dyke L., Col, a Common Loon had returned to the lake. (See p. 45

for my account of unusual past behaviour of the loons summering on that lake.) PIED-BILLED GREBE made its way back

to Nova Scotia beginning Apr 11 with singles at Belleisle Marsh, Anna (BLM); Masons Bch., Lun (JAH); and one the next

day at Waterside PP, Pict (KJM). Discounting the many repeated eBird entries from the same locations, a maximum of 23

birds (with some singles possibly representing nesting pairs) were subsequently reported from Belleisle Marsh, Anna; Miners

Marsh, Kentville; and various Cumberland and Pictou marshes.

There were 56 independent eBird reports of HORNED GREBE totalling 254 indivduals, but these included numbers of

repeated observations at the same locations on different dates. Some large counts included Terry Boswell’s group of 22 off

Indian Point, HRM, Apr 13. The same day Sydney Penner saw 23 near Rose Bay, Lun; among them she described “several in

basically full breeding plumage, several in winter plumage, and most somewhere in between”. Most impressive was Keith

Lowe's estimate Apr 17 of 30, plus 30-40 at distance off Graves Island PP, Lun. Keith remarked that they appeared to be

amassing there. The latest reported was one observed May 4 at E. Passage, HRM (DAC). There were 53 independent eBird

reports of RED-NECKED GREBE totalling 81 individuals, undoubtedly including counts of the same birds on successive

dates. Although the number of reports approached those of Horned Grebe, there were no large gatherings; the largest count

was of eight on Terrence Bay, HRM, Apr 12 (BLM). The latest reported was a lingering single bird May 30 off Crystal

Crescent Bch, HRM (Keith Lowe).

12 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Here are two very different grebe species. The bird on the left is the comparatively drab but perennial favourite

PIED-BILLED GREBE, Apr 21 at Miners Marsh, Kentville; it was one of a pair monitored through spring. The

HORNED GREBES on the right, resplendent in their breeding plumage, were seen Apr 20 in Richmond prior to

their departure from the province for points north and west. [Photos: left, Keith Lowe; right, Jeannie Shermerhorn]

Tubenoses through Cormorants

By Eric Mills

This spring brought the first photographic documentation of BERMUDA PETREL in Canadian waters. On Apr 21 Michael

Force and fellow seabird observers saw and photographed an individual of this very rare and charismatic gadfly petrel. At

131 nmi south of Cape Sable, Shel, this sighting was firmly within the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone. Two days before

they had seen, but were unable to photograph, a BLACK-CAPPED PETREL near the same location. Both, according to

satellite SST (Sea Surface Temperature) imagery, were just inside the western margin of the Gulf Stream in Slope Water.

Coincidentally perhaps, during a cetacean survey 170 nmi off County Kerry, west of Ireland, a Bermuda Petrel was

photographed on May 19. These birds feed mainly on large zooplankton (shrimp, euphausiids) and small squid, especially in

warmer waters. However, of the few very scarce pelagic bird species that inhabit the western North Atlantic (including

Black-capped Petrel, Audubon’s Shearwater and Barolo Shearwater), Bermuda Petrel is the only one that moves from

warmer into cooler waters after its breeding season (January to early June), although always remaining well offshore. It may

still be, and probably was before its near extinction, a bird of the subtropical Atlantic and the North Atlantic Drift north-

eastward toward Europe.

This stunning image, here

cropped from a more distant

view, shows all the field

marks that identify Canada’s

first fully confirmed

BERMUDA PETREL. Note

the diagnostic wide dark bar

on the forewing and dark cap

and grey nape forming a

partial breast bar as salient

differences from the much

less rare Black-capped Petrel.

[Photo Michael Force]

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 13

On April 12, 2009, a bird attributed to Bermuda Petrel was seen and sketched off the edge of the continental shelf southeast

of Halifax (see Nova Scotia Birds, 2010, vol. 52, issue 2, p. 12). That record and this year’s sighting are consistent with what

is known of Bermuda Petrel’s at-sea range, which extends from the North Carolina coast to the Azores, and north-eastward

into Canadian waters and beyond. Several birds fitted with geolocators in 2009 and earlier, fit this pattern, indicating a main

foraging range that takes in the offshore waters of Nova Scotia and extends north-eastward into the central Atlantic. The

geolocator information also showed that some birds ranged into European offshore waters, a conclusion now borne out by the

confirmation of a Bermuda Petrel off Ireland.

Finding a Bermuda Petrel at sea is harder than finding a needle in a haystack. Once very numerous in its only breeding place,

the Bermuda Islands, it was considered extinct from 1620 until 1906 when a (misidentified) individual was found on

Bermuda. Thereafter, a few dead birds were found, indicating that a small breeding population still existed, a fact confirmed

in 1951. Thereafter, conservation efforts began and the population has begun to increase to just over 100 pairs (and perhaps

350 individuals in total) as of 2013. It is among the rarest of rare and threatened seabird species anywhere in the world.

The season’s first (and only reported) SOOTY SHEARWATER, usually the first of the southern pelagics to appear in our

waters, was seen from shore May 27 at Hemeons Head, Shel (David Bell, Daniel Giesbrecht).

NORTHERN GANNETS en route to their Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland breeding colonies began to move through

in early April, beginning with five off Hampton, Anna, Apr 10 (BLM). By Apr 19, about 50 migrants passed Hemeons Head,

Shel in a few minutes (ELM, AHM), and the following day Dave McCorquodale noted 140 off Pt. Michaud, Rich. Thereafter,

there were always some in coastal waters through the end of May.

Also of star-status, although not unprecedented, was an immature BROWN BOOBY that landed May 19 on a fishing boat in

St. Marys Bay, Digby, and was reported to have stayed aboard for two days. It was shown as a still photo (by Gerald Comeau

of Metegan) on the CTV late evening news on May 22 and identified from that source. Almost exactly two years before, May

20, 2012, an immature Brown Booby came aboard a fishing boat working in the Grand Manan Basin where it was

photographed (Nova Scotia Birds, 2012, vol. 54, issue 3, p. 9).

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT migrants, separate from a few that had overwintered in coastal localities, were noted

first Apr 4 at Three Fathom Hbr., HRM, (KST), then appeared in numbers (32 initially) Apr 5 at their traditional colony

beside the Pictou causeway. By April 20, there were 200, and on May 13 a full complement of 1100 at that location (KJM,

CHK, STV). Migrants were still passing Gaff Pt., Lun, May 3 (ELM, AHM), although local breeders had been seen on a

colony off Terence Bay, HRM, Apr 14 (BLM). By the middle of May, Double-crests were ubiquitous in the province. By the

end of April they had largely replaced the wintering GREAT CORMORANT except in its breeding locations such as on the

Bird Islands, Vic (probably the source of up to 20 seen near Pt. Aconi, CBRM, May 4 [DBM]), and at scattered locations

along the Eastern Shore and in South Western Nova Scotia.

Herons

By Ulli Hoeger

With the disappearing ice and snow, herons and other wading birds reappeared in Nova Scotia. An AMERICAN BITTERN

diagnostically photographed Mar 22 at Hemeons Head, Queens (Kim Robertson Walker) was well ahead of schedule, but we

should recall that one photographed at that location Feb 18 was rated as a possible abnormally early overshoot (see last issue

of NS Birds, p. 12). Otherwise the first eBird report was of one found Apr 12 at APBS (Keith Lowe, PAO), and the next day

another was heard “pumping” at L. Egmont, HRM (Angie and Toney Millard). Then, after a gap, there were 15 independent

eBird entries of 22 birds between Apr 20 and the end of May at 13 locations from Annapolis to Pictou.

No wintering GREAT BLUE HERON was reported after early February (see last issue of Nova Scotia Birds), so singles Mar

29 at both Bacarro Pen., Shel (JAH) and Big I., Pict (Robert Lange; see photo below) can be taken as first (but not very early)

arrivals. The floodgates opened soon after, with 20 at nine locations Apr 4 to Apr 6, including ten in Yarmouth Hbr., Apr 6

(AAD). By mid-April they were a common sight in suitable habitats in all parts of the province.

14 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

An early GREAT BLUE HERON in full spring

finery was still contending with winter conditions

Mar 29 on Big I., Pict. [Photo Robert Lange]

Sightings of other heron and egret species are uncommon but regular in spring, whether as individuals that overshoot their

breeding ranges or as straying non-breeders. Perhaps partly because they are white, GREAT and SNOWY EGRET are

usually the most regularly reported. This spring one of the former appeared Apr 21 at Lawrencetown Bch. PP, HRM (Keith

Lowe) and was observed in the area and photographed by many others until Apr 26. Another was noted May 14 flying over

Beausejour Marsh, Cumb (David Bell, Daniel Giesbrecht) and a third was photographed May 19 at Englishtown Ferry, Vic

(Gail Bisson). The earliest SNOWY EGRET this spring was spotted Apr 10 on Cole Hbr, HRM (separately by BRS and

PMU), and possibly the same bird was present Apr 13-26 around Lawrencetown and Conrad Bch., HRM (m. obs.). One

photographed May 6 at a marsh along the Bellefontaine Rd, HRM (CHK, KST) might have been the same wandering bird.

Another appeared Apr 11 at the head of Upper South Cove, Lun (JAH) and nearby until Apr 17 (m. obs.). The final one was

found May 4-5 at Bras d’Or near North Sydney (DBM). LITLE BLUE HERON is another regular spring vagrant. This year a

very early adult was photographed Mar 23 at Round Bay, Shel (Laurel Marie Amirault); the next was timelier, Apr 12 at

L’Ardoise, Rich (JSH, ph.). Another adult present Apr 24 at Port La Tour, Shel (AAD, ph.) was unlikely to have been the

same as the one found May 5 on CSI (JON, SAN). TRICOLORED HERON is the least common of the vagrant egrets, and

this spring there was only a single record of one found May 6 at Daniels Head, CSI (JON), where it remained until at least

May 8 (AAD, Bill Crosby). In summary, the season’s totals of vagrant Egretta species were minimally three each of Great

and Snowy Egret, four Little Blue Herons, and a single Tricolored Heron.

GREEN HERON nests in n. Maine and possibly (MBB Atlas) to w. New Brunswick, but is an uncommon vagrant here.

This season’s only report was of one flushed May 2 at Cape Forchu, Yar (JOK). Although there is a small nesting colony of

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at an undisclosed location on CSI, the only ones reported there this spring were three

on May 5 (JON, SAN).

The spring’s only reported GLOSSY IBIS were two diagnostically photographed May 19 by Bob and Judy Whitman near

Neils Harbour, Vic (fide KJM).

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 15

A TRICOLORED HERON

on CSI was admired by several

birders in early May (here May

7). [Photo Ron d’Entremont]

Diurnal Raptors

By Richard Stern

First – a plea to our readers! This is my first time editing this section of Nova Scotia Birds, and I have already realized how

much more interesting and useful it would be if certain extra information were to be provided in reports in eBird, NatureNS

etc. I will reference examples under some species covered here. I have not had a chance to include a range of observations

from the Society’s Facebook page here, but will try to do so in the future. The many photos posted there tend to disappear

quickly, although some interesting ones have been used with permission, including a couple displayed in this section.

About 40 independent eBird sightings of TURKEY VULTURE, plus a few from other sources, were reported this season,

mostly comprising one, and occasionally two or more individuals. As usual, the majority of sightings were from the western

half of the province, including HRM, but curiously, the earliest was an extralimital individual observed Mar 1 by Sue Abbott

near the n.e. edge of the CBHNP at New Haven, Vic. Again, as usual, the Bridgetown, Anna, area with nearby BelleIsle

Marsh was a reporting hot spot, with five eBird reports of at least nine birds; and numbers (unfortunately often unspecified)

were also seen by various observers on Brier I. The remaining sightings were in Pictou, Kings, Lunenburg, Shelburne.

Among these, Larry Bogan had perhaps the most interesting encounter with four soaring in the same thermals that he was

using in a glider over North Mtn., Kings. We have yet to fully confirm nesting of the species here, although there has been

circumstantial evidence (see Nova Scotia Birds, 2011, vol. 53, issue 3, pp. 33-34), and a note from Larry Neily is relevant. He

observed a group of seven in the Bridgetown area this spring, and others have noted small flocks there over the last few

years. He also quoted an email message from Frances Lourie stating: "Late last fall, I got a photo of the original 9 vultures.

So when you reported seeing 7 [this] spring; I assumed 2 had not made it through the winter. So [there are] either two new

young ones or the original 9. I have been watching them for 3 years now. The flock usually enlarges by 3 or 4 every year. As

to where they are nesting, I do not know." The same question about nesting could also apply to Brier I. and the Sandy Cove

area on Digby Neck, and to much of Yarmouth. (Note that young birds don’t acquire much red on the head until two or more

years old.)

16 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

A TURKEY VULTURE,

Mar 22 at roadside near

Bridgetown, Anna, gives us a

clear demonstration that they

aren’t fussy about what they

eat. [Photo Cliff Sandeson]

There were about 220 reports of our Provincial Bird the OSPREY to eBird, NatureNS and directly to the Society. The first

reported returns were on Apr 7: one was investigating the man-made nest platform at BelleIsle Marsh, Anna (PAO), and

another was heard, but not seen, over Corkums I., Lun (NAD). Our first few returns usually come from coastal areas, where

they are more common, and two days later one was soaring over the head of Cole Hbr., HRM (CHP, KST), and another high

over Bridgewater (JAH). There were five together over McNabs I., HRM (Keith Lowe et al.) Apr 13, and after that nearly all

the sightings were from HRM and Lunenburg. One exception was another Valley sighting, May 6 over Miners Marsh,

Kentville (WPN). There were a few sightings in Pictou beginning four days later (sev. obs.), but there were no reports from

east of that county, including CBI, and oddly, only one from Yarmouth. By Apr 18 Ian Mclaren observed on NatureNS that

in coastal HRM, "along highways 107 & 7 all the traditional Osprey nests seemed to be occupied. There was also an occupied

one on a power pole right at roadside on the heavily inhabited stretch (commercial & housing) just e. of the large garden

centre near Loon Lake . . . Hadn't seen that one before, but presumably others have." Another pair was on a nest in

Cerntrelea, Anna, throughout May (MCR), and a number of nests were mentioned and photographed in the NSBS Facebook

page. In short, our Provincial Bird seems to be doing nicely.

A few years ago who would have predicted that in Spring 2014 there would be over 500 reports of BALD EAGLE

comprising some 800 individuals, and widely spread around the province. It will be interesting to see an analysis of spread of

breeding of this species when the 2nd edition of the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas is published (distributions now mapped

on the online version). By spring most of the large overwintering concentrations in Kings and elsewhere have dispersed to

breed within the province and more distant parts. On Mar 1 in Kings, there were still 30 in the Lr. Canard area (RBS) and 15

in the Gaspereau Valley (PHT). On Mar 9 NSBS field trippers saw up to 12 in the Canning area, Kings, and 35 were noted

around Bayview, Pict (KJM). The first reports from CBI were on Mar 15 from a variety of spots (DBM), even though most

fresh water was still frozen; perhaps they were still looking for nest sites. The first birds sitting nests were noted Mar 16 at

Begg Brook, Pict (KJM), and at Dayspring, Lun (JAH). Two adults were standing on a nest Mar 18 on Pictou I. Other

traditional nests in Kings were active as usual (RBS, var. obs.). Rick Whitman saw a relatively late concentration of 16 in

Kings, Apr 27 between Horton Landing and E. Point, Grand Pré. On May 4 Ross Hall saw 15 attracted by the run of

gaspereau at Selma, Hants. Larry Bogan was soaring in a glider with one over the North Mtn., Kings, May 8. Just as

“important” was a single bird that appeared rather briefly to impress a number of young naturalists (some as young as six) on

the “International Pledge-to-Fledge” visit Apr 27 to the NSNT’s Wolfville Watershed area (see p. 42).

As usual, small numbers of NORTHERN HARRIER, usually singles, were seen in areas all over the province. A few

overwinter where food is available. These are augmented by migrants arriving to breed in fields and other open areas, but

first arrivals may be hard to discern; first reports in counties where none had been seen after December (see last issue of Nova

Scotia Birds) might qualify. These were all singles: Apr 5 at Sand Pt., Pict (JOK); Apr 6 on Brier I. (PAO), at Lawrencetown

Bch. PP, HRM, and at both Merigomish and Big Merigomish I. (KJM); and Apr 7 near Fort Lawrence, Cumb (John Klymko).

An adult male at Grand Pré, Kings, April 6-10 (RIW), may have arrived at its territory. Generally the attractive silvery-white

males arrive first to stake out territories, but unfortunately almost none of the submitted reports distinguished age or sex. (A

plea: could observers please specify?). In addition to the early adult male at Grand Pré (above), one Mar 23 at East

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 17

Lawrencetown, HRM was specified as “immature” (PMC, SEM), presumably hatched last year. Larry Bogan described a

presumed adult male seen while he was canoeing May 7on Loon L., Kings.

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK is more often seen in winter at feeders (one still visiting a Halifax backyard Mar 16; SEM) and

in fall at hawk migration hotspots such as Brier I. This season there were 32 reports from around the province, all of singles,

except for a pair May 9 at Huntington Pt., Kings, being harassed by a Crow (RSM) and an unspecified number May 16 on

Brier I. (PMC). (Another plea: could observers specify if the birds were seen at feeders?). As usual in recent years, no

Cooper’s Hawk was reported, but there were ten reports of the iconic NORTHERN GOSHAWK, all singles. I know that one

of Bernard Forsythe’s regular nests in Kings was occupied in early spring. Carmel Smith of Midville Branch, Lun, was

startled Apr 19 by a well-described adult attacking one of her bantam domestic ducks while she was only a few metres away.

A few years ago who would have predicted that in Spring 2014 there would be over 500 reports of BALD EAGLE

comprising some 800 individuals, and widely spread around the province. It will be interesting to see an analysis of spread of

breeding of this species when the 2nd edition of the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas is published (distributions now mapped

on the online version). By spring most of the large overwintering concentrations in Kings and elsewhere have dispersed to

breed within the province and more distant parts. On Mar 1 in Kings, there were still 30 in the Lr. Canard area (RBS) and 15

in the Gaspereau Valley (PHT). On Mar 9 NSBS field trippers saw up to 12 in the Canning area, Kings, and 35 were noted

around Bayview, Pict (KJM). The first reports from CBI were on Mar 15 from a variety of spots (DBM), even though most

fresh water was still frozen; perhaps they were still looking for nest sites. The first birds sitting nests were noted Mar 16 at

Begg Brook, Pict (KJM), and at Dayspring, Lun (JAH). Two adults were standing on a nest Mar 18 on Pictou I. Other

traditional nests in Kings were active as usual (RBS, var. obs.). Rick Whitman saw a relatively late concentration of 16 in

Kings, Apr 27 between Horton Landing and E. Point, Grand Pré. On May 4 Ross Hall saw 15 attracted by the run of

gaspereau at Selma, Hants. Larry Bogan was soaring in a glider with one over the North Mtn., Kings, May 8. Just as

“important” was a single bird that appeared rather briefly to impress a number of young naturalists (some as young as six) on

the “International Pledge-to-Fledge” visit Apr 27 to the NSNT Wolfville Watershed area (see p. 42).

Although BROAD-WINGED HAWK occasionally attempts to overwinter in the province, it is basically a summer resident

in large tracts of deciduous and mixed woodland. Large numbers can be seen during fall migration. The latest winter bird

reported this year was in December, so nine individuals found widely May 1-5 (sev. obs.) were surely new arrivals, and one

May 10 over Lighthouse Rd. Brier I. (ELM) was presumably still on the move. Most later reports were of one and

occasionally two individuals in appropriate breeding habitat (m. obs.). There were over 100 reports this season of RED-

TAILED HAWK, our most abundant buteo. The winter concentrations that occur, especially in the Valley, had largely

dispersed by this season, and, as expected, all the reports were of one or two birds from all over the province (m. obs.). I

found it almost impossible to travel on Highway 101 between Windsor and Kingston into early spring without seeing them at

1-2 km intervals in trees and on power poles. By early May they had largely retreated into the woods to nest, or overwintered

individuals had headed elsewhere.

Among many photos taken of a light-

morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK

that lingered at E. Lawrenctown,

HRM,into spring (here Apr 4) this one

shows it skillfully dealing with a

probable Meadow Vole. [Photo

Beverly Meilleur]

18 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK seemed relatively sparse this winter and into spring. A light-morph bird intermittently present

around the bridge at Port Williams, Kings, was still there March 14 (JWW). Another light-morph individual present around

Lawrencetown Bch, HRM, through winter, and photographed by many, was last noted Apr 30 (KST). A dark-morph bird,

Mar 19 near the Hope for Wildlife rehabilitation centre in Seaforth, HRM (KST), had not been seen there in winter, and may

have been on the move. The latest reported was a dark-morph bird May13 at Lyons Brk., Pict (KJM). There were just 13

other reports this season.

(The most exciting buteo in years, a Zone-tailed Hawk on Brier I., was seen a day after our ‘official’ spring reporting season;

watch this space in the next issue!)

There was a single tantalizing report of a possible GOLDEN EAGLE in Antigonish. Randy Lauff wrote that on Mar 22

"...on my own land, an eagle flew over. Not a big deal [as] I provide carcasses in the winter for them. It was not high, perhaps

3x treetop height. It was fairly dark, with white, but not on the head. When I clued in . . . I had about a one-two second view

before it disappeared beyond the trees. However, there was white at the base of the tail, and only one white patch near the

crook of the wings on either side . . . classic for immature Golden."

There were 37 reports of AMERICAN KESTREL this spring, from all over the province. The latest reported in winter was

one at Western Shore Lun, Jan 10 (see last issue of Nova Scotia Birds, p. 14). Thus a number of singles Apr 10-15, the first at

Louisdale, Rich (DBM), and three found Apr 16 at Waterside, Pict (Peggy Scanlan), were surely new arrivals. There were no

sightings of more than one or two thereafter. MERLIN is another species that can turn up unexpectedly anywhere, usually

dashing through the sky and then disappearing. There were a few sightings into February (last issue) in Kings, HRM, and

Lunenburg, but six seen in Kings Mar 28-Apr 12 (Ian Manning, JLC, PHT), and one “circling and calling” Apr 9 over

Bridgewater, were almost certainly recent arrivals. When nesting, they are very noisy with their constant "kek-kek" calls, and

therefore easy to notice. Maggie Rice was hearing vocalizations from Apr 16 on in Bridgetown, Anna. Jeff Ogden reported

"basically [a] yard bird" May 3 in Truro. James Churchill noted a pair starting to nest in Kentville May 2. I was told of a

noisy pair frequenting some trees in Coldbrook, Kings, which also attacked the local feeder birds, and were confirmed as a

nesting pair May 6. There were just 16 reports of single PEREGRINE FALCONS this spring, again of from around the

province. On several occasions James Churchill saw one and sometimes a pair perched on top of the Cornwallis Inn in

Kentville, as well as one flying over nearby Miners Marsh; but there was no sign of nesting. Gordon Tingly observed two in

Bear River, Anna, Mar 8; one was eating a Rock Pigeon atop a power pole, and the other was nearby, and then tried to eat the

remains of the pigeon after the first one had finished. One was observed Mar 12 along the Halifax waterfront (STV), but

there was no report of the known past nest site on the MacDonald Bridge. By far the most exiting falcon sighting was by Alix

D’Entremont, who saw a flyby dark-morph GYRFALCON Mar 5 at the Yarmouth Airport, and fortunately was able to

obtain two convincing images, better than mere “record shots”.

The lucky (and skilled) photographer lets us ponder (and envy) an unmistakable dark-morph

GYRFALCON, as it flew by Mar 5 at the Yarmouth Airport [Photo Alix D’Entremont]

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 19

Rails, Cranes

By Ulli Hoeger

The only VIRGINIA RAIL this spring was found and photographed May 7 in Yarmouth (RDE), but there were 17

independent, eBird reports of 20 SORAS, plus two additional reports. The earliest one had bypassed the mainland to turn up

May 12 at Balls Creek, CBRM (DBM). The rest were found through May in ones and twos, some of them certainly repeated

sightings at the same localities. The reports came from all parts of the province that provided suitable habitat, notably Miners

Marsh, Kentville, and several places in Pictou (KJM, STV). Most reported hearing them and few were seen.

This fine portrait of a

generally very elusive

VIRGINIA RAIL was

obtained May 7 in the

urban green space of

Broad Brook Wetland

Pk, Yarmouth. [Photo

Ron d’Entremont]

Two SANDHILL CRANES were found Apr 10 by Jeff Ogden “on [the] edge of a flooded field” near Milford Road, HRM,

and photographed Apr 13 by Ed Dawson, These were followed by a report of a foraging pair seen Apr 27 along the Chapman

Settlement Rd., Cumb (Peter McCathie). Spring sightings of this species have been regular in recent years, usually of

twosomes, and generally lingering longer, but as yet there is no evidence of breeding in the province.

This handsome twosome (a

pair?) of SANDHILL CRANES,

was found Apr 10 (here Apr 13)

near Milford, HRM. Their bills,

only slightly longer than their

heads, suggest they might be of

the tundra subspecies canadensis

or the taiga subspecies rowani,

on their way north. [Photo Ed

Dawson]

20 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Shorebirds

By Rick Whitman

Twenty species of shorebirds were reported during the spring period, with six represented by only one or two reports. Among

these, two reports of single WHIMBREL and one report of two HUDSONIAN GODWITS, all during May, were perhaps the

most interesting. The winter was rather harsh over the entire province and overwintering of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER

and DUNLIN may have been at very low levels.

On Mar 1 Alix D’Entremont had a single BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER at Cape Sable, Shel; none had been reported on CSI

after December. Later sightings began Apr 12 at Pinkneys Pt., Yar (also AAD) and carried through to May 31 with 50+ at

The Hawk, CSI (CST). Black-bellied Plovers were seen at eleven different locations on the mainland, but aside from CSI and

Cherry Hill Bch., Lun, no reports exceeded five individuals.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were seen at only two locations during spring migration. On May 24 Ken McKenna

photographed a single at Big Merigomish I., Pict, and on May 29 Rick Whitman photographed two at East Point, Kings. The

first PIPING PLOVER was seen Apr 6 at Johnstons Pond, Shel, by Chris Curry (fide SAB). The next day, singles,

presumably males, were seen at three more locations in Shelburne and at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun. By the end of this period

there were publicized reports from 13 different locations on the mainland with the highest number being eight at Keji Seaside

NP by Megan Crowley.

Single KILLDEER were reported seen Mar 23, 24 and 25 respectively from Daniels Head, CSI (CST); Lunenburg (JAH);

and McCormacks Bch. PP, HRM (Lou-Anne Bidal). Later reports were from Apr 6 onwards from 25 mainland locations plus

Sydney, with a maximum of five individuals at one location.

Two AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were first reported April 12 at The Hawk, CSI (JON). All four later reports were

also for Cape Sable or The Hawk, and none exceeded the two birds on May 8 noted as a pair (RIW).

Cape Sable, Shel, a sandy strip of

dunes southwest of The Hawk,

CSI, has been the sole nesting

place in Canada of one or more

pairs of the striking AMERICAN

OYSTERCATCHER since 1997.

They are keeping up the tradition

(here Apr 26 at The Hawk) and

may be poised to nest elsewhere in

the province. [Photo Alix

D’Entremont]

Two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were seen May 4 at Forest Home, Kings (RIW), and another May 8 at Cape Forchu, Yar

(RIW). Subsequent reports were from 23 locations throughout the province, with a maximum of 12 along Middle R., Pict

(CHP and KST).

GREATER YELLOWLEGS were first seen Apr 12 at Daniels Head, CSI (JON) and Rose Bay, Lun (SYP). From Apr 18 to

May 18 this species was reported almost daily across the province, followed by five more reports through May 31. The

highest numbers were 20+ seen May 3 at Lower LaHave, Lun (ELM), and 18 noted May 11 at Rose Bay, Lun (JAH). The

first WILLET was found by John Nickerson Apr 19 at The Hawk, CSI, followed the next day by another at Hartlen Pt., HRM

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 21

(DAC). From Apr 25 onwards, reports were almost daily with numbers of 15, 16, 16, and 25 at four locations between

Crescent Bch., Lun, and Framboise, Rich. LESSER YELLOWLEGS were much less numerous than the previous two species.

The first report was seen Apr 29 at Rainbow Haven PP, HRM (HAT), and the second was noted May 1 at McNabs I., HRM

(AGH). There were twelve additional reports to May 11 of one to three individuals, after which this species seems to have

cleared the province on its way north.

Single WHIMBREL were found only twice on spring migration: May 3 at Framboise, Rich (DBM), and May 8 at Martinique

Bch. PP, HRM (DMC). This scarcity is normal for this species as we are simply not on the northbound migration route. Two

HUDSONIAN GODWITS were seen May 16 at The Hawk, CSI (CST).

RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen three times on its northbound migration: four on May 3 (AAD) and two on May 31 on

Cape Sable, Shel (CST); and one on May 25 at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun (SJF).

SANDERLINGS did overwinter, and between one and ten were reported present during March at: Cape Sable, Shel (AAD);

the Salt Marsh Trail, HRM (MZE); and Martinique Bch., HRM (CHP, KST, PAO). There were reports for April from Cape

Sable, Shel (1 rept. of 2 birds); Martinique Bch. PP, HRM (3 repts. of 7-13 birds); Crescent Bch., Lun (2 repts. of 5 and 6

birds); and Lawrencetown, HRM (1 rept. of 1 bird). Two reports of late birds were of four on Cape Sable, Shel, May 3

(AAD), and six at Keji Seaside NP, May 21 (Megan Crowley). In March PURPLE SANDPIPERS were reported in numbers

less than ten from five locations: Conrad Bch., HRM; PPP, Halifax; Point Aconi, CBRM; Margaretsville, Anna; and Eastern

Passage, HRM. There were six reports of up to 80 birds in April at five locations around the province, and from May 4-10

there were four reports of 3, 25, 28 and 32 birds. It is good to see some larger flocks of this beautiful shorebird.

There were four observations of LEAST SANDPIPER this spring from three locations: two at McCormacks Bch.

PP, HRM, May 4 (DAC); two at North River, Col, May 11 (ELM); and six and three at Big Merigomish I., Pict, May 15 and

24 (KJM, CHK). A single WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was photographed at Big Merigomish I., Pict, May 24 (KJM).

We don’t often see WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (this one May 24 at Big Merigomish I., Pict)

beginning to develop its summer alternate (breeding-season) plumage, with rufous fringed scapulars and

wing coverts. Our few wintering birds often depart early, and most migrate north through the centre of the

continent. With its rufous back and arrow shaped flank streaking, the bird also superficially resembles

breeding-plumaged Western Sandpiper, so it is well to check for the white rump. [Photo Ken McKenna]

Only two SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were seen during the spring-migration period this year, both photographed. On

May 9 Rick Whitman found one at Melbourne L., Yar, and Ken McKenna saw another May 24 at Big Merigomish I., Pict. It

is fascinating to recognize that shorebirds such as this species can essentially miss this province altogether during the spring

migration and yet occur in the tens of thousands on the southbound migration.

22 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Reports of overwintering DUNLIN in March came only from Cape Sable, Shel (one bird, AAD); Martinique Bch., HRM (one

bird, CHP, KST); and the “Breakwater” near Louis Head, Shel (five reports of 28-67 birds, Ingrid Nagy). In other words, the

only significant known overwintering during this harsh winter was at the last mentioned site. Later reports of Dunlin, Apr 12

to May 8, came from seven locations around the mainland and ranged from 1-160 birds, with the highest counts on CSI, and

only 1-13 elsewhere.

The spring’s only SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, a Basic-plumaged bird readily identified from a photo by Russel Crosby

was found Apr 12 at Hemeons Hd., Shel. Our first WILSON’S SNIPE this spring were five birds Apr 11 at Brookfield, Col

(ROH). There were more reports of 1-3 birds at 14 locations in April and of 1-11 at 21 locations in May. The two highest

counts were obtained during owl surveys: six birds on May 14 along Salmon River Rd., CBRM (SEM); and 11 birds on May

27 at Sporting Mountain, Rich (WMA). The first AMERICAN WOODCOCK reports were both for Mar 22: Donna

Crossland had one at Tupperville, Anna, and Rick Ferguson (fide KJM) had another at Westville, Pict. Soon after, there were

singles Mar 28 at Lr. Rose Bay, Lun (AHM) and Mar 29 at Midville Branch, Lun (Keith Lowe and Carmel Smith). There

were additional reports for April and May of 1-13 birds at 35 locations across the province.

Gulls through Alcids

By Eric Mills

At Flint I., CBRM, the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE colony was estimated at 600 on May 9, although the colony on

nearby Cape Percé seems to be declining (ALM, CAM). The only other spring report, apparently a bird in transit, came from

much farther S.W., at Hemeon Head., Shel., May 27 (David Bell, Daniel Giesbrecht).

BONAPARTE’S and BLACK-HEADED GULLS were documented in low numbers initially because of the hard winter and

coastal freeze-up, but by the third week of April Bonaparte’s Gulls were appearing in their usual migration haunts, especially

in Pictou, where there were 10 at the Pictou causeway Apr. 20 and 27 on May 13 (CHK, KJM, STV). Overwintering Black-

headed Gulls peaked modestly in early to mid-March, for example 8-12 in the Birch Cove – Sullivans Pond area, Dartmouth,

Mar 8-12 (JED, MZE), but had disappeared north after the middle of May. The last report was of one at Florence, CBRM,

May 10 (DBM).

A beautiful adult FRANKLIN’S GULL that appeared among Ring-billed Gulls in a farm field alongside the Salmon R. in

Onslow, Col, (ELM) stayed to be photographed but disappointed a crowd of birders that showed up later in the day by

disappearing without trace. There seems to have been an influx of northward-bound Franklin’s Gulls into eastern Canada at

this time: there were several reports of this species in southern Ontario the same day. Spring records of LAUGHING GULL

have been few for the past couple of years, but this year two fine adults were photographed, the first in Bridgeville, Pict, Apr

20 (KJM, STV), and one in Eastern Passage, HRM, May 10 (DAC, Chris Peters, ph.).

An adult FRANKLIN’S

GULL, a rare spring

vagrant here, was a unique

treat for the lucky

photographer, May 6 at

Onslow, Cumb. [Photo

Eric Mills]

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 23

It appears that two of the winter’s crop of COMMON (MEW) GULLS, an adult and a second-year bird, well documented in

the last issue of Nova Scotia Birds, hung around Sullivans Pond and the Tufts Cove power plant outfall area in Dartmouth

through March, and were last seen Mar 28 (BBU, JED, KEL, PMC, RIW, RBS).

This adult COMMON (MEW)

GULL Mar 21 at Sullivans

Pond, Dartmouth, has a

distinctly ringed bill in winter,

characteristic of the Eurasian

Common Gull, rather than the

Mew Gull breeding in central

N. American. The AOU rates

two them as subspecies but

they are probably separate

species by current criteria.

[Photo Jim Edsall]

From the last week of March through early May, RING-BILLED GULL migrants appeared in increasing numbers, notably in

Pictou, Colchester and Victoria; in Colchester large flocks of spanking adults were evident May 6 but gone a week later.

Thirty at Tufts Cove, Dartmouth, Mar 14 may have been newly arrived (CHP) and 20 at Martinique Bch., HRM, Mar 16

(CHP, KST) were certainly new. By early April numbers had built significantly, for example: more than 200 in Pictou areas

Apr 6-7 (KJM, CHK); 24 at Middle Cape, CBRM, Apr 10 (DBM); and 250 resting at Martinique Bch., HRM, Apr 13 (CHP,

KST). In favoured stopover areas in Cochester, numbers of adults in fine breeding plumage peaked at about 300 May 6-8 in

Windsor Forks and Onslow (ELM, DBM), but were gone within a few days. It appears that there were no significant arrivals

after May 15 anywhere in the province.

HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were listed from the usual places, with no unusual numbers or seasonal

trends.

After a slow start for ICELAND GULL early in the winter, this species became super-abundant well into spring and was still

being reported, although in reduced numbers, right through May. In CBRM, the epicentre of Iceland Gull abundance, DBM

reported 1510 in the N. Sydney area Mar 2 and hundreds remained through April; as late as May 15 there were still 92 in

Florence. Numbers were lower on the mainland, but 100 on Apr 29 at Hartlen Pt., HRM, were noteworthy (DAC). The latest

spring reports from the mainland were of single birds at Big I., Pict, May15 and Lismore, Pict, May 24 (KJM).

Scattered reports of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS in low numbers, usually ones and twos, extended from Mar 1 to

May 17. But it was a banner spring for this species in one of their less usual haunts, the Truro area of Colchester. First

detected May 2 (JBO), there were up to 13, mainly adult, graellsii Lesser Black-backs May 4 in farm fields at Onslow

(KAM), and still at least six, including one 2nd-year and one 3rd-year bird May 14 (ELM, DBM et al.). All had left a week

later. This was a remarkable display, even for this increasingly common gull.

GLAUCOUS GULLS were never abundant through the late-winter and early spring months: nine individuals at nine

locations ranging from Glace Bay, CBRM to W. Pubnico, Yar. One in Onslow, Col, May 2 (JBO) was in an unusual location,

and the last of the season was reported from New Harbour, Guys, May 18 (David Bell, Daniel Giesbrecht). A hybrid

GLAUCOUS X GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL was present from about Mar 9 to Apr 18 in Glace Bay, CBRM, where it

was photographed (ALM, CAM).

24 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

A CASPIAN TERN that spent nearly a week beginning at the end of April in the Kentville – Port Williams area, Kings, was

unusual in those locations (AND, RBS, GFO). One was at Waterside PP, Pict, May 2 (KJM), and one at APBS May 3 (RIW,

KFS, NSBS).

This CASPIAN TERN was an

unexpected find May 5 over Miners

Marsh, Kentville [Photo Richard Stern]

By May 10, two BLACK TERNS were back in their traditional nesting areas at E. Amherst marsh, Cumb APBS (JBO) and

and another was spotted May 19 at APBS (KAM)

Only two Jaegers – always late migrants – were reported. A light-phase adult POMARINE JAEGER hurried westward past

the Northern Point of Brier Island in early morning May 11 (ELM), and another off Flint I., CBRM, was photographed May

20 (David Murrant).

All the overwintering alcids were only sparsely seen and reported as the winter ended. The seasons’s only DOVEKIE flew

past Bacarro Pt., Shel, May 3 (Sherman Boates, David Fraser). Murre numbers were extremely low: only four COMMON

MURRES at four locations between CBRM and HRM between Mar 28 and May 4 (DBM, RIV, Keith Lowe, David Fraser)

and six THICK-BILLED MURRES, including one at Glace Bay, Mar 2 (ALM, CAM), three in the Northwest Arm area,

Halifax, Mar 29-31 (AGH, PAC), and one in Sandy Cove, HRM, April 8 (PAO). Off Pt. Aconi, CBRM, DBM noted small

groups of RAZORBILLS flying toward the colony on the nearby Bird Islands, Vic, beginning in mid-April, and there were 43

on Flint I., CBRM, May 9 (ALM, CAM). Even BLACK GUILLEMOTS seem to have been discouraged by our hard winter

and late spring; they were seen in numbers only as their breeding season began, and with no indication in the early numbers

of when overwintering populations were replaced by summer-resident breeders. David McCorquodale noted 1-3 ATLANTIC

PUFFINS passing Pt. Aconi, CBRM, on occasion from Apr 21 to May 4, very likely birds breeding on the nearby Bird

Islands, Vic.

Pigeons through Woodpeckers

By Graham Williams

The spring season yielded few rarities but good numbers of the expected species were reported. ROCK PIGEONS and

MOURNING DOVES were ubiquitous, as usual, but no other doves were reported this spring. Reports of cuckoos were

lacking as well. Perhaps the most interesting, but unfortunately unverified, report of the spring season (on eBird) was of a

calling EASTERN SCREECH-OWL found Apr 10 by Dan Mackinnon at his home on Angela Rd., Meaghers Grant, HRM.

The bird was described in eBird as being “in tree close to the house, could see outline against moonlight” and was said to

have "whinnied for about 20 mins.” The current breeding-range limits of this species are not too far from the province, but

alas it remains an extreme rarity here and reports such as this warrant extra scrutiny, especially since Northern Saw-whet Owl

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 25

can sometimes make similar vocalizations. In the future in encounters such as this, even a primitive audio recording using a

cell phone voice recorder or other means, or a poor silhouette photo may provide sufficient evidence to confirm the presence

of this small owl in NS.

Several observers took part in owl surveys this spring and the number of owls reported seems to reflect the increased effort

put toward detecting them. Nearly 40 reports of GREAT HORNED OWL and 68 reports of BARRED OWL were received

province-wide, more than double the numbers reported last spring.

Owl photos this winter and

spring were overwhelmingly

of the highly photogenic

Snowy Owl, but this

BARRED OWL, ‘mantling’

its prey Mar 8 near Belleville,

Yar, is equally appealing.

[Photo Alix d’Entremont]

Twenty two reports of NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL were received from 11 counties and ranged from 1-6 individuals. In

contrast, last spring only three reports of this species were received all season. I suspect the increased number of reports is

directly associated with the effort put forth to detect them on owl survey routes and is unlikely to represent any meaningful

population trends. The season’s only report of LONG-EARED OWL came from Eric Mills who heard one calling late at

night May 17 along the Camp Rd. on Brier Island. Boreal Owl was not reported this spring.

A few of the overwintering owls lingered into the spring season. Two reports of SHORT-EARED OWL were received from

HRM and Kings Counties in March and the latest spring report was that of an individual at Waterside Provincial Park, Pict.

on April 23rd

(KJM). The extraordinary winter irruption of SNOWY OWL in the province carried over into spring with

numerous reports for March and April from single locations in each of Yarmouth, Annapolis, Digby, Kings, and Pictou, two

in Shelburne, and at least four places in HRM. As many as three individuals were present in the Lawrencetown Bch. area,

HRM, until at least Apr 27 (DOU). Reports continued from four locations into May. Late ones were found at Daniels Head,

CSI, May 6 (AAD), Big Tancook I., Lun, May 10 (HID), Three Fathom Hbr., HRM, also on May 10 (SEM), and the latest

were one at Big Merigomish I., Pict, May 18 (STV), and another that lingered through May at Hartlen Pt., HRM (sev. obs.),

and last seen there May 21 (DAC).

COMMON NIGHTHAWK returned right on schedule, with the first report an impressive count of 12 and probably more,

May 25 over Jeremy’s Bay Campground, Keji NP (DAC). By the end of May five more reports totalling eight birds were

received from three more counties. The first CHIMNEY SWIFT sighting of the season came three days later than last

spring’s – on May 8 when 20 were found at the Temperance St. School, New Glasgow (KJM). By the end of May, nearly 40

reports of swifts were received spanning nine counties, with the largest counts of 421 on at the Middleton (Anna) Regional

High School, May 25 (WPN), and 461 at the Temperance St. School, New Glasgow, May 29 (KJM). The season’s first

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS arrived May 1 this year, with a pair at White Pt., Queens (MMI). Only two more

were noted prior to May 10, after which numerous hummingbird reports began to arrive and by the end of May over 100

reports were received.

BELTED KINGFISHER reports were few in March but, as expected, steadily increased in April and were province-wide by

May. It is hard to discriminate first true migrants, but one Apr 3 at Apple River, Cumb (KFS), had not been seen in the area

during winter, and they appeared widely beginning Apr 12.

26 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

The ‘best’ woodpecker find was an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER May 14 that flew across Highway 12 in Kings,

showing its “big white wing flashes”, and reported by two observers familiar with the species (David Bell, Daniel

Giesbrecht). Unfortunately, it disappeared into the forest and could not be relocated. The only RED-BELLIED

WOODPECKERS reported this spring were one overwintered bird seen regularly (var. obs.) until May 14 (MZE) at Birch

Cove Pk., Dartmouth; another Mar 28 in Yarmouth that had presumably overwintered (AAD); and a male frequenting Ann

Doull's feeders in south end Halifax since October 2013, that appeared two to three times almost daily through spring.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER reports followed the expected pattern, with only one in March, an individual found on

the 7th

at Tusket, Yar (AAD) that had presumably overwintered locally. There were about 25 reports in April; the earliest

was Apr 7 at Westville, Pict (STV), and the rest were seen beginning Apr 13. Then there were about 80 ebird reports

province-wide in May. DOWNY, HAIRY, and PILEATED WOODPECKERS were also well represented, each with more

than double the number reported last spring, possibly due to the increased use of ebird in the province rather than an actual

population increase of that scale. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was reported from five locations in Kings,

Cumberland, and HRM this season. NORTHERN FLICKER was the most numerous woodpecker reported, with little

evidence of a sudden appearance of migrants among the overwintered birds.

Flycatchers through Thrushes

Nic Fieldsend

As in 2013, it was well into May before the majority of the flycatchers had returned to our shores. The first OLIVE-SIDED

FLYCATCHER was found May 24 at Publicover L., Lun (JAH), with more reports of individuals from six counties during

the last week of May. A single EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was seen and heard calling multiple times May 24, while it

caught flies over Little River, Hants (CHP, KAS), and James Hirtle had two in Publicover, Lun, on the same date, reporting

that this species has been a regular at this location around this date in previous years. All later sightings were of individual

birds, with half of the reports from locations in Kings.

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS on May 17 were the earliest empids this spring, with one in Middle Musquodoboit,

HRM (Angie Millard) and one at Peck Meadow Brk, Kings, both Rick Whitman and Keith Lowe noting the obvious yellow

colour on the rear half of the latter's belly. Multiple counts were the three recorded by Steve Vines May 24 in Pleasant

Valley, Pict, and by Andy Horn May 31 who found three in Williamswood, HRM. The earliest ALDER FLYCATCHER seen

May 21 at White Rock, Kings (RIW) was followed by predominantly singles or small numbers, with the exception of eight

found May 30 at Forked Pond near Lake Echo, HRM (AGH). The usually early arriving LEAST FLYCATCHER was first

seen Apr 21 in Habitant, Kings (Tim & Anne Hall), becoming the earliest on record (per McLaren’s All the Birds of Nova

Scotia) and by mid-May, had established significant concentrations in Berwick, Kings (20 on May 14, Mike Russell) and

Durham, Pict (18 on May 19, STV); many of these were heard from moving cars when they gave their distinctive rasping

call.

The first EASTERN PHOEBE was in evidence Apr 10 flitting around a yard by Lower Fales River bridge on the Rocknotch

Road in East Tremont, Kings (WAN), and another was back at the usual nesting site under the Gaspereau River bridge in

White Rock, Kings, from Apr 12 (RIW). Keith Lowe had a remarkable double with singles seen on consecutive days at

widely separate locations, Apr 12 at APBS, Cumb and one the next day on McNabs I., HRM. The highlight of the season in

terms of flycatchers was a SAY’S PHOEBE apparently of the pale southwestern subspecies quiescens. Found May 13 at

Sandy Cove, HRM, by Fulton Lavender and Richard Hatch, it proved to be exceptionally tame, flitting to within a few metres

of observers and favouring a feeding area among the stranded rock weed, but sadly didn’t linger beyond that day.

The sparsely summering GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER stayed somewhat longer. Wayne Neily observed a returning

pair May 19 in Middleton, Anna, and one of them carrying nesting material into the same box as last year. Another returning

bird was seen by James Churchill in Kentville for the third year in a row this species has been observed on his street, with at

least one known nesting attempt during that time. A further single was found May 20 on Brier Is. (DAM). The first

EASTERN KINGBIRDS were noted May 23, two in Berwick, Kings (Mike Russel), and were in evidence through the rest of

May, including a party of six that accompanied the Say’s Phoebe, May 13 on Sandy Cove, HRM (DAC et al.).

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 27

These photos were among the first obtained by the lucky few who rushed out to see the SAY’S PHOEBE

during its brief stopover, May 13 at Sandy Cove, HRM. Note its overall washed-out appearance,

characteristic of subspecies quiescens of the s.w. US. [Photos: left, John Pateson; right, Elizabeth Doull]

A handful of NORTHERN SHRIKES stayed in residence with reports of 10 singles through March, and one was found Apr 1

lurking in multiflora bramble of Hans Toom’s front yard in Portuguese Cove, HRM. A previous sighting at this spot had been

of a first-winter bird, but this one was an adult showing a distinct "Zorro" mask. Five other individuals were noted across the

province during April, the latest “hunting over a field” Apr 26 near Upper Kemptown, Col (KJM, ROH).

Hans Toom also had much the earliest BLUE-HEADED VIREO singing Apr 13 in forest west of Duncans Cove pond, HRM.

A dozen more were first noted May 7-9, and Lois Codling’s first of the year May 13 in Lr. Sackville, HRM, demonstrated the

delay in birds penetrating parts away from the coast. Two WARBLING VIREOS were observed: one photographed May 14

by Laurel Amirault in Lower West Pubnico, Yar (AAD), and the other found May 27 singing frequently in the canopy of

maples at Miners Marsh, Kentville, Kings. James Churchill obtained a recording of the latter, demonstrating the similarities

to Purple Finch. The first reported RED-EYED VIREOS were found May 17: one during a NSNT survey at the Soudek

property, Hants (NIF), and another by Ian Manning on the Canning Tr., Kings. Numbers rose during the following two

weeks, with high counts of eight in areas of Lunenburg May 24 (JAH) and at Gold River Lake Conservation Lands May 31

(RIW). An interesting vireo, either Blue-headed or the rare White-eyed, was found May 4 by at Cow Bay, HRM (DAC). It

seemed to have a lot of yellow but could have been a very bright Blue-headed from what little was seen as it refused to come

out from cover.

GRAY JAY appeared in typical ones and twos throughout the period, with sightings in seven counties. The extended winter

conditions resulted in larger concentrations of BLUE JAY remaining in urban locations well into April, for example in

Dartmouth, with up to 20 recorded Apr 6 at Birch Cove Park (MZE) and 14 found Apr 30 at Ira Settle Ball Field (John

Reynolds et al.). With warming conditions, flocks dispersed resulting in mainly single-figure counts across the province.

High counts of 75 AMERICAN CROWS, both on Mar 1, were made at Grand Pré, Kings (PHT) and 50 on the Canard and

Fred Thomas Rd circuit, Kings (RBS). David McCorquodale watched 32 in Glace Bay and Renwick Brook, CBRM, Mar 9,

presiding over a harbour that was still 90% frozen, with drift ice in evidence beyond. By mid-May, most reports were of

small numbers (< 20), with the exception of the 176 diligently reported by Steve Vines from his May 10 Pictou Spring

Migration Count. An impressive count of 22 COMMON RAVENS borne on a northerly wind Apr 20 between Eastern

Passage and Hartlen Point, Halifax (DAC), was eclipsed by the 73 found May 4 in Hants (KAM). As the latter were at the

Moxom Meats plant and outlet, they were most likely not the result of a sudden spike in this corvid’s birth rate in the region!

HORNED LARKS lingered until the end of April, with singles reported on the 30th at Seaforth, HRM (Angie Millard) and at

their traditional winter stronghold of Horton Landing to East Point, Kings (RIW).

28 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Early arriving TREE SWALLOWS were hawking Apr 5 over the frozen Miners Marsh, Kentville (JAC), despite high winds,

heavy rain and sleet, and near-freezing temperatures. The only open water was in the Cornwallis R. and flooded areas and

ditches adjacent to the marsh. Within days, numbers had risen appreciably, with 30 noted Apr 12 at Goose Creek Marsh, Yar

(AAD) and 50 at Annapolis Royal Marsh, Anna, Apr 17 (RIW). The melting wetlands were clearly a great habitat for

airborne insects, fuelling a further increase by the end of the month with a high of 300 estimated Apr 27 at Belleisle Marsh,

Anna (DAC). First BANK SWALLOWS were noted May 19, with a group of up to 50 active in the Avonport Beach area,

Kings (PHT). Generally, though, they showed a further decline from last year’s low numbers. The first reported BARN

SWALLOW was found Apr 25 at Mary Lake, Queens (Brad Toms), although there were no notable accumulations during the

period, with the highest reported count of 20 at APBS, May 10 (JBO).

First CLIFF SWALLOWS were in Yarmouth by May 7, with two spotted (AAD) over Canaan Rd. The highest count of 16

was May 14 at Beaver Bank Lake, HRM (DAC, KST). Two were observed May 16 actively building adjacent nests on the

overpass at exit 18a of Highway 101 at Middleton, Anna (RIW). Another likely nesting location was identified by John

Klymko who sighted 10 birds near Southampton, Cumb, May 17. Sandy Cove, HRM, proved as usual to be spring hotspot for

Richard Hatch and Fulton Lavender, when they located a stray NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW there on

May 8.

BOREAL CHICKADEES made welcome if fleeting appearances throughout the spring, with 10 on Mar 18 at Taylor Head

PP, HRM, providing Ken McKenna and colleagues with the only significant number of the season. This species continues to

decline and cling on as a breeding population, but how long will it be before Nova Scotia only has one breeding chickadee

species? Both RED-BREASTED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and BROWN CREEPER were in typically small

numbers across the province, with no double-digit counts of any reported.

Chris Pepper noted a WINTER WREN Mar 7 coming to mealworms in a cage feeder in Lake Echo, HRM, suggesting it

could have overwintered locally; then he and Kate Steele had two early-spring singers Apr 6 at Gammon L., HRM. It was

widely reported after mid-April.

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were widespread, again in small numbers, the high count being 13 on the May 10

NSMC in Pictou (STV). The first reported RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was rather late, Apr 18 near Falmouth, Kings.

Thereafter, they put in a slightly stronger performance than Golden-crowned, and also seemed to favour the the Pictou area,

which registered the majority of the largest single-location counts, all by the ever-observant Steve Vines: 22 at Union Centre

May 3, 17 at Cox Brook Road May 4, and 15 in Pleasant Valley May 8.

Another good Spring find was a female NORTHERN WHEATEAR, May 17 on the Old Taylor Head Rd, HRM, found by

David Bell, Daniel Giesbrecht and Taylor Brown as an unexpected but highly satisfactory result of a wrong turn! The bird

gave excellent views on the large rocks and was nicely photographed for the record (see below). Doubtless it was associated

with the record displacement of the species during late April and early May to the Avalon Pen. in Newfoundland.

Susan Kregling reported a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in St Croix, Hants, fleetingly observed Apr 18 on the dyke by

Rocks Rd. A single male was present at a feeder May 12 in Meteghan River, Digby (Alain Belliveau).

VEERY was one of the few species recorded elsewhere, but not in HRM, this spring. Our first was seen May 10 by Wayne

Neily and Frances Lourie at Stronach Pk., Kingston. Among sightings after mid-May were five at Middle River, Pict, during

a May 26 Wood Turtle survey (CHP, KAS) and four on the back deck of Phil Taylor’s home in Wolfville, May 26. An early

report of a single SWAINSON’S THRUSH Apr 30 at Onslow Mountain, Col (Anne Richard) was followed by a handful of

sightings beginning May 13, primarily in HRM. A HERMIT THRUSH Mar 7 in Wolfville (PHT) had clearly overwintered in

the area. Migrants first appeared Apr 20 in four mainland counties, and later concentrations included 20 on the Shearwater

Flyer Tr., HRM, May 7 (DAC) and 21 along Frotten Rd., inland Yarmouth, May 11 (AAD).

Volume 56, Issue 3 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 29

This female NORTHERN WHEATEAR, May

17 near Taylor Head, HRM, was displaced from

its intended target in Labrador and beyond to

Nunavut. She was in brighter plumage than we

usually see them in fall [Photo David Bell]

AMERICAN ROBIN continues to flourish with large roaming flocks of presumably overwintered birds in March, and later

flocks amassing across the province, including 105 in Lilydale, Lun, Apr 3 (KEL), 90 between Mulgrave and Sand Point,

Guys, Apr 10 (DBM), and 188 on the May 10 spring migration count in Pictou (STV). A female AMERICAN ROBIN, Apr 6

in W. Pubnico, very pallid and completely lacking white on the outer tail tips, appeared to be one of the western subspecies,

presumably propinquis, which nests from British Columbia and Saskatchewan south to Texas.

This AMERICAN ROBIN apparently one

of the western subspecies, turned up and

was photographed Apr 6 at W. Pubnico,

Yar. [Photo Ellis d’Entremont]

30 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Mimic-Thrushes through Warblers

By Ken McKenna

At the time of writing this section, results of the NS Migration Count 2014 were not available and are not reflected in this

account, unless otherwise reported.

As usual, all three Mimidae were noted this spring. The first GRAY CATBIRD was “heard only” (JOS) Apr 26 at Wyman

Rd., Yar, within range of the early arrival period. There were no reports for the first week of May and only five reports of five

for the second week but this marked the more wide-spread arrival May 13-16. After this, reports were steady, and for the

entire period there were 31 reports of 40 birds, but none from CBI. On the other hand CBI, specifically Bras d’Or, did have a

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD during the first two weeks of March as reported by Roberta Fraser. Other March

observations were at Port Maitland, Yar, Mar 2 (AAD); Chester, Lun, Mar 1 and 23, (JAH, DAW); and occasionally at

Portuguese Cove, HRM (HAT). In the first two weeks of April there were three reports: at Port Williams (RBS), Chester

(KEL) and Pinkeys Pt., Yar, Marshes (AAD). Although it is usually uncommon, there were reports of four BROWN

THRASHERS. Dominique Gusset recorded the over-wintering thrasher in Duncans Cove, HRM, for Project Feeder-watch

Mar 2 and 30, and it continued to visit her yard through April. Pamela Gallant posted a photo obtained Apr 1 of one that had

over-wintered at Queensland, HRM, and one noted by Cindy Morris Apr 2 at nearby Cleveland Beach was presumably the

same bird. Probable spring migrants (‘overshoots’?) in Shelburne were one that appeared Apr 17 the feeders of Murray and

Cindy Newell in Newellton, CSI, and another eating a bug May 11 in Kim Gorehan’s yard at Forbes Pt.

This rather fierce-looking

BROWN THRASHER, Apr

1 at Queensland, HRM, had

apparently wintered in the

general area. [Photo Pamela

Gallant]

There were just over 1100 eBird reports of EUROPEAN STARLING, widespread across the province. Bigger flocks such as

estimated 1000 noted by Richard Stern Mar 1 at Canard, Kings, were found early in spring prior to the breakup of wintering

flocks as breeding season approached. By the first week of April, James Hirtle was finding individuals in Bridgewater and at

locations of successful nesting in past years and even at nest holes in trees.

AMERICAN PIPIT almost escaped detection on spring migration this year, with only five reports from three locations. Five

birds found Mar 1 at Cape Sable, Shel (AAD, RDE) had likely overwintered in the area. A single individual Apr 27 at

Hortons Landing, Kings, could have been a spring migrant (RIW). The only other reported pipits were one or two at Big I.,

Pict, May 4, 9, and 24 (KJM).

The over-wintering BOHEMIAN WAXWING followed a pattern similar to last year’s, with sightings through March

tapering to a few the first week of April and none thereafter. Numbers were somewhat low, totalling little less than 500 over

the report period. The two largest flocks were of 200 at Grand Pré, Kings, Mar 1 (PHT), and 98 at Georges River, CBRM,

Mar 4 (DBM). The latest were 14 seen Apr 7 by Keith Lowe at Fergusons Cove, HRM. CEDAR WAXWING also had a

similar pattern as last year’s with seven reports totalling about 135 birds, mostly from Kings. A large flock of 60+ seen by Jo

Bishop Mar 11 was getting roadside grit along the Gaspereau River Road. There were no reports for a month after Apr 20.

Probable spring migrants appeared May 21 and later, none of them in CBI, and the bulk of reports, about 60 birds in all, were

from May 28-31.

LAPLAND LONGSPUR was reported from only two locations. On Mar 1, Alix and Ron d’Entremont noted five at Cape

Sable, Shel; David Waterfield found three at Rainbow Haven PP on Mar 28; and Bruce Stevens saw eight flying across the

nearby saltmarsh Apr 3, the latest sighting this spring (BRS). The tail end of northward migration of SNOW BUNTING

appeared to be during the first of March. Observations of 30 by Ann Richard at Onslow Mountain, Col, of 100 by Richard

Stern in the Canard, Kings, area, and of three by Rick Whitman near Blandford, HRM, made up the majority of the 145 seen

in this report period. Toward the end of the month and on Apr 1, a few were noted at Fairmont, Ant, The Falls, Col, and E.

Apple River, Cumb. Sylvia Fullerton spied the latest two at Cherry Hill, Lun, on Apr 7.

This year there were no reported winter-surviving Yellow-breasted Chats or Orange-crowned Warblers or late April pulses of

southern breezes to sparkle our province with southern warblers. Observers noted only our 23 breeding warbler species,

many arriving somewhat later than usual.

The first OVENBIRDS were observed May 7, the same arrival date as in last year, in Yarmouth by Alix d’Entremont – three

on Wilsons Rd and one on Canaan Rd. The only other record prior to the NSMC was of a singing male May 8 at Dalhousie,

Kings (NAD). By mid-May the “teacher” song was heard through most of the mainland. For the report period, I note about

160 reports of ~700 birds. There were no reports at all from Cape Breton I. The earliest NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was

on May 6, with singles at Churchville, Pict (KJM) and West Caledonia, Queens (Megan Crowley). This date is two days later

than last year’s. Thereafter there were about 40 reports of 55 individuals. No observations were submitted from the extreme

ends of the province, Shelburne-Yarmouth or Cape Breton I.

AMERICAN REDSTART.this one May 14 at

W. Pubnico, is named after a totally unrelated

genus of Eurasian birds, and seems much better

designated by its French name, Paruline

flamboyante. [Photo Alix d’Entremont]

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER is often reported in April, but not so this year. The earliest noted were on May 4 when

two to three were observed at both the Little River L. area of Kings (RIW) and Belleville, Yar (AAD). Numbers then started

to build and, on May 11, Alix d’Entremont had 20 along Frotten Rd., Yar. In all there were 210 reports of 630 birds during

May, but only one from CBI, May 17 at the Sydney airport (DBM). Once again the TENNESSEE WARBLER just squeaked

into the observation period at the end of the month when James Churchill noted single males singing May 26-29 in Kentville,

at Miners Marsh and at his home. NASHVILLE WARBLER can also be added to the list of warblers that arrived later than

normal this year, with Kate Steele observing the first one May 9 at Rainbow Haven PP. The 55 eBird reports of 109 birds

were mostly from the second half of May and almost double last year’s total, maybe reflecting a greater use of eBird to

record data. Again all reports were from the mainland.

32 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

MOURNING WARBLER is a late migrant and, true to form, the only one reported was a singing male May 26 near

Brookville, Pict (KJM). COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was also a little later this year, with first sightings May 14 in Hants,

(WPN), two locations in Kings, (JLC and RIW), and two locations in Yarmouth (AAM). Observations then increased and

apparently peaked in the May 17-23 period. The NSBS group, led by Claire Diggins, on Bon Portage I. for the Victoria Day

weekend, had totals of 20 and 16 on May 17 and 18, and Eric Mills noted 10+ on Brier I. on May 17. Near the end of the

month, May 30, Andy Horn noted 31 at Forked Pond near Lake Echo, HRM. A total of more than 450 birds from about 118

reports rounded out the observations of this common warbler, although no one sent reports from CBI. AMERICAN

REDSTART was first recorded May 10 in both Kings (Mike Russell) and Queens (Megan Crowley), with peak numbers

reported May 17-21. Chris Pepper and Kate Steele counted 20 while doing a Wood Turtle study May 17 along the Wallace

R., Cumb. (While doing this study they also observed four Black Bears!) Steve Vines managed another good total of 18 in a

couple of hours of birding in the Churchville-Brookville area, Pict. In all there were just over 125 reports of about 350

individuals. CAPE MAY WARBLER numbers remain very low. First sightings were in Pictou with one singing in

Centreville area May 18, (KJM); one in Durham May 19 (STV), and two in Pleasant Valley May 24 (also STV). The only

other reports were from Mike and Nancy Dowd at their camp and at Lakeview, Kings, May 26 and 28.

NORTHERN PARULA is often first sighted in April, but the earliest this year were May 4 at Little River L., Kings (RIW)

and Belleville, Yar (AAD). By mid-May, this species was regularly encountered with some observations in Pictou exceeding

20 birds. On May 24 Steve Vines tallied 37 in Pleasant Valley Pict. For the month, over 200 reports were submitted with

about 660 birds. The first record of MAGNOLIA WARBLER for 2014 came from East Margaretsville, Anna, where Wayne

Neily saw a single bird May 10 during the NSMC. Observations were steady from mid-May on, and a high of 25 was

recorded by Nic Fieldsend while he participated in a bird survey on the Soudek property, Hants, for the NSNT. There were

about 130 submissions of 415 “maggies” during the report period. Tuft’s Birds of Nova Scotia (3d ed., 1986) referred to the

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER as a fairly common transient, but uncommon breeder, whereas in All the Birds of Nova

Scotia (McLaren 2012), they were rated as one of our less common warblers. It is not often found in inhabited areas and,

because of a preference for thick conifer stands, has probably suffered from current forestry practices. I noted nine reports of

14 birds, with the earliest observed May 17 on the Soudek property, Hants (NIF) and in Brookville, Pict (KJM). Other

reports were staggered through the rest of the month and included Myra Run (3) and Goodwood (1) in HRM (KST, CHP);

Pleasant Valley (3) and Sheepherders Junction (1), Pict (STV); Old Annapolis Rd., HRM (HAT); and Blomidon PP (Kathy

and Andy Barnard). Most BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS over-winter in the Andes from Venezuela and Columbia to

Ecuador and Peru and take a trans-Gulf spring route, sticking closer to Texas than Florida. Last year we had a late April

record, but this year the first record was on a more normal May 13.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, this one

May15 at Oakland, Lun, is another ‘must-see’

for birders in spring [Photo Kevin Lantz]

A walk May 5 and 6 along the old railway bed in Bridgetown, Anna, produced “many” YELLOW WARBLERS for Maggie

Rice, the first recorded this spring. No other reports were received until the NSMC day, and after May 13 they were reported

in many parts of the mainland: just under 500 of these “sweet, sweet I’m so sweet” singers in just over 180 reports. Alas, no

one submitted reports from Cape Breton I. Wayne Neily noted the first CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, a male May 10 in

a small wooded area on Stronach Mountain Rd., Anna. There followed just over 100 reports of 220 birds and, as in last year,

most were from Kings and Pictou.

Kate Steele and Dave Currie discovered the first BLACKPOLL WARBLER May 14 near Beaverbank L., HRM, with no

other reports until May 17 when four were found on BPI by the NSBS group. From May 22, reports were more widespread,

but only totalled 34 reports of 76 birds. Among those were the 20+ mixed male and females seen May 29 at Sir Sandford

Flemming (“Frog Pond”) Pk, HRM, by Patricia Chalmers, where she had a similar total on May 20 last year. That is clearly a

good place to see this species in migration.

For four of the last five years Rick Whitman has discovered a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER May 1-3 in the

Little River L. area, Kings. His first sighting was a little later this year on May 4, but still the earliest this spring, preceding

the next one at Belleville, Yar (AAD) by three days. Most observations of this colourful species were after May 14, with a

total of 86 in 35 reports. A bountiful survey May 20 of the Myra Run and Round L. loop in HRM, produced 20 of this species

(KST, CHP). The early-arriving PALM WARBLER was discovered at two locations Apr 13, one day earlier than last year:

seven on the Clyde River loop (RDE, SMA), and a male McNabs I., HRM (Keith Lowe and PAO). There were only two

reports from CBI, the earliest May 1 at Cape George, Rich (JSH). Nancy Dowd noted they had arrived en masse Apr 22, with

ten along a 500m section of the Big Lots Rd, near Northwest, Lun. In all 125 reports of 325 individuals were noted in the

report period.

There were no reports of PINE WARBLER surviving through the frigid winter, so the few sightings were from three

locations in May. Two of the locations are known from the past couple of years as areas with breeding Pine Warblers. On

May 17 Hans Toom thought he detected them singing at Oakfield PP, although noted he was not 100% sure as it takes awhile

in spring to re-familiarize with the confusing trillers, and there was competing noise from what looked to be a movie set in

construction. Nancy Dowd located her Pine Warbler trilling like a junco atop a tall pine at Miller Pt., May 19 near

Bridgewater, another known past breeding area. Also at that location on May 25, Kevin and Chris Lantz heard three calling

and saw two. The last sighting from Darrell Abolit was of a female gathering spider webs May 31 near Cooks Lake, HRM.

In March, several observers reported flocks of 5-22 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS at Rainbow Haven PP, HRM. Other

late March observations were from Conrad Beach, HRM, and up to 25 were noted by several observers on the Baccaro Pen.,

Shel. Most observers felt “Myrtles” seen up to about Apr 19 were still winter holdovers. Observers in Queens were noting

singing birds By Apr 22, spring migrants were probably arriving. As usual, this was our most frequently encountered spring

warbler with over 500 reports of more than 1800 birds.

In a year when there were no reports of southern warblers, and given that PRAIRIE WARBLER is a very uncommon spring

migrant with only four documented previous spring records (McLaren, All the Birds of NS, 2012), a heard-only report by

James Woldford and Pat Kelly of one at Cape Split might have been of a similar songster, perhaps a Black-throated Blue

Warbler. However, after they returned home from the trip, a recording of Prairie Warbler was “a very match to what we

heard” (JWW).

Chris Pepper and Kate Steele observed the first two BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS May 6 in the Bullet Rd.

and Gammon Lake area, HRM, three days later than last year’s first sighting. Next sightings were on May 8 at Rhodes

Corner, Lun (JAH), and Wilson’s Rd., Yar (AAD). There were many reports thereafter, although only from the mainland. By

May 20, Chris and Kate noted 35 at Myra Run, HRM, and on May 24 Steve Vines reported 40 at Pleasant Valley, Pict, as

arrivals fought for territories, with losers probably moving on further north. Just fewer than 200 reports of 780 birds were

tallied for the report period.

Brier I. hosted the first CANADA WARBLER for the year during the Victoria Day weekend, May 18-30 (DAM). Reports

increased after that with 16 reports of 22 birds seen from Annapolis, Lunenburg Kings. Pictou and HRM. These included

five in the Brookville area of Pictou May 26 (KJM). The first WILSON’S WARBLERS were noted May 14, when singles

were noted in the Beaverbank L. area, HRM (KST, DAC) and at Ess Road, Hants, by Lou-Anne Bidal. There were sightings

the next day in Pictou and Cumberland. In total there were 16 reports of 19 with additional sightings from Colchester, Kings

and Lunenburg.

34 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Sparrows and Cardinalids

By Ian McLaren

The most useful data for serious future research into relative abundances, population trends, etc., are now exhaustively

archived and available on eBird (over 3,500 entries this spring for this section alone). Here I sketch the season’s highlights –

first arrivals, big movements, and of course record truly unusual species and events.

The male EASTERN TOWHEE overwintering at Mt. Denson, Hants, was last seen Apr 22 (fide JWW), and a female that

had overwintered in Spryfield, HRM (but not noted in the last issue) was still there Apr 4 (DGA). The first apparent

overshoot, a female, was noted Apr 9 in Spryfield, HRM (FLL). Others were reported as follows: a male Apr 17 at MUN’s

feeder, in Newellton, CSI (fide JON); another female Apr 27 at Daniels Head (CST); and a male May 30 in Lr. Sackville,

HRM (RIV; APO, ph.). Two Facebook reports were of a male at Gunning Cove, Shel, May 25, and a female at an unreported

location May 25. Despite their regularity here as spring vagrants, we have no confirmed breeding records.

An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was singing (well worth hearing) Apr 4 at Kentville Ravine (JLC), as though anxious to

flee to its taiga summer home. But the species was still being reported in ones and twos between Apr 25 and May 8, and the

latest appeared at a feeder in Lr. Sackville, HRM, May 13 (LOC). A CHIPPING SPARROW staying Mar 11-12 at a

Wolfville feeder (JSB, ph.) had presumably overwintered in the vicinity. The first probable migrants were singles Apr 19 at

Habitant, Kings (Tim & Anne Hall), and Bridgeville, Pict (JAH). They trickled in through early May, and from May 7 to 9

larger numbers were posted on NatureNS and eBird, and they also caught the attention of our Facebook members, perhaps

representing a migration wave. Last winter’s FIELD SPARROW at a feeder in Waterville, Kings, was still there Mar 7

(RIW, BLF). Single off-track Field Sparrows were noted Apr 17 at Mahone Bay (JOA) and Apr 20 at Clarks Hbr., CSI (JON,

SAN). Single SAVANNAH SPARROWS Mar 1 on CSI (AAD) and Mar 9 on Wolfville Hbr. (Keith Lowe) had presumably

overwintered; possibly the latter bird was found again Mar 19 on a dyke near Wolfville (RIW, ph.). The earliest plausible

migrants (excluding a couple that might well have been “IPSWICH”) were two at Kingsburg Bch., Lun, Apr 7 (RIW) and

two the next day near the Bedford Institute, Dartmouth (Tim and Anne Hall). Nine appeared at Cherry Hill Bch., Lun, by Apr

19 (KEL). The first migrant “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow (unreported since the single tallied on the December CBC...see last

issue) was spotted by Rick Whitman Apr 4 near Horton Landing, Kings, not the usual Atlantic beach (photo below). Five at

Hartlen Pt., HRM, on Apr 5 (DOU) were more expected, as were singles on Lunenburg beaches Apr 6 at Kingsburg (KEL)

and Apr 7 at Cherry Hill. They were then noted in small numbers through April in HRM, but six at E. Passage and Hartlen

Pt., HRM, 26 Apr (AGH), and eight on Conrad Bch., Apr 30 (sev. experienced obs.) were unusually late in such numbers.

One photographed Apr 12 by Jeannie Shermerhorn at L’Ardoise, Rich, had ‘overshot’ somewhat, and another Apr 30 at

inland Lr. Sackville, HRM was a surprise to Dennis Garratt. (Incidentally, I received convincing photos of one that had

wandered May 9 to Cacouna, on the St. Lawrence half-way between Québec City and Rimouski.) A very late one was at

Sandy Cove, HRM, May 14 (HAT); occasional interbreeding with mainland Savannah has to be kept in mind.

The earliest “Ipswich” Sparrows (above left, Apr 4 at Grand Pré, Kings) are often very pallid, and may be mostly adult

males. Later ones (right, Apr 13 at Martinique Bch PP) are often darker and more difficult to distinguish from mainland

Savannahs, and may be mostly females, which arrive later on Sable I. [Photo left Rick Whitman; right, Pat Mckay]

FOX SPARROW overwintered in small numbers, but one Mar 26 at Lr. Sackville (LOC), another the next day at Lr.

Rose Bay, Lun (ELM). and one Mar 28 at E. Lawrencetown, HRM (CHP, KST), heralded their migration. They were

widely reported between Apr 3 and Apr 10 (50+ birds at about 40 locations, on eBird, NatureNS & Facebook). Eleven

were tallied Apr 12 in their nesting range in n. CBI near Hay Cove, Vic (fide FMC)

.

FOX SPARROWS, like

the one at left, Apr 4

near Fleming Park,

HRM (photo Keith

Lowe), are typically

found scratching

vigorously among last

year’s fallen leaves.

It’s sometimes hard to discern first migrant SONG SPARROWS, as they overwinter in good numbers, but mainland counts

increased throughout the beginning of April, and two “new” birds appeared Apr 8 in Sunrise Valley, Vic (FMC). They were

“very vocal all over Bridgewater” at 4 a.m., Apr 11 (JAH). LINCOLN’S SPARROW was as usual sparsely reported until

presumably on territories May 13 along Brook Rd., Pict (a single, KJM), and May 21-30 (up to 5 near L. Echo, HRM; AGH,

KST, CHP). A SWAMP SPARROW Apr 9 at Bellefontaine Rd., HRM (CHP, KST), was the first reported since mid-

January, and therefore undoubtedly a migrant. Next day there were several in Palmeter Woods, Kings (AND), but numbers

were not recorded widely until beginning Apr 17. About 25 were seen or heard singing Apr 23 in APBS (B. Haley). WHITE-

THROATED SPARROW is another species whose first arrivals are hard to gauge. Probably new were six on Apr 12 at Birch

Cove Pk., Dartmouth, where one to three had been recorded in March and earlier April (MZE). Oddly, no further counts of

more than six were recorded on eBird until May. The WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW overwintering at a Windsor area

feeder stayed until at least Mar 8 (RIW), and the young gambelii at McCormacks Bch., HRM, was last reported Mar 15

(DOU). The species largely bypasses us in spring migration, but there was a good show this year. About 30 were reported on

NatureNS and eBird between May 9 and month’s end (including one id’d as “eastern” on Brier I., ELM), as well as at least a

dozen by our Facebook contributors. DARK-EYED JUNCO was reported in flocks during winter, but an influx of ca. 60 on

Apr 1 in Kathleen Spicer’s yard in E. Apple River, Cumb, was surely a migration ‘fallout’. Ten eBird entries, each of 20+

birds the following weekend (Apr 5-6), including 115 by STV at Middle River Rd., Pict, may have been from that earlier

arrival.

Overshooting tanagers turned up as usual at feeders, but sparsely, and not entered on eBird. The earliest SUMMER

TANAGER, a first-spring male, appeared Apr 14 at Little Anse, Rich (Clayton Samson, ph); another apparent young male

was found May 4-9 at Newellton and nearby CSI (Linda Symonds, sev. obs.; ph. below). There followed a number more

individuals rated as young males: at Middleton, Anna, May 13 (fide WPN); at Whynotts Settlement, Lun, May 15-16 (fide

JAH, ph.); and at Carl Haycock’s Brier I. feeders May 15-22 (sev. obs., ph.). The first SCARLET TANAGER was a female

May 4-10 at Dublin Shore, Lun (fide JAH). It was followed by adult males: May 10 on Big Tancook I., Lun (HID, ph.); May

12 at Pt. Tupper, Rich (fide BID, ph.); May 19-21 on Brier I. (Laura Titus et al., ph.). There was possibly a different one on

Brier I., May 26 (Adam Timf), and another May 22 at Bayport, Lun (Suzie Hayward). Little elaboration is needed on the

ubiquity of NORTHERN CARDINAL, with eBird and other reports of 87 individuals reported from 54 distinct locations,

mostly in HRM, Kings and Lunenburg, but also in every mainland county except Antigonish. Some reported local changes,

such as the first pair ever that briefly visited the Tufts’ long-active Wolfville Ridge feeder (JCT) May 30-21, but there were

no reported excursions as far as CBI. Many were also seen and photographed by our Facebook members, some excited to see

them for the first time. Two males, resident through spring near Conrose Pk., w. end Halifax, were persistently

‘countersinging’; that is, interpolating phrases in one another’s songs (Jeff MacLeod). Our rather sparsely breeding ROSE-

BREASTED GROSBEAK also offered excitement to feeder-watchers. The first was an adult male, Apr 16 in Lunenburg

(fide JAH), and the next were also males, Apr 20 at Hartlen Pt., HRM (DAC), and Apr 27 at Lr. Argyle, Yar (RDE). Then,

36 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

from May 9 to month’s end, an astonishing number was noted, mostly as single birds and often at feeders. From NatureNS,

eBird, and the Society’s Facebook group, I estimated a total of 130+ individuals, of which almost 50 were reported as males,

and only six as females. The latter are perhaps less detectable, but it is also known that male songbirds arrive earlier and are

more likely than females to overshoot their core ranges.

A SUMMER TANAGER at Linda Symonds' feeders at Newellton, CSI, May 4 (note the pale coverts tips and hint of

greenish on its belly, denoting a first-spring bird), and a BLUE GROSBEAK Apr 17 at the Kenefick’s feeders in

Riverport, Lun, were among the few of their kinds this spring. [Photos: left, Ron d’Entremont; right, Janice Kenefick]

Overshooting blues usually arrive with the above reds, but our only BLUE GROSBEAK was a single male, Apr 18-21at

Riverport, Lun (B. & J. Kenefick, ph. above). There was also no big fallout of INDIGO BUNTING this spring. The first were

single males Apr 17 at Wellington, Yar (fide JOS), and Port Bickerton, Guys (STH). They were followed by singles Apr 23-

29 at Beaver Hbr., HRM (Jackie Etheridge) and Apr 29 in Antigonish (Janice Brown). May brought an estimated 15 more

(NatureNS, NS-RBA and Facebook; only one on eBird), which is fewer than usual. Among them, ten were reported as males,

and two as females.

As a footnote to last winter’s only DICKCISSEL, Susann Myers reported that her Halifax feeder guest stayed to May 20,

well after an expected date of departure from its normal wintering grounds in South America.

Icterids to House Sparrow

By James Churchill

The first BOBOLINKS of the spring season were three found May 11 along the Aboiteau Rd., Cumb (Ian Murray), and they

trickled in over the next week (12 eBird reports of 16 birds). Then a larger influx occurred May 19: four reports of 12 birds in

Kings, Hants, Pict, and Cumb. There were a further 13 eBird reports of 49 individuals by the end of May.

Over 2800 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were reported between March and May. The earliest reported one this season,

Mar 12 at Woodville, Kings, and five more there Mar 16 (Daniel Penner), might have overwintered locally. A wave of

migrants occurred in later March, beginning Mar 21 with three in HRM, and by month’s end 30 more were reported in HRM,

Kings, and Lunenburg. Kathleen Spicer reported a flock of 45 on Apr 3 in the village of E. Apple River (Cumb). By mid-

May, about 30 were occupying Miners Marsh, Kentville (JAC, RBS). The spring’s only record of EASTERN

MEADOWLARK, presumably extirpated as a breeding bird here, was nicely confirmed (Robert Turner, ph. below) Apr 4 at

Lockeport. A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD that appeared May 19 at Carl Haycock’s feeders in Westport,

Brier I., was seen and photographed by several others up to ca. May 25.

This EASTERN MEADOWLARK, nicely

captured in flight at White Head, near

Lockeport, is readily confirmed as such by

its dark upperparts and extensively white

outer tail feathers. [Photo Robert Turner]

Six RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at Glenwood, Yar, had overwintered in the area (RDE) and a male at a Lunenburg feeder Mar 8-

30 (BBU, Charlene MacDonald), had presumably done so. Perhaps a male arriving Mar 30 at a Lr. Sackville, HRM, feeder

(LOC), and another that day singing his squeaky song from a spruce at Lr. West Pubnico (RDE) can be taken as first arrivals.

Seven seen Apr 19 by Nancy Dowd while canoeing on Minamkeak L., Lun, were certainly on breeding territory. There were

a dozen eBird reports totalling 19 birds in May. Kate Steele, Nova Scotia’s coordinator for the Rusty Blackbird Spring

Migration Blitz, reported that our ‘Rusty’ total for this period was up 188% relative to last year. This was certainly the result

of a greater search effort. Kate also reminds us that this is a three-year initiative continuing in 2015 and 2016. We are doing

great and have lots of time to hone our Rusty identification skills by next season.

More than 3800 COMMON GRACKLE were reported this spring. An early bird Mar 15 on Big Merigomish I., Pict, was

probably a migrant, as none had been reported from that county last winter (see last issue of Nova Scotia Birds). A group of

12 was seen in Hantsport on Mar 23 (JSI), and a further 13 at ten locations by month’s end. Daily visits by James Churchill to

Miners Marsh, Kentville, began Apr 1, and grackles were first detected there Apr 3. Two large peaks in eBird reports around

Apr 6 and Apr 11-13 likely represent a combination of influxes of birds and a ‘weekend effect’ – the tendency for more

“first” arrivals to be reported on weekends than weekdays. (See Courter et al. 2013. “Weekend bias in Citizen Science data

reporting: implications for phenology studies.” International Journal of Biometeorology 57 (5) 715-720.) The spring’s first

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at a feeder near Kentville Apr 3 (Larry Bogan) was followed the next day by one near

Pictou (Chris Morrison), and on Apr 5 by individuals at inland Brownsville, Pict (KJM); and at E. Apple River, Cumb (KFS).

Small numbers were then reported throughout the mainland, with a high number of nine noted Apr 27 in Kingston (Karen

Cook).

This strikingly plumaged COMMON GRACKLE

was a May 1 curiosity in a backyard in Hantsport.

The sharp demarcation between the retained melanin

in the head plumage indicates that the feather tracts

elsewhere lack black eumelanin but not the brown

pheomelanin pigments. [Photo Jack Price]

38 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Five ORCHARD ORIOLES this season included three different year-old males, one adult male, and one female. The first

two young males were noted May 5 at Wedgeport, Yar (Melvin Pothier, fide DAC) the next was found May 5 at a feeder on

CSI (JON) and seen up to May 14 (sev. obs., ph.); and the third was found May 9 in the Arcadia area, Yar, but apparently

present earlier (RIW, ph.). An adult male was in Westport, Brier I., May 22 (LNE, ph; CSS, CLS). The female was

photographed May 16 at the Hawk, CSI (RDE). The species is a near-annual overshoot beyond its main breeding range

extending to s.w. Maine, and breeding was confirmed once in w. NB, but not elsewhere during the 2006-2010 Maritimes

Breeding Bird Atlas. Three BALTIMORE ORIOLES were reported between May 8-10 in Shelburne and Yarmouth (three

obs.); several (including 3 ad. m.) were on Brier I. May 11-20 (sev. obs.); and several were seen between May 15 and 20 in

Kings and Pictou (sev. obs.). Incidentally, Kings and Pictou show the highest numbers of breeding records for Baltimores in

the recent Atlas as well.

This spring’s good show of ORCHARD ORIOLE is represented (from left)

by: a year-old male May 7 on CSI; a female May 16 on CSI; and an adult male

May 23 on Brier I. [Photos: two at left, Ron d’Entremont; at right, Larry Neily]

Most true ‘winter finches’ were sparse in the province during this spring-migration season, and only a single PINE

GROSBEAK was reported, May 13 along the Salt Marsh Tr., HRM (MZE). PURPLE FINCH was reported in fair numbers

throughout the season, with Wolfville said to have been “invaded by large numbers” Apr 2 (JWW), but the largest reported

eBird count was 18 on Apr 4, Marvins I., Lun (Maxine Quinton). Only a single HOUSE FINCH was observed: Apr 20 along

the Salt Marsh Tr., HRM (MZE). An eBird total of 23 RED CROSSBILLS included: one Mar 10 at Cross L., HRM (CHP);

seven in April (Pictou, Lunenburg, Kings); and 15 in May (Yarmouth, Lunenburg, Digby, Hants, HRM). Twelve WHITE-

WINGED CROSSBILLS were reported: singles Mar 18 and 20, in the Black R. and Greenfield area of Kings (RIW), and ten

at Diligent River, Cumb, May 10 (John Klymko). A single COMMON REDPOLL appearing Apr 8 at Fritz McEvoy’s

feeders in Sunrise Valley, Vic, was probably scooting north. There were only 12 eBird reports of 25 PINE SISKIN, but

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH was ubiquitous, with a high eBird count of 100 on the Gaspereau R. Tr., Kings, Apr 28 (RIW).

Both species of crossbill may be early nesters as

demostrated here by a male Red Crossbill

feeding his fully fledged youngster May 23 at

Hacketts Cove, HRM. [Photo Rachel Ramsey]

EVENING GROSBEAK eBird reports numbered 177from all mainland counties excluding Antigonish, Guysborough, and

Shelburne; none was reported on CBI

This full-plumaged male

EVENING GROSBEAK

May 11 at S. Williamston,

Anna, seems quite proud of

his undoubted feather

finery. [Photo Julie Mann]

A total of 311 HOUSE SPARROWS was reported, with a maximum of 20 at feeders on Vienna St., Halifax in

March (SEM).

List of Contributors Represented by Initials. Names of other contributors are spelled out in full in the reports.

AAD D’Entremont, Alix A.

AGH Horn, Andrew

AHM Mills, Anne H.

ALM Murrant, Allan

AND Dean, Andy

BRS Stevens, Bruce

BBU Burke, Bernard

BEC Crowell, Beverly

BID Digout, Billy

BLF Forsythe, Bernard

BKW Woodworth, Brad K.

BLM Maybank, Blake

CAM Murrant, Cathy

CHK Kendell, Charlie

CHP Pepper, Chris

CLS Stevens, Clarence L.

CSS Steven Clarence S.

CST Stoddard, Clyde

DAC Currie, David

DAM MacNeill, Don

DAW Walmark, David

DBM McCorquodale, David B.

DGA Garratt, Dennis

DMC Cormier, Dominic

DOU Doull, Elizabeth

eBird eBird Online Checklist

ELM Mills, Eric L.

FMC McEvoy, Fritz

GFO Forsythe, George

HAT Toom, Hans

HID Dionne, Hillary

JAH Hirtle, James

JBO Ogden, Jeff

JCT Tufts, Judith C.

JED Edsall, Jim

JLC Churchill, James L.

JOK Kearney, John

JON Nickerson, John

JOS Sollows, John

JSB Bleakney, J. Sherman

JSI Simpson, James

JWW Wolford, Jim

KAM MacAuley, Kathleen

KEL Lantz, Kevin

KFS Spicer, Kathleen

KJM McKenna, Ken J.

KST Steele, Kate

LNE Neily, Larry

40 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

LOC Codling, Lois

MCR Rice, Maggie

MMI Millard, Margaret

MUN Newell, Murray

MZE Zelenietz, Marty

NAD Dowd, Nancy

NIF Fieldsend, Nic

PAC Comeau, Peter

PAO Matteuci, Paolo

PHT Taylor, Phil

PMC McKay, Pat

PMU Murray, Paul

RBS Stern, Richard

RDE d'Entremont, Ron

RIV Viau, Rita

RIW Whitman, Rick

ROH Hall, Ross

RSM MacDonald, Robert S.

SAB Abbot, Sue

SEM Myers, Susann

SJF Fulleron, Sylvia J.

STV Vine, Steve

SYP Penner, Sydney

TEB Boswell, Terry

WPN Neily, Wayne

Valley Birding, March 9, 2014

Patrick Kelly

This joint Blomidon Naturalists–Nova Scotia Bird Society field trip normally happens when spring has actually begun. That

was definitely not the case this year! The weather was brisk and most of the places where we usually find some open water

were still frozen over, and so we didn't expect to see many waterfowl. Having done this trip a number of times, I decided not

to bother dragging my camera around with me; a mistake I won't repeat!

As usual, we met at the Wolfville waterfront; we were a small but diverse group. As nesting raptors are one of the main

features of this trip, we headed towards Grand Pré and stopped first near Eye Rd., which gives a great view of a large eagle

nest, south of Highway 1. There was an eagle in the nest as well as one nearby in the tree, which really helped us appreciate

just how large a long-used eagle nest can become. From there we went to Evangeline Beach where we managed to see a

number of Red-breasted Mergansers fly past. It was a short hop to the western end of Long Island Road where a pair of

eagles (both of whom were there) were starting a new nest in a large tree overlooking the dykeland.

We then headed towards Canning along the back roads and as we approached the Wellington Dyke from the south I realised I

should have brought my camera. As the lead car, I slowed down before getting to the actual dyke, expecting the water behind

it to be solid ice. My attention turned to a bird in the small clump of birch trees on the left side of the road. It looked sort of

like a Blue Jay, but when it flew to a birch tree on the right side of the road (and directly in front of my now-stopped car), I

realised it was a Northern Shrike. I have done a fair bit of winter birding, mostly for the Wolfville and West Hants Christmas

Bird Counts, and several shrikes always show up… just never in an area that I have covered. So this was a life bird for me . . .

and I didn't have my camera! After most people got a good view of it, the shrike flew back into the clump of trees on the

other side of the road, and was quite happy to pose for pictures. It was a life bird for others in the group as well, so we stayed

there for some time. It hadn't moved at all by the time we left for Canning.

This lingering NORTHERN SHRIKE was a

nice find near Cannng, during the Mar 9 annual

Valley Birding Field trip. [Photo Chris Peters]

At the park in Canning, there was another treat in store. A Merlin was perched on a branch overlooking the main street; it

was quite content to sit there despite Mourning Doves at a feeder on the river side of the buildings and a number more in the

trees on the far side. From there we went back along Church Street and stopped at the reliable Red-tailed Hawk nest that is in

a large conifer next to a house. One Red-tail was active in the area and we all got great views of it. Our next stop was the

home of Richard Stern. Richard was unable to make the trip but had generously offered his house as a place where those who

brought lunches could partake of them, and where we might get a chance to see the cardinals that frequent his back yard.

While the cardinals did not put in an appearance, the antics of some Ring-necked Pheasants made up for it, and we saw some

White-throated Sparrows. After we left, Richard went to the Wellington Dyke and found the shrike still there, but it flew off

as soon as Richard took out his camera!

Our last stop was Miners Marsh in Kentville. Some in the group had heard of it but were not sure of its location. I had seen a

pair of cardinals in a large rambling rosebush there in February, and I was hoping they might still be in the vicinity. We didn't

see the cardinals, but we were surprised to have a great view of a Pileated Woodpecker that flew over our heads while we

were on the path on the north side. It went into the trees behind us and we could glimpse it from time to time as well as hear

another one calling. When it finally flew deeper into the woods, we decided to bring our trip to a close. Given the cold

weather, I was surprised that we ended up with a respectable 24 species: American Black Duck, Mallard, Red-breasted

Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull,

Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Blue Jay, American

Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, European Starling, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow,

White-throated Sparrow and American Goldfinch.

“Pledge to Fledge” event, April 27, 2014

By Andy Dean

On this late April Sunday, I joined a morning outing to the Wolfville Watershed Nature Preserve. The event was organized by

Karen McKendry from the Nova Scotia Nature Trust/Young Naturalists Club, and by Kate Steele from the Nova Scotia Bird

Society.

42 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Bird expert Richard Stern is adept

at getting the word out, so there

was a good turnout for the outing.

We all gathered at the parking lot

of the Preserve and prepared to set

out for two hours in the wilderness.

Just as we started out, Dr. Stern

pointed out the call of a Northern

Flicker, and then the bird itself.

The purpose of the outing is epitomized in the

image at left; an expert introduces a beginner to

the fun and fascinating hobby of bird watching.

The motley crew continued on its way and pretty soon found some busy Black-capped Chickadees. The area we traversed

contained many rotten trees that were home for colorful fungi, but it was pretty much devoid of birds (many migrants were

late this year).

Next we came to the large lake, peaceful, serene, and quite beautiful, but once again lacking bird variety; in fact the only

movement occurred when a flock of four ducks flew in to land on the very distant end of the water, so far as to be barely

visible to the naked eye. Nonetheless, the bevy of high-powered optical devices soon ascertained them to be four drake

Mallards.

An elevated vantage point and binoculars

worked well for the little one at right.

.

There were many obvious indications that beavers had been busy and in fact they had a substantial dam built across the outlet

of the lake that we had to traverse carefully. A Winter Wren was singing at one point, as were some purple finches, and a

Ruffed Grouse “drummed” several times

The trip proved a very worthwhile learning experience with much lovely color and signs of spring for good measure . . . and

the young ones had a barrel of fun in the process. The bird list was not very imposing with just eleven species seen and/or

heard. But as a vehicle to connect young folk with the experience of us older codgers it worked very well, and a good time

was had by all. We must do it again when more birds return.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Fred Dobson Warbler Walk, May 16, 2014

By Terry Boswell.

This outing, which honours Fred Dobson, its long-time leader in earlier years, featured delightful weather, so the few people

that turned out had a wonderful time. We saw a total of 23 species, which surprisingly included only four warbler species –

Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula and Magnolia. Some highlights of the day were a nice close-up of a

female Black-backed Woodpecker, a pair of Turkey Vultures in the distance over the lake and the beautiful, complex song of

two or more Winter Wrens. We also heard the sound of a Ruffed Grouse "starting up the generator", as described by one of

the trip participants. The resident of the first house at the head of Big Indian Road came out to meet us and commented on the

lack of Tree Swallows, for which he has provided a number of nest boxes and which were, unfortunately, all vacant. No

swallows of any species were seen on the trip.

The NORTHERN PARULA (this

one May 6 at Belleville, Yar) is not

only one of our most beautiful spring

warblers, but is readily found by is

loud, persistent and distinctive

singing. [Photo Ron D’Entremont]

44 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

First Bedford Scout Troop Nest Box Building Project

By Kate Steele & Chris Pepper

Last January, the Nova Scotia Bird Society was approached by the First Bedford Scout Troop to contribute to their “Things

with Wings” theme. They were hoping to find a way to improve habitat for birds and bats at their property around Soldier

`Lake, HRM, and were wondering if we had any good suggestions. Their camp property sounded like a prime location to

erect nest boxes for birds, and it seemed a great opportunity for our society to engage a younger generation.

First we gave a PowerPoint presentation on importance of

the nest boxes to several species, the tools and materials

needed to build boxes, and what species you might expect

to use the boxes provided. Next, one of the leaders

generously offered a workshop for the boxes to be built,

and the NS Bird Society bought and delivered the wood

and hardware.

We were able to build, in one evening: 17 boxes of a size

to fit Tree Swallow or chickadees, three boxes suitable for

Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, or Northern Saw-whet

Owl, and one large box tailored to fit Common Merganser

or Barred Owl! Finally, the Scouts spent two cold (and

off-and-on rainy) April nights in tents and lean-tos at their

camp property. We arrived one afternoon to help put up

all the boxes, but opted to go home and sleep in a warm

house.

The young scouts are shown at left displaying some of

their impressive achievements.

The project allowed the Scouts to

meet requirements for several

badges – building, co-operation,

and habitat improvement.

Hopefully they have created homes

for several of our feathered friends

as well! In the photos below, the

box at left is being installed, and

the large one at right shows the

hinged front for inspection and

cleaning out at season’s end.

An Account of Unusual Behaviour of Common Loon

By Ross Hall

Linda Giddens, who has a farm house on Little Dyke Lake, Col, and is a close observer of the Common Loon has provided

some chronology of their arrival and raising of young on inland lakes. She has also documented some very unexpected

Common Loon behaviours. On Mar 16, 2014, she emailed me that there was enough ice-free water and a Common Loon had

returned to the lake, and its mate returned next day. In 2013 the mate was two weeks later in arriving, and I wondered then to

Linda then if the pair had not seen each other since after their fall departure, or that perhaps a new pair bond had taken place.

Apparently it is true that pair members do migrate separately and winter in different locales. In spring, pair members return to

breeding lakes separately. Courtship consists of short, synchronous dives, circle swimming, and bill dipping. In 7% of the

cases, one of the mates does not return and the other mate quickly finds a new mate (passive occupation). In other instances,

there may be intrasexual contests resulting in one pair member being usurped. (This information is from: Evers, D, C., J. D.

Paruk, J. W. Mcintyre and J. F. Barr. 2010. Common Loon (Gavia immer), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole,

Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online:

http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/313)

On June 11, 2014, Linda again emailed:

“I mowed a stretch across the wheat field on Monday night, and the loon chicks came over last night and this

morning. Yes, we have two fuzzy black, tiny, chicks in the lake!”

Her message is no doubt confusing without an explanation. A resident Common Loon pair each year builds a nest within a

Ducks Unlimited Marsh, which as the crow flies is 200 m from the lake. This marsh is very shallow and has deep organic

bottom sediments, and thus is not a good place to protect young loons from aerial predators or for adults to dive for food.

Little Dyke Lake, surrounded by cottages, on the other hand has no nesting opportunity but has deep water and fish. In 1999,

while I was still a Regional Biologist with DNR, Linda Giddens and I discovered that a very small loon chick had

miraculously moved from the DU Marsh to the lake. On June 18, 1999 the loon pair and a very small chick were on the DU

marsh. On June 24 the chick appeared on the lake.

This often unsuccessful switch of loon chicks from the marsh to the lake has continued yearly, to the present. We speculated

that if the loons walk across, they must traverse an agriculture field and then a cottage property to the lake. In some years

Linda reported distress calls from the adult loons and a subsequent absence and suspected death of the young. In other years

chicks did arrive at the lake. In 2005 a mowed path was created through the farm field. Proof came that indeed the loons did

walk the distance. On June 23, 2006 Linda wrote:

“When I left for work this morning, I knew that something was up with the loons: lots of sound effects, and flying

back and forth from the Duck Pond to the lake. I phoned a neighbour to see if they could keep an eye out for the

chicks in the field, but could only leave a message. I stopped at the field and noticed that a large John Deere

tractor was arranging the round bales of hay, and I hoped it was not the cause of distress in the loons. At 11:30, I

received an e-mail saying the loon chicks were safely in the lake. I jumped up and down with that news! Here's

the best part: when I reached home, I noticed that the tractor was still in the field arranging the bales, so I stopped

to ask him if he had noticed any loon activity this morning. He told me that an adult loon had walked across the

field with the two chicks, using the path we had created, while another adult loon flew overhead. He noticed that

the adult loon was limping (I responded that she wasn't supposed to be able to walk), and that the three of them

got to the lake safely. He confirmed that this happened between 8 AM and 10 AM; his name is Robert Glen, and

as far as I know, he still lives on the Staples Brook Road not far from Debert (3 miles?). As far as we know, no

one has ever seen this passage take place before, and now we have proof that not only do the chicks walk, but an

adult accompanies them. My guess is that the loon chicks were eight days old when they walked the distance

(400+ meters).” [Measured on an air photo it is a straight 200 metres.]

46 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Further proof came June 12, 2010, when Linda wrote

“The loons and two chicks made their arrival yesterday morning, around 9 AM, observed by Bill and Bonnie

Wilson. They came a different route, and crossing the carrot rows was a challenge. According to them, the

assumed mother would propel itself over three rows and wait for the little ones to catch up, all the time

exchanging sounds with them. A crow tried to attack the little ones, but Bonnie scared it away. They crossed at

this end, going through the Richardson’s lawn under their swing set. The father hooted for them while in transit,

and was waiting for them at the point where they entered the lake. They have photos. The chicks are very young,

probably not quite a week old. We marvel how they were able to climb the bank, before starting their attack of

the carrot field.” [A steep bank rises out of the marsh onto the field.]

Bill and Bonnie Wilson did indeed obtain amazing photographs of a rarely observed event. The parent and young loons first

climbed a steep bank from the Ducks Unlimited Marsh. They then made a difficult journey pushing over newly planted carrot

rows. In some years the agriculture field has a growing crop. Since 2005 Linda Giddens has mown a path between the two

water bodies. In 2014 Ducks Unlimited even cleared some brush so that the loons can more easily climb out of the marsh.

The longest stretch

for the parent and

chicks is across an

agricultural field.

The loon parent is

hardly well equipped

for walking; its splayed

legs were pushing it

across the short grass.

The chicks have the

advantage of less mass,

but probably much less

stamina.

The last stretch is through

a cottage property on the

shore of Little Dyke Lake.

It is hard to believe that this behavior occurs and has occurred here from or before 1999. We wonder, with the passage of 15

years, whether the loons that make this passage are the original loons or is knowledge passed on? There is little literature that

describes other instances of this behavior. Northland College in Wisconsin participates in Common Loon research and has a

web site that answers Frequently Asked Questions about Loons. http://www.northland.edu/sigurd-olson-environmental-

institute-loon-watch-FAQs.htm They show that others have experienced this behaviour in answering the following question:

Do loons move their chicks across land from one lake to another? Their answer is: “Yes, sometimes adult loons will lead or

call their chicks from their nest lake to a forage lake. This seems to happen most often when the nest is on a small lake close

to a much larger lake where the adults prefer to feed.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Possible Common Snipe Wintering in Cape Breton Island, with Comments on ID Issues

By Ian A. McLaren and David B. McCorquodale

Wilson’s Snipe, long taken as a subspecies of Common Snipe, was ‘split’ from that Old World species by the AOU in 2002.

As noted in a previous issue of Nova Scotia Birds (2012, vol. 55, issue 2, p.18), a snipe photographed in Feb 2013 at an open

stream in Gardiner Mines, CBRM, “. . . seemed to have some features of the Eurasian COMMON SNIPE. However, the

image was judged inconclusive, although perhaps worth future analysis.” The Common Snipe had long only been known in

Canada from a specimen collected in Labrador in 1927 (Holder and Trimble 2003). Then in February 2011, two Common

Snipe were discovered by Bruce Mactavish at Ferryland, about 60 km (as the bird flies) south of St. John’s NL (see account

in the Blog by David Brown, <http://birdingnewfoundland.blogspot.ca/2011/02/common- snipe.html>). Another was found

Jan 11, 2014 by Bruce Mactavish at the same place. (see <http://brucemactavish1.blogspot.ca/2014/01/common-snipe-

confirmed-ferryland.html>). Both birds were seen and photographed by others and amply confirmed as Common Snipe.

Since the Common Snipe nests commonly in Iceland, and is “more or less annual” in Greenland (Boertmann 1994), it is

probably more frequent here as a vagrant than has been recognized. However, it is not easily identified in the field, and

critical identification involves features that are not readily photographed. As is usually the case, in some recent ‘splits’

between closely related Eurasian and North American species, the first published analyses have been done in Europe, in this

case by Rowlands et al (2009). Here we analyze images of two snipe photographed in Gardiner Mines, CBRM, not to confirm

a record of Common Snipe, but to alert readers to be on the lookout for vagrants of that species and to describe the

photographic evidence needed for substantiation.

The first snipe of interest was seen photographed by Eric Boutilier Feb 17, 2013, and again Feb 24 in Gardiner Mines,

CBRM, and images were sent to David McCorquodale on the latter date. The snipe was regularly seen along the edge of the

unfrozen creek that flowed between two houses. The creek flowed from the lawns into shrubby willows and poplar between

the houses and nearby Lingan Bay. The photos show the colour contrast between the largely snow covered lawns and

driveways, the grey of the bush and the relatively lush green of the vegetation in the creek bed. Tuma Young and Dave

McCorquodale saw the snipe briefly on the afternoon of Feb 26; attempts by the former to photograph it over the next few

days were unsuccessful.

48 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

A year later, on February 22, 2014, Eric Boutilier observed two snipe along the same creek. Later that day Dave

McCorquodale saw both from a car. He noticed the very yellow-buff colour with little contrast on the back of one snipe,

whereas the other had more contrast in the light and dark markings on the back and little or no yellow tones. The yellower

snipe also appeared larger. Within a minute the yellower snipe moved down the creek and was obscured by the bushes. Two

snipe were seen along the creek through March 2014. During the blizzard on April 1, 2014, three snipe were seen.

Photographs were taken by Eric Boutilier and Gail Bisson in early March.

The photograph obtained Feb 17, 2013 (top of Fig. 1) is cropped and greatly enlarged from the whole-frame image (insert).

The upper image was brightened by adjusting the sunlit grass in the foreground to approximate the true sunlit tones of the

same grassy areas as determined from later photos of the habitat (courtesy Tuma Young); the image has also had the obvious

excess blue removed from the original. The bird at bottom left is cropped from the sharpest of several photos of one snipe at

the same site Mar 2, 2014. It has been sharpened and arbitrarily brightened from the underexposed original, but not colour-

manipulated. The image of the very different snipe at the site Mar 7, 2014 (bottom right), was cropped but not otherwise

modified from the original photo.

Figure 1. Three images of snipe photographed at a partly open stream in

Gardiner Mines, CBI. Top, Feb 17, 2013; bottom left, Mar 2, 2014; bottom

right, Mar 7, 2014. The insert at top shows the 2013 bird in the original

uncropped, unbrightened image, with an arrow indicating the bird. The insert at

bottom shows an apparent difference in size of the two snipes photographed Mar

2, 2014. The arrows in the images point to differences between tertial barring

patterns. [Photos: top, and bottom left, Eric Boutilier; bottom right, Gail Bisson]

In these images, the very warm plumage tones on the birds at top and at bottom left are obvious compared with the one at

bottom right. Indeed, as Bruce Mactavish stressed in his account of the recent snipe in Newfoundland (blog address above),

the “overall yellow colour while probably on the extreme side for Common Snipe is unlike the colder colours of the Wilson’s

Snipe.” A wide survey of images on the Internet indicates that such plumage, especially the broad, distinctly yellow-buff

inner back stripe (outer margins of upper scapulars) is characteristic of some, but not all, individuals of the Common Snipe

subspecies faeroensis which breeds in Iceland, Spitsbergen, and islands north of the U.K. We have not found this feature on

web-available images of Wilson’s Snipe. However, in summer 2014, Kate Messer photographed a presumed Wilson’s Snipe

at an extensive Marsh at Brookfield, Col, that appeared to have at least one decidedly buffy, although narrow, back stripe

(Fig. 2).

Figure 2. This presumed

WILSON’S SNIPE, July 21, 2014,

at Brookfield, Col, has a buffy

back stripe, characteristic of some

Common Snipe of subspecies

faeroensis. However its equally

narrow dark and pale tertial stripes

are typical of Wilson’s Snipe.

[Photo Kate Messer]

Some further features can be noted on the images. Potential field marks of the two species have been analysed in numbers of

publications since they were ‘split’ in 2002, and some tentative differences have been discussed and dismissed as having too

much overlap between the species. An excellent summary with illustrations is in the recent book by Howell et al. (2014). The

Common Snipe averages larger, and the size difference of the 2014 birds, noted in the field by Dave McCorquodale, is

evident in the lower insert of Fig. 1. The photo of the 2013 bird is back-lit and the bird's left side is probably underexposed,

and its wind-ruffled back plumage is difficult to interpret. However, note that on its exposed tertial (arrow) the narrow dark

bars are separated by noticeably wider pale bars. Similar tertial barring (arrow, bottom left) is present on the 2014 individual,

although in that image, the pale bars appear colder-toned. By contrast, the snipe at bottom right has relatively broader pale

bars. The broad and narrow pale bars of the tertials respectively distinguish most Common and Wilson’s Snipe, but a survey

of Internet images reveals some overlap. Less pronounced barring on the flanks of the Common Snipe is said to be another

distinguishing feature. However, the flanks of the Feb 19 (2013) and Mar 2 (2014) birds may show somewhat broader dark

stripes than the ones on the presumed Wilson’s Snipe (July 21, 2014) shown above, but their contrast from the pale

background may be compromised by shading.

The consensus in recent literature seems to be that definitive differences between the two species can only be obtained from

photographs of the spread tails to show the differences in width and barring patterns on the outer rectrices, or from

photographs of the spread wings to show the broader white tips of secondaries and more widely spaced dark bars on the

underwing of Common Snipe. Such photographs of any ‘suspicious’ snipe here in winter would help sort out the

possibilities.

Boertmann, D. 1994. An annotated checklist to the birds of Greenland. Meddelelser om Grønland Bioscience 38: 1-63.

Holder, M., and J.Trimble. 2003. A review of Canada’s only record of Common Snipe. Birders Journal 12:123-127.

Howell, S.N.G., I. Lewington, and W. Russell. 2014. Rare Birds of North America. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ

and Oxford, U.K.

Rowlands, A., B.J. Small, and C. Bradshaw. 2009. Identification of Wilson’s Snipe and assessment of the first British record.

British Birds 102: 425-434.

50 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 56, Issue 3

Birds in Our Past

Snippets by Eric Ruff from the Yarmouth Herald at the end of the last century again reflect different interests and

sensibilities in those days: the robin story is again focused on the then-pestiferous House Sparrow; the swallow story again

promotes a utilitarian view of birds; and the tale of Great Auk eggs shows that avid bird collectors then were willing and able

to spend as much or more on their hobby than world-travelling birders today; note that $800 then would be equivalent to

about $32,000 today.

January 11, 1888

June 11, 1890

Erratum. The last issue (Vol. 56, Issue 3)

included a figure caption (p. 30) with a new

species, Yellow-legged Blackbird, hopefully

recognisable as a Yellow-headed Blackbird.

This error was introduced after our Copy

Editor had vetted the issue, and was entirely

the fault of your Production Editor.

June 18, !890