Nova Scotia Birds - NS Bird Society · Director B. Haley Membership Secretary Ulli Hoeger Director...

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

Summer Season 2017 Volume 59, Issue 4

Board 2016-2017 President David Currie

Vice President Eric Mills

Treasurer Gillian Elliott

Secretary Kate Steele

Director B. Haley

Membership Secretary Ulli Hoeger

Director Angie Millard

Director Tony Millard

Director Chris Pepper

Director Helene Van Doninck

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: [email protected] Find us on Facebook Web: nsbirdsociety.ca

Rare Bird Alert: https://groups.yahoo.com/NS-RBA/

The PEREGRINE FALCON is arguably the

most impressive of our ‘regular’ raptors. This

one was not nesting, but perched on an empty

nest of one of the kittiwakes breeding on

Pearl I., Lun, June 3 [Photo by Jason Dain]

Published Febuary 2018; ISSN 0383-9537

Editor’s Foreword 1

Bird Society News 2 President’s Report 2

Summer Bird Reports 3

Waterfowl 4

Galliformes 6

Loons and Grebes 6

Tubenoses through Cormorants 7

Herons and Relatives 9

Diurnal Raptors 10

Rallids and Crane 12

Shorebirds 13

Skuas through Terns 14

Doves through Woodpeckers 16

Flycatchers through Thrushes 18

Mimic-Thrushes through Warblers 22

Sparrows to Dickcissel and chat 25

Icterids to House Sparrow 27

List of Contributors 29

Other Reports 29

mailto:[email protected]

Volume 59, Issue 4 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS 1

Editor

Ian McLaren

Address below

Copy-Editor

Elizabeth Doull

Proof-Reader

Susann Myers

Section Editors

Andy de Champlain

Alix d’Entremont

Ross Hall

John Loch

Ken McKenna

Ian McLaren

Jake Walker

Rick Whitman

Records Editor

Lance Laviolette (direct reports to NSBS)

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

[email protected]

eBird records management for NS Birds

Keith Lowe

Banner Artist & Line Art

Trevor Herriot

Future Photo submissions to:

Alix d’Entremont [email protected]

Other Items for publication (to late winter 2017-18)

Ian McLaren [email protected]

Use of written material or photos from Nova Scotia Birds

needs permission from either the editor or the

photographer.

Cost of this publication is partly provided by the Nova

Scotia Museum of Natural History.

Editor’s Foreword

By Ian McLaren

This is my ‘swan song’ as editor. I still have the interest

and some energy to carry on, but after so many years, it is

time to hand over the task to those who are more fully

engaged in observing, recording, and studying the birds of

our province. It has also become more difficult, with so

many individuals and steps involved, to produce the final

versions of our quarterly on time; the tardiness of the

current issue is a measure of this. It is also increasingly

clear that eBird has become the permanent repository for

bird records throughout much of the world, and will be

increasingly used as a basis for analyses of special events

and population trends in our birdlife. I still cling to the

notion that our seasonal accounts in Nova Scotia Birds

should continue to be the ‘last word’ on our bird records:

adding to, correcting, and sometimes contradicting the

voluminous online information and images that appear

daily on eBird and various social media. Therefore, NS

Birds is an important archive that should be consulted

first, before blindly digging into and using online reports

for future analyses.

Nonetheless, it is time for change. We need to sharpen the

focus of our seasonal reports to include less repetition and

uncritical comparisons of online numbers, and more

analysis of what these numbers might mean. This could

lead to a reduction in length of the seasonal reports;

accordingly, we need to add more material to the back

pages (the Other Reports) to serve the interests of our

members, but also to host more penetrating analyses of

unusual bird records that have been reported online. The

back pages of this issue include three such examples: a

review of a particularly readable book on important issues

in bird conservation; an entertaining account of a group

visit to a provincially exotic birding locale; and a detailed

analysis of a confusing meadowlark early this summer on

Cape Sable Island.

Mais où sont les neiges d'antan? Head of Ney Hbr.,

Nunavut, June 9, 1957. [Photo by Bernice McLaren]

mailto:[email protected]

2 NOVA SCOTIA BIRDS Volume 59, Issue 4

President's Report - Summer 2017 By David A. Currie

Trichomoniasis, also known as Trichomonosis, became the big story related to birds over the summer. This disease, mainly

affecting finches and primarily Purple Finches, is caused by a microscopic parasite called Trichomonas gallinae and is passed

from a sick bird to a healthy bird by direct contact, or picked up in places where sick birds have left infected feces or saliva. It

also can be present in wet or moist areas like bird baths, wet grass or damp seeds, where it can survive for longer periods, and

increasing the chances of transmission.

Maritimers first became aware of this disease in 2007-2008, which until then had been well known in Europe, where it

infected and reduced numbers of Common Chaffinch and other birds. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC)

did necropsies on infected birds and confirmed the disease in several finches, mostly Purple Finches at the time. In 2007, the

disease was declared as an emerging disease in Atlantic Canada.

In summer 2017 we first started seeing sick birds by mid-June (two weeks earlier than in past years) and it became evident

that the disease was widespread and severe. With the help from personnel of the CWHC at the Atlantic Veterinarian College,

especially Flip DeBie, I was able to get updates on their findings and information on the severity of the problem, and thereby

relay that information to people through our website and social media platforms. By the time fall approached, I had given

about 40 media interviews, including on CBC National News, and that resulted in thousands of Atlantic Canadians removing

their feeders to help reduce the spread.

We should expect that we will see the disease, with different degrees of severity, every year now. The early and very warm

June weather, and mild temperatures late in the year allowed the parasite to thrive, and sick and dying birds were being

reported into November. The disease will need to be watched for as June 2018 approaches to gauge its severity and see if we

will have to face decisions to feed or not to feed through the summer months. We hope to be able to share some suggestions

to reduce the spread of this parasite before June, and will report outbreak information on our website and Facebook page as

we get it. I will be in touch with Flip DeBie with CWHC for updates from them as well as Purple Finches return in numbers

in spring. Meantime here is a link to the CWHC website which has much more information on this subject including tips and

information about other wildlife health issues: <http://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/trichomonosis.php> Please report any sick or dying

birds to the CWHC, sign up for automated emails on alerts and educate yourself about this threat, as well as what precautions

you can take to continue to enjoy the birds in your back gardens.

Here’s what a healthy adult male PURPLE

FINCH in fresh breeding plumage should

look like. [Photo by David Currie]

http://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/trichomonosis.php


The above map gives the names and a list of abbreviations used in the seasonal reports of all the counties (always in italics)

of Nova Scotia, along with names of some larger, or otherwise often-mentioned, cities, towns, and islands (two of them with

abbreviations). County names are abbreviated when part of a bird location or date, but spelled out when stand-alone in the

text. Other well-known communities (most on the above map) may be used without their counties or municipalities. This also

applies to larger urban units within Halifax (e.g. Bedford, Dartmouth, Sackville) and Cape Breton (e.g. N. Sydney, Glace

Bay, New Waterford). Months with dates are also given standard abbreviations, but again spelled out when stand-alone.

Below is a list of frequently used abbreviations and acronyms to save space, generally when given in parentheses. Also,

cardinal and ordinal compass directions may be abbreviated (as w., n.e., etc.), and are capitalized when part of a place name.

Bird names in the Seasonal Reports are in full caps when first mentioned and rare ones (those missing or with asterisks on the

NSBS Field Checklist, 2014) in bold font. Other terms, abbreviations, and frequently used place names used in preparing the

seasonal reports are listed on the next page.


General terms (some used mostly in parentheses)

ABO = Atlantic Bird Observatory (reports from)

AHY = After hatch year; one or more years after birth

AOS = American Ornithologists’ Society (former “Union”)

ad. = adult

Atlas, or MBBA = Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas

BBS = Breeding Bird Survey

Bch. = Named Beach, beach

Brk.= Named brook

ca. = approximately

CBC = Christmas Bird Count

DU = Ducks Unlimited (wetlands)

f. = female

fide = on the authority of

g.d. = good details

Hbr. = Named harbour

Hwy(s) = Highway(s) usually numbered

HY = hatch year; a bird born in the current year

I. = Nsmed island (pl. Is.)

imm. = immature

incl. = including

juv. = juvenile (first post-nestling plumage)

loc. = location, locality (pl. locs.)

Lr. = Lower (for named communities)

m. = male

MBS = Migratory Bird Sanctuary (federal)

Mid. = Middle (for named communities)

m. obs. = many observers

n.d. = no details (unsupported by adequate documentation)

no. = number

nr. = geographically near

NSBS = Nova Scotia Bird Society

obs. = observer(s); not observed or observation(s)

Pen. = Peninsula

ph. = photographed

Pk. = Park

PP = Provincial Park

Pt. = Point (not Port)

pr. = pair (not simply two birds or a ‘twosome’)

R. = River (spelled out if in a community name)

Rd. = Road

rept. = report (pl. repts.)

repeated (mostly eBird) = reported in the same location by

observers on successive days

replicated (mostly eBird) = reported by members of a group at

the same place and time time.

SARA = Species at Risk Act, listing status in Canada

spec. = specimen

SY = second year; born in the previous year

Tr. = Named trail

Up. = Upper (for named communities)

var. obs. = various observers

yng. = young

+ or ++ with numbers = more; with dates = later

< > = less (or fewer) than, greater (or more) than

Frequently birded locations (counties not needed)

APMBS = Amherst Point Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Cumb

Belleisle Marshes = e. of Annapolis Royal

Cape Sable, Shel; not to be confused with CSI

CBHNP = Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Conrad Bch. (largely a PP; central coast of Hfx)

CSI = Cape Sable I., Shel

French Basin Tr. = Trail around marsh in Annapolis

Royal.

Hartlen Pt. = e. edge of Eastern Passage, Hfx.

Keji NP = Kejimkujik National Park

Keji Seaside NP = Kejimkujik Seaside National Park

NW Arm, Halifax = Northwest Arm, Halifax.

PPP, Halifax = Point Pleasant Park, Halifax Peninsula

Saltmarsh Tr., Hfx = Former rail track across Cole Hbr.

Uniacke PP = Mt. Uniacke Estate Museum Pk., Hants

___________________________________________________________________________________

Waterfowl By Ross Hall

Paul Gould photographed a BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK as it flew past Baccaro Peninsula June 9. Then

David M. Bell found a group of ten of this rare vagrant on the lawn of a house on Slade Crescent in Musquodoboit Hbr., Hfx,

June 18 (photo below). A local resident later indicated that they had been present in the area from June 10, so it seems

probable that the one off Baccaro Peninsula was part of the same event. Our first record of a long-staying Black-bellied

Whistling Duck in spring-summer 1998 turned out to have escaped from captivity; and a group of nine at Country Hbr.,

Guys, in late spring 2008 was seen by only a few birders. To the delight of many Nova Scotia birders, this summer’s group

stayed in Musquodoboit Harbour until they disappeared after June 22, often perched on a rooftop or feeding on lawns, and

they provided some great photo opportunities. The wild origin of this group is beyond dispute. The species is known for

wandering in groups far from its breeding range in s. USA, and David Bell established that the halluces (‘hind’ toes, often

clipped in captive waterfowl) of some were intact. (And a stunning flight photo of one bird taken June 21 by Roger Herrett, also shows them as unclipped.). Also pertinent may be a group of six found at Lanaudière, north of Montréal, in early July

this summer.


All ten BLACK-BELLIED

WHISTLING-DUCKS (count

them, including a largely one

hidden near dead centre) in

Musquodoboit Harbour, Hfx, were

captured in this photo on discovery

day, June 18. The insert of the very

distant individual off Baccaro

Peninsula, June 9, is quite enough

to show the unmistakable features

of the species. [Photo by: David M.

Bell; insert Paul R. Gould]

A few BRANT lingered on CSI; 14 were counted at The Hawk June 3 (MCD) and a single bird at Daniels Head July 15-16

(MCD). CANADA GOOSE was found almost everywhere, with numerous reports. Fully fledged young (capable of flying)

were noted by the first week of July. The 146 eBird reports of WOOD DUCK included many replicates. Good locations for

them were: along French Basin Tr., and Belleisle Marsh; the Antigonish sewage lagoons; the Tower Rd. lagoon, CB;

Brookfield Wetland and Nature Trail, Col; several Cumberland wetlands; Sir Flemming Park, Halifax; New Minas and Port

Williams sewage lagoons; and several Pictou locations. George Forsyth placed a Wood Duck nest box at the Port Williams

sewage lagoons last fall and found a female with five very small young there June 14. Of the 26 eBird reports of BLUE-

WINGED TEAL, 13 were from the Cumberland marshes. Greg Stroud found one on Sable I. (where they have often nested)

June14-16. A female with ten young and another with four young were found at Port Joli MBS, July 16 (Megan Boucher, Jay

Weeks). There were 37 eBird reports, often replicated, of NORTHERN SHOVELER. Twenty-four of those reports were

from the Amherst area wetlands. Ten of 11 eBird reports from Annapolis were of birds along French Basin Tr., including 12

ducklings there June 14 (Glenn Kincaid). More unusual were a report of four adults and two young in a roadside pond near

the CBHNP in Inverness, 15 June (Tom O’Malley), and of two individuals at McCormacks Beach PP July 18 (Diane

LeBlanc, Sylvia Craig). GADWALL was reported from most mainland counties, except Antigonish and Pictou. A nest with

eggs was found on Seal I. June 8 (DMB, LUB), and recently fledged young at French Basin Tr. July 14 (Paul Gould). An

unusually high number of 40 Gadwalls was observed at the Amherst sewage lagoons 25 June (DMB). AMERICAN

WIGEON was observed throughout most of Nova Scotia. Of 112 eBird checklists, half came from Cumberland and Pictou.

There were about 600 eBird reports of both MALLARD and AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, including several observations of

broods. Surprisingly few NORTHERN PINTAILS were reported – one or two on Russell Lake, Dartmouth, in July (MZE),

and one to three at the Amherst sewage lagoons, APMBS, and Nappan (var. obs.). Greg Stroud observed females with broods

of four and two on Sable Island June 2 and July 14 respectively. GREEN-WINGED TEAL was more widely observed across

the province, and there were 13 references to young. A high count of 40 Green-winged Teal was made at the New Minas

sewage lagoons July 11 (PHT).

RING-NECKED DUCK, like Green-winged Teal, was found across the province, and there were several eBird references to

“pairs in suitable habitat” and “recently fledged young”. There were ten eBird reports of 24-55 Ring-necked Ducks at the

East Amherst Marsh June 17-July 30, as well as 42 (including young) on Frenchman L., Dartmouth, July 21 (LVO), and 22 at

Nyanza, Vic, July 3 (AGR), all of which presumably included young. As usual, a few non-breeding GREATER SCAUP

remained in June-July, with about ten eBird reports of one or two individuals. They have nested in the past in the Amherst

area wetlands, and a brood was raised at the Amherst sewage lagoons in summer 2015. This summer an apparent pair was

again present at those lagoons through summer (ph. by Andrew Wagstaffe), but no young were reported. Ken McKenna

remarked that ten off Pictou Causeway July 29 were the first returning post-breeding migrants, and he found 13 nearby two

Days later. A well-documented male LESSER SCAUP remained at the Antigonish sewage lagoons June 12 (KJM). The male

KING EIDER reported in the last issue of NS Birds remained at Cow Bay, Hfx, June 1-4 (three repts.). Of the 520 eBird

reports of COMMON EIDER, over 400 came from Halifax, Lunenburg, Shelburne and Yarmouth. From past banding

knowledge (DNR), hatching of Common Eider eggs averages earlier in southwestern Nova Scotia than in the Eastern Shore


Wildlife Management Area. Nests with eggs and recently hatched young were observed on BPI June 1-3 (DMB, LUB).

Angela Granchelli noted that Common Eider broods off Hartlen Pt. June 2 were mostly small sized, which she attributed to

predation, and a balance of 35 adults and 35 ducklings off W. Lawrencetown Rd., Hfx, June 12 (Blaine MacDonald), might

also imply low survival.

A male and two female HARLEQUIN DUCKS lingered off Middle Head Tr., CBHNP, June 14 (Ben Low) and a later male

was ‘scoped’ on Sambro I., Hfx, July 15 (AAD, KLO). There were 25 eBird reports of SURF SCOTER, of which 13 came

from Big I and its Causeway, including a high count of 56 birds June 11 (KJM). Another large count of 32 was made from

the Cape Split trailhead July 23 (PHT). Other scattered sightings were of one-to-three birds. There were 24 eBird submissions

with WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. The highest estimates were 50 at both Ingonish Centre, Vic, July 8 (PMC), and Port

Morien, CB, July 18 (DBM, Dan MacNeal). Reports of one-to-ten came from coasts of CSI to CBI. The 42 eBird reports of

BLACK SCOTER included larger estimates of 24 off Brier I. June 2 (GFO); 30 on Cow Bay, Hfx, June 4 (SEM); 25 at Lr. E.

Chezzetcook June 7 (AMI, TMI); up to 75 off Big I. Causeway, Pict, June 6-21 (KJM); and 45 off North Bay Bch. PP, Vic,

July 1 (Alexander Brown). Other individuals and smaller groups were found off most mainland counties. A male in breeding

plumage and female LONG-TAILED DUCK (which rarely linger in summer) were reported seen off Boutiliers Pt., Hfx, June

23, and a single female at the same place July 3 (Clara Fassett). A single BUFFLEHEAD remained at French Basin Trail

June 1 (TMI). There were five reports of COMMON GOLDENEYE: an unexpected female at Baccaro Pt. June 8 (MCD);

one at Jeddore Oyster Ponds, Hfx, July 8 (LUB); three at Cheticamp July 11 (Larry Sirvio); and three ducklings found at

Warren Lake, CBHNP, July 15, 16 (Dan MacNeal; David Fees, ph.). There were 52 eBird records of HOODED

MERGANSER, 31 of them from Pictou. These included several observations of females with young, notably broods of eight

and ten at Margaretsville Marsh, Kings (sev. obs.) There were 61 eBird reports of COMMON MERGANSER, of which about

a third were from Pictou. These included traditional large gatherings in this season of 76 off Big I. and Merigomish Pt., July

17; 65 near the head of the East River estuary July 21; and 77 near Middle River Dam, July 31 (all by KJM). There were also

scattered observations of young. There were 50 eBird records of RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, of which half (all by

Greg Stroud) were from Sable I., where they regularly breed. Up to nine adults were found there June 11, a brood of ten July

5, and a likely combined brood of 20 young July 6. Elsewhere broods were found at Ingonish Centre July 8 (PMC); Le

Chemin du Buttereau Tr., CBHNP, July 10 (Jo Werba, Morgan Kain); and Three Fathom Hbr. Pond, Hfx, July 23 (Angela

Granchelli, ph.).

A most unusual male diving duck was found and photographed by Donald R. Gorham (centre photo below) at Wallace,

Cumb, July 2. In the caption, the photo editor speculates on the parental origins of this likely hybrid.

An oddly plumaged male diving duck (centre) near Wallace, Cumb, June 2, is compared with breeding-plumage

males of RING-NECKED DUCK (left) and BUFFLEHEAD (right). Its eye colour, shape of head, size and shape

of the bill, black breast, and upper and lower tail coverts, and pattern of the white flanks and black wings, are all

features of a male Ring-necked Duck. However, even considering the evident sun glare, the bill seems to lack a

black tip, but may have a white ring. Do the whitish patch on its face, and whitish, not black, tail hint at

Bufflehead influence in its ancestry? [Photos: left, JoAnn Yhard; centre Donald R. Gorham; right, JoAnn Yhard]


Galliformes By Ian McLaren

RING-NECKED PHEASANTS were listed on eBird from all mainland counties save Antigonish, and from all CB counties

except, oddly, Cape Breton, where they doubtless remain. RUFFED GROUSE, again as usual, was reported from all

counties, but not matching pheasants in numbers reported. The eBird total of 28 SPRUCE GROUSE was well below the

summer 2016 total, but close to that in 2015; hopefully, then, this is a fluctuation and not a downward trend in this largely

boreal species. There were several reports of a wandering group of up to eight HELMETED GUINEAFOWLS this summer

in Wolfville. This native of Africa is unlikely to take hold here, which is probably just as well. NORTHERN BOBWHITE

might be more welcome, but only one (an undoubted escapee) was reported this summer, and it has shown no signs yet of

taking hold.

Loons and Grebes By Ross Hall

There were somewhat more than usual reports on eBird of summering RED-THROATED LOONS: one at Halls Hbr., Kings,

June 4 (TEB); four in alternate (breeding) plumage, one in basic (non-breeding) plumage, off Black Rock Lighthouse, Kings,

June 4, were reduced to one by June 17 (JAW, PHT). One in alternate plumage was encountered on route to Seal I. June 4,

and one was heard calling and another in alternate plumage seen from the island June 8 and 10 respectively (DMB, LUB).

Two in basic plumage were seen from the causeway to Big Island, Pict, June 7 (KJM). One still in basic plumage was

observed off CSI June 22 (MCD). Finally, one in full breeding plumage off Margaretsville, Kings, July 29, was photographed

by Liz Voellinger. The ubiquitous and conspicuous COMMON LOON was observed through summer in coastal waters and

on inland lakes, and entered on 350 eBird checklists. The earliest reported hatched young were two (possibly three) on Sixth

Lake, Digby, June 8 (MAB). Linda Giddens reported a newly hatched chick at Little Dyke Lake, Col, June 12. This is a first

time for loons actually nesting at this cottage-bordered lake. As documented in NS BIRDS (2014, Vol. 56, Issue 3, pp. 43-45)

in 1999 Common Loon were first observed to nest at a nearby Ducks Unlimited marsh and walk their young, often

unsuccessfully, 500 m across a field to Little Dyke Lake. That practice has occurred every summer since 1999, until this year.

This summer 98 eBird checklists included PIED-BILLED GREBE with numerous repeated sightings in four counties, from

which the actual numbers of pairs can be inferred. Miners Marsh, Kingston, hosted two pairs, with the earliest occupied nest

June 4 (Angela Granchelli), and the first hatched young June 8 (Aaron and Karen Marshall). The Bellisle and French Basin

marshes in Annapolis probably both had two pairs. Checklists submitted from Cumberland suggest that there was at least one

pair on each of the E. Amherst Marsh, the Eddy Marshes, APMBS, and at Tyndall Rd. Estuary; and in Pictou there were

pairs on both Churchville Pond and the Old Halifax Road Pond. A HORNED GREBE in full alternate (breeding) plumage

was nicely photographed on Bedford Basin, June 30 (Donald Wyllie) – see photo below. Single RED-NECKED GREBES,

also in alternate plumage, lingered at Green Bay, Lun, July 10 (CSS), and near the Harrison Lewis Centre, on Port Joli,

Queens July 24 (PHT).

This adult HORNED GREBE, photographed from the

Shore Rd. along Bedford Basin, June 30, shows what

we’re missing by not seeing the species as it is on

prairie ponds in summer. [Photo by Donald Wyllie]


Tubenoses through Cormorants By John Loch

No ECSAS surveys were conducted in summer 2017. Highlights included reports of four different individuals of the rare

Brown Booby; relatively few eBird records of Northern Fulmar; a modest number of Cory’s Shearwaters; the third summer

in a row with high numbers of Great Shearwaters; and notably lower sightings of Sooty and Manx Shearwaters compared

with the remarkable summers in 2015 and 2016; twice the average 2012-2017 numbers of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels were

reported in June-July 2017, including 200 during a whale-watching trip out of Brier I. Reports of over 9000 Northern

Gannets this summer were about three times that average, and included one very large concentration of about 1000 off CSI.

No ECSAS surveys were conducted in the 2017 summer season, so reported sightings were sourced from eBird alone. Data

from eBird from 2012-2017 (see NS Birds, Vol. 58, No. 4, pp. 10-14 for 2012-2016 data) were used for comparing averages;

data for years before 2012 were considered much under-reported and therefore not used in the comparisons.

The eBird total of 49 NORTHERN FULMARS, about half of them seen from the NS-Maine ferry, was below the summer

2012-17 average of 112. That average was driven by relatively high totals of 211 in 2014 and 313 in 2015, but otherwise

seasonal totals have remained below 50 individuals. The largest number (13) was seen from the Yarmouth-Portland Ferry in

NS waters July 22 (Wayne Klockner). Prior to 2016, CORY’S SHEARWATER had been reported once (seven in 2007) but

12 were reported in summer 2016 and 14 this summer, seven of which were from the ferry to Maine July 22 (Wayne

Klockner). The eBird total of 1611 GREAT SHEARWATER was higher than the 2012-17 average of 1100 for the third

consecutive summer. Derek d’Entremont reported seeing about 800 Great Shearwaters off s.w. Shelburne when “returning

home from a [fishing] trip”. The eBird total of 2676 SOOTY SHEARWATERS had eclipsed the 1866 Great Shearwater in

summer 2016; however, this summer’s total of about 500 dropped to well below the 2012-2017average of 1445. A group of

about 100 “streaming east” past the n. end of Seal I. June 8 (DMB, LUB) indicates that large numbers might be missed. The

eBird total of 25 MANX SHEARWATERS this summer, like those of Sooty and Great Shearwater, was below the summer

2012-17 average of 44, as well as the totals of 148 in 2015 and 67 in 2016. My comments in the summer-season 2016 issue

of NS Birds about an increasing trend in Manx Shearwater may have been premature. Nonetheless, eight were seen from the

Port-aux-Basques to Sydney Ferry in NS waters July 10 (K.R. Eckert).

This summer’s eBird total of 479 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS was about double the 2012-17 average of 257, and

included 200 reported by Nathan Hentze from a whale-watching trip out of Brier I. July27. The eBird total of 381 LEACH’S

STORM-PETREL for the two summer months was about average for the 2012-17 summer, but only about a third of the

summer 2015 total. In contrast to 2016, there were more sightings of Wilson’s Storm-Petrel in July (470) than in June (9),

whereas more than twice as many Leach’s Storm-Petrel were recorded in June (262) than in July (119); this may be (as in

spring 2017) because the numbers this June were swollen by counts from BPI, where numbers nest. The largest single day’s

estimate of Leach’s Storm-Petrel made at sea was of 40 seen by Derek d’Entremont from a dragger off Shelburne July 29.

NORTHERN GANNET dominated this summer’s reports of pelagic seabirds (excluding cormorants), with an eBird total of

9353, almost trebling the 2012-17 year average of 3300. The largest single eBird estimate was about1000 seen off Daniels

Head, CSI, 24 July (MCD). Reversing last summer’s eBird records, sightings in July 2017 were about double those in June

(about 3300 vs. about 6000). Four different individuals of the rare BROWN BOOBY this summer were: (i) a recently

deceased subadult found by Greg Stroud on Sable I. June 18; (ii) another subadult found resting on Pearl I., Lun, June 22 by

Robert and Sandi Keereweer, during a boat trip out of Peggys Cove; (iii) an adult perched on rocks off The Hawk Beach,

CSI, July 9, observed for 10 minutes from about 30 m and photographed (photo not posted eBird) by Mark McCullough; (iv)

an adult female perched on the Lady Eileen and photographed by Yvon Pothier “on the way in from fishing” in the Crowell

Basin, about 100 km w.s.w. of CSI, July 12. Three of these four records are documented in the photos below. There have

only been three previous records of Brown Booby in Nova Scotia during summer and clearly the recent increase in reports

here at all seasons reflects increasing marine temperatures.


These photos depict three of the four BROWN BOOBIES found this summer: left, corpse of a subadult on Sable I. June

18; middle, another subadult being inspected by a regular resident on Pearl I., Lun, June 22; right, an adult on a fishing boat

near Crowell Basin off s.w. CSI, July 12. [Photos by: left, Greg Stroud; middle, Robert Keereweer; right, Yvon Pothier]

GREAT CORMORANT was seen in unusually high numbers this summer per eBird (about 970 vs. the 2012-17 average of

about 600). This was approximately thrice the eBird totals in summers 2014 and 2015 but closer to the 806 in 2013 and 993

in summer 2016. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was also reported on eBird in unusually high numbers this summer

(about 20,000 vs. a 2012-2017 average of about 9,000). This was also about 2.5 times the eBird totals of this species in 2014

and 2015. However, Ian McLaren has pointed out that the eBird totals of both species this summer were augmented by

estimates of numbers at some major cormorant colonies. Colonies with some counts of 50 or more are tabulated below. This

table indicates that highly variable estimated numbers (and possibly IDs) at frequently visited colonies (e.g. Bird Is., Vic;

Pearl I., Lun) may be unreliable, and that apparent increases in eBird totals in this and other recent years may have been

amplified by more formal surveys of colonies in recent summers. Over the longer term, Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data

indicate that Double-crested Cormorant has steadily increased almost four-fold (with wide confidence limits) since 1970, and

by much less since 2012, but Great Cormorant has not been recorded enough for estimating reliable BBS trends.

Species Colony location Date(s) Count(s) Observer(s) Cormorant sp.* Ram I. + Black Rock, Shel** June 26; July 6; 13 250; 200; 170 DBM; KLO; CPE

Great Cormorant Bird Is., Vic July, 9 dates 100, 15, 19, 40, 35, 22, 50, 20, 26 Sev. obs.

Great Cormorant Little White I., Guys July 14 14 AAD, KLO

Great Cormorant Green Rock., Shel July 23 90 young, 20 ads. AAD

D.-c. Cormorant Bird Is., Vic July, 9 days 40, 250, 150, 100, 150. 125,100, 150, 50 Sev. obs.

D.-c. Cormorant Bird Is., Hfx July 13 300 (122 nests on 2 islands) AAD

D.-c. Cormorant I. off Prospect Pen., Hfx June 4; July 29 390, 380 AGH

D.-c. Cormorant Indian I., Lun July 23 700 AAD, KEL

D.-c. Cormorant Pearl I., Lun July, 10 days Estimates of 60 to 400 Sev. obs.

D.-c. Cormorant Toby I., Queens June 28 90 AAD

D.-c. Cormorant Green Rock., Shel July 23 250 AAD

*Mostly Greats, per DBM. **On eBird as both “Mathews L.” and “Hemeons Head”, from which Ram I. and Black Rock can be ’scoped.

Herons and Relatives By Ian McLaren

Almost 50 AMERICAN BITTERNS (with maximal counts used from repeatedly surveyed locations), mostly in ones and

twos, were found in the usual marshes in all mainland counties except Antigonish. One stray on Sable I. June 17-19 (Greg

Stroud) had presumably lost out on this year’s breeding season. Another at a marsh along Lily Pond Rd., Yar, July 24 (EOL),

seemed to be making do with a more glamorous associate (photo below).


This AMERICAN BITTERN

accompanying an immature LITTLE

BLUE HERON was found by Ervin

Olsen along Lily Pond Rd., Yar, July

24. The heron stayed for others to

see next day. [Photo by Ervin Olsen]

GREAT BLUE HERON was reported from all counties except Richmond, where they certainly occur. A count of 56 on the

north end of BPI June 13 included a colony with 14 nests, each with one-to-three young (DMB, LUB); smaller colonies were

found widely. The first reported fledgling was noted on Little Duck I., Lun, July 29 (AAD, PRG), but large gatherings in the

region of Big I., Pict, in late July (up to 34 there July 24; Robert Lange) might have included post-breeding adults and

juveniles. Two GREAT EGRETS lingered at Mavillette Bch., Digby, May 28 to June 1, and one to June 3 (sev. obs.). About

ten more appeared during June-July, one each in Colchester and Cumberland, the rest in Halifax and to the southwest. One

SNOWY EGRET was found at Chezzetcook Inlet, Hfx, June 24 (PMC, SEM) and through next day by others; presumably

the same bird was seen at nearby Conrad Beach June 25 (RSM). One (or possibly two; MCD) found by Rachel Hoogenbos on CSI June 30 was found by others up to July 6. In addition to the young LITTLE BLUE HERON in Yarmouth (photo

above), an adult accompanied the Snowy Egret at Chezzetcook Inlet from June 24 (PMC, SEM) to June 25 (sev. obs., phs.).

One ‘overshooting’ GREEN HERON was discovered by Greg White on CSI June 1 and seen by others to June 4; another

(possibly two) appeared on Seal I. June 4-8 (DMB, LUB, phs.), and another reached Sable I. June 11, only to be “harassed by

terns” (Greg Stroud). A presumably different bird appeared on CSI June 25 (JON), and was present to at least July 7 (MCD).

An occupied nest of BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was found at the n. end of BPI June 2 (DBM, LUB), and another

nest with eggs at the s. end June 26 (LUB). In addition, Alix d’Entremont observed an adult on Round I., Yar, July 10, almost

20 km east of BPI. Having seen them there on three past occasions, he speculated that they might be nesting on nearby Mud

I. To this might be added past evidence that they have nested on Seal I. However, only single adults were seen this summer

on CSI; their breeding status here seems precarious. Its s.e. US counterpart, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, was

almost as frequent. The first, an adult, appeared on the Akerley Campus of the NSCC in Dartmouth, June 30 (Adam

Theberge, ph.). Another three, all HY birds, were found: along the Saltmarsh Tr., Hfx, July 19 (KLO, ph.); at a Cove near

Chester, Lun, July 23 (Su Mathers, ph.); and near Fort St-Louis on the Baccaro Pen., Shel, July 30-31 (AAD et al.).

Diurnal Raptors By Ian McLaren

As a possible means of assessing populations of our regular breeding raptors, their eBird totals relative to those of Bald Eagle

(the most abundantly reported of them) are tabulated below, and compared with the ratios in the previous two summers (see

NS Birds, 2016, Vol. 58, Issue 4, p. 16) and with ratios derived from the 2015 BBS estimate.

Species Summer

2017

Summer

2016

BBS 2015*

Turkey vulture 0.142 0.165 No data

Osprey 0.503 0.618 1.170

Northern Harrier 0.153 0.169 0.151

Bald Eagle 1.000 1.000 1.000

Sharp-shinned Hawk 0.029 0.026 0.054

Broad-winged Hawk 0.102 0.080 0.133


Red-tailed Hawk 0.172 0.248 0.250

American Kestrel 0.101 0.098 0.283

Merlin 0.065 0.073 0.119

*Calculated from the Environment Canada BBS website for NS and PEI combined, but dominated by NS routes.

Another Wandering BLACK VULTURE in Canso July 3 was well photographed by Edie Armitage who posted it on the

Nova Scotia Wildlife Photography Facebook page. TURKEY VULTURE was as usual widely recorded, with 86 eBird

reports, almost all of ones and twos, but not many beyond Colchester-Halifax except for one in CBI. Nine in the traditional

gathering area near Bridgetown, Anna, June 9 (GFO), were greatly outnumbered by a “conservative count . . . [of] . . . at least

27 . . .” near Hebron, Yar, July 27 (LNE). Oddly, it does not appear in the Environment Canada BBS database.

OSPREY was also reported mostly in ones or twos from all counties except Richmond (where it certainly occurs). Although

its relative eBird abundance has been similar in the last two summers, it seems to have been underrepresented on eBird

relative to its BBS status. A reversal of encounters with its usual nemesis was nicely photo’d by Jason Dain (see below).

As he drove by E. Chezzetcook, Hfx, July 23, Jason

Dain noticed an OSPREY dive-bombing something

splashing in the water below. His binoculars revealed

that the ‘victim’ was a BALD EAGLE that eventually

took off and landed ashore, where it continued to be

harassed by its tormenter. [Photo by Jason Dain]

NORTHERN HARRIER, like Osprey, turned up in ones and twos throughout the province, and appears to have been

similarly represented by the BBS and on eBird. All three accipiters are more secretive and harder to find in summer, but

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK seems to have been found relatively more often during the early-June BBS than eBird totals

suggest (see above table). Two well-described COOPER’S HAWKS were reported: one on Seal I. June 4 (DMB, LUB), and

the other along Egypt Rd., Yar, July 25 (AAD). A third was reported without supporting details. About nine single

NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were tallied on eBird from mainland counties on, and one from Baddeck, Vic. A nest in Kings

(presumably found by Bernard Forsythe) was reported to have two young June 23 (RBS) and July 5 (DMB, LUB), but

cryptically (and wisely) the location was given only as “Goshawk Woods”.

Not much can be said about BALD EAGLE, except that it was reported on eBird from all counties in varying numbers, but

oddly, there appeared to no reports of nesting. Of our two summer buteos, BROAD-WINGED was less often reported on

eBird than RED-TAILED HAWK, and not at all from Antigonish and Richmond. The same numerical disparity is evident in

the ratios from the 2015 BBS (see above table), doubtless because the Red-tailed is more often in open country.

Yet another CRESTED CARACARA dropped in briefly along the Eastern Shore, Hfx. This one was perched on an exposed

sandflat of Chezzetcook Inlet and studied for almost a half-hour during evening June 26 by Amber and Blaine MacDonald.

The latter reported that it “turned its head . . . every so often to show the black cap, white head ‘blending’ into the black body,

and the reddish/orange of the bill/face area.” The very distant photo below, taken with a digital phone through binoculars,

shows these features in support of the record. It could not be found by other searchers next morning.


This CRESTED CARACARA was photographed

at distance at Chezzetcook Inlet, Hfx, through 8 X

binoculars, as indicated by the cropped circular

image. The greatly enlarged (‘up-pixellated’) and

sharpened insert (resulting in ‘bleeding’ of colours)

shows it in a side view with its head turned to face

the photographer. This reveals its black cap, bill

surrounded by fleshy red face, black flanks and

wings, buffy-white upper breast, and seemingly grey

upper back (from blurred black barring on white

background). Together these are unique features of

the species. [Photo by Blaine MacDonald]

Both AMERICAN KESTREL and MERLIN were spottily distributed in ones and twos throughout, but missing from some

counties. As indicated on the above table, their relative eBird totals this summer differed little from those of summer 2016.

About 20 single flyby PEREGRINE FALCONS were reported (all sources) from seven mainland counties, along with

reports of breeding pairs and young at or near the usual known nesting cliffs. Breeding may not always be implicated; Cliff

Sandeson was excited to see a Peregrine on a nest at High Cliff in Gullivers Cove, Digby, July 4, but found no evidence of

a pair or young then or later. Similarly, an adult perched on an old Kittiwake nest on Pearl I. was photographed during a

group boat trip there July 3 (see cover photo); the consensus, as in previous years, was that the island offers hunting

opportunities rather than a nest site. Finally, an adult and an “immature” were observed at an “apparent nest site in [an] old

grain silo” at Walton, Hants, June 16 (Glen Kincaid). This would be worth following up in future.

Rallids and Crane By Ian McLaren

VIRGINIA RAIL was found (heard) in three of the usual larger marshes, with maximal eBird counts of four at Goose

Creek Marsh, Yar, and two at both Amherst Marsh and Eddy Marsh, Cumb. Outliers were: one in a Wolfville yard and

another to the east along the Wolfville rail trail June 24 (both JAW); one (same bird?) along the same trail July 13 (JAW,

PHT); and up to two at a small marsh along the Halliday Rd., Pict, May 26 (MAB) through July 16 (var. obs.). Most

unexpected were five flushed by Steven Manual along the Pleasant Bay Rd., Inv, n. of CBHNP, 18 June. Although he

“hesitate[d] to add this species and number”, his detailed description on eBird appears convincing. It is unlikely from his

description and at this date that this was a family group. SORA was as usual more widely distributed in large and small

mashes, with about 60 (taking largest counts for each location) posted on eBird from all mainland counties except

Antigonish and Lunenburg and as well as a couple in CBI.

COMMON GALLINULE and AMERICAN COOT have nested in the past at APBS, so it is not surprising that individuals

of the former were audio-recorded there June 4 (KLO, Mike Resch) and June 10 (CPE), and also that a coot was found

there June 17 (Kathleen and Roger Horn)

SANDHILL CRANE is increasingly among us, and as in spring, was found widely on the mainland. The individual

visiting a feeder on the outskirts of Kentville from May 24 (see last issue of NS Birds) continued to so until June 2 (JAW).

Five (still migrating?) were flying over the Brookfield Wetlands and Nature Tr., June 1 (Grant Thompson). Other probable

migrants were: two on the Baccaro Peninsula June 2 that had been seen earlier at Baccaro Pt. (PRG), and two on Corkums

I., Lun, June 6 (Roger Shaw, ph.). A probable pair along Marshland Drive, Truro, was reported by several (NSBS

Facebook) through July. Up to four along Hwy 209 near Upper Stewiacke in June-July (NSBS Facebook) were also in an

area where they have nested. [For the record, one crane photographed (NSBS Facebook) by Rodney Tate at Pomquet, Ant,

in late May, was not reported in the last issue.]


Shorebirds By Rick Whitman

The usual paired AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were present on CSI and Cape Sable through the season, with no

young reported, but a third (presumably an adult) was found on CSI June 25 (AAD, PRG). BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER

numbers were modest but steady, never exceeding 35 birds after June 3, when 83 were seen at The Hawk, CSI (MCD).

The modest number of failed migrants prevents specific detection of possible southbound migration during July. Single

SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS at Daniels Head, CSI June 5 and The Hawk, CSI June 27 could have been one or two failed

thereafter with a maximum of 600 birds seen at Chezzetcook Inlet, Hfx July 29 (CHP, KST). PIPING PLOVERS were seen

only in Cape Breton, Victoria, Antigonish, Pictou, Halifax, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne and Kings. A maximum of

twelve birds was seen along the Big I. causeway, Pict, July 12 (KJM). Our resident KILLDEER was reported from 13

counties. A maximum of 15 birds at the Sydney Airport July 25 (DBM) was noted as a “regular concentration”.

The first returning WHIMBREL was seen at Cape LaHave I., Lun, June 27 (Duncan Bayne, Karen Potter). It was then

reported from ten counties, with daily records beginning July 7. The largest count of 35 birds was made at Crystal Crescent

Bch., Hfx, July 17 (Diane LeBlanc). Two HUDSONIAN GODWITS arrived at The Hawk, CSI, July 13 (MCD) and two

more were at Morien Bar, CB, July 14-22 (Herb Elliott, var. obs.).

Three RUDDY TURNSTONES were on BPI June 1-3 (DMB, JAW, PHT) and up to ten on CSI June 3-5; Mike

MacDonald noted on the last date that that they “had been here for weeks”. They presumably then left (northward?),

because they were not noted there again until one (southbound migrant?) appeared on CSI June 25 and three more on Cape

Sable July 5. Daily records began July 19 and were spread among eleven counties. A single RED KNOT was present at

The Hawk, CSI and on Cape Sable June 25-27. Three presumed southbound migrants were at Morien Bar, CB, July 22

(SEM).

An (early migrant?) STILT SANDPIPER was at Rainbow Haven Bch. PP, July 17 (CSS). Three SANDERLINGS “in full

breeding plumage” lingered on Sable I. June 5 (Greg Stroud), and another was “more or less in breeding plumage” at

Cherry Hill Bch., Lun, July 3 (RIW). Ten appeared on CSI, July 9, and they were reported daily from a total of ten counties

after that date. A single PURPLE SANDPIPER was still on BPI June 1 (PHT, DMB, LUB). A maximum of eight LEAST

SANDPIPERS, probable breeders with two doing “the broken wing display”, were seen on 20 dates in June on Sable I.

(Greg Stroud). Elsewhere, they were seen daily from July 3, in a total of fourteen counties. The maximum of 145 birds was

also on Sable I. July 31 (AGH, PHT). WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER is a late migrant. A single bird was at the Amherst

sewage lagoons July 20 (DMB). The species was seen in six more counties July 23-31. About nine PECTORAL

SANDPIPERS were reported from five counties July 19-25. A single SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was on Cape

Sable, Shel, June 25 (AAD, PRG). Reports were daily from July 3, from 13 counties. A conservative estimate of 8000 birds

was made along Minas Basin between Horton Landing and The Guzzle, July 31 (RIW).

Two SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS at The Hawk, CSI, June 5 and on Sable I. June 11 were probably failed migrants.

The first likely southbound migrants were four birds on Cape Sable, Shel, June 25 (AAD, PRG) and eight birds at The

Hawk, CSI, June 27 (LNE, MCD, Sandra Dennis). The species was seen in twelve counties with a maximum estimate of

2500 at The Hawk, CSI July 14 (MCD). AMERICAN WOODCOCK was reported from nine counties with about 25 birds

at unique locations. WILSON’S SNIPE was reported from 13 counties with about 45 birds at unique locations. A single

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE on Sable I. June 2 was probably a failed migrant. The migration status of 15 birds seen on a

pelagic trip to Pearl I., Lun, July 3 (var. obs.) cannot be known. Five reports of up to 100 birds from Morien Bar, CB, the

Portland to Yarmouth ferry, and pelagic trips out of Brier I., July 14-27, would likely include failed breeders and early

southbound migrants. There were six reports of RED PHALAROPES observed from the Maine, New Brunswick and

Newfoundland ferries and on three pelagic trips out of Brier I., July 19-31. The maximum estimates were 200 and 400

birds on the Brier I. trips July 24 and 27 respectively.

SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were reported from every county. There were four reports of 10-15 birds, but these all included

fledged young. A continuing SOLITARY SANDPIPER on Sable I. was last seen June 1 (Greg Stroud). The first

southbound migrant was seen at Coromonie Rd., Pict, July 10 (FHM, KJM). The species was then seen in four additional

counties during July with a maximum count of six birds, at Greenfield, Kings, July 30 (RIW). GREATER YELLOWLEGS

were seen in every county except Colchester and Hants. The maximum count of 143 birds at Morien Bar, CB, July 22,

was“. . . a typical count for this date and location . . . mudflats at Morien Bar are a food-rich staging area . . . counts

reach over 250 here at the peak of the season.” (SEM). WILLETS were reported from every county. The maximum count


of 132 was also at Morien Bar, CB, July 22 (SEM). A “Western” WILLET seen on occasion through summer at Crescent

Bch., Lun (sev. obs.; see photos below), was surely the same bird that had overwintered there and was seen in spring (see

last issue) At times it was closely associated with one or more Eastern Willets, but no evidence of mixed offspring was

reported. These would have been worth seeking in view of the AOS (formerly AOU) Checklist Committee’s 2017 decision

not to “split” the two subspecies, despite their separate breeding ranges and distinctive differences in appearance and calls.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen in every county except Victoria, Inverness, Colchester and Digby. Southbound

migrants first arrived June 25 and were daily thereafter. Four maximum counts of 111-130 birds were made at Three

Fathom Hbr. and Chezzetcook Inlet, Hfx, and at Morien Bar, CB, July 18-24 (SEM, KLO, DBM, Dan MacNeal).

The “Western” WILLET summering at Crescent Bch., Lun, was sometimes found consorting with one or

more Eastern Willets (left panel, June 5). It is interesting to read that first-summer (SY) Willets regularly

stay on their normal winter ranges, where they only partially moult into breeding (alternate) plumage, like

the “Western” bird (left), with mixed barred and plain scapulars and coverts. They also tend to moult sooner

into their winter (basic) plumage (as in the right panel, July 14), and only migrate in their next spring. Will

the Crescent Bch. bird stay again into next winter? [Photos: left, by Lynn Fergusson; right, by James Hirtle]

Skuas through Terns By John Loch

No ECSAS surveys were conducted in the 2017 summer season, so reported totals were sourced from eBird alone. The

monthly and summer-season eBird totals for the years 2010-2016 were tabulated in the summer 2016 issue of NS Birds (Vol

58, Issue 3, pp. 33-30). Only those eBird data from the years 2012-2017 are used here for making comparisons among years

and calculating longer-term averages, as species were considered substantially under-reported on eBird prior to 2012,

although some earlier records are used otherwise.

No Great Skua was seen this summer (and only once over the 2006-2017 period), but four SOUTH POLAR SKUAS in July

were photo-documented, including two together off Halifax, July 2 (Ellis d’Entremont); there are prior records of single birds

in 2012 and 2013. Four and five POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS respectively were seen, both slightly above their

2012-16 averages. No Long-tailed Jaegers were reported during summer 2017, although singles had been reported on eBird

in summers 2014 and 2016.

The 27 COMMON MURRES posted on eBird in summer 2017 were within normal 2012-16, range, although below their

2012-16 average. However, summer sightings of this species depend on the frequency of (repeated) visits to seabird colonies

like that on the Bird Islands, Vic, which supplied 19 of this summer’s eBird total. A single THICK-BILLED MURRE,

probably in poor condition, lingered on the N. Beach of Sable I., June 3, 4 and 7 (Greg Stroud). This summer’s eBird totals of

about 3600 RAZORBILLS, 5000 BLACK GUILLEMOTS and 3350 ATLANTIC PUFFINS all exceeded their 2012-16

averages by approximately 2.5 times and were the highest totals reported over their entire summer 2006-2017 series (NS

Birds & eBird). However, eBird totals of all these alcids are largely driven by the frequency of visits to their major colonies.


Perhaps more useful for long-term monitoring are the maximal estimates made during several visits to such colonies These

included a “minimum” of 1200 Razorbills at Bird Islands, July 15’ in “large rafts . . . in the water. The guide said this is the

greatest concentration he has ever seen in 40 years of doing this tour. He conclude[d] that rafting indicates the razorbills

preparation to leaving.” (FHM, KJM, MAB). One estimate of 150 and two of 100 Razorbills were made during several visits

to Pearl I., Lun (sev. obs.), and 80 were found at the colony on Green I., Yar, June 15 (AAD). Estimates of over 100-300

Black Guillemots came from repeated or single visits to colonies from Victoria to Yarmouth. The highest eBird estimates of

Atlantic Puffin were 450 at the Birds Islands July 15 (FHM, KJM, MAB), and 100 at Pearl I., Lun, during a birding excursion

there July 16 (see account of on that trip p. 31).

Among the gulls, there were notable departures in 2017 from long-term (2012-16) eBird averages of BLACK-LEGGED

KITTIWAKE, BONAPARTE’S GULL and RING-BILLED GULL. Kittiwake sightings have declined since summer 2014,

when eBird totals were inflated by large estimates made at the Bird Islands, including two estimates of 1200 made on the

same day. This summer’s maximal estimates were 150 in late June and 100 in early July. If this apparent decline has resulted

from the known increase of predation by Bald Eagles at the colony, it is alarming. The relatively steady increases in eBird

totals for both Bonaparte’s and Ring-billed Gull throughout the 2012-17 period have surely resulted from increased reporting.

The season’s largest eBird totals of Bonaparte’s Gulls were 68 at the Middle River Dam, Pict, July 31 (KJM), and of Ring-

billed Gulls were 190 along the Salt Marsh Tr., Hfx. (Marshall Iliff). A few BLACK-HEADED GULLS have lingered here

in past summers, and this year one was repeatedly reported at Morien Bay, CB, July 7-14 (Chris Benish et al.), not too far

from the nearest small breeding colony in s.w. Newfoundland. LAUGHING GULL is mostly a vagrant here, and is

sometimes delivered in numbers by tropical storms and hurricanes. This summer, one was found on Sable I. June 10 (Greg

Stroud); one or more pairs nested there in 2001-09. Another half dozen occurred widely in July. FRANKLIN’S GULL is

even rarer here, especially in summer. This summer, an adult appeared in the Big I., Pict, area July 11 (DMB, FHM, KJM,

STV), and an adult (probably the same bird) was found next day in New Glasgow, about 15 km west. One might also wonder

if it was the same individual that appeared in Wolfville in spring (see last issue) A few ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS

(mostly sub-adults) routinely stay here until at least late spring. This summer two Iceland Gulls were still at N. Sydney June 2

(DBM), and Greg Stroud found two on Sable I. June 6, and one there June 15. He also reported that two Glaucous Gulls were

present there June 2 to July 5.

Our most abundant gulls, HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, continued their rapid increase in eBird

sightings in 2017, doubling (Herring) or tripling (Great Black-backed) their long-term averages. However, these increases

must be mostly or entirely due to increased reporting to eBird; the more standardized BBS numbers have revealed small but

significant decreases in both species in the province during 2005-2015 decade. Large counts of 750 Herring Gulls were came

from BPI, where they breed, June 11 (DMB, LUB), and up to 410 Great Black-backed Gulls were hanging around Dennis

Point Wharf, Shel (AAD).

Counts of one to three BLACK TERNS yielded a total of 20 posted on eBird, about half the 2012-16 average. This summer

as in the past, almost all these counts came from visits to the Amherst marshes, and one hopes this doesn’t indicate a real

decline there of this widely threatened species. Approximately 7000 COMMON TERNS, 800 ARCTIC TERNS and 200

ROSEATE TERNS were reported in eBird for summer 2017, all three of them about two to three times their long-term,

2012-16, averages. However, these apparent increases are certainly unreal; the BBS results demonstrate a slight but

significant decline in Common Tern in 2005-15, although too few Arctic and Roseate Terns have been counted to estimate

BBS trends. However, sightings of single Arctic and Common Terns in June-July on Sable I. (Greg Stroud), where large

colonies of thousands once thrived, are not reassuring, not even an estimate of 300 Common Terns (much below some colony

counts in earlier years) colony) there July 31 (AGH, PHT). Several other colony counts were posted to eBird from elsewhere

in the province this summer; but the status of our three regular terns is best left to systematic surveys, like those documented

in last year fall-season issue of NS Birds (2016, Issue 4, pp. 49-56).

The only vagrant tern this summer was FORSTER’S TERN, two of which were found by Alix d’Entremont and Paul Gould

at Daniels Head, CSI, June 25 (see photos below), by others to July 9, and one staying to July 13. The species has most often

been seen here in fall and early winter.


Two adult FORSTER’S TERNS at Daniels Head, CSI, June 25, can be recognized in part by their longish

legs and thick, orange-red and black-tipped bills. [Photos by: left, Alix d’Entremont; right, Paul Gould]

Caspian Tern was not noted in summer 2017, although a few have been has been reported in four Junes and five Julys in the

past six years. It is most often seen in Cumberland during spring and fall migration, and its absence in summer is not unusual.

Pigeons through Woodpeckers By Andy de Champlain

Accounts below are mostly based on eBird records, with an attempt to compare relative abundances as eBird totals per hour

of birding (only on those checklists that included the species, thus eliminating those where occurrence is nigh impossible, like

those obtained offshore). ROCK PIGEON was reported 532 times with a total of 2553, with about two seen per hour (2.08).

MOURNING DOVE was seen about 25% less frequently, on average reported as 1.51 doves per hour of birding in the 1317

reports of 3482 birds.

The season’s only YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was seen by Eric Mills along the Bay to Bay Trail in Mahone Bay, July 29.

He noted that the bird was “spotted and IDed first by James Hirtle in brush along the trail. Very clear cuckoo shape and clear

view by both of us of reddish primaries diagnostic of this species before it disappeared into thick brush.” BLACK-BILLED

CUCKOO, on the other hand, made a good showing, with twelve individuals recorded in nine counties, as listed on the table

below:

Date Location Observers

June 6 Hectanooga, Digby Karel Allard

June 13-14 Black Rock, Kings PHT, JAW

June 13 Miners Marsh, Kentville JDA, RBS

June 25 Hemeons Head, Shel KLO

June 28 Wolfville DMB

June 27-29 Brookville Rd., Pict KJM, sev. obs

July 2 Diligent River, Cumb Andrew Wagstaff

July 5-26 White Hill, Pict Mark Brennan

July 10 Waternish Rd., Guys Cory Benish, John Kent, Mona Gardner

July 12 Point Prim, Digby CSA

July 26-27 Hebron, Yar AAD, LNE

July 30 Brook Rd., Pict KJM

About 14 GREAT-HORNED OWLS were observed in the province in June and July, usually heard rather than seen. [Note:

several sightings (all sources) of young ‘branchlings’ (i.e. technically not quite ‘fledged’) were reported, but others had been

noted in spring; in the interests of long-term records, the earliest nestlings in spring 2017 were found at Beaver Cove, CB,

Apr 26 (DBM) and the earliest ‘branchling’ at an undisclosed location in Yarmouth May 12 (Simon d’Entremont).]

An astonishing BURROWING OWL, only our second provincial record, was photographed by Caillie Mutterback, a visitor

from Alberta, at Duncans Cove, Hfx, June 14 (see photos and comments below).


Nova Scotia’s second BURROWING OWL was

found at Duncans Cove, Hfx, June 14. The locality

is readily confirmed by profile of the rock against

the background sea in the upper image. The ‘open

vest’ on its breast and small, buffy spots on its back,

assign it to the subspecies hypugaea of the US Great

Plains east to the Dakotas and into extreme s.

Alberta and Saskatchewan. For an account of our

first record (of the Florida subspecies) and more

information on other records in the Maritimes and

n.e. USA; see NS Birds 2014, Vol 55, Issue 1, pp.

44-48). [Photos by Caillie Mutterback]

Not surprisingly, more than 40 BARRED OWLS were reported from across the province, with their calls heard from most

counties. “Recently fledged young”, presumably ‘branchlings’, were noted by Phil Taylor at Centreville, Kings, June 9.

NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, however, was only reported twice: one along Marriotts Cove Rd, Lun, June 17 (Jean

Baecher Brown, n.d.), and the other along the Black Rock Community Tr., Kings (July 16, John Brazner).

The eBird total of 281COMMON NIGHTHAWKS amounted to about 2.31 per hour of birding. Among them were two quite

large gatherings, which are more usual as large migratory flocks in early August. Chris Pepper and Kate Steele encountered a

“group of 20 foraging together and many more along the way” during a canoe trip along the Musquodoboit River, June 10.

At this date it’s likely that these were breeding in the surrounding forests and barrens. On the other hand, Jason Dain watched

a flock of 13 that “assembled and headed east” over Hwy 3 near East River, Lun, July 4, which were surely early migrants.

CHIMNEY SWIFT was reported in small numbers – often ones and twos – from all mainland counties, but seldom along

roads through forests where most probably breed. Some pairs nest in chimneys and outbuildings, and a number of nests in the

latter were reported on NSBS Facebook during June and July. There was no report from the chimney roost at the Middleton

Regional High School, Anna. However, maximal evening counts at other roosts were: 150 at the Robie Tufts Center in

Wolfville July 15 (GFO); 120 video’d at the Truro Public Library chimney July 6 (Ken Sperry); 284 at the Temperance St.

school chimney in New Glasgow July 26 (KJM). RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was reported on eBird from all

counties except Richmond, 677 in all, or about 0.676 per birding hour. Of course many of these were recurrent birds at

feeders, and their abundance relative to other species in the ‘wild’ might not mean much. The only concrete report of nesting

was of one carrying nesting material near Porters L., Hfx, June 20 (Aaron and Karen Marshall).

BELTED KINGFISHER was reported from all counties, close to 500 birds in all, and about 0.866 per hour. Lucas Berrigan

found a family group foraging along the Big Intervale R., Inv, July 16, and Dan MacNeal found young still in a nest near the

Pt. Aconi Power Plant, Rich, two days earlier.

Dianne Richard posted a photo on NSBS Facebook of an adult male RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at her feeder in

Charlos Cove, Guys, June 26. It added to a number of rarities she has hosted at her strategically placed home on the south

side of the Canso headland. The once rare RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is now locally established in least two places on

the Halifax Peninsula (eBird plus NSBS Facebook): a pair near the south end (sev. obs.) and a probable pair near the centre

of the peninsula. Oddly, there were no reports from Yarmouth or Digby, where they are probably nesting, but an outlying

male was photographed by Kathleen Spencer in Apple River, Cumb, June 3.


All our regular woodpeckers can be found in similar hardwood and mixed woodlands throughout the province, so their

relative eBird abundances this summer (as numbers per hour, with no removals of repeated sightings) seem usefully tabulated

(below) for analysis and possible future comparisons

Species eBird total No. per hr.

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 259 1.O6

DOWNY WOODPECKER 896 0.653

HAIRY WOODPECKER 747 0.550

NORTHERN FLICKER 1623 0.7636

PILEATED WOODPECKER 205 0.0117

It seems from this table that the relative abundance of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER is at odds with the other species.

Perhaps more birders go out of their way to find this somewhat more attractive species, or are alert to its particular rhythm of

‘drumming’, whereas the Downy and Hairy are less easily thus separated. However, a problem with using minutes of

observation as an indicator of effort is that observers frequently enter a nominal one or even zero minutes for birds observed

in their backyards or from automobiles in passing.

BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER is considerably less common and more localized than the other woodpeckers entered

into eBird, and this season’s counts amounted to about 20 birds spread among seven counties (Anna, CB, Col, Cumb, Guys,

Hfx, Inv). Among them, a nesting pair with was young observed in the Williamswood, Hfx, area (June 16-27, sev. obs., phs.).

Although a maximum of three birds was reported in that area, Angela Granchelli noted “. . . a male and female calling. I only

sighted one of them – not sure how many fledglings . . . although I believe there were more.”

Flycatchers through Thrushes By Ian McLaren

Increasing numbers of records submitted to eBird over the years since its establishment mandate that neither the number of

eBird checklists nor the total numbers of individuals of each species reported can give useful insights into the numerical

status of our summer residents. Instead, I tabulate below the relative eBird numbers within various regular groups of related

species with similar habits to look for any short-term changes in their population sizes. Although results may be flawed by

year-to-year differences in time spent by birders in different habitats (that is, not in standardized times in given habitats), they

might in future be usefully compared with the longer time series of the BBS surveys. Because almost all of the regular

species in this section had begun nesting in May, only the earliest fledglings are documented here.

There was a gratifying eBird total of somewhat more than 80 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS (SARA and NS status:

“Threatened”), mostly in ones and twos (pairs?), after removal of probable repeated entries. No firm indications of nesting

were recorded. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was found widely in the mainland in all counties except Antigonish, but there

were only two eBird reports from CBI, both in s. Ingonish. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER is a late migrant and is

near the southern limits of its boreal breeding range here. Individual(s) on Sable I. June 3, 5 and 8 (Greg Stroud), was (or

were) probably migrants, and three on Seal I. June 7-8 (DMB) might have been. However, a dozen on BPI June 27-28 (LUB)

had presumably found suitable boggy patches for their breeding territories. ALDER FLYCATCHER was as usual our most

often reported small flycatcher, perhaps because of its persistent singing along forest edges, therefore along roadsides and

forest trails. Recent fledglings were found along the Wolfville Rail Trail, May 27 (GFO). WILLOW FLYCATCHER

continued to found in small numbers. As in past summers, two were singing at Belleisle Marsh, Anna, June 6 (JLC). Two

more singing on Starrs Pt., Kings, June 6 (PHT) continued to be found by others to up June 19 (LNE), but only one remained

thereafter up to month’s end (sev. obs.). Another singing male returned briefly to Sand Beach, at the s. end of Yarmouth,

June 5 (MCD, AAD) to June 11 (Jason Dain). One reported in the region of Petite Riviere, Lun, was evidently ID’d by

plumage tones – always risky without other evidence. LEAST FLYCATCHER was recorded in all mainland counties and

Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria on CBI.

To avoid listing the year-to-year increases in eBird submissions, the table below gives the abundance of our regular forest

flycatchers as proportions of the most abundant of them, the Alder Flycatcher. Note that, although the Empidonax flycatchers

maintained their relative abundances through the three summers, the Eastern Wood-Pewee seemed relatively more frequent

this summer. This could simply have resulted from more time spent birding in the interior of hardwood forests, favoured by

that species.


Species 2017 2016 2015

EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE 0.30 0.19 0.20

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER 0.15 0.18 0.15

ALDER FLYCATCHER 1.00 1.00 1.00

LEAST FLYCATCHER 0.33 0.34 0.36

EASTERN PHOEBE was found, mostly in ones or twos, in all mainland counties and at two localties in Inverness. Breeding

was confirmed along the Herbert River Trail, Hants (PHT); at Silver Link Bridge in Kentville (JAW); and at least three sites

in Pictou (sev. obs.). The earliest fledglings were found along Lorne Station Rd., Pict, July 16 (MAB).

A pair of GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS had nested in Kentville in recent summers, but this year a single individual

arrived there in spring (see last issue) and remained unmated until at least July 7 (JLC); it is not known if it was one of the

previously nesting pair, or an offspring. Another was found by David Currie in Williamswood, Hfx, June 6, and two, believed

to be paired, were found there later that day by Keith Lowe. Only one was seen over the next week or so, but two appeared

again June 25 (AMI, TMI). Nesting, however, was never confirmed.

At least one migrant EASTERN KINGBIRD lingered on BPI to June 1 (PHT), on Seal I. to June 8 (DMB), and on Sable I.

June 3-17, with two found June 14 (Greg Stroud). The breeding status is uncertain of the ones or twos reported through the

season from all mainland counties except Antigonish and Guysborough, along with one from CBI, even with “territorial

defence” noted for some. However, breeding was confirmed at three sites in Kings: at Miners Marsh, near Port Williams (sev.

obs.); and at Tannery Pond, the last with first report of fledged young, July 8 (GFO). Three found a few kilometres west of

Digby, June 29 (Jean Demers) might also have hinted at nearby breeding.

Sable Island is renowned for its generally untwitchable ‘Megas’: this season it was visited briefly June 11 by a FORK-

TAILED FLYCATCHER (Greg Stroud) Although we’ve had 13 previous records of this far-flung vagrant in our province

(probably more than any state or province), this one was a first for Sable I. (See photo below and discussion of its probable

origin).

This one of several photos of the FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER on Sable I. helps determine its origin. As expected

for a tropical species in early June, it is in post-breeding moult, with both worn and missing tail feathers and darker new

ones. The dark back, not separated from the even darker crown by a pale ‘collar’, is characteristic of subspecies

savanna, which breeds in southern South America and overwinters in Amazonia. Thus, this bird, like almost all found

here in the past, had greatly ‘overshot’ its usual winter range during its (austral) fall migration. [Photo by Greg Stroud]


BLUE-HEADED VIREO was as usual common throughout the province. First reported young (fledged?) were being fed at a

site along W. Big Interval Rd., July 15 (LUB). A non-vocal PHILADELPHIA VIREO at Seal Brook, Pict, June 4 (Andrew

Wagstaff) was not reported subsequently. Individual singing males of both Philadelphia and WARBLING VIREO were

found on Seal I. June 7 and June 8 respectively (DMB, LUB). Both were probably ‘overshoots’, and unlikely to have settled

down. RED-EYED VIREO, also one of our most frequently heard summer residents, was reported from all counties, and

about three and a half times more frequently than Blue-headed Vireo on eBird..

Continuing an attempt to track our corvid populations in the last summer-season issue of NS Birds (Vol.58, Issue 4, p. 34),

while avoiding the effects increasing eBird totals of birding effort, their proportions relative to the American Crow are also

included below.

Species eBird total (rel. no.)

Sum. 2017

Total Sum. 2016

(Relative no.)

Total Sum. 2015

(Relative no.)

GRAY JAY 70 (0.007) 107 (0.016) 59 (0.012)

BLUE JAY 2938 (0.308) 2147 (0.315) 1531 (0.308)

AM. CROW 9550 (1.000) 6816 (1.000) 4968 (1.000)

COM. RAVEN 1637 (0.171) 1330 (0.195) 1067 (0.215)

Whereas BLUE JAY and COMMON RAVEN appear to have maintained their usual relative numbers this summer, GRAY

JAY was listed much less often. Whether this marks a trend, a dip in the ‘boreal cycle’ that affects many species, or simply

reflects less time spent in its woodland haunts, remains to be followed in future.

The bonanza of exotic vagrant swallows in spring did not carry over into summer, and indeed the season’s only PURPLE

MARTIN was a wandering adult male that flew over David Bell’s car near Shag Harbour, Shel, July 13. As in recent

summer-season issues of NS Birds, eBird totals of our regular swallows are given in the table below as proportions of the

total for the widespread and non-colonial TREE SWALLOW.

Species eBird total (rel. no.)

Sum. 2017

Rel. no.

Sum. 2016

Rel. no.

Sum. 2015

Rel. no.

Sum. 2014

TREE SWALLOW 3764 (1.00) 1.00 1.00 1.00

BANK SWALLOW 2769 (0.74) 0.92 1.09 0.87

BARN SWALLOW 3704 (0.98) 0.90 0.66 0.82

CLIFF SWALLOW 621 (0.16) 0.10 0.07 0.08

Again we have to hope that the decrease this summer in relative numbers of BANK SWALLOW, which has been declining over the long

term, and modest increases in the other two colonial nesters, resulted from less frequent birding in the vicinity of gatherings and nearby

colonies of the Bank Swallow. The earliest Tree Swallows fledglings appeared at the Port Williams Sewage Lagoons June 18, and earliest

Bank Swallow fledglings in the Grand Pré area July 17 ( both reported by GFO). The earliest Barn Swallow fledglings were found at N.

Kemptville, Yar, July 8 (AAD), and particularly early fledged fledglings of Cliff Swallow appeared in the Greenfield, Queens, area June 10 (JAH)

The 2016 summer-season issue of NS Birds (Vol. 57, Issue 4, p. 27) compared that summer’s eBird totals of our regular

small forest insectivores with those of the previous spring and winter seasons. The table below compares the relative eBird

totals in summer as proportions, since 2014, of the commonest of them, the Black-capped Chickadee, taken as unity,

Species Rel. no.

Sum. 2017

Rel. no.

Sum. 2016

Rel. no.

Sum. 2015

Rel. no.

Sum. 2014

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE 1.000) 1.000 1.000 1.000

BOREAL CHICKADEE 0.064 0.101 0.036 0.141

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 0.222 0.192 0.114 0.075

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 0.037 0.034 0.022 0.022

BROWN CREEPER 0.032 0.025 0.014 0.022

WINTER WREN 0.058 0.090 0.050 0.261

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET 0.212 0.303 0.071 0.079

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 0.052 0.078 0.080 0.077


In last summer’s NS Birds (Vol. 58, Issue 4, p. 35) I suggested that relative abundance varied most in species that breed

largely in our spruce woods: Boreal Chickadee, Winter Wren, and Golden-crowned Kinglet. However, after nearly doubling

in relative numbers between summers 2015 and 2016, Red-breasted Nuthatch showed little further change this summer.

As usual, there several reports of Black-capped Chickadee feeding fledglings (earliest June 4); a Boreal Chickadee nest with

young was discovered on BPI June 23 (LUB), and fledglings were found at Mackenzie Settlement, Col, two days later (KJM,

ROH). The earliest fledged young of Red-breasted Nuthatch appeared along Rocky Run Tr., Three Fathom Hbr., Hfx, June

18 (SEM, PMC). Brown Creepers were feeding three young (on, off nest?) June 18 in the Cole Hbr.–W. Lawrencetown PP

park system June 18 (Aaron and Karen Marshall), yet a nest was still occupied on BPI June 28 (LUB). The earliest fledged

young of Winter Wren appeared on BPI June 24 (LUB).

Three MARSH WRENS in Cumberland were found in the Eddy Marsh June 4 (KLO, Mike Resch) and again June 27 (JAW,

JLC), and another iwas found in Amherst Marsh July 26 (JAW, JLC). An individual photographed in Belleisle Marsh, Anna,

July 27 (EOL), appeared to be of the expected eastern subspecies dissaeptus. A vagrant BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER

was an intermittent treat in Donald and Lois Codling’s yard in Lr. Sackville, July 16-27. Blaine MacDonald found the earliest

fledglings of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET along Moose River Rd, Hfx, July 1, and Ken McKenna came across a single

newly fledged RUBY-CROWND KINGLET at East Lake (near the Hfx-Guys border) characteristically later, July 18.

EASTERN BLUEBIRDS nested as usual in scattered parts of the mainland: just n. of Kentville; near Upper Economy, Col;

probably near E. Apple River, Cumb; along Tezlaff Rd. s. of Kentville, and Brooklyn St. n.w. of Kentville; and possibly at

two locations in Yarmouth. Earliest recorded fledglings appeared near Upper Economy July 21 (Christina K. Armstrong).

VEERY was recorded on eBird in all mainland counties except, oddly, Shelburne, and in all CBI counties, again oddly,

except Cape Breton, whereas at least a few HERMIT and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES were recorded in every county this

summer.

Species Relative no.

Sum. 2017

Relative no.

Sum. 2016

Relative no.

Sum. 2015

Relative no.

Sum. 2014

VEERY 0.27 0.16 0.26 0.20

SWAINSON’S THRUSH 0.68 0.80 0.86 0.60

HERMIT THRUSH 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

For the fourth summer, we can compare (above) the proportionate eBird totals of our three woodland thrushes, taking the

most commonly observed species, Hermit Thrush, as the standard at 1.00. The year-to-year variability in Veery may be ‘real’,

but eBird totals of Swainson’s Thrush have been strongly influenced by repeated surveys on BPI and Seal I., where it is the

only breeding woodland thrush. Oddly, only one Veery was fully confirmed as breeding (carrying food in Lunenburg, June

25; Carmel Smith). Although there were several confirmed nestings of both Swainson’s and Hermit Thrush, there were no

reports of fledglings.

Angie and Tony Millard found a single BICKNELL’S THRUSH along both the Bog Tr. and Skyline Tr., CBHNP, and

several more sightings were made along the latter trail through July (see photo below).

A glimpse is all you will probably get of

BICKNELL’S THRUSH in CBHNP; this

was one along the Skyline Trail July 17.

Nonetheless, the limited grey on its face,

weak eye-ring, and lengthy yellow edge of

the lower mandible will serve to add it to

your checklist. [Photo by Blaine MacDonald]


Nothing much is needed to confirm that AMERICAN ROBIN is among our most often encountered landbirds throughout,

with almost 8000 reported on eBird, although outnumbered by some conspicuously flocking species like crows and starlings.

The earliest fledgling was found near Porters L., Hfx, 11 June (Aaron and Karen Marshall).

Mimic-Thrushes through Warblers By Ken McKenna

GRAY CATBIRD was abundantly reported this summer, although the 600 eBird records can be whittled to about 300

individuals from 17 counties, including all those on CBI. There were no eBird submissions from Antigonish, but I found two

on the James River BBS. Some early-June reports included birds still migrating, including two that lingered on Sable I. June

1-11 (Greg Stroud). A pair on Seal I had begun nest building by June 8 (DMB), and Pat McKay observed an adult carrying

food on the Dartmouth Waterfront Trail July 15. All five BROWN THRASHERS (table below) were noted in the first half of

June, but none offered any evidence of breeding beyond the level of singing males.

Date Locality Observer

June 3 Chebogue Point, Yar Simon d’Entremont, ph.

June 4-5 Port Bickerton West, Guys Ally Manthorne, ph.

June 13-15 Athol area, Cumb Ann Landells

June 15 Pleasant Bay, Inv, singing Stephen Manuel

June 15 Deep Cove I., Yar Philip Atkinson, ph.

About a dozen NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS were found, all on the mainland. At the southwestern end, there were

individuals at Blanche, Barrington Passage and CSI, all in Shelburne, and at Quinan and on Seal I. Then there was a gap

beyond, with a half dozen in Kings, mostly in places where they have been resident through the year. None were noted

beyond Shubenacadie, Lr. Sackville, and near Chezzetcook Inlet, Hfx, at the northeastern extremity.

There were about 1400 eBird reports of 18,000 EUROPEAN STARLINGS for the period, with observations from all

counties. By mid-June recently fledglings were being noted throughout the province. For the second year in a row an

AMERICAN PIPIT was observed during the summer period. Phil Taylor sent a nicely detailed report of one on beach wrack

on BPI June 1 – “buffy, brown, slim, thin bill and longish tail with white outer tail feathers”. Also on BPI, Lucas Berrigan

heard one calling in flight at the late date of June 25 which might be a new record late date for a northbound (?) migrant in

the province. The number of CEDAR WAXWING eBird reports more than doubled from last year with about 1100 reports of

4000 and from all counties except under-reported Richmond. This species is a late nester and Justin Burke noted a pair nest

building in the Halifax Public Gardens July 11 and a female on eggs by July 15. George Forsyth sent along an interesting

report of a flock of 32 flycatching with swallows at Port Williams July 21, and he noted the waxwings were not returning to

perches as they usually do when flycatching.

All 23 species of our usual breeding warblers were noted this summer, and there was also a brief appearance of a non-

breeding vagrant. There are more than 30 BBS routes in the province but data for the current year are not yet available on the

BBS websites, and I don’t believe any provincial BBS counts were included in eBird checklists. I have long run three routes

in the eastern mainland. This year’s totals of warbler species differed from last year’s (tabulated below). I also include some

of those BBS warbler records in my seasonal summary.

BBS Route Counties Date

(2017)

No. of warbler species

2017 2016

Trafalgar Guysborough June 3 18 17

James River Antigonish June 10 14 16

Crows Nest Guysborough-Antigonish June 12 16 18

The easily recognizable “teacher-teacher” of a singing OVENBIRD is a favourite of many, and probably explains the

impressive 640 eBird reports of just over 1900 birds; the latter is about 30% more than last summer’s total. Jake Walker

tallied a seasonal high total of 37 during less than an hour’s birding in the French River Valley, Col, June 8. The totals in my

three eastern-mainland BBS routes were close to last summer’s ranges. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was noted in all

counties except Yarmouth and Richmond, and remains somewhat difficult to find in the southwestern end of the province.


There were 78 eBird reports of about 100 birds, but about 20 of those were repeated observations. Most records were of one

or two individuals, with a high of four noted at Seloams L., Hfx, June 25 (CHP, KST). The eastern mainland BBS route totals

ranged from four at Crows Nest, seven at James River and 13 at Trafalgar, altogether eight more than last summer’s

combined total.

Over 700 eBird reports added up to 1360 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, somewhat more than last year’s total, and

from all counties except Richmond. The largest count of ten was at Seloams Lake, Hfx, June 25 (KST, CHP). On the three

eastern mainland BBS routes, the range was 7-23, slightly below last year’s combined total. Aaron and Karen Marshall

reported an adult carrying food in the Cole Harbour – Lawrencetown area June 18. Although TENNESSEE WARBLER was

found in eight counties, only 15 were counted in all, four of them at Money Pt., Vic, July 5 (Connor Hawley). Most unusual

was one heard singing on the Halifax peninsula June 4 (PLC), and likely just passing through. John Brazner recorded three

singing along a short stretch of the Black Rock Community Trail, Kings, July 9, and wondered about the late date. It is not

unusual to have several males singing on closely placed territories, and even into July; one singing on Big I. July 1 was still

singing in the same location July 11 (KJM, MAB, FHM). NASHVILLE WARBLER remains somewhat uncommon,

although the 125 eBird reports of just under 200 birds (none from Antigonish, Richmond, or Yarmouth) were well above last

year’s totals.

All sightings of just over 200 MOURNING WARBLERS were locations in Halifax, Hants and Kings and to the northeast

and mostly on breeding regions such as the Cobequid Highlands, Antigonish and CBI. Exceptions were a clearly misplaced

female on Sable I. June 14-16 (Greg Stroud), and a male in Digby late July (photo below). Three locations produced three

high eBird checklist totals of eleven in mid-June: French River Valley (JAW), near Kemptown (KJM), both in Colchester,

and along Skyline Trail, CBHNP (Blaine MacDonald).

This apparent adult (SY?) male

MOURNING WARBLER (note its

very thin eye arcs and faded black

on lower breast) was photographed

in Digby in late July. It might have

been a post-breeding wanderer by

that date. [Photo by Cliff Sandeson].

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was the second-most-commonly reported warbler this season, with over 4300 eBird

checklists and was reported in all counties except Richmond. A very large total of 60 was tallied along the Cole-Harbour-

Shearwater Flyer Trail June 3 (B. Haley). Some of these birds might have been still on the way north. The totals for the

eastern mainland BBS routes were James R. (31), Crows Nest (34) and Trafalgar (43), with only the last total notably more

than last summer’s. Young were fledged on BPI June 28 (LUB).

The widespread AMERICAN REDSTART was the third most common warbler reported this season (about 2500 on eBird)

and was found in all counties. It was the second most common warbler on the Crows Nest route (36) and the Trafalgar route

(52), both well above last summer’s BBS numbers, but it was tied for fifth on the James R route (19, about half last summer’s

number); the reason for these shifts is not obvious. Despite increasing numbers elsewhere, there were eBird reports of CAPE

MAY WARBLER from only five locations, all in the northern mainland, and an additional two on the Crows Nest BBS and

one on the Trafalgar route. Despite increased reported during fall migration in the last couple of years, there still seems to be

no response here to the Spruce Budworm outbreak in Quebec and New Brunswick. NORTHERN PARULA was the fourth

most common warbler reported to eBird this summer, with nearly 2200 in all and from all counties except Richmond. It was

particularly common in the eastern mainland, and ranked first on the James R. (41) and Crows Nest (56) BBS routes,

although only fourth (35) on the Trafalgar route. All these route totals were higher than in summer 2016. Paul Gould noted an

occupied nest at Brazil Lake, Yar, June 11.


MAGNOLIA WARBLER was reported on eBird from all counties, and with a total of about 1800 was the eighth most

common warbler. The 58 along the Trafalgar BBS route (about 20% more than counts in the previous two years) ranked it the

most common warbler there. The 43 eBird reports of 50 BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, up slightly from the 28 in 2015

and the 38 in 2016, came predominately from the northwestern half of the mainland and CBI. An exception was one on Seal I

June 7 (DMB, LUB). The four on the Trafalgar BBS route were more than the two found last year, but down from nine in

2015. The eBird total of 460 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS was about nine times higher than the Bay-breasted Warbler

total, and they were more widespread and reported from all counties except Richmond. Jim Edsall noted that two of four

heard singing in the Cheticamp River area of CNHNP June 18 were using a song type he had not heard before or found on a

recording; he lamented he did not have his phone handy to record the aberrant song. The earliest record of breeding success

was of one carrying food at Black Rock, Kings, June 29 (JAW).

As usual, YELLOW WARBLER was the most common species of warbler reported this summer, with over 1400 eBird

records totalling about 4600 birds. On a canoe paddle on the Musquodoboit R. June 6, 40 were encountered between

Elderbank PP to Crawford Bridge (CHP, KST). Annapolis Valley birds got a quick start on breeding and George Forsyth

recorded adults carrying food in Wolfville and at Miners Marsh by June 5. It is not so common on the eastern mainland

routes, with 21 on James R. and only three on the Trafalgar BBS routes. By contrast, the eBird total of CHESTNUT-SIDED

WARBLER was only about 890, with no reports from CBRM or Richmond. It was the third most common warbler on the

James R. BBS route, with the 24 down only slightly from 27 in 2016. An adult was observed carrying food June 3 near the

Glenmore Rd., Hfx (Amber and Blaine MacDonald).

Once again, ABO researchers (DMB, LUB) were on BPI and Seal I. studying BLACKPOLL WARBLER, so there were

repeated sightings among the 900 reported on eBird. High counts of adults of 120 on Seal I. June 8, and 30 on BPI June11,

along with numbers of confirmed nestings, indicate that the species still thrives in the boreal-like forests of those islands.

Most of the remaining reports were from coastal headlands and islands of Halifax, and the highlands of northern CBI. There

were 105 eBird reports of 190 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER from 13 counties, thus similar to last summer’s

numbers. Jake Walker posted a high count of nine in his survey of French River Valley, Col, June 8. The eBird of 550 PALM

WARBLERS seems like quite an increase over the last summer’s 333, but many locations were visited several times this

summer. Steve Vines found an adult carrying food near McKinnon L, Pict, June 3. PINE WARBLER was found in only two

locations this summer, both known breeding areas. One was singing its rapid trill in Oakfield PP, Hfx, June 4 (B. Haley) and

up to four were noted by various observers at Miller Pt. Peace Pk., Lun, through June and July. The eBird total of about 2100

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS make them the fifth most common warbler this summer. but they did not rank in the top

five on any of the eastern mainland BBS routes. The only vagrant warbler of the summer was a PRAIRIE WARBLER, well

photographed on Seal I. Jun 6 (DMB, LUB, see photo below). The eBird total of almost 2000 BLACK-THROATED GREEN

WARBLERS from 17 counties made it sixth most common warbler reported this summer. It ranked fourth with 35 counted

on the Trafalgar route, although it was somewhat below the 44 in 2016. This species was seen carrying food in two Pictou

locations June 16 (KJM), and fledged young were observed on BPI June 25 (LUB).

This adult male PRAIRIE WARBLER was

photographed on Seal I. June 6. The species nests north

to coastal southern Maine, and if an overshooting male

were to a like-minded female here, they could

undoubtedly find suitable brushy fields and forest edges

to nest here, even on Seal I. [Photo by Lucas Berrigan]

There was increased effort this summer as part of the project on Landbird Species at Risk in Forested Wetlands. This might

explain the 80 eBird reports of about 120 CANADA WARBLERS, about twice the totals in the two past summers. It was


reported from 11 counties, all on the mainland. About a dozen WILSON’S WARBLERS were noted, all in northwestern

counties: Halifax, Cumberland, Pictou, Inverness and Victoria.

Sparrows to Dickcissel By Ian McLaren

[The Am. Orithologists’ Society Checklist Committee (AOU, is now a “Society”, hence now the AOS Checklist) has made a

few changes in the list order of this section, and these seem to have been followed in the June-July 2017 eBird listings. It also

determined that YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (as long suspected by birders) a warbler, but belongs with a group of tropical

birds including the ‘true’ tanagers (not ours) akin to the sparrows, and laced placed after icterids.]

NELSON’S SPARROW was reported widely from the usual coastal saltmarshes, but also from its traditional freshwater

mashes near the NB border. It is not listed by SARA, but our subspecies subvirgatus is rated ‘of concern’ in the Maritimes. It

is not well-covered by the BBS routes, so it seem worth recording, for future guidance, the maximal eBird estimates at its

favoured coastal saltmarshes, in the first half of June (up to June 19), presumably before fledglings, and again after mid-July,

(table below). Unfortunately, only either early-June or July counts were made at some other well-known breeding sites.

Localities Max. Counts Dates Observers Mavillette PP, Digby 3; 20 June 1-3; July 14 JOK; JAW. PHT

CSI, sev. locs. combined 9; 11 June 1-16; July 13-31 sev. obs.

First South (shore), Lun 2; 2 June 7; July 16 Charlene MacDonald

Conrad Bch., Hfx 1; 4 June 6; July 31 CHP; SEM

Wolfville area (incl. dykes, Grand Pré) 5; 11 June 1-18; July sev. obs.

Rainbow Haven Bch. PP, Hfx 3; 4 June 19; July 6 Diane LeBlanc; MZE

Big I. causeway, Pict 2; 7 June 12; July 11 KJM, FHM

The table indicates that eBird may a flawed method of assessing the status of this sparrow, but it is also much too rarely

recorded along BBS routes to reveal any trends. The table also shows that counts in the first half of June might be better (and

counts of singing males then even better) than later attempts in July when the species is both less conspicuous and augmented

by fledglings. We need to mount standardized surveys (of singing males?) of the species in selected coastal marshes soon

after it arrives in late spring.

Some other sparrows are probably reasonably well monitored along the BBS survey routes distributed throughout the

province. The table below lists the relative abundance of those other sparrow species (in order of their frequencies compared

with Song Sparrow, in the combined 2015-2016 BBS data compared with their relative frequency on eBird this spring (only

during the first half of June when almost all BBS routes are covered). No attempt was made to remove the large number of

repeated eBird sightings at the same localities during that two-week interval.

Species Rel. Nos. BBS

2015-16

Rel. Nos, eBird

June 1-15, 2017

Song Sparrow 1.000 1.000

Dark-eyed Junco 0.811 0.208

White-throated Sparrow 0.805 0.198

Savannah Sparrow 0.284 0.220

Chipping Sparrow 0.070 0.020

Swamp Sparrow 0.053 0.101

Lincoln’s Sparrow 0.054 <0.001

There are clearly differences between the two methods of estimating relative abundances of our regular breeding sparrow

species; but which is ‘better’? The comparison species, SONG SPARROW is generally over-represented on eBird compared

to its BBS status, and is probably augmented by eBird reports from roadsides and backyards. The BBS certainly provides a

more repeatable methodology from routes spread more-or-less evenly throughout the province, and they will also probably

detect long-term environmental changes (forestry, urban sprawl, etc.) along the fixed routes.

Among the less frequent sparrows was the usual handful of strays. A FIELD SPARROW was a nice find on Seal I. June 11

(DMB, LUB; see photo and caption below).


The overall greyness of this FIELD SPARROW on

Seal I., June 11, with a limited brown eyeline and mere

touch of buff on its rear flank, suggests it might hail

from further west. Sibley’s Guide to the Birds labels his

painting of such a bird as “Gray adult”. This greyness

characteristizes the subspecies arenacea, which breeds

in the n.e. US Great Plains east to Minnesota; or

perhaps it is an intergrade with the overlapping eastern

subspecies pusilla. [Photo by Lucas Berrigan]

BBS estimates of FOX SPARROWS continue to be confined to the CBI highlands and the cool and often stunted spruce

forests of our islands and coasts. Even in those habitats, the BBS data indicate a decrease to about one-sixth of their 1970s

numbers. Global warming may be implicated, and artificial ‘borealization’ of our Acadian Forest (i.e., replacement by fast-

growing spruce) has not helped. Good eBird totals presumably of breeding adults (sometimes summed from partial surveys

over more than one day) were reported from: BPI (12; LUB); Seal I. (12; DMB); and Big Harbour I., Hfx (4; AAD, KLO).

Otherwise, only about a dozen singles were reported, mostly from the coasts of n. mainland counties and CBI, including three

(futilely?) singing males.

DARK-EYED JUNCO was reported from all counties, but its eBird total relative to Song Sparrow, was only about one

quarter that the 2015-16 BBS (see table above). The same was true of WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. Both are brushland

species much of the year, but in early summer are more likely to be heard singing from deeper in the forest where birders less

often wander.

VESPER SPARROW is still reliably found breeding in Greenwood, Kings, where Larry Neily tallied a maximum of eight

around the airbase perimeter June 10. Others found one to three there through the rest of the season. Another, with a possible

fledgling, was found at Green Acres, New Minas, June 29, where a male had been singing in May (John Ogletree). A couple

of reports came from in or near Five Islands PP, Col, where it had been reported in some previous summers. More surprising

were reports from locations where it has not been previously recorded. Since this species is tagged as a “very rare breeder” on

the NSBS Field Checklist, such reports should be accompanied by some details. One such detailed report was of an apparent

pair in a grassy bald along the return loop of the Skyline Trail in CBHNP July 5 (Ben Winger); a report of three along the

same trail July 30 (no details) might hint at successful breeding. As noted above, SAVANNAH SPARROW is at home where

birders like to wander, so its good numbers on eBird relative to the BBS are not surprising; eBird checklist totals of 25 or

more all came from the Grand Pré area (maximum 34, June 10 [RIW]; probably few fledglings), or beaches (maximum of 45

on Martinique Bch. June 23 [KLO], probably with some fledglings), or grassy islands (max. 50 on Seal I., June 4 and 8

[DMB, LUB], probably few fledglings). An eBird checklist with 75 “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrows on Sable I. July 31 (AGH,

PHT) was, of course, not a full census of the island.

SONG SPARROW was about five times more commonly reported on eBird than any other sparrow this summer, and from

all counties. It is, by sheer numbers and tolerance of backyard habitats, a Facebook photo favorite. Given suitable boggy

patches in spruce forest, LINCOLN’S SPARROW can also be found throughout the province, but the most ‘southern’

sighting was of one on Seal I. June 5. It has summered there in the past, although that one might have still been on the move

to its largely boreal breeding range. Among the regular sparrows listed the above table, only SWAMP SPARROW was more

commonly reported on eBird than its BBS status might predict; perhaps this is because its habitat is favoured by birders

seeking waterfowl and other less common marsh-dwelling species.


Icterids to House Sparrow By Alix d’Entremont

This section has been written largely using the June-July eBird records, but sharply increasing submissions to that online

database (including repeated sightings of the same individuals) in recent years prevent using seasonal totals to track real

seasonal and year-to-year changes. Instead I make such comparisons (table below) for the present and past two summers

using relative numbers within the regular Icterids. The (winter) finches, which have large year-to-year swings in abundance

during winter, are best analyzed from winter eBird totals, and this will be done in the winter 2017-18 issue of NS Birds. It

also seems useful to begin in this issue to track the earliest fledglings reported on eBird for long-term tracking (e.g. for

effects of global warming).

As indications of what birders might see during their excursions, the table below gives the eBird totals of our regular icterids

in summers 2017, 2016, and 2015, including repeated sightings, and expresses those totals as proportions of the generally

most widespread species, the Common Grackle. Red-winged Blackbird is the most abundantly reported, but its eBird totals

may be distorted by frequency (and repetitions) of counts at their larger colonies.

Species 2017 total rel. total 2016 total rel. total 2015 total rel. total

Bobolink 384 0.107 359 0.081 470 0.113

Red-winged Blackbird 5332 1.492 4426 1.179 4252 1.491

Rusty Blackbird 37 0.010 28 0.007 12 0.004

Common Grackle 3574 1.000 3755 1.000 2851 1.000

Br. -headed Cowbird 46 0.013 22 0.006 89 0.031

All the above icterids have had swings in relative abundance during the last three summers, perhaps most extreme in the

cowbird. It remains to be seen if the future reveals long-term changes or patterns in year-to-year variability in relative

abundances. Reporting of Rusty Blackbird may have been affected by special attention to it in summer 1917 (as noted above

for Canada Warbler).

Typically, most reports of BOBOLINK came from Digby through Pictou. See also p. 33, for an account of a ‘tricky’

meadowlark at Daniels Head, CSI, June 16.

Birders were entertained this season by a pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES taking turns bringing food to their woven, gourd-

shaped nest at Miners Marsh, Kentville during the season (photo below). Singing males were noted in Middle River, Pict,

June 2 (KJM) and at Port Williams, Kings June 24 (GFO), and territorial behaviour of one individual was observed on the

Kings County Rail Trail between Greenwich and New Minas Jun 16 (GFO).

A fledgling BALTIMORE

ORIOLE begs for food

brought to its nest by its

father at Miners Marsh June

23. [Photo by Heather Quinn]


Colonies of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD were found at all the usual large marshes, and in many smaller ones throughout

the province. Aaron and Karen Marshall found the first fledglings at Russel L., Dartmouth, June 16. BROWN-HEADED

COWBIRD was reported from 15 locations throughout mainland Nova Scotia. RUSTY BLACKBIRD was more thinly

spread at 13 locations throughout the province; one was even found on Sable I. July 6 (Greg Stroud). Numbers reported

during summer in the last few years have been extremely variable, but never much higher than this year’s total (see table

above). Ken McKenna reported the first fledglings of COMMON GRACKLE at Middle River Dam, Pict, June 1. Nine PINE

GROSBEAKS were reported from five locations on CBI while another two were spotted in Antigonish Landing, Ant, July 10

(Winnifred Homer-Smith).

About 120 EVENING GROSBEAKS (with an attempt to exclude repeats) were reported on eBird. Rather late first fledglings

were found along French R., Pict, July 24 (FHM). A rather paltry eBird total of fourteen HOUSE FINCHES were reported

from Digby, Yarmouth, Kings and Halifax. PURPLE FINCH was reported from all counties; first young (fledged?) being fed

were observed in Lr. Sackville June 23 (DOC, LOC).

The society’s president David Currie was busy informing the public (see his report, p. 3) through various media about

trichomonosis (a.k.a. trichomoniasis), an infectious disease that affects mostly finches, and within that group, particularly

Purple Finches. It is caused by a microscopic parasite Trichomonas gallinae that inflicts the most damage to the upper

digestive track leading to difficulties swallowing food or water. This disease was first detected in wild birds of Atlantic

Canada in 2007. Transmission is by contaminated food, water and excretions from the birds themselves, so it was strongly

suggested that feeders be removed and sanitized until freezing temperatures return. Sick birds were reported from one end of

the province to the other, but the public became very concerned, and most removed their feeders.

RED CROSSBILLS were found at 26 mainland locations and two places in Victoria with an eBird total of 117 individuals

(repeats removed), about three times the 10-year average, but about one-quarter the numbers in 2016. There were large

gatherings of 20-25 at Martinique Beach PP, July 7 (AMI, TMI, Mike Resch) and at least 30 at Lr. Rose Bay, Lun, July 24

(ELM). Single very dusky-blackish ad. males photographed at two different Halifax locations July 2 (Susan Grant, Heather

Josey; NSBS Facebook) bear comment (see photos below).

The bird at left (Chezzetcook, Hfx, July 2) is darker than usual on its head and back and resembles individuals of

the endemic Newfoundland subspecies percna (Call Type 8). There are many photos of this subspecies on the

Newfoundland Nature site: http://www.nlnature.com/Felt-Lichen-Coyote-Caribou/red-crossbill-107.aspx. The

very dark back of the bird at right, at Marrette, Hfx, July 2, cannot be fully attributed its rain-soaked condition

and it may have an abnormal excess of plumage melalin. [Photos: left, by Susan Grant; right by Heather Josey.]

An eBird total of 37 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS came from 14 localities in three central mainland counties. PINE

SISKIN was recorded in almost all counties, but eBird reports of flocks of 10-50 birds came entirely from CBI. As expected,

the eBird total of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH was highest of any species in this section, and was reported from all counties

http://www.nlnature.com/Felt-Lichen-Coyote-Caribou/red-crossbill-107.aspx

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016116963120&hc_ref=ARTwSEzRdZDARxQrvPTF_SXM-TePbyJi8cPQka6uU6MyM7zX9Z2ZIFCrlIC2kkignAg


save Richmond. It is a late nester, and the first concrete evidence of this was one carrying nest material along the

Musquodoboit Trailway, July 7 (Aaron Marshall); six days later young were being fed at Chebogue Pt. (PRG).

HOUSE SPARROW was sparsely reported on eBird, with surprisingly few in the usual places (e.g. none in Metro Hfx) and

large counts of 15 near Brook Village, Inv., July 15 (Herb Elliot) and 12 at Fortress of Louisbourg July 29 (Patricia Seifert).

List of Contributors

AAD d’Entremont, Alix D.

AGH Horn, Andrew G.

AGR Granchelli, Angella

AMI Millard, Angie

BLF Forsythe. Bernard L.

CHP Pepper, Chris

CPE Peters, Chris

CSA Sandeson, Cliff

CSS Stevens, Clarence Sr.

DBM McCorquodale, David

DMB Bell, David M.

DMC Cormier, Dominic

ELM Mills, Eric L.

EOL Olsen, Ervin

FHM Mackenzie, Fred H.

GFO Forsyth, George

GRW Williams, Graham

JAD Dain, Jason

JAW Walker, Jake

JON Nickerson, John

KEL Lantz, Kevin

KJM McKenna, Ken J.

KLO Lowe, Keith

KST Steele, Kate S.

MAB Brennan, Mark

LOC Codling, Lois

LNE Neily, Larry

LUB Berrigan, Lucas

LVO Vollinger, “Liz”

MCD Dennis, Mark C.

MMI Millard, Margaret

MUN Newell, Murray

MZE Zelenietz, Marty

PAO Metteuci, Paolo

PHT Taylor, Phil

PLC Chalmers, Patricia L.

PMC McKay, Pat.

PRG Gould, Paul R.

RBS Stern, Richard B.

RIW Whitman, Rick

RSM McDonald, Robert S.

SAB Abbot, Sue

SEM Myers, Susann E.

SJF Fullerton, Sylvia J.

STV Vines, Steve

TEB Boswell, Terry

TMI Millard, Tony

_________________________________________________________________________________

Conservation and Cartoons and King Eiders, Oh My!

A review of Robert Alvo’s (2015) “Being a Bird in North America, North of Mexico, Volume 1: Waterfowl to

Shorebirds”; Friesens, Ottawa.

By Alison Conrad

“If you were an alien visiting from another world, and your boss tasked you with selecting one life form to abduct

for her ‘best specimens from each planet’ menagerie, which species would you select? An orchid, a butterfly, a

toad? How about the King Eider? The [King Eider] species name spectabilis means “spectacular”. The North

American King Eider population has declined considerably over the past few decades, and the cause is unknown.”


I had the pleasure of reading Robert Alvo’s highly original book, a copy of which was generously donated to the NS

Bird Society. For bird lovers like me, who own many field guides and are looking for something refreshingly different,

this book focuses on a very important and relevant topic – conservation.

Alvo has been a conservation biologist for almost forty years, with a wide range of accomplishments including: founding

Canada’s first Conversation Data Centre; developing the Canadian national conservation status ranks for the amphibians,

reptiles, birds, and mammals of Canada in the late 1990s; and as a cooperator for NatureServe Canada, and managing the

species database of Parks Canada. His book tells stories about species that breed or used to breed in North America,

selected because of their conservation status, and details those that should be protected. Each species has a full page,

with a clever and insightful account about how it survives, problems it faces, conservation issues, ecology, behaviour, or

something unique about them, and offers his own relevant experiences and analyses. For example, did you know that

Black-crowned Night Herons can be used to evaluate contaminant levels? This is because, not only are they high up in

the food chain, but they are the most widespread heron, so contaminant levels can be measured globally without having

to take into account differences in species. Each species is complemented by a clever cartoon – perhaps my favourite

feature – that illustrates a characteristic of the bird. Fifteen artists contributed the original cartoons, and I guarantee they

will both help you remember what you have read and make you smile.

One of my favourite cartoons in the book

depicts Osprey, the provincial bird in Nova

Scotia. Alvo’s caption notes: “Most [ospreys]

now use artificial structures such as

communication towers, utility lines, nautical

channel markers, and nesting poles erected

for this species. . . causes of this shift in nest

sites are: increased predation by Raccoons,

whose populations have increased; the loss of

tall trees; and, shoreline development.”

[Cartoon by Sari Richter; copied with

permission].

“Being a Bird in North America” brings to light the challenges that birds faced in the past and still experience today. Alvo

has written this book to make it easy to digest and enjoyable by a wide readership – those with an interest in birds, nature, or

conservation, with the cartoons also appealing to young children. If you are looking for something that will teach you new

things and will make you think, with the occasional injection of humour, you will enjoy this book. Conservation is such an

important topic, and I think this book can teach us all something – birds are so special to us, and we all need to make an effort

to ensure that we respect them and their habitat, not just for us, but for their own well-being, future generations, and for the

global ecosystem. The last thing I want to do is to see birds such as piping plovers, northern bobwhites, and little blue herons

disappear. Pick this book up for yourself or someone else and learn about birds and how you can start thinking about

conservation. Awareness is the first step.

____________________________________________________________________________________


Enjoying a ‘Dusk Chorus’ in Pictou County By Ken McKenna

We’ve all read about, and most have experienced, the early-summer ‘dawn chorus’ of male birds in their questings for mates

and warnings to other males. After supper July 5, I decided to spend a particularly calm and pleasant evening to search for

Common Nighthawk. About 8:30 p.m. I travelled five minutes away from my Plymouth home to a short dirt road called

Brook Rd., which runs less than two kilometres between Churchville and Brookville. The road more or less parallels a stream

that runs from a beaver dam in Churchville to Brookville and then into the McLellans Brook which in turn feeds into the East

River of Pictou. I entered the road from the Churchville end and noticed the road had been recently graded and with the

recent dry weather a lot of dust was kicked up by my tires as I drove slowly with the window open. A few birds were calling

as I drove along and the distinctive song of a Canada Warbler caught my ear, so I decided to pull off the road about 70 m into

a small new cut-over and park near its middle at the top of a small hill. The cut-over had a number of snags and some

smallish hardwoods.

As I came to a stop, and aided by the stillness of the evening, my ears picked up on an amazing variety of sounds – some

birds were calling, but more were singing. The most obvious songs were of Red-eyed Vireo, American Robin, Northern

Parula, White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove and, best of all, an amazing Hermit Thrush projecting its flute-like music.

Before long, three Veeries and a Swainson’s Thrush joined in, producing a four-thrush concert. Three species of woodpecker

also chimed in, including a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker both calling and tapping out its distinctive drumming that slows down

at the end.

About 9:00 p.m. a ‘peent’ call of a Common Nighthawk revealed its presence to the west, and it then flew out of sight to the

east. About 20 min later that Nighthawk, or possibly another one, came from the east, went over me calling, and then flew

west again. A Northern Waterthrush started to sing, and I heard the Canada Warbler warbling again, this time at the east end

of its apparent territory. The last warbler to join in was a Common Yellowthroat; a bit of a surprise, as I would have expected

this common resident of clearcuts to do so earlier.

I was savouring a special evening when at 9:28, a Common Nighthawk left the ground a little to my north, made a few low

passes overhead, then perched on a snag only a few meters from me. I ran for my camera but in the low light only got a “doc”

shot before it flew off and hunted over the cutover. (See <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37992492>.) At 9:30, an

American Woodcock became my 26th

species at this spot in less than an hour.. It first gave its ‘peent’ call from the ground,

giving nice comparison with the similar sound of the Common Nighthawk that was still calling as well. The Woodcock took

to the air, and I listened to a few of its aerial displays before I left at 9:35, with both the Woodcock and the Nighthawk still

calling.

The dawn chorus can be a dramatic way to start a day, but I encourage all to find a nice peaceful spot on a calm evening, and

I think you will be sold on the lesser known dusk chorus – just be sure to wear a bug jacket and net over your head!

_________________________________________________________________________

The Treasure of Pearl Island By Andy de Champlain

I had received an invitation from Jason Dain to join a pelagic tour to Pearl Island, off the mouth of Mahone Bay, July 16,

2017 and I’d accepted the opportunity to go. When I later learned that Jason himself wouldn’t be joining, I decided not to

take it personally.

Unlike Sylvia Craig, who, living in Tantallon, could practically roll out of bed into the boat in Peggy’s Cove, I had to get up

at 4 a.m. to make the drive from Greenfield. I got up, tiptoed to the bathroom, took my pills, and jumped in the Prius. I wasn’t

brave enough to disturb anyone else in the cottage – wife, kids, and in-laws – by making breakfast, so the first stop had to be

Tim’s in Bridgewater.

As I pulled into the village of Peggy’s Cove at dawn, I was tailed by a dark figure on a heavy motorcycle, which followed me

right to where I parked, in the otherwise empty lot. The biker took off her helmet, and there was the smiling red-haired birder,

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37992492


Andrea Drake, whom I knew well enough from many a previous birding escapade. We threw her helmet in the Prius, and

walked down toward the boat.

It was nice to see a number of Barn Swallows, including some hatchlings, since that species has been in serious decline over

the past few decades. A Tree Swallow was also there, posing on a wire to be immortalized in the photographic annals of

eBird.

Boarding the boat, I greeted a few other familiar folk,

including professor Eric Mills, with seventy years’ birding

experience; the handsome and talented Acadian photographer

Simon d’Entremont, who’d brought two all-grown-up kids on

the tour; world-class carver Jim Edsall; Mark Penfound, and

Sylvia Craig. There were 19 birders aboard, along with captain

and crew. After the requisite this-is-how-to-wear-a-lifejacket

talk, Captain Peter began to take us out to sea, but not before

Jim identified a marine mammal 60 feet away from the boat as

an otter. Surprisingly, Jim was fairly blasé about the sighting,

whereas I’d never seen one in salt water before. Clearly, these

passengers were all about the birds. That suited me

swimmingly.

Not long past the famously photographed lighthouse, Jim ID’d a Sooty Shearwater in the distant fog. I was immediately

disappointed to have missed it, but made a mental note. I wanted to see to it that someone – who turned out to be Andrea

Drake – would list what we saw for an eBird entry; I didn’t want all of us to put the trip’s counts into the database, but would

do it myself if no one else seemed keen to do so.

The fog was a little dampening on our hopes as we motored out into the three-foot seas, and I silently wondered whether we

should have gone out the day before as initially planned. But the fog did lift and visibility wasn’t a problem. The trek to Pearl

Island is about 10 miles and takes about 45 minutes. A Great Shearwater soared by the boat quite close, allowing for a decent

doc shot (first of the year for me) and the trip was already worth the fifty bucks. We also saw a few Wilson’s Storm-Petrels

fairly early on.

Captain Peter pushed onward, and before too long I saw the first couple chunky puffins flapping vigorously past the starboard

side of Seadog IV. Pearl Island wasn’t far now, with one of the few colonies of nesting Atlantic Puffins in southwest Nova

Scotia. As the island came into view, a dozen Razorbills flew over the boat in a tight little flock. Simon swung his metre-long

lens in their direction, careful not to knock any passengers into the waves with its bulk, but wasn’t quite quick enough to get

the puffins. Some readers are aware of the challenges of trying to photograph a bird from a boat rocking on the ocean; for

those that aren’t, I can promise that it is very tricky. In such conditions it’s hard not to fall over, let alone get shots of moving

birds!

Some of the birders aboard nonetheless remained impressively stable. Most of us were clinging to the rails for stability, and

I got the feeling some of us were experiencing nausea, but Eric Mills, whose accumulated hours on deck rival the experience

of your average naval officer, stood solid as a mast in the centre of the boat.

A Brown Booby had been spotted on the island about a month before, on June 22, and my distant hope was to catch sight of

the species on this day. “Don’t hold your breath,” Eric told me when I confessed the notion. Also, I heard a Peregrine Falcon

had been spotted out here, but alas, neither falcon nor booby was to be seen this day.

In any case, we tooted around the island and observed the usual suspects – lots of Double-crested Cormorants (one Great

was also ID’d), Northern Gannets, Atlantic Puffins, gulls, and Razorbills. There seemed to be fewer Black-legged

Kittiwakes (maybe 30) than I remembered from a previous tour of the island, but we caught a glimpse of a dozen

Semipalmated Sandpipers buzzing past the rocks, and someone also ID’d a Spotted Sandpiper at the island.


The highlight bird of the trip was

seen en route back to Peggy’s Cove.

A Manx Shearwater was handily

identified by Eric and quickly

photographed by Simon. I did catch

a glimpse of it, but so fleetingly I

haven’t yet decided if I will add it to

my life list. [Photos by: left Simon

d’Entremont; right, Lynn Fergusson]

Most of the group gathered for a photo as we approached the lighthouse. To me, such images are at least as precious as those

of the birds we see, invoking memories of shared experiences with other birders.

The List (some around Sambro harbour and dock)

d Habour

Canada Goose 6

Common Eider 87

Common Loon 7

Great Shearwater 5

Sooty Shearwater 2

Manx Shearwater 1

Wilson’s Storm-petrel 3

Northern Gannet 19

Dbl.-crested Cormorant 300

Great Cormorant 1

Semipalmated Sandpiper 12

Spotted Sandpiper 1

phalarope sp. 1

Black-legged Kittiwake 30

Herring Gull 50

Great Black-backed Gull 1

gull sp. 1

Arctic Tern 1

Atlantic Puffin 100

Black Guillemot 200

Razorbill 100

Barn Swallow 20

Starling 2

Song Sparrow 3

Common Grackle 2

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

West versus East: Identification of a Meadowlark by Mark Dennis and Alix d’Entremont

Field Encounter. Clyde Stoddard flushed a roadside bird on Daniels Head, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne, on the morning of

June 16, 2017, that he ID’d as a meadowlark. The call went out and Johnny and Sandra Nickerson, Mike MacDonald and

Dennis joined Clyde in searching for the bird. In due course it appeared and spent time milling around the trailer park area on

the Head, calling a few times (heard only by Dennis), before wandering back to the grassy edges of the inside channel.

During viewing, careful attention was paid to the amount of white showing on the outer tail feathers in an attempt to rule out

Western Meadowlark, although Eastern Meadowlark is the default species here in NS. The white was extensive on three

outer tail feathers. The call, from about 80 m, sounded to Dennis like the “dzik” or “dzeek” of an Eastern.

More observers arrived on site, fortuitously coinciding with the bird showing well, and it was heard singing an Eastern-like

song very briefly (again by Dennis). Unfortunately the bird cut short its vocal performance before a recording could be made.

A selection of photos was obtained during its stay and it was noted via Facebook at the time (Jim Edsall) that there were

some inconsistencies with an identification of the bird as Eastern, but the tail pattern, call and song seemed to fit. When

viewing the images on-screen, the most troubling aspect of the plumage was the extent of yellow onto the malar, and at some

angles, the head stripes looked rather indistinct. Worth noting too were the rather scruffy cheeks and general paleness of the

bird, all apparent features of Western Meadowlark.

As the morning wore on, the bird became erratic in its habits and would disappear for long spells. From early afternoon on

the day it was found it became unobtainable and only two flush sightings, both by Clyde and on subsequent days, hinted at a

longer residency than one morning.


Analysis. With such a bird, photographs become important in establishing the correct ID; the pixels often reveal things that

the eye struggles to see. Before beginning this write-up of the bird as an Eastern Meadowlark, Dennis revisited the

identification, felt that there was ambiguity in his original identification and so publically broadcast images via the Advanced

Bird ID Facebook group hoping to establish its true identity. The responses were measured and mixed, with some favouring

pure Western, but most warning that a hybrid between Western and Eastern should be considered, given descriptions of its

call and song, as well as the extent of white in the rectrices combined with other plumage features matching Western. The

zone of sympatry (overlap) is a fairly large area from the U.S. Midwest through to southern Ontario, although behavioural

and ecological isolating mechanisms limit mixed pairings (Davis and Lanyon 2008).

Davis and Lanyon (2008) state that intermediate songs or individuals singing songs of both species are not absolute evidence

of a hybrid but are likely the result of misdirected learning. Calls of Western Meadowlarks are thought to be innate and thus

diagnostic (David and Lanyon 2008), but Pieplow (2017) warns that its ‘chup’ or ‘chuck’ call is variable, and the buzziest

versions can approach Eastern’s ‘dzert’or ‘drzzt’.

The only expected Western Meadowlark subspecies in Nova Scotia is neglecta, which is said to be paler and greyer above

than our regional subspecies of Eastern Meadowlark, magna (McLaren 2012), but differences are more pronounced after pre-

basic moult Jul-October (Davis and Lanyon 2008). See the following images (Figs 1-3) and their captions for a discussion of

the CSI bird’s features.

Figure 1. The Daniels Head meadowlark shows more greyish tones above with thinner black barring, a

less contrasting head pattern, less linear flank streaking and more extensive yellow throat than the Eastern

Meadowlark (here at St-Lazare, Quebec, May 6, 2015), but appears similar to the Western Meadowlark

(here ayPlumas, California, March 17 2013). The yellow throat extends well into the submoustachial area,

appearing to reach the gape and auriculars. Eastern Meadowlark tends to show more contrast between the

auriculars and the postocular streak (Pyle 1997, Alderfer 2014) – but the Daniel’s Head bird shows little

contrast between the mottled auriculars and the postocular streak. [Photos by Mark Dennis]


Figure 2. The discrete

and narrow black bars on

the tertials and inner

secondary coverts of the

Daniels Head bird are

visible in this photo (left)

and appear quite different

from the broad dark

centres of these feathers

on a typical magna

Eastern Meadowlark in

St-Lazare, Quebec 6 May

2015 (right). [Photos by

Mark Dennis]

Figure 3. The outer two tail feathers (rectrices R5-R6) of the Daniels Head bird are entirely white with dark

patterning only close to the tip of their outer web; R4 is all white except for a small dark portion of the outer

web (lower right insert) and a dark tip to the outer web, and R3 is mostly patterned with only a small portion of

white on the inner web. Lanyon (1966) states that extensive overlap in the amount of white in the tail feathers

means it should only provide strong evidence for identifying individuals with extremes of this variation. The

extreme amount of white on R4 of the Daniels Head bird seems outside of the expected range for Western

Meadowlark (see p. 12 Fig. 1 of Lanyon 1966). Yet the dark bars on the central tail feathers appear discrete,

unlike the centrally joined barring typical of magna Eastern Meadlowlark. [Photos by Mark Dennis]

One further consideration is the possibility that the Daniels Head bird was a lilianea Eastern Meadowlark, which somewhat

resembles Western, but has more white in the outer tail. References to eBird and Alderfer and Dunn (2014) show a very

restricted range of this putative species, and there appears to be no known vagrancy outside its normal range in west Texas

through Arizona. Thus the potential for it reaching Nova Scotia appears minimal. An individual from this population would

also not show yellow in the submoustachial area, or a head pattern with such little contrast (Alderfer and Dunn 2014).

Conclusions Pro-Western features are the yellow malar, head pattern with little contrast, dirty cheeks, discrete barring on the central tail

feathers, inner secondaries/tertials and inner greater secondary coverts, and pro-Eastern evidence includes vocalizations and


extent of white in the tail. Nobody claims meadowlark identification is easy and some may never be satisfactorily identified.

The Daniel’s Head bird appears to fall within that grey area and could possibly be a hybrid.

For further reading see:

Skins of both taxa.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/mlarkdiff.htm

An intriguing bird seen in Newfoundland with helpful discussion.

http://alvanbuckley.blogspot.ca/2014/11/

A discussion of two birds in the potentially hybrid zone.

http://birdhybrids.blogspot.ca/2015/12/western-meadowlark-x-eastern-meadowlark.html

References: Alderfer, J., J.L. Dunn. 2014. (Ed). Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition. National Geographic Society.

Washington DC, USA.

Davis, Stephen K. and Wesley E. Lanyon. 2008. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), version 2.0. In The Birds of

North America (P. G. Rodewald, editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA.

https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.104

Lanyon, W. E. 1966. Hybridization in meadowlarks. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. no. 134:1-26.

McLaren, I.A. 2012. All the Birds of Nova Scotia: status & critical identification. Gaspereau Press Ltd, Kentville, N.S.,

Canada.

Pieplow, N. 2017. Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston and

New York.

Price, J. Droege, S., and Price, A. 1995. The Summer Atlas of North American Birds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA.

Pyle, P., S.N.G. Howell, R.P. Yunick, and D.F. Desante. 1997. Identification guide to North American Birds, Part 1,

Columbidae to Ploceidae. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, California.

Sibley, D. A. 2014. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, USA.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/mlarkdiff.htm

http://alvanbuckley.blogspot.ca/2014/11/

http://birdhybrids.blogspot.ca/2015/12/western-meadowlark-x-eastern-meadowlark.html

https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.104

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