[NatureNS] Migration, Young Birds and other stuff

DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws;
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 05:33:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rob Woods <rrtwoods@yahoo.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

Index of Subjects
--0-1607097456-1155040438=:81945
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

This weekend I noticed a lot more warbler activity on my property after a quiet July. Lots of mixed flocks usually with chickadees. 
   
  I have had at least two successful families of hummingbirds this year. I have had 6 feeding from the same feeder at the same time. My highest one time count is 12 birds at or near two of my three feeders. The two of us cannot see all three feeders at once. Currently I got through about 3 cups of sugar water a day. No worry about fermentation even in the heat.
   
  I did a quick bird of the Noel Shore on Sunday with Jacques Perron. Timing the tide right is very important. We were too close to the high tide time for Burntcoat Head and the accessible mud flats were covered. Did find one large flock of Blackbellied Plovers, Dowtichers and Kildeer in a cattle field. Also came across a successful Colony of Bank Swallows with lots of feeding going on. Probably a hundred holes with maybe half of them active. Many with heads peaking out waiting for the parents to return. Also saw one Bobolink while driving on the 215.
   
  Rob Woods
  Georgefield

Hans Toom <Htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca> wrote:
          The first of August is the beginning of our three month migration period with the early warblers leading the exodus.  Since many birds arrived one to two weeks early this year they may well leave early as well.  Others undeterred by early arrival may linger well into the fall possibly using the angle of the sun as their guide.  August is also a good time to view young birds.
   
  At our place in Portuguese Cove the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fledged about two weeks ago and are now engaged in their annual habit of chasing each other around the house and through the forest.  I've posted one photo.  The young Ring-necked Pheasants have been flying for about 6 weeks but still visit daily and stand atop the platform feeder to look about and to preen much like their mother did when she was on sentry duty.  I've posted one photo with an inset of a young pheasant from earlier this spring.  
   
  At Martinique Beach PP earlier this week I was the centre of attention for a very protective Common Tern parent as I walked along the beach even though the young tern being protected was a competent flier.  Shortly thereafter a Bald Eagle drifted by pursued by a very annoyed gull.  I've posted one photo of each.  At Flying Point I found a Blackpoll Warbler family the young birds being quite non descript and would have been a challenge to ID except for their unique song.  One photo is posted.
   
  At Lewis Lake PP I happened upon a damselfly at the bridge on the St. Margaret's Bay trail. This example is very similar to an Ebony Jewelwing except the body is not black but emerald green.  The human eye can easily outperform the camera as the attached photo demonstrates because although I could see this colour the camera didn't successfully capture it.
   
  At Cow Bay, HRM, this morning I found a family of Spotted Sandpipers.  This adults of this flightly bird are hard to photograph but this morning's bunch of youngsters didn't have a parent nearby so the usually present protective alarm calls were absent, allowing a slightly closer approach.  I've posted two photos.  I've also posted one photo of a young Willet from this morning.  It seems most of the parents are gone now.
   
  Some reports from other parts of Canada indicate that the migration is early and well underway.
   
  Hans
   
  http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/Highlight80.html
  __________________________________________________
Hans Toom
Provincial Coordinator
Nova Scotia's Migration Count
e-mail: htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca
NSMC website: http://hanstoom.com/NAMC/Index.html
Nature website: http://hanstoom.com
___________________________________________________


 		
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
 Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
--0-1607097456-1155040438=:81945
Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

<div>This weekend I noticed a lot more warbler activity on my property after a quiet July. Lots of mixed flocks usually with chickadees. </div>  <div>&nbsp;</div>  <div>I have had at least two successful families of hummingbirds this year. I have had 6 feeding from the same feeder at the same time. My highest one time count is 12 birds at or near two of my three feeders. The two of us cannot see all three feeders at once. Currently I got through about 3 cups of&nbsp;sugar water&nbsp;a day. No worry about fermentation even in the heat.</div>  <div>&nbsp;</div>  <div>I did a quick bird of the Noel Shore on Sunday with Jacques Perron. Timing the tide right is very important. We were too close to the high tide time for Burntcoat Head and the accessible mud flats were covered. Did find one large flock of Blackbellied Plovers, Dowtichers and Kildeer in a cattle field. Also came across a successful Colony of Bank Swallows with lots of feeding going on. Probably a hundred holes
 with maybe half of them active. Many with heads peaking out waiting for the parents to return. Also saw one Bobolink while driving on the 215.</div>  <div>&nbsp;</div>  <div>Rob Woods</div>  <div>Georgefield<BR><BR><B><I>Hans Toom &lt;Htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca&gt;</I></B> wrote:</div>  <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">  <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2912" name=GENERATOR>  <STYLE></STYLE>    <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first of August is the beginning of our three month migration period with the early warblers leading the exodus.&nbsp; Since many birds arrived one to two weeks early this year they&nbsp;may well leave early as well.&nbsp; Others undeterred by early arrival may linger well into the fall possibly using the angle of the sun as their guide.&nbsp; August is also a good time to view young birds.</FONT></DIV>  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At our
 place in Portuguese Cove the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fledged about two weeks ago and are now engaged in their annual habit of chasing each other around the house and through the forest.&nbsp; I've posted one photo.&nbsp; The young Ring-necked Pheasants have been flying for about 6 weeks but still visit daily and stand atop the platform feeder to look about and to preen much like their mother did when she was on sentry duty.&nbsp; I've posted one photo with an inset of a young pheasant from earlier this spring.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At Martinique Beach PP earlier this week I was the centre of attention for a very protecti