[NatureNS] Brier Island-Sep. 15-17

Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 14:24:24 -0300
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Angus MacLean <angusmcl@ns.sympatico.ca>
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In respect to birds, the Island was quiet on Friday. Pond Cove had no 
shorebirds at low tide (early afternoon) but a few showed up later in the 
evening as the tide came in.

My best discoveries Friday were 1) a Wandering Darner (dragonfly) near the 
Hostel in Westport, and, 2) a Common Branded Skipper at the Western Light. 
The latter adds another site where this rare skipper has been found.

Birds were exceptionally plentiful at Northern Light on Sat. morning. Ken 
MacKenna kept a list and will undoubtedly report later (as his group is 
leaving the Island today). It's been many years since I saw so many birds, 
mostly warblers, and especially after a clear night with no wind!! It 
helped when the few Merlins present, left early so the birds were not 
seeking shelter as they normally would. As an example in one very small 
bush, I came on 2 Blue-headed & 5 Red-eyed Vireos bunched together.

We took in a pelagic trip in the afternoon. There were surprisingly few 
birds. The Humpbacks put on a great show but the best sighting for me was a 
Thresher Shark, quickly called by the Guide (who called it Thrasher as most 
fishermen do). There are stories told by fishermen about this shark and a 
swordfish teaming up to kill (presumably small) whales. While out 
swordfishing many years ago I witnessed a sight where the water was 
literally boiling and the "creatures" were moving at a rapid rate. I was 
told what I described above was happening. There are several points about 
this story that don't seem logical but it was still a good story for a 
young teenager!

There were still plenty of birds Sunday morning but not up to the previous 
morning's numbers. There was a fair hawk flight that afternoon (after I had 
left).

Angus
  

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