[NatureNS] Winter Birding in Canada - 2007-2008 - Mid-season

Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:09:20 -0400
From: Bob McDonald <bobathome@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Hi Blake,

Very interesting information, and thanks for pulling it all together for us.

I'm mystified about the report of a Fieldfare.  I cannot recall mention of this species on either NS-RBA or NatureNS.  Can you provide any details on this report?

Thanks again,
Bob McDonald


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Blake Maybank 
  To: BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU ; NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA ; naturens@chebucto.ns.ca ; peibirders@lists.upei.ca 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:16 PM
  Subject: [NatureNS] Winter Birding in Canada - 2007-2008 - Mid-season Update


  Hello Everyone;

  Winter Birding in Canada - 2007-2008 -  Mid-season Update 

  We are pleased to finally welcome Ontario into the fold!  They've been missed, and are most welcome.   Proof that nagging can work.

  Environment Canada's long-term forecast [ http://tinyurl.com/yu46t7 ] (calling for below average temperatures for the December-February period for pretty much the entire country) was depressingly accurate.  Thus far almost every part of Canada has experienced an "old-time" winter, colder than any in the past 15+ years.  

  Now, by the mid-point of the season, the early predictions of lower than average species counts have been realised, and no province has yet even reached its long-term winter average total, and though this may yet happen, no province will likely set any records.

  But despite the weather, birders have been afield, and they've found a number of remarkable species.  And certain trends have emerged: lots of redpolls everywhere in the south, and a noticeable displacement of western birds to the east, most particularly with respect to Townsend's Solitaires, but to a lesser extent Varied Thrushes, Bullock's Orioles, "western" juncos, and a few others. 

  The rarest bird remains the Cook's Petrel in British Columbia, a first for Canada.   It flew against a home-owner's door in Lillooet following a vicious storm.  Although the bird was taken into care, it subsequently died.  But Nova Scotia's Magnificent Frigatebird must come a close second.

  Here are the various regional totals as of Jan. 22, with a few highlighted species, for all ten provinces, as well as the French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon, and the country of Iceland.   I've also provided links to each region's winter birding page.

  PROVINCES FROM EAST TO WEST:

  Newfoundland: http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p 

    135 species - Greater White-fronted Goose, Slaty-backed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bullock's Oriole.


  Nova Scotia:  http://tinyurl.com/2u2ulg 

    187 species (average = 195) - Magnificent Frigatebird, Ivory Gull, Empidomax flycatcher sp., White-eyed Vireo, Fieldfare, Grasshopper Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Bullock's Oriole.


  Prince Edward Island:  http://tinyurl.com/3bkhwz 
          103 species (average = 118) - Carolina Wren, Bullock's Oriole, Hoary Redpoll.

  New Brunswick:  http://tinyurl.com/36hpe4
          155 species (average = 162) - Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Lark Sparrow.

  Quebec:   http://tinyurl.com/2ngu7n 
          153 species - Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Pipit.

  Ontario:   http://tinyurl.com/23b2zf

    191 species - Barnacle Goose, Osprey, Slaty-backed Gull, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Harris's Sparrow.


  Manitoba:   http://tinyurl.com/yjtx52
          90 species (average = 101) - Green-winged Teal, Black-headed Grosbeak.

  Saskatchewan:  http://tinyurl.com/2qde59 

    97 species (average = 111) - Barrow's Goldeneye, Greater Sage-Grouse, Gray Catbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker.


  Alberta:   http://tinyurl.com/yke4sl 

    138 species (average = 141) - Greater Sage-Grouse, Eastern Screech-Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cassin's Finch.


  British Columbia:   http://tinyurl.com/33bmzc 

    240 species (average = 250) - Arctic Loon, Short-tailed Albatross, Cook's Petrel, Pectoral Sandpiper, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Bobolink.


  Other Reporting Regions:

  French Islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon:   http://tinyurl.com/y45kl5

    87 species (average = 84) - Northern Harrier, Nashville Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird.


  Iceland:   http://www.fuglar.is/vetrarhlaup.php

    90 species - Pink-footed Goose, Surf Scoter, Eurasian Woodcock, Song Thrush.


  Good (winter) birding,

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Blake Maybank
  maybank@ns.sympatico.ca

  Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds"

  author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia"
  http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm

  White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada 


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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi Blake,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Very interesting information, and thanks for pulling =
it all=20
together for us.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I'm mystified about the report of a Fieldfare.&nbsp; =
I cannot=20
recall mention of this species on either&nbsp;NS-RBA or NatureNS.&nbsp; =
Can=20
you&nbsp;provide&nbsp;any details on this report?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Thanks again,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Bob McDonald</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
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  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dmaybank@ns.sympatico.ca =
href=3D"mailto:maybank@ns.sympatico.ca">Blake=20
  Maybank</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
  title=3DBIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU=20
  =
href=3D"mailto:BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU">BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.E=
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  ; <A title=3DNATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA=20
  href=3D"mailto:NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA">NATURENB@LISTS