[NatureNS] Big I. Aug 3, 2008

Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:46:24 -0300
From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken@eastlink.ca>
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Ken McKenna
Box 218 Stellarton NS
B0K 1S0
902 752-7644

Hi all
the last 2 days have been challenging for atlassing with the wind and drizzle. There are lots of hatch year birds around, but most are flying and independent of parents and likely not countable as fledged young. So yesterday afternoon I decided to check out migration at Big I. The birding in a couple of hours was pretty good with about 60 species recorded. The tide was high but receding and shorebirds were flying into the east end of the causeway.  I also struck a  couple of small passerine flocks near the old school and along Docker Rd. about 5:30 p.m. but I did not spend much time looking for passerines.  Along the road here ( Docker) were 2 specimens of Purple Fringed Orchid side-by-side,  one white and one purple. 
Here are some highlights from Big I.  Aug. 3    3:30-6:00. 

Shorebirds
Lesser Yellowlegs-110
Greater Yellowlegs-1
Willet-12
Semipalmated Plover-35
Semipalmated Sandpiper-180
Least Sandpiper-30
White-rumped Sandpiper-2
Whimbrel-1
Short-billed Dowicher-46
Ruddy Turnstone-1
Spotted Sandpiper-3

Waterbirds
Common Loon-6
Black Duck-38
Common Eider-4
White-winged Scoter-6
Surf Scoter-64
Black Scoter-6
Green-winged Teal-3

warblers
Common Yellow-throat-1
Myrtle-8
Black and White-5
Magnolia-6
Redstart-3
Parula-1
Blackburnian-2
Canada-1

There were a small number of Bonaparte's Gulls-41 most with full hoods.  I tallied about 35 Common terns and more than a dozen Gannets. Thirteen Great-blue Herons flew in with the receding tide and no doubt others were still roosting in trees just out of sight. There were 2 Kestrels hunting together and 2-3 Harriers. Both Barn and Bank Swallows which nest locally were still present. 
The big marsh was vocal with many Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows still singing. 
I drove off the island leaving my scope set up for the shorebirds and did not realize till I stopped at the Egerton Pond that I had done this. I rushed back with heart pounding at my stupidity only to see the scope still present and focused on the flock of shorebirds. I wonder how many people drove by and wondered why the scope was there and how long it would have been before someone collected it.  Nice honest people up Big I. way!
cheers
Ken


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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ken McKenna<BR>Box 218 Stellarton NS<BR>B0K 
1S0<BR>902 752-7644</FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><BR>Hi all</DIV>
<DIV>the last 2 days have been challenging for atlassing with the wind and 
drizzle. There are lots of hatch year birds around, but most are flying and 
independent of parents and likely not countable as fledged young. So yesterday 
afternoon&nbsp;I decided to check out migration at Big I. The birding in a 
couple of hours was pretty good with about 60 species recorded. The tide was 
high but receding and shorebirds were flying into the east end of the 
causeway.&nbsp; I also struck a&nbsp; couple of small passerine flocks near the 
old school and along Docker Rd. about 5:30 p.m. but I did not spend much time 
looking for passerines. &nbsp;Along the road here ( Docker)&nbsp;were 2 
specimens of&nbsp;Purple Fringed Orchid side-by-side, &nbsp;one white and one 
purple. </DIV>
<DIV>Here are some highlights from Big I.&nbsp; Aug. 3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
3:30-6:00. </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Shorebirds</DIV>
<DIV>Lesser Yellowlegs-110</DIV>
<DIV>Greater Yellowlegs-1</DIV>
<DIV>Willet-12</DIV>
<DIV>Semipalmated Plover-35</DIV>
<DIV>Semipalmated Sandpiper-180</DIV>
<DIV>Least Sandpiper-30</DIV>
<DIV>White-rumped Sandpiper-2</DIV>
<DIV>Whimbrel-1</DIV>
<DIV>Short-billed Dowicher-46</DIV>
<DIV>Ruddy Turnstone-1</DIV>
<DIV>Spotted Sandpiper-3</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Waterbirds</DIV>
<DIV>Common Loon-6</DIV>
<DIV>Black Duck-38</DIV>
<DIV>Common Eider-4</DIV>
<DIV>White-winged Scoter-6</DIV>
<DIV>Surf Scoter-64</DIV>
<DIV>Black Scoter-6</DIV>
<DIV>Green-winged Teal-3</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>warblers</DIV>
<DIV>Common Yellow-throat-1</DIV>
<DIV>Myrtle-8</DIV>
<DIV>Black and White-5</DIV>
<DIV>Magnolia-6</DIV>
<DIV>Redstart-3</DIV>
<DIV>Parula-1</DIV>
<DIV>Blackburnian-2</DIV>
<DIV>Canada-1</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>There were a small number of Bonaparte's Gulls-41 most with full 
hoods.&nbsp; I tallied about 35 Common terns and more than a dozen Gannets. 
Thirteen Great-blue Herons flew in with the receding tide and no doubt others 
were still roosting in trees just out of sight. There were 2 Kestrels hunting 
together and 2-3 Harriers. Both Barn and Bank Swallows which nest locally were 
still present. </DIV>
<DIV>The big marsh was vocal with many Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows still 
singing. </DIV>
<DIV>I drove off the island leaving my scope set up for the shorebirds and did 
not realize till I stopped at the Egerton Pond that I had done this. I rushed 
back with heart pounding at my stupidity only to see the scope still present and 
focused on the flock of shorebirds. I wonder how many people drove by and 
wondered why the scope was there and how long it would have been before someone 
collected it.&nbsp; Nice honest people up Big I. way!</DIV>
<DIV>cheers</DIV>
<DIV>Ken</DIV>
<DIV></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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