[NatureNS] Red-throated Loon migration

Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:27:20 -0300
From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
References: <490C9DAD.19028.227AB8@e.mills.dal.ca>
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Ken McKenna
Box 218 Stellarton NS
B0K 1S0
902 752-7644

Hi Eric and all
The ~50 Red-throated Loons were still at Waterside PP on the Northumberland 
Shore this afternoon so I don't think the Queens Co. loons came from our way 
There were also a few at Big I this morning but hard to get a good count as 
the strong WNW winds made it difficult to count birds in the water.
All Red-throated Loons seen today were in full winter garb and none with 
Red-throats. When they first arrived the majority had red-throats and dark 
faces. Since the same number have been at Waterside for the past 3 weeks I 
suspect the same birds were present throught this period and moulted out of 
alternate plumage. Since I never see the red-throats in flight at Waterside, 
I assume they are flightless while they moult.
The number of Red-throated Loons at this location seems to be declining 
somewhat from when I first noticed them there about 10 years ago. At times 
in the past there were over 100 present for the last part of Oct. and first 
week or two of Nov. The birds today were busy diving with a good-sized flock 
of Red-breasted Mergansers and lots of Bonapate's Gulls hovering around as 
there must be schools of small fish in the area.

cheers
Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Mills" <e.mills@dal.ca>
To: <ns-rba@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 6:19 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] Red-throated Loon migration


> Today between 1400 and 1500 I counted 111 Red-throated Loons flying SW 
> past Western Head, Queen's Co. close to
> shore.  I'm pretty sure I missed quite a few offshore. Whatever the total 
> numbers might have been (and however long it
> might have been going on), it was clear that significant southward 
> movement was taking place. The passage was quite
> steady, mostly in small groups (the largest 12). I saw only 3 Common 
> Loons.
>
> 2 Razorbills went by close, and 2 Red-necked Grebes farther off, also 
> flying
> SW.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
> Eric L. Mills
> 286 Kingsburg Road
> RR#1, Rose Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2X0, CANADA
> E.Mills@Dal.Ca
> ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
> 

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