[NatureNS] KXBC scouting trip Sunday Dec.7, Razorbills, Harlequins, and more

From: "Wayne P. Neily" <neilyornis@hotmail.com>
To: Patrick & Barbara Giffin <barpat@ns.sympatico.ca>,
CC: <hulfords@eastlink.ca>, <rbstern@ns.sympatico.ca>,
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 04:25:06 -0400
Importance: Normal
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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Hello folks
=20
    As expected=2C the weather Sunday p. m. shortened our trip=2C but the a=
.m. was excellent.   The Bay was relatively calm=2C giving excellent viewin=
g at Margaretsville=2C even though the tide had started out by the time we =
got there.  Pat and Barb Giffin arrived early=2C and had already found some=
 of the best birds and viewing points by the time the rest of us arrived.  =
The numbers and variety of birds were good enough that we spent about two h=
ours in the area -- although at first look a birder new to looking for seab=
irds commented that there was nothing there but water!
=20
     Some scanning with binoculars and spotting scopes soon revealed a lot =
of activity not too far out: not only gulls feeding and resting and flocks =
of several species of sea ducks flying by or landing=2C but loons and grebe=
s feeding and the spectacularly white gannets plunging across the grey sky =
into the darker grey water. =20
=20
    Most exciting of all=2C to me=2C were the Razorbills=2C uncommon this f=
ar up the Bay in my experience=2C and usually only in ones or twos.  Pat re=
ported seeing more than 20=2C and I could see a few from near the wharf=2C =
which was very unusual.  Going to the end of Gordon St.=2C west of the ligh=
thouse gave us a wider view=2C and my best count from there was over 80 bir=
ds!  They were diving fairly actively=2C so likely more were present.  This=
 species has been recorded on only 5 of our 40 Christmas Counts=2C and the =
high of 34 on the 1976 count was considered very unusual.  If these stay ar=
ound=2C it may signify some change in the habits of this species.
=20
    Also a good find were the Harlequin Ducks=2C 3 males and 3 females in s=
eparate groups.  These have been regular to the west at Port George in rece=
nt years=2C but rare at Margaretsville.  Not too many land birds around  (e=
xcept at Helen Sharp's feeders)=2C but a few small flocks of White-winged C=
rossbills=2C and Frances Nixon spotted a lingering robin in East Margaretsv=
ille.
=20
   Our list for the day included the following=3B
     Mallard 2 (Phinney Pond)=2C Common Eider 40+=2C Harlequin Duck 6=2C Su=
rf Scoter 3=2C Long-tailed Duck 30+=2C Red-breasted Merganser 3+=2C Ring-ne=
cked Pheasant 1=2C Red-throated Loon 4=2C Common Loon 3=2C Horned Grebe 1=
=2C Red-necked Grebe 2=2C Northern Gannet 12+=2C Red-tailed Hawk 3=2C Rough=
-legged Hawk 1 (dark=2C Spa Springs)=2C Herring Gull 30+=2C Great Black-bac=
ked Gull 3=2C Razorbill 80+=2C Rock Pigeon 4+=2C Mourning Dove 25+=2C Downy=
 Woodpecker 2=2C  Hairy Woodpecker 2=2C Pileated Woodpecker 1 (South Farmin=
gton)=2C Blue Jay 25+=2C American Crow 20+=2C Common Raven 2=2C Black-cappe=
d Chickadee 35+=2C White-breasted Nuthatch 1=2C American Robin 1=2C Europea=
n Starling 40+=2C Song Sparrow 7=2C White-throated Sparrow 5=2C Dark-eyed J=
unco 25+=2C Purple Finch 2=2C White-winged Crossbill 60+=2C Pine Siskin 3=
=2C American Goldfinch 80+=2C Evening Grosbeak 2=2C House Sparrow 15.
=20
   Winter and snow cover returned with a vengeance this a.m. (Dec. 8)=2C br=
inging many birds back to the feeders.  As well as my usuals=2C I had a mal=
e Cardinal at my feeder in Tremont=2C and a male Brown-headed Cowbird and a=
 Red-breasted Nuthatch=2C as well as many of the species seen Sunday.  Arle=
ne Healy reports that a Red-bellied Woodpecker returned to her feeder in Au=
burn this date also.
Good birding=2C
Wayne Neily Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia "Let us a little permit Nat=
ure to take her own way=3B she better understands her own affairs than we."=
 - Michel de Montaigne=2C 1580.=20
=20
_________________________________________________________________


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Hello folks<BR>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B As expected=2C the weather Sunday p. m. shortened =
our trip=2C but the a.m.&nbsp=3Bwas excellent.&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B The Bay was =
relatively calm=2C giving excellent viewing at Margaretsville=2C even thoug=
h the tide had started out by the time we got there.&nbsp=3B Pat and Barb G=
iffin arrived early=2C and had already found some of the best birds and vie=
wing points by the time the rest of us arrived.&nbsp=3B The numbers and var=
iety of birds were good enough that we spent about two hours in the area --=
 although at first look a birder new to looking for seabirds commented that=
 there was nothing there but water!<BR>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Some scanning with binoculars and spotting=
&nbsp=3Bscopes soon revealed a lot of activity not too far out:&nbsp=3Bnot =
only gulls feeding and resting and flocks of several species of sea ducks f=
lying by or landing=2C but loons and&nbsp=3Bgrebes feeding and the spectacu=
larly white gannets plunging across the grey sky into the darker grey water=
.&nbsp=3B <BR>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Most exciting of all=2C to me=2C were the Razorbil=
ls=2C uncommon this far up the Bay in my experience=2C and usually only in =
ones or twos.&nbsp=3B Pat reported seeing more than 20=2C and I could see a=
 few from near the wharf=2C which was very unusual.&nbsp=3B Going to the en=
d of Gordon St.=2C west of the lighthouse gave us a wider view=2C and my be=
st count from there was over 80 birds!&nbsp=3B They were diving fairly acti=
vely=2C so likely more were present.&nbsp=3B This species has been recorded=
 on only 5 of our 40 Christmas Counts=2C and the high of 34 on the 1976 cou=
nt was considered very unusual.&nbsp=3B If these stay around=2C it may sign=
ify some change in the habits of this species.<BR>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Also a good find were the Harlequin Ducks=2C 3 mal=
es and 3 females in separate groups.&nbsp=3B These have been regular to the=
 west at Port George in recent years=2C but rare at Margaretsville.&nbsp=3B=
 Not too many land birds around&nbsp=3B (except at Helen Sharp's feeders)=
=2C but a few small flocks of White-winged Crossbills=2C and Frances Nixon =
spotted a lingering&nbsp=3Brobin in East Margaretsville.<BR>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Our list for the day included the following=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Mallard 2 (Phinney Pond)=2C Common Eider 4=
0+=2C Harlequin Duck 6=2C Surf Scoter 3=2C Long-tailed Duck 30+=2C Red-brea=
sted Merganser 3+=2C Ring-necked Pheasant 1=2C Red-throated Loon 4=2C Commo=
n Loon 3=2C Horned Grebe 1=2C Red-necked Grebe 2=2C Northern Gannet 12+=2C =
Red-tailed Hawk 3=2C&nbsp=3BRough-legged Hawk 1 (dark=2C Spa Springs)=2C He=
rring Gull 30+=2C Great Black-backed Gull 3=2C Razorbill 80+=2C Rock Pigeon=
 4+=2C Mourning Dove 25+=2C Downy Woodpecker 2=2C &nbsp=3BHairy Woodpecker =
2=2C Pileated Woodpecker 1 (South Farmington)=2C Blue Jay 25+=2C American C=
row 20+=2C Common Raven 2=2C Black-capped Chickadee 35+=2C White-breasted N=
uthatch 1=2C American Robin 1=2C European Starling 40+=2C Song Sparrow 7=2C=
 White-throated Sparrow 5=2C Dark-eyed Junco 25+=2C Purple Finch 2=2C White=
-winged Crossbill 60+=2C Pine Siskin 3=2C American Goldfinch 80+=2C Evening=
 Grosbeak 2=2C House Sparrow 15.<BR>
&nbsp=3B<BR>
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Winter and snow cover returned with a vengeance this a.m. =
(Dec. 8)=2C bringing many birds back to the feeders.&nbsp=3B As well as my =
usuals=2C I had a male Cardinal at my feeder in Tremont=2C and a male Brown=
-headed Cowbird and a Red-breasted Nuthatch=2C as well as many of the speci=
es seen Sunday.&nbsp=3B Arlene Healy reports that a Red-bellied Woodpecker =
returned to her feeder in Auburn this date also.<BR><BR>
Good birding=2C<BR><BR>
<DIV>Wayne Neily <BR>Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia <BR><BR>"Let us a =
little permit Nature to take her own way=3B she better understands her own =
affairs than we." - Michel de Montaigne=2C 1580. </DIV>
<DIV><BR>&nbsp=3B</DIV><br /><hr /> </body=
>
</html>=

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