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I expect those who are keener than I am were out on the Atlantic headlands at first light to see what the strong easterly winds brought in. Probably they saw more than I did this afternoon. After errands and lunch, I headed out along the western approaches of Halifax Harbour, hoping to see a few birds. Overcast skies quickly gave way to advancing fog as I got closer to the open ocean. The surf at the Herring Cove Look-off was spectacular, but only a small raft of Common Eiders was visible, riding the swell. At Ketch Harbour, Sambro Head, and Sambro Harbour, there were good numbers of Common Loons, but I saw only one alcid (a Common Guillemot) and no grebes at all. The most interesting gulls were at Sambro Harbour, where there was a small flock of Icelands in various plumages, and one Glaucous Gull. There were few ducks around, apart from the eiders; at Indian Harbour there were 14+ Common Goldeneye, and there were one or two Red-breasted Mergansers in several places. Land birds of all kinds were scarce. While walking on the Sambro wharf, I chatted with a man who told me that he saw a Belted Kingfisher a couple of days ago on the wires across from Basinview Drive and the former Dock and Dory Restaurant (i.e. near the wetland just before the big bridge into Sambro). He commented on the number of Black Ducks that hang around the harbour; he said that they never used to appear there when he was young, and attributed their present numbers, and their tameness, to the decline of duck hunting in the area. Just as I arrived at Sandy Cove, a man came back from a beach walk and showed me two chunks of amethyst, banded with white quartz, which he had picked up along the shore. He was surprised, as I was, to find them there. I know that amethyst can occur with white quartz, as well with agate as one usually finds it along the Fundy coast, but I haven't heard of anyone collecting amethyst along the Atlantic side of the province. He was a rockhound and usually went to Ross Creek or below Blomidon to look for it, but was pleased with these two lovely specimens. It was disappointing not to be able to go up to Chebucto Head. There are two signs on the gate; one a "No Trespassing" sign, and another which reads in part "RF Radiation Exposure Area and risk of electric shock". What does this mean, really? RF radiation transmitting antennas are ubiquitous these days, and many of us work near them. I know that there are legitimate safety concerns, but why would casual visitors to a remote site be particularly at risk? Maybe I'm just skeptical because Dominique Gusset had earlier advised us of other reasons for DFO's decision to block public access to this popular destination. Cheers, Patricia L. Chalmers Halifax _______________________________________ Subject: [NS-RBA] Chebucto Head gate Info From: dcgusset Date: Sat, Jan 23, 2010, 10:32 AM For those who like to drive up to the Chebucto Head Lighthouse, I'm sorry to inform you that the access gate on the road will soon be closed. DFO has decided to end an arrangement they had with the community, where they paid the Chebucto Head Lighthouse Society a small fee to provide daily opening and closing of the gate. Besides the usual "lack of funds" and security/liability issues, they have said it is not part of their mandate to provide public access to their installations. Unfortunately there are not many other places in HRM, which are so easily accessible to an open ocean view !
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