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Index of Subjects
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Hello folks=2C
=20
Saturday=2C 20 March=2C was a beautiful day for our annual Fundy shore /=
Valley outing. With the ground bare except on the mountain=2C and tempera=
tures getting to 20 C in the Valley=2C 28 naturalists met at Aylesford at 9=
:00=2C and many stayed through the exploration of the French Basin marsh at=
Annapolis=2C finishing about 17:30. Most of us observed about 50 species =
of birds=2C with another five+ observed by a few observers.
=20
There was nothing exceptionally rare=2C but lots of highlights and great=
views. For me=2C one was at the meeting point=2C where a Killdeer flew by=
calling! This was not only the earliest that I have seen in NS=2C but a s=
pecies that has been almost absent in our area for the past two years. A q=
uick visit to Audrey Wellwood's bird haven gave us many of the usual winter=
residents=2C and songs of some early migrants=2C including American Robin=
=2C Red-winged Blackbird=2C and Song Sparrow. A few Cedar Waxwings were al=
so notable here. As we were leaving for Morden=2C a small vee of Canada Ge=
ese flew over low=2C anticipating spring's arrival by a few hours.
=20
The tides were lower than we would have liked=2C but there was little w=
ind or wave action=2C so we were able to see birds well out into the Bay. =
Special thanks go to the 6-7 persons with spotting scopes who shared them w=
ith the others=2C allowing even beginners to get good looks. Common Eiders=
=2C White-winged Scoters=2C Long-tailed Ducks=2C Red-breasted Mergansers=2C=
Common Loons=2C Red-throated Loons=2C Red-necked Grebes=2C Purple Sandpipe=
rs=2C Herring Gulls=2C and Black Guillemots were all present at both Morden=
and Margaretsville=2C in low numbers except for the eiders=2C sandpipers=
=2C and gulls (15-25 of each of these at each location). Most surprising w=
ere the other alcids=2C usually rare this far up the Bay. Two small flocks=
(6-10) were seen off Morden=2C actively diving=3B one consisted of Common =
Murres=2C the other of Razorbills. At least one observer saw a Dovekie cle=
arly as well. =20
=20
At Margaretsville=2C we added Horned Grebe=2C Surf Scoter=2C and Great =
Black-backed Gull=2C and=2C at the marsh=2C two pairs of Hooded Mergansers =
(that had arrived on the 19th). At Port George=2C the main addition was th=
e site's specialty=2C the Harlequin Duck. Although I had seen 23 of them w=
hile scouting near high tide on the 19th=2C there were none when we arrived=
=2C and a wait was needed until a pair flew in and gave us a good look.
=20
Next it was back to Middleton=2C where the first bird we heard after t=
he arrival of spring at 14:33 was a singing Northern Cardinal that remained=
hidden. Then it was on west=2C where the highlights were the Belleisle an=
d French Basin marshes. These were open and filled with ducks as we might =
expect in mid-April. Scores of Buffleheads=2C Am. Black Ducks=2C and Ring-n=
ecked were present=2C and smaller numbers of Mallards=2C Northern Pintail=
=2C Gadwall. Green-winged Teal=2C Northern Shovelers=2C and American Wigeon=
. Thanks to Sharon Hawboldt for alerting us to these early arrivals.
=20
All in all=2C a very enjoyable but long day. Perhaps we should consider =
dividing it into two trips on consecutive days=2C as has been done with the=
Antigonish and Guysborough County ones.
Wayne P. Neily
=20
Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia
=20
=20
"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods=2C=20
There is a rapture on the lonely shore=2C=20
There is society=2C where none intrudes=2C=20
By the deep sea=2C and music in its roar:=20
I love not man the less=2C but Nature more." - George Gordon=2C Lord Byron=
=2C 1812 [Childe Harold's Pilgrimage=2C Canto IV].=20
=20
_________________________________________________________________
Take your contacts everywhere
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3D9712959=
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Hello folks=2C<BR> =3B<BR>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B =3B Saturday=2C 20 Ma=
rch=2C was a beautiful day for our annual Fundy shore / Valley outing. =
=3B With the ground bare except on the mountain=2C and temperatures getting=
to 20 C in the Valley=2C 28 naturalists met at Aylesford at 9:00=2C and ma=
ny stayed through the exploration of the French Basin marsh at Annapolis=2C=
finishing about 17:30. =3B Most of us observed about 50 species of bir=
ds=2C with another five+ =3Bobserved by a few observers.</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B =3B There was nothing=
exceptionally rare=2C but lots of highlights and great views. =3B For =
me=2C one was at the meeting point=2C where a Killdeer flew by calling!&nbs=
p=3B This was not only the earliest that I have seen in NS=2C but a species=
that has been almost absent in our area for the past two years. =3B A =
quick visit to Audrey Wellwood's bird haven gave us many of the usual winte=
r residents=2C and songs of some early migrants=2C including American Robin=
=2C Red-winged Blackbird=2C and Song Sparrow. =3B A few Cedar Waxwings =
were also notable here.  =3BAs we were leaving for Morden=2C a small ve=
e of Canada Geese flew over =3Blow=2C anticipating spring's arrival by =
a few hours.</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B =3B =3B The tides=
were lower than we would have liked=2C but there was little wind or wave a=
ction=2C so we were able to see birds well out into the Bay. =3B Specia=
l thanks go to the 6-7 persons with spotting scopes who shared them with th=
e others=2C allowing even beginners to get good looks. =3B Common Eider=
s=2C White-winged Scoters=2C Long-tailed Ducks=2C Red-breasted Mergansers=
=2C Common Loons=2C Red-throated Loons=2C Red-necked Grebes=2C Purple Sandp=
ipers=2C Herring Gulls=2C and Black Guillemots were all present at both Mor=
den and Margaretsville=2C in low numbers except for the eiders=2C sandpiper=
s=2C and gulls (15-25 of =3Beach of these =3Bat each location).&nbs=
p=3B Most surprising were the other =3Balcids=2C usually rare this far =
up the Bay. =3B Two small flocks (6-10) =3Bwere seen off Morden=2C =
actively diving=3B one consisted of Common Murres=2C the other of Razorbill=
s. =3B At least one observer saw a Dovekie clearly as well. =3B </P=
>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B =3B =3B At Margar=
etsville=2C we added Horned Grebe=2C Surf Scoter=2C and Great Black-backed =
Gull=2C and=2C at the marsh=2C two pairs of Hooded Mergansers (that had arr=
ived on the 19th). =3B At Port George=2C the main addition was the site=
's specialty=2C the Harlequin Duck. =3B Although I had seen 23 of them =
while scouting near high tide on the 19th=2C there were none when we arrive=
d=2C and a wait was needed until a pair flew in and gave us a good look.</P=
>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B =3B =3B =3B N=
ext it was back to Middleton=2C where the first bird we heard after the arr=
ival of spring at 14:33 was a singing Northern Cardinal that remained hidde=
n. =3B Then it was on west=2C where the highlights were the Belleisle a=
nd French Basin marshes. =3B These were open and filled with ducks as w=
e might expect in mid-April. Scores of Buffleheads=2C Am. Black Ducks=2C an=
d Ring-necked were present=2C and smaller numbers of Mallards=2C Northern P=
intail=2C Gadwall. Green-winged Teal=2C Northern Shovelers=2C and American =
Wigeon. =3B Thanks to Sharon Hawboldt for alerting us to these early ar=
rivals.</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B</P>
<P dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> =3B All in all=2C a very enjo=
yable but long day. =3B Perhaps we should consider dividing it into two=
trips on consecutive days=2C as has been done with the Antigonish and Guys=
borough County ones.<BR><BR></P>
<P class=3DecxecxecxMsoNormal>
<P class=3DecxecxecxMsoNormal><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><FONT face=3D"Times New Ro=
man"><STRONG><FONT size=3D5></FONT></STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV>Wayne P. Neily<BR> =3B<BR>Tremont=2C Kings Co.=2C Nova Scotia<BR>&=
nbsp=3B<BR> =3B<BR>"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods=2C <BR>Th=
ere is a rapture on the lonely shore=2C <BR>There is society=2C where none =
intrudes=2C <BR>By the deep sea=2C and music in its roar: <BR>I love not ma=
n the less=2C but Nature more." - George Gordon=2C Lord Byron=2C 1812 [Chil=
de Harold's Pilgrimage=2C Canto IV]. <BR><BR></DIV> <br /><hr />=
Stay in touch. <a href=3D'http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=3D9712959' target=
=3D'_new'>Get Messenger on your phone now.</a></body>
</html>=
--_ae95aa14-94f4-469b-9f71-3a1069a11443_--
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Index of Subjects