[NatureNS] Peregrine, Ipswich, Spruce grouse, otters etc.

From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken@eastlink.ca>
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:01:53 -0300
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Ken McKenna
Box 218 Stellarton NS
B0K 1S0
902 752-7644

Hi all
Yesterday, Oct. 10, Charlie Kendell and I made a trip from Pictou Co. to =
the Eastern Shore  east of Sheet Harbour via Liscomb Game Sanctuary. It =
was drizzling when we were driving through the sanctuary and several =
times we almost turned around to head back home. After encountering a =
little group of 4 Gray Jays that crossed the road near the south end of =
the sanctuary, the sky seemed a little more clear and we decided to keep =
going as we wanted to see out year Ipswich Sparrows which we figured =
should be on Sober I. with the SE winds.=20
While we were birding a little around the area where the jays flew over, =
Charlie startled a grouse from a conifer that must have been staring =
right at him in camouflage, but we did not get enough of a look to ID it =
to species, but we strongly suspected Spruce grouse. We made a GPS =
waypoint to check the area on the way back when we would be not so =
concerned about getting wet and we drove on.
Within a km, I noted a stunner male Spruce Grouse on the opposite road =
shoulder and we quickly got into photographic mode. Fortunately, this =
"fool hen" was not easily spooked and we got a lot of nice photos even =
though 4 vehicles drove by without putting the bird up. There was no =
need to trek through wet woods to find our waypoint bird.=20
Continuing on we spied a flying Peregrine Falcon in the Watt Section =
area. On Sheet Harbour Passage we were entertained by 3 Otters  fighting =
over an eel. They can give some nasty growls!
We spent a few hours on Sober I., but the birding was a little quiet as =
it was windy. Highlights were 2 Blue-headed Vireos and at least 5 =
Ipswich Sparrows along the walk to the SW tip. None of the sparrows had =
any obvious bands. Our day bird total was only 45 species, but it was =
not a great birding day.=20
We noted 2 butterflies -, an American Lady and a Monarch, both of which =
I hope I have documented in the past. All bird observations have been =
posted to eBird.=20
cheers
Ken


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<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Ken McKenna<BR>Box 218 Stellarton =
NS<BR>B0K=20
1S0<BR>902 752-7644<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Hi all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Yesterday, Oct. 10, Charlie Kendell and =
I made a=20
trip from Pictou Co.&nbsp;to the Eastern Shore&nbsp; east of Sheet =
Harbour via=20
Liscomb Game Sanctuary. It was drizzling when we were driving through =
the=20
sanctuary and several times we almost turned around to head back home. =
After=20
encountering a little group of 4 <STRONG>Gray Jays</STRONG> that crossed =
the=20
road near the south end of the sanctuary, the sky seemed a little more =
clear and=20
we decided to keep going as we wanted to see out year Ipswich Sparrows =
which we=20
figured should be on Sober I. with the SE winds. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>While we were birding a little around =
the area=20
where the jays flew over, Charlie startled a grouse from a conifer that =
must=20
have been staring right at him in camouflage, but we did not get enough =
of a=20
look to ID it to species, but we strongly suspected Spruce grouse. =
</FONT><FONT=20
size=3D2 face=3DArial>We made a GPS waypoint to check the area on the =
way back when=20
we would be not so concerned about getting wet and we drove =
on.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Within a km, I noted a stunner male =
<STRONG>Spruce=20
Grouse</STRONG> on the opposite&nbsp;road shoulder and we quickly got =
into=20
photographic mode. Fortunately, this "fool hen" was not easily spooked =
and we=20
got a lot of nice photos even though 4 vehicles drove by without putting =
the=20
bird up. There was no need to trek through wet woods to find our =
waypoint bird.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Continuing on we spied a flying =
<STRONG>Peregrine=20
Falcon</STRONG> in the Watt Section area. On Sheet Harbour Passage we =
were=20
entertained by 3<STRONG> Otters</STRONG>&nbsp; fighting over an eel. =
They can=20
give some nasty growls!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>We spent a few hours on Sober I., but =
the birding=20
was a little quiet as it was windy. Highlights were 2 =
<STRONG>Blue-headed=20
Vireos</STRONG> and at least 5 <STRONG>Ipswich Sparrows</STRONG> along =
the walk=20
to the SW tip. None of the sparrows had any obvious bands. Our day bird =
total=20
was only 45 species, but it was not a great birding day. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>We noted 2 butterflies -, an =
<STRONG>American=20
Lady</STRONG> and a <STRONG>Monarch,</STRONG> both of which I hope I =
have=20
documented in the past. All bird&nbsp;observations have been posted to =
eBird.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>cheers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Ken</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>&nbsp;</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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