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--089e01177b1b017aad05110a409b Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 So this past weekend, I led a group of 7 friends up to Nova Scotia for some European rarities. We left my house in New Jersey at 3:30 pm and drove throughout the night. Our first bird on the trip was a Northern Saw-whet Owl that flew across the highway in Lincoln, Maine at 1:00 am. We reached the beginning of rt 209 around 7 am. Our first birds were a group of Pine Grosbeaks in the road eating grit. As we drove further down, an incredibly gorgeous male Spruce Grouse was sitting on the side of the road. When we arrived at the Fieldfare, it only took about 5 minutes to locate the bird. We watched it feed in the apple tree and fly from tree to tree. Watching Snow Buntings in treetops was completely odd, in NJ we only usually see them on beaches or large open fields. Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks kept us entertained while we waited for the Fieldfare to reappear. Our next stop was Dartmouth for the "Common" Mew Gulls. We arrived at Sullivans Pond and found a drake Eurasian Wigeon and 3 Iceland Gulls. There, we met a Canadian birder who informed us that the MEGU's were around the corner in a parking lot of a pharmacy. So there we found one on the roof. It remained there until it was spooked off by a Herring Gull. FINALLY our next stop was Hartlan Point Forces Golf Course. We parked at the 90 degree turn and I quickly located the bird perched on the spruce in the middle of the course. She quickly took flight and zoomed down the course about a foot off the ground and tried to catch some sort of rodent. Watching the Kestrel fly like that was very reminiscent of a Gyrfalcon or a Merlin. She headed over behind the coastguard house and perched, but then went toward the beach. She came up off the ground and flew past me about 20 feet away and at knee height. She eventually headed back to the middle of the course and thats where we left her. We all began to do some sea watching. Barrow's Goldeneyes, Common Eiders, and Iceland Gulls were the majority of birds out there. Scoters and Mergansers were also present. Our final stop was PEI. We got a hotel, dinner and went to bed. We woke up and did some driving around with hopes of Partridge and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Hopes were not high and we dipped. So home it was. Our last bird of the trip was in the same town in Maine, on the same highway. A Barred Owl was perched along the side of the road and offered incredible views. So overall the trip total was 48 species, with 1-4 lifers. For each individual. Kestrel was my only lifer. All in all, it was an amazing trip! The birds, the locations, the weather, and the people added to the enjoyment. A round trip of 2108 miles. I want to thank everyone who responded to my emails and helped me. Photos of some of the birds can be seen here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/larrybird13/ Good birding, Larry Scacchetti Westwood, NJ --089e01177b1b017aad05110a409b Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">So this past weekend, I led a group of 7 friends up to Nov= a Scotia for some European rarities.=C2=A0 We left my house in New Jersey a= t 3:30 pm and drove throughout the night.=C2=A0 Our first bird on the trip = was a Northern Saw-whet Owl that flew across the highway in Lincoln, Maine = at 1:00 am.=C2=A0 We reached the beginning of rt 209 around 7 am.=C2=A0 Our= first birds were a group of Pine Grosbeaks in the road eating grit.=C2=A0 = As we drove further down, an incredibly gorgeous male Spruce Grouse was sit= ting on the side of the road.=C2=A0 When we arrived at the Fieldfare, it on= ly took about 5 minutes to locate the bird.=C2=A0 We watched it feed in the= apple tree and fly from tree to tree.=C2=A0 Watching Snow Buntings in tree= tops was completely odd, in NJ we only usually see them on beaches or large= open fields.=C2=A0 Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks kept us entertained whil= e we waited for the Fieldfare to reappear. =C2=A0<div><br></div><div>Our ne= xt stop was Dartmouth for the "Common" Mew Gulls.=C2=A0 We arrive= d at Sullivans Pond and found a drake Eurasian Wigeon and 3 Iceland Gulls.= =C2=A0 There, we met a Canadian birder who informed us that the MEGU's = were around the corner in a parking lot of a pharmacy.=C2=A0 So there we fo= und one on the roof.=C2=A0 It remained there until it was spooked off by a = Herring Gull.=C2=A0 FINALLY our next stop was Hartlan Point Forces Golf Cou= rse.=C2=A0 We parked at the 90 degree turn and I quickly located the bird p= erched on the spruce in the middle of the course.=C2=A0 She quickly took fl= ight and zoomed down the course about a foot off the ground and tried to ca= tch some sort of rodent.=C2=A0 Watching the Kestrel fly like that was very = reminiscent of a Gyrfalcon or a Merlin.=C2=A0 She headed over behind the co= astguard house and perched, but then went toward the beach.=C2=A0 She came = up off the ground and flew past me about 20 feet away and at knee height.= =C2=A0 She eventually headed back to the middle of the course and thats whe= re we left her.=C2=A0 We all began to do some sea watching.=C2=A0 Barrow= 9;s Goldeneyes, Common Eiders, and Iceland Gulls were the majority of birds= out there.=C2=A0 Scoters and Mergansers were also present. =C2=A0</div><di= v><br></div><div>Our final stop was PEI.=C2=A0 We got a hotel, dinner and w= ent to bed.=C2=A0 We woke up and did some driving around with hopes of Part= ridge and Sharp-tailed Grouse.=C2=A0 Hopes were not high and we dipped.=C2= =A0 So home it was. =C2=A0 =C2=A0Our last bird of the trip was in the same = town in Maine, on the same highway.=C2=A0 A Barred Owl was perched along th= e side of the road and offered incredible views.=C2=A0 So overall the trip = total was 48 species, with 1-4 lifers.=C2=A0 For each individual.=C2=A0 Kes= trel was my only lifer. =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>All in all, it was = an amazing trip!=C2=A0 The birds, the locations, the weather, and the peopl= e added to the enjoyment.=C2=A0 A round trip of 2108 miles.=C2=A0 I want to= thank everyone who responded to my emails and helped me.</div><div><br></d= iv><div>Photos of some of the birds can be seen here :</div><div><br></div>= <div><a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/larrybird13/">https://www.fli= ckr.com/photos/larrybird13/</a><br></div><div><br></div><div>Good birding,<= /div><div><br></div><div>Larry Scacchetti</div><div>Westwood, NJ</div></div= > --089e01177b1b017aad05110a409b--
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