willner@cfa.HARVARD.EDU (Steve Willner, OIR) (08/16/90)
We had a fine vacation driving around the southwestern part of Nova
Scotia. The weather was good except for morning fog in coastal
regions. We were relaxing and seeing sights as well as birding, so the
list below doesn't represent the best one could hope for. In
particular, either migration (May or late August-early September) would
have been far better for birds.
This time of year is good for vacationing, but many tourist attractions
are only open May-October. The Tourist Bureau has a toll free number
(at least from here in New England), will send huge amounts of
information, and will make reservations for you. There are plenty of
motels in all price ranges, bed and breakfast establishments, inns, and
campgrounds. Gas is readily available but about double the US price.
Seafood is incredibly fresh, well prepared, and reasonably priced.
We picked up the book "Birding in Atlantic Canada: Nova Scotia" by
Roger Burrows. (Available from ABA bookstore.) While the book lists
several sites to visit, it is nowhere near as useful as the Lane
guides for other localities. Burrows has compiled what amounts to a
list of rarities seen at the various sites rather than a list of what
is common, when to go, and where to look. This type of book is perhaps
useful for some purpose but is not a good guide for a visitor. It was
probably better than having nothing at all, though.
-New sights:
1) Common Raven and American Crow literally side by side. My
past experience has been that these two are separated by altitude
even where map ranges overlap.
2) Juncos singing from treetops. I thought juncos stuck to bushes and
thickets.
-Biggest disappointment: No Boreal Chickadee. We heard them singing in
numerous places but never managed to catch a glimpse.
-One that got away: A loon in breeding plumage but with a light yellow
bill. I caught a brief glimpse just before it dove and disappeared
behind some trees. A Yellow Billed Loon would have been a rarity but
not, I think, beyond possibility. We'll never know.
-Most surprising absentee: House Sparrow. We saw nary a one. (I'm
almost afraid to write this for fear that a family of them will hear
about it and move there. :-) )
-The list. Most of the listed birds were seen in good numbers. Birds
that we see in our yard are omitted. Feel free to ask by e-mail if
your favorite isn't here or if you want to know specific sites.
-Common all over (in appropriate habitat):
American Goldfinch
Great Blue Heron
Black-legged Kittiwake
Common Raven
Dark Eyed Junco
Savannah Sparrow
-Seen from ferry (Bar Harbor to Yarmouth):
Greater Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Wilson's Storm Petrel
Black Gillemot
-Brier Island:
Arctic Tern
Common Tern
Northern Harrier
Great Cormorant
-Atlantic Coast, Liscomb River to Halifax:
Common Loon
Black Gillemot (juvenile)
Osprey
Belted Kingfisher
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Black Bellied Plover (winter plumage)
Coopers Hawk
Piping Plover
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone (plumage just now changing)
Dowitcher (Can anybody explain how to separate Long- and Short-billed
other than by voice? Or dissection? :-) )
Pine Siskin
White Throated Sparrow
Solitary Vireo
Purple Finch
-Kejimkujik National Park (half day, poorish weather):
Yellow Bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Grey Jay
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Steve Willner Phone 617-495-7123 Bitnet: willner@cfa
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA Internet: willner@cfa.harvard.edu