Archive for May 2010

27th-29th May - Molega Lake

We spend 3 days in Michele’s friend’s “cottage” by Molega Lake.

Before we leave Fall River I see a Goldfinch on the feeders.

American Goldfinch 

Some views from the cottage (or its lakeside) of the lake etc.  At night the loons are calling regularly.

Cottage View    Cottage View   Cottage View

The last view has 3 loons in it (believe it or not).  We could play spot the loon - no comments about it being the guy doing the typing. One new bird for the trip - Northern Parula.

One day we go to Kejimkujic Park. There are some very old and interesting trees here.

Kejimkujic Tree 

On our last morning we find a superb Swallowtail butterfly on their beach which we watch for several minutes. We identify it as Eastern Tiger.

 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

On the way back to Fall River we visit Peggy’s Cove.

Peggy’s Cove 

26th May - Nova Scotia

We go for a walk on the Uniacke Estate.  There are many of these orchids known as Moccasin Flower - closely related to our Slipper Orchids.

Moccasin Flower     Moccasin Flower

We get good views of Pileated Woodpecker and Golden-crowned Kinglet.  I also see Magnolia Warbler.

25th May - Nova Scotia

We go for a walk on the coast towards Pennant Point.  Quite a warm but pleasant day.On the sea are a few Eiders and a couple of Black Guillemot.  Plenty of Yellow Warblers and at least one Common Yellowthroat in the scrub.

24th May - Nova Scotia

We went to a lake for the some kayaking.  We had some distant sightings of Bald Eagles and Common Loons.

Photos: 3 sisters.

3 Canoeists

23rd May - Nova Scotia

On my early morning walk we see a deer on the roadside (White-tailed I think).

White-tailed Deer

In the afternoon we take a boat trip from Lunenburg. It is pretty rough and wet.  We don’t see any whales but we do see Puffin, Eider, Razorbill and Black Guillemot.

We also see a small number of seals.

Seal

22nd May - Nova Scotia

A quiet day today mostly watching birds from the house, although Max and I did walk Molly around so I could see likely places for an early morning walk.

I also managed to defeat Meredith at Wii boxing!!

A few photos including the first hummer of the trip, a vireo nest that survived the winter and a Black-capped Chickadee.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird    Vireo nest    Black-capped Chickadee

21st May - Travel to Nova Scotia

Today we travelled from Kouchibouguac to Fall River and our stay with Michele.

Early morning at Kouchibouguac I got some photos of common birds – Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and Mourning Dove.

 Junco  White-throated Sparrow   Chipping Sparrow   Mourning Dove

Spent lunchtime at Sackville Waterfowl Park.  Song Sparrow and a possible Rusty Blackbird were the new sightings. Some photos from there : Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon and Yellow Warbler.

 Blue-winged Teal    American Wigeon   Yellow Warbler

Several Bald Eagles were seen while driving.

20th May - Kouchibouguac Park

Today was again spent in Kouchibouguac Park.  The weather early on was overcast but we saw American Wigeon and Scaup on the river.

The highlight of the day was our first sighting of Bald Eagle.  First on a tree in a creek where we watched it for several minutes.  Later we saw one (the same bird?) fly over the lagoon.

Bald Eagle

Other new birds for the trip today include Dark-eyed Junco and Gannet.

Photos: Squirrel, Lung Lichen

Squirrel    Lung Lichen

19th May - Kouchibouguac Park

Today was spent in Kouchibouguac Park – an area of forest, dunes and salt marsh on the New Brunswick coast.

Our first port of call was the dunes crossing over a broadwalk where Common Terns are active.

Common Tern

After a few minutes on the dunes, we located a Piping Plover on the tide line. This is a rare species - breeding in only 3 places in Canada.

There is a completely different landscape in this coastal area, although there was much evidence of beaver activity.

Later in the day I spot an Osprey over the lagoon.  We watch and the bird comes up with a small fish.

Osprey with fish

Other new birds today:  Red-eyed Vireo and a pair of White-winged (Two-barred) Crossbill and a yet to be definitely identified flycatcher - now identified as Least Flycatcher.

Unknown

18th May - Travel to NB

A long travel day today.  We stop for lunch in Grand Falls.

 Grand Falls

We check in to our lodge on the edge of Kouchibouguac Park.