23rd May 2010 by Robin.

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.

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22nd May 2010 by Robin.

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.

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.

Several Bald Eagles were seen while driving.

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22nd May 2010 by Robin.

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.

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

Photos: Squirrel, Lung Lichen

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22nd May 2010 by Robin.

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.

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.

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.

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22nd May 2010 by Robin.

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

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

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17th May 2010 by Robin.

In the morning we visit Montmorency Falls. The falls are higher than Niagara and well worth a visit.  We take the cable car to the top and walk around the park land and on the bridges over the falls. We return to the Visitor Centre.

A new bird is seen on our walk – American Redstart.  Photo of Downy Woodpecker.

We return to the old city for lunch and some serious shopping takes place in a silk scarf shop.

Photos:  Old Quebec Street, trompe l’oeil on side of building.

 We walk up to the Citadel with views of the Plains of Abraham and long views along the river.  Tomorrow is our long drive to New Brunswick.

Photos to follow.

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17th May 2010 by Robin.

Today we drive to Quebec City and check in to our hotel in the old city.  We spend some time wandering along the streets of the old city.

A new bird for the trip in one of the numerous gardens – Purple Finch.

Photos:  Chateau Frontenac, Champlain

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17th May 2010 by Robin.

We leave Algonquin today – it really is a fantastic place. On my early morning walk I flush a Spruce Grouse and also add Brown Creeper to the tour list.

Before we leave the “girls” have a canoe on the lake – I have the videos to prove it.

We drive to Ottawa.  The rest of the day we spend sightseeing around this very attractive city or admiring the views from our hotel room on the 18^th floor.

Photos: Goosander, canoeists, Ottawa by day and night.

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17th May 2010 by Robin.

We spent the day on several short trails.  The leaflets provided by the Park for the trails give a lot of detail on the ecology of the park and how different landscapes developed.   We see more beaver dams and lodges but sadly no beavers.

Bird highlights of the day: the first vireo of the trip (Blue-headed), 2+ Broad-winged Hawks and our first Common Yellowthroat. In addition the guy taking us off the island detoured so I could get some close-up shots of Common Loon.

Photos: Common Loon (Great Northern Diver),  Beaver Dam, Lake View.

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17th May 2010 by Robin.

An early morning walk around the island trail.  Several Ovenbirds were singing and there was a very showy Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  

There was a pair of Ring-necked Ducks on the lake.

The rest of the day was spent on the Mizzy Lake trail.  There were several beaver dams and in one lake lots of turtles, some with metal identification plates as part of a study.  We also saw our first moose.

Birds seen on the walk included: several Loons, Hooded Merganser and Black Duck on the lakes.  Several Black-throated Blue Warblers, a Hermit Thrush

and a very tame Gray Jay.

On the way back to the lodge I spotted a (quite small) moose right by the road. We stopped for photos – as did several other cars.

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