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Showing posts for 'Birds of Nova Scotia'. Clear search

Horned Lark and Tale of Woe

February 09, 2025 - This is my first photo since I reset my computer. I never store photos on my computer but they are stored in two locatio...
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Lapland Longspur

February 03, 2025 - I happened upon a small flock of Lapland Longspurs, about 12 or so. These little denizens of the flat lands are some har...
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Cross Billed Bluejay

January 18, 2025 - This Cross Billed Bluejay is working the feeder at my friends place. It seems to be getting by foraging much like a Whit...
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Festival of Evening Grosbeaks

January 11, 2025 - In the bird world of nifty birds there is none more so then the Evening Grosbeak. They are joyous, boisterous, gregariou...
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Sandhill Cranes, the Encore

January 11, 2025 - I visited the Sandhill Cranes again in hopes of improving my photos. This time I used a 600mm F4 with 1.4X and 2X teleco...
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Sandhill Cranes in Winter

January 10, 2025 - I used a 400mm lens with 1.4X and 2X teleconverters to obtain these photos. The Sandhill Cranes were working the drainag...
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Another Visit to Grand Pré

January 09, 2025 - I visited Grand Pré once more and was not disappointed. Most of the American Pipits have left but the Horned Larks remai...
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Grand Pre with American Pipits and Horned Larks

December 29, 2024 - Grand Pre farmlands are always worth a visit in early winter especially on the lookout for Snowy Owls. Short-eared Owls...
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December Gale Near Peggy's Cove

December 19, 2024 - Once again I ventured out to Peggy's Cove and area to photograph the surf from a late fall gale. The difficulty with thi...
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Sandhill Cranes

December 05, 2024 - The Sandhill Cranes continue to be regulars along Rock Road near Milford, Nova Scotia. Prepare for a car wash if you wan...
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Snowy Egret

December 05, 2024 - This Snowy Egret was foraging in the West Chezzetcook Marsh. It was a ways off so some cropping of the image was require...
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Red-eyed Vireo

November 05, 2024 - This Red-eyed Vireo was photographed on my recent trip to Brier Island. It's a strikingly handsome bird when the sunligh...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds Part Three

October 31, 2024 - Semipalmated Sandpipers are amazing flyers. One of their major stopovers is at the head of the Bay of Fundy. A large clu...
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Shorebirds of Rainbow Haven's Salt Marsh

October 16, 2024 - Whilst waiting for the American Avocets to appear at the Rainbow Haven's Salt Marsh I photographed the diverse mix of sh...
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Sandhill Crane

September 26, 2024 - This Sandhill Crane was alone which is unusual. It was foraging in last years corn stubble now converted into mostly gra...
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American Avocet, the last visit

September 25, 2024 - These are my last photos of the American Avocets. The pair are probably well on their way south now although surprises a...
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Baird's Sandpiper

September 25, 2024 - The Baird's Sandpiper, the shorebird on the right in these photos, was on a grassy islet with Short-billed Dowitchers an...
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Burrowing Owl

September 18, 2024 - After spending two uneventfull days at Brier Island I came home via Cape Sable Island to photograph the reported Glossy...
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Glossy Ibis

September 18, 2024 - On my way home from Brier Island I took the southern route to photograph the Glossy Ibis. It was in a ball field behind...
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Evangeline Beach Peeps Aerial Display Part Four

September 18, 2024 - ................continuation of photos of aerial display from Evangeline Beach shorebird migration.
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Evangeline Beach Peeps Aerial Display 2024 Part Three

September 05, 2024 - .........................continuation of my series of photographs from Evangeline Beach, Nova Scotia. Evangeline Beach...
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American Avocet and Friends

September 03, 2024 - I was on my way to Hartlen Point Beach when I stopped for a look-see at Rainbow Haven salt marsh but the tide was high s...
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Burrowing Owl

September 02, 2024 - I briefly visited the Burrowing Owl on my way to Cape Sable Island. I photographed it with a 1200mm lens so I was not cl...
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Wood Duck

September 02, 2024 - The Wood Duck, adult male in non breeding plumage. was at the Annapolis Royal Marsh. Wood Duck
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Little Blue Heron

September 02, 2024 - This Little Blue Heron was at the Annapolis Royal marsh. The juvenile is all white. Little Blue Heron
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American Avocet

September 01, 2024 - Photographing these Avocets was a challenge and at the limit of my technology. I used a 1200mm lens in awful lighting bu...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds Aerial Display 2024 Part Two

September 01, 2024 - Evangeline Beach Shorebirds Aerial Display 2024 Part Two
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds Aerial Display 2024 Part One

August 25, 2024 - This is my first of several photographic essays on the amazing shorebirds of Evangeline Beach during their aerial displa...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds Part Two

August 25, 2024 - I used my 70-300mm lens to photograph these peeps at Evangeline Beach. The next series will be with a 600mm lens with an...
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Boreal Chickadee

August 25, 2024 - This Boreal Chickadee must have just got out of a shower. A little ruffled but still elegant. This is a chickadee of the...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds Part One

August 12, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed an hour at the Guzzle, the eastern end of Evangeline Beach, to see and photograph the shorebird migr...
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Sandhill Cranes

August 04, 2024 - This pair of Sandhill Cranes were cackling constantly. I wasn't doing anything usual, just sitting in my Bronco, with my...
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Eastern Bluebird Feeding Young

August 03, 2024 - This female Eastern Bluebird has been very busy. According to the home owner this is her third brood of the season. Ther...
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Wilson's Warbler

July 23, 2024 - Wilson's Warbler can be hard to find although its powerful trill is a giveaway to its location. I find them much easier...
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Lesser Yellowlegs

July 23, 2024 - Our shorebird migration comes in three phases. The first phase hosts among others the Lesser Yellowlegs. The second phas...
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Great Blue Heron

July 23, 2024 - Often the most beautiful birds we have in Nova Scotia are the most common. One example of this is the Great Blue Heron,...
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Burrowing Owl Video 1

July 18, 2024 - The Blanche Video Owl is likely making its last stand at this location. The cavity behind the perching location is likel...
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Burrowing Owl

July 14, 2024 - Burrowing Owl The last time I saw a Burrowing Owl was in Saskatchewan at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds when Laura an...
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Bay-breasted Warbler

June 12, 2024 - Look for the Bay-breasted Warbler in dense coniferous forests at your highest local altitude. Its not a shy bird but the...
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Hermit Thrush

June 12, 2024 - I was on the hunt for Canada Warbler in a location where they have nested in past years. To my surprise whilst parked in...
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Eastern Wood-Pewee

June 08, 2024 - I didn't see or hear the Eastern Wood-Pewee on my travels to and from Cape Chignecto Provincial Park this week but I did...
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The Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Expedition

June 06, 2024 - I took my annual Cape Chignecto Provincial Park adventure last Tuesday. I left early, 6AM, from Halifax and spent the da...
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Hooded Warbler and Sandy Cove's Beach

May 19, 2024 - I have been visiting Sandy Cove's Beach since 2000 and every year a rare bird or two shows up and often many uncommon sp...
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Early Warblers

May 18, 2024 - I enjoyed my first warbler sortie of the year looking for early spring arrivals. I went to Jerry Lawrence Provincial Par...
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Grey Catbird

May 16, 2024 - The Grey Catbird was working the kelp heaps with the American Robins, European Starlings, Savannah Sparrows, Ipswich Spa...
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White-crowned Sparrow

May 15, 2024 - I saw this White-crowned Sparrow yesterday and took a few unsatisfactory shots. I tried again this morning sitting quiet...
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Canvasback in Better Light

May 12, 2024 - I returned to Brookfield Marsh to photograph the Canvasback. The light was better, a cloudy dull day. I had to shoot at...
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Chipping Sparrow

May 12, 2024 - I hunkered down against a rock and waited for birds to march by on the kelp heaps. There was an abundance of kelp flies...
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Canvasback

May 12, 2024 - The Canvasback, a western breeder, is a common diving duck of the central flyway which I often saw in Manitoba. This exa...
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Eastern Kingbird

April 30, 2024 - The Eastern Kingbird is a large common fair weather flycatcher. It's not shy but is active like all flycatchers. This ar...
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Ipswich Sparrow

April 24, 2024 - Laura and I first met the Ipswich Sparrow in late April 2000 on a birding trip to Martinique Beach Provincial Park led b...
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Great Egret

April 23, 2024 - The Great Egret is an annual regular to Nova Scotia usually varying in numbers year over year. This one was in the Sambr...
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Eastern Bluebird

April 20, 2024 - The Eastern Bluebird is an uncommon nesting species in Nova Scotia. This one was actively singing for a mate near a gath...
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Hooded Warbler

April 20, 2024 - The Hooded Warbler is an annual regular to Nova Scotia most often seen in the fall. This example of a male in breeding p...
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Diving Birds

March 17, 2024 - Most of our diving birds, ducks, loons and scoters can be photographed from shore. The problem as always is finding a sa...
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Surf Scoter

February 28, 2024 - I was lucky enough to find these Surf Scoters close enough to shore to photograph however definition is seriously lackin...
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Red-shouldered Hawk

February 18, 2024 - The "runway model" hawk, the Red-shouldered Hawk, posed for me in good frontal light and minimal focus trashing branches...
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Turkey Vulture

February 13, 2024 - I rounded the curve just outside of Sambro heading towards Grand Lake when I spotted a Turkey Vulture in display mode. I...
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Diving Birds of Nova Scotia

February 05, 2024 - During my recent circuit of the Sambro Loop I photographed a few diving birds. They are usually far off shore so the ima...
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Sandhill Cranes

January 21, 2024 - I photographed these Sandhill Cranes a couple of days ago west of Kentville. These cranes are very late but appear to be...
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Common Loons Crabbing

January 19, 2024 - I was lucky enough when driving by Ketch Harbour, Nova Scotia, to spot this pair of Common Loons crabbing. I stopped and...
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Peregrine Falcon, Second Sighting

January 16, 2024 - These photos of the Peregrine Falcon near Canning, Nova Scotia, are an exercise in editing. The original RAW images show...
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Horned Lark

January 16, 2024 - Horned Larks are tricky to photograph as they hop between the plowed hummocks at Grand-Pré National Historic Site, Nova...
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Peregrine Falcon

January 06, 2024 - What better way is there to start the 2024 nature photography year then photographs of the world's fastest bird, the Per...
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Waterfowl Patrol at the Head of St. Margaret's Bay

December 30, 2023 - Laura and I toured the head of St. Margaret's Bay to check out the open ocean waterfowl and what opportunities and locat...
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Long-tailed Duck and Black Guillemot

December 23, 2023 - Winter photography is here. I've shot one winter gale and the second one is in the hopper. With the woodlands mostly emp...
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Nova Scotia Coast in a Gale

December 13, 2023 - I toured the eastern shore of Nova Scotia during a December gale from Martinique Beach Provincial Park, to East Chezzetc...
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Yellow-breasted Chat

November 22, 2023 - This beautiful Yellow-breasted Chat will try to overwinter in our merciless climate. I had one in my back yard for some...
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Sandhill Cranes

October 22, 2023 - It was a dreary and rainy day but just perfect for a drive around looking for Sandhill Cranes. The same family of cranes...
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Limpkin

October 18, 2023 - I photographed the Limpkin in Brooklyn (Queens), Nova Scotia. The late Dr. Ian Mclaren recorded four records in his mast...
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Sandhill Crane

October 14, 2023 - I photographed these Sandhill Cranes alongside Milford Road. They were about 1/2 kilometre distant so haze and image com...
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Northern Flicker and Red-eyed Vireo

October 10, 2023 - The Northern Flicker was photographed at the Urban Farm Museum. Most of these tree tappers migrate but some will overwin...
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Wilson's Warbler

October 08, 2023 - I have always found the Wilson's Warbler easier to find in Newfoundland than Nova Scotia. It is a rugged warbler of wetl...
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Purple Gallinule

October 02, 2023 - The Purple Gallinule is a rare bird which is not reported annually. It belongs to a small family of birds called Gruifor...
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Rusty Blackbird, Red-eyed Vireo and Others

September 30, 2023 - I photographed the Rusty Blackbird at Sandy Cove's Beach. At first blush it looked like a Cowbird but the white eye chan...
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Yellow-rumped Warbler and Friends

September 29, 2023 - I encountered Yellow-rumped Warblers (25+) and other species at Duncan's Cove and at Sandy Cove's Beach area (25+). The...
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Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Phoebe

September 25, 2023 - I photographed the Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Phoebe from a long distance so the images are severely cropped. Both of...
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White-breasted Nuthatch

September 19, 2023 - The White-breasted Nuthatch forages for goodies under the bark of trees by going down the tree, ostensibly to find stuff...
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Common Eider, First Summer Male

September 16, 2023 - This first summer Common Eider male duck had me befuddled for a time primarily due to the yellow on the bill. I wrestled...
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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Least Flycatcher

September 06, 2023 - Laura and I toured the Noel shore and stopped at Anthony Provincial Park for a picnic and while Laura picked the last re...
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Surf and Shorebirds at Martinique Beach

September 06, 2023 - The waves at Martinique Beach can be enormous. The conditions depicted here and in my videos are not safe for surfing or...
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Common Merganser

September 06, 2023 - The Common Merganser is the hardest of our three merganser species to photograph. They tend to be very vary of humans pr...
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A Visit to West Chezzetcooke Salt Marsh

August 30, 2023 - I visited West Chezzetcooke Salt Marsh in the hopes of finding some late Nelson's Sparrows. I only saw one and it was a...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebird Migration Part Four

August 24, 2023 - It's challenging and fun photographing the melee of shorebirds at Evangeline Beach. Balancing depth of field with shutte...
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Marsh Flora

August 20, 2023 - After I photographed the Great Egret I photographed the trail-side wild flowers and vines. Some are marsh flowers while...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebird Migration Part Three

August 18, 2023 - I visited Evangeline Beach for the third time last Wednesday and it keeps getting more active. The shorebirds are moving...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebird Migration 2

August 15, 2023 - I tried again late this morning for a successful photoshoot at Evangeline Beach. It started out slow at the Guzzle but i...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebird Migration

August 12, 2023 - I visited Evangeline Beach for the first time this year. There is no significant buildup of peeps yet. Peeps is a colloq...
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Great Egret

August 10, 2023 - The Great Egret is an annual regular and I am sure its numbers will continue to increase due to climate change. This exa...
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Warblers

June 07, 2023 - With the wild fires, evacuations, steady rain and forest and trail closures warbler photography has been slow, but thing...
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Swainson's Thrush

May 28, 2023 - The Swainson's Thrush is the greyest and most spotted of our native thrushes. It is a woodland bird of the deep forests.
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Pine Warbler

May 25, 2023 - The nesting colony of Pine Warblers is loading up. This bird is special because it is a recent addition to the nesting w...
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Ipswich Sparrow

May 10, 2023 - The Ipswich Sparrow congregates along Nova Scotia's east coast especially on the beaches directly adjacent to Sable Isla...
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Grey-cheeked Thrush

May 09, 2023 - The Grey-cheeked Thrush was moving about in company with the Say's Phoebe on and about Sandy Cove Beach, Halifax. One ca...
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Say's Phoebe

May 08, 2023 - The Say's Phoebe is a western bird rarely seen in Nova Scotia. This one showed up yesterday at Sandy Cove Beach, Halifax...
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Snowy Egret

April 28, 2023 - The Snowy Egret is an annual regular to Nova Scotia, usually uncommon but rare in some years. This bird was jumpy unlike...
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Ring-necked Duck

April 16, 2023 - The Ring-necked Duck is an elegant diver common everywhere in Nova Scotia. The hunters that first hunted this bird calle...
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Red-tailed Hawk

April 04, 2023 - The Red-tailed is a hulking big buteo (soaring hawk) but is nonetheless shy and tricky to photograph. As soon as you sto...
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Eurasian Teal

March 21, 2023 - The first photograph below shows quite graphically the distinct field marks of the adult Green-winged Teal on the left v...
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Evening Grosbeak

March 13, 2023 - The Evening Grosbeak is often hard to find despite its predilection for visiting feeders. This is my second encounter th...
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Red-winged Blackbirds

March 13, 2023 - This was the largest bunch of Red-winged Blackbirds I've seen in Nova Scotia, several hundred individuals with a few Eur...
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Aspotogan Peninsula

March 06, 2023 - Laura and I took a drive around the Aspotogan Peninsula yesterday, our first time this winter. Unfortunately many of our...
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Compilation of Winter Scenes In Nova Scotia

February 28, 2023 - Here is a compilation of some winter scenes in Nova Scotia. There is more snow coming soon so I'll try again for that el...
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Cooper's Hawk

February 05, 2023 - This Cooper's Hawk is a long ways from the camera lens. High resolution cameras can create amazing images even at this d...
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Northern Mockingbird

February 05, 2023 - This Northern Mockingbird and its mate are survivors. They are both residing in a twelve inch drainage pipe underneath t...
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Horned Lark

February 04, 2023 - The Horned Lark is a challenge to photograph. They forage in flocks and scatter as a group when the most flighty bird be...
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Red-shouldered Hawk

January 10, 2023 - Here's my best photograph of the Red-shouldered Hawk, so far. I had to maneuver around to get a clear image away from th...
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Great Egret

January 02, 2023 - The Great Egret is my first bird photograph of the new year, indeed my first photograph of any subject. This Great Egre...
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Red-shouldered Hawk

December 28, 2022 - My thanks to Susan Lawrence for allowing access to her property to photograph this elegant woodland hawk. As usual these...
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Northern Mockingbird

November 29, 2022 - The Northern Mockingbird is a beloved bird with an attitude and a song to match. It's one of Nova Scotia's three mimic t...
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Great Egret

November 23, 2022 - I photographed this Great Egret two days ago. Its getting late for this wader as the salt marshes and inland ponds are b...
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Ash-throated Flycatcher the Re-edit

November 07, 2022 - I tried to get the noise out of the photo but unfortunately the definition of the original image is compromised by the e...
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Ash-throated Flycatcher

November 06, 2022 - I made an error this morning in photographing the Ash-throated Flycatcher. When I first arrived it was quite dark in the...
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The Nuthatches and Ruby-crowned Kinglet

November 02, 2022 - On my recent trip to Brier Island I was fortunate to find both of our nesting nuthatch species; the Red-breasted Nuthatc...
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Northern Cardinal

October 31, 2022 - When we first came to Nova Scotia in 2000 the Northern Cardinal was rare to uncommon in the preferred habitat of mature...
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Great Blue Heron

October 18, 2022 - The Great Blue Heron has stunning good looks much like its smaller cousin the Blue Jay but we tend to take them for gran...
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Mix of Recent Birds

October 18, 2022 - I encountered the Dickcissel and White-crowned Sparrow a second time as well as some other avian friends. Dickcissel...
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Dickcissel

October 10, 2022 - The Dickcissel is a central flyway bird and is found in Nova Scotia during migration. It is often found with flocks of s...
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White-crowned Sparrow

October 10, 2022 - The White-crowned Sparrow is an annual regular with numbers varying wildly year over year. Beginners often confuse the W...
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Dickcissel and White-crowned Sparrow

October 10, 2022 - It is not often (read hardly ever) that one gets the opportunity to photograph a Dickcissel and a White-crowned Sparrow...
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American Avocet

September 22, 2022 - The American Avocet is an elegant long legged wader of medium size. It's a central flyway bird and commonly found in pon...
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Cedar Waxwing

July 17, 2022 - The Bohemian Waxwing is the most elegant bird in North America and its smaller cousin the Cedar Waxwing is not far behin...
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Bay-breasted Warbler

June 30, 2022 - There are three warbler species that are hard to find and photograph, in order of difficulty; Cape May Warbler (yet anot...
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Nashville Warbler

June 25, 2022 - With 80% of our Nashville Warblers born in Canada the stupidity of the name is obvious. The folks that name these birds...
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Early June Birds in Nova Scotia

June 05, 2022 - After returning from Newfoundland I enjoyed a couple of walks on my favourite trails. No surprises but June is the best...
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Bald Eagle

February 04, 2022 - In my winter's travels the Bald Eagle has become by default the only bird that posed. I have seen Bald Eagles, Peregrin...
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Snowy Owl on Rock

January 03, 2022 - This Snowy Owl was attacked by a Northern Harrier. The attack was likely a case of mistaken identity since the Snowy Owl...
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Snowy Owl in Snow

December 29, 2021 - I got an early start this morning to try and obtain better photographs of the Snowy Owl. To my delight and probably the...
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Snowy Owl on Beach

December 28, 2021 - Snowy Owls show up in Nova Scotia every year. There is no pattern to this movement from the north. Some think it may be...
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Mandarin Duck

December 11, 2021 - These may be my last images of the Mandarin Duck. If the Mandarin Duck is as durable as its only other family member, th...
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Cattle Egret

December 11, 2021 - This was a banner year for this European import (as am I), the Cattle Egret. It turned up everywhere in the province and...
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American Coot

December 11, 2021 - The American Coot (misnamed as usual) is not at all shy. Unfortunately this invites abuse from Nova Scotia Birders who a...
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Western Tanager

December 01, 2021 - I only had seconds to photograph the Western Tanager. I was hand holding 840mm in a gloomy day at ISO 6400 as I tried to...
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Mandarin Duck

November 29, 2021 - The Mandarin Duck is not native to North America although feral colonies have popped up in places resulting from ill con...
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Great Egret

November 21, 2021 - I seldom visit Cape Sable Island or Brier Island these days. The time and expense involved is seldom worth the results....
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Bufflehead

November 17, 2021 - I encountered a small cluster of Buffleheads in St. Margaret's Bay this morning. It is very challenging to get good phot...
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Bald Eagle

November 16, 2021 - A Bald Eagle at Grand Pre was not crouching behind a tangle of branches. Usually they are high, back lit and behind bran...
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Cattle Egret

November 13, 2021 - This Cattle Egret at Horton Landing spent a great deal of time in the cattle feeding trough probably due to the abundanc...
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Indigo Bunting

November 13, 2021 - This Indigo Bunting is a young male hopefully on its way south. There were several examples along the beach end of Sandy...
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Steller's Sea Eagle

November 06, 2021 - There is no record of the Steller's Sea Eagle for Nova Scotia that I can find. The late Dr. Ian McLaren's, "All the Bird...
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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

November 05, 2021 - I got off on a early start so that I could photograph the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in the morning light. On route I pho...
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Common Gallinule

November 05, 2021 - I found the Common Gallinule after about 20 minutes of circling the pond. This bird gleans food from marsh grasses and l...
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Blackburnian Warbler and Northern Parula

August 31, 2021 - The stunning Blackburnian Warbler and Northern Parula are a joy to meet and photograph. The Northern Parula is so tame I...
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Cedar Waxwing and Magnolia Warbler

August 31, 2021 - The Cedar Waxwing was gathering nesting material. They are late nesters like the Goldfinch. It was a cooperative bird bu...
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A Woodland Stroll

August 25, 2021 - I took a stroll in the woodlands this morning in an attempt to catch up on all the birds I've missed with Covid and my e...
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Osprey

August 24, 2021 - I struggled with these Osprey photographs. Although the images are cropped they are still shot at 1200mm ISO 6400. I nee...
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Mix of Woodland Birds, the Revisit

August 19, 2021 - Woodland and forest edge birds tend to mix when photographing from road sides. These photos were taken with my hiking ca...
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Common Yellowthroat the Revisit

August 14, 2021 - The Common Yellowthroat arrives early in Nova Scotia and leaves late. It is wide spread, abundant and vocal during its s...
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Swainson's Thrush the Revisit

August 14, 2021 - The Swainson's Thrush is the predominant thrush species in Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. There were abundant Hermit Th...
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American Redstart the Revisit

August 14, 2021 - The American Redstart is a stunning bird and quite successful with the population increasing province wide probably due...
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House Wren the Revisit

August 14, 2021 - While my desktop computer was in storage I was compelled to use my laptop computer which simply does not have the horsep...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 30, July 28

July 29, 2021 - Today is our penultimate hike, the completion of the Acadian Dyke trail from the harbour to the sea. 40 foot tides here...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 29, July 27

July 28, 2021 - Chignecto National Wildlife Area Notice Chignecto National Wildlife Area trails and parking lot are open to the public f...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 28, July 26

July 27, 2021 - The weather was iffy so we we didn't want to get exposed on the Acadian dykes, the hike we had planned for this day. Fas...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 26, July 24

July 25, 2021 - On Saturday we drive into Parrsboro for supplies. There are good sand beaches between Advocate and Parrsboro but unfortu...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 24, July 22

July 23, 2021 - A tropical rain storm greeted our morning. Laura stayed at the cottage reading a book from the free libraries that have...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 23, July 21

July 22, 2021 - It was another lousy weather day,....enough said. Nature photography changes over the seasons with the movements of bir...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 22, July 20

July 21, 2021 - It was a lousy day for walkabouts, photography and sinuses thanks to the fog and the smoke plume from the wild fires. Al...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 21, July 19

July 20, 2021 - The weather has gone down hill; morning and evening fog usually arriving with the incoming tide, drizzle, fog mist, cool...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 20, July 18

July 19, 2021 - The Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows will fledge (obtain flight feathers) tonight or tomorrow morning. I will visit t...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 19, July 17

July 18, 2021 - It was yet another Nova Scotia summer day; mixed clouds, sunshine and moderate temperatures. Alas, we have passed mid J...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 18, July 16

July 17, 2021 - It was a good day with a slight cloud overcast and warmer then it has been, about 26 degrees, and muggy. There was some...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventire Day 16, July 14

July 15, 2021 - Today was a good day; sunshine, no fog and light winds. This is the day we did the Fundy Ridge trail, 5,.4 kilometres an...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 15, July 13

July 14, 2021 - Laura and I traveled the coastal highway today from Advocate Harbour to Masstown to see family for the first time in two...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 14, July 12

July 13, 2021 - Today was another gorgeous day; no fog, mild temperature and lots of sunshine. We did the Squally Point Trail today a c...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 12, July 10

July 11, 2021 - It was another gorgeous day, mostly sunny with light winds and moderate temperatures. We visited several places with no...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 11, July 9

July 10, 2021 - Tonight is the night that Post Tropical Storm Elsa hits us with all its fury. Advocate Harbour is slightly south of the...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 10, July 8

July 09, 2021 - It was raining steadily this morning but skies improved in the afternoon as we awaited post tropical storm Elsa. Some o...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 9, July 7

July 08, 2021 - Today we visit the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a UNISCO World Heritage Site: https://www.jogginsfossilcliffs.net/ The follow...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 8, July 6

July 07, 2021 - It was foggy and drizzling in the morning and cloudy bright in the afternoon with no sunset to photograph. I tried for...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 7, July 5

July 06, 2021 - This was our first day with decent weather. It was cool by the water but one heats up fast hoofing through the bush. Lau...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 3, July 1

July 02, 2021 - It was another day of fog, rain and gloom. We drove to the Joggins Fossil Cliffs and Amherst for an outing but a walkabo...
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American Redstart

July 01, 2021 - The American Redstart with the folk name of Butterfly Bird (an improved name) is prolific in Nova Scotia. It arrives lat...
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Common Yellowthroat

June 05, 2021 - This Common Yellowthroat was as the military expression goes, "under the guns". I was expecting a distant target so I wa...
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Ruffed Grouse

June 04, 2021 - I was bumping along a country road when I spotted a dozen or so golf ball sized Ruffed Grouse chick-lets in the centre o...
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Blackburnian Warbler

June 04, 2021 - The Blackburnian Warbler is a stunning bird. I always look forward to meeting this bird. It is easy to find in its favor...
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Bay-breasted Warbler

June 02, 2021 - Nova Scotia has been under a partial lockdown in recent weeks due to Covid-19 with residents restricted to movement with...
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak

May 24, 2021 - The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is near to an annual regular at our place in Portuguese Cove. It usually stays for two or thr...
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Broad-winged Hawk

May 23, 2021 - The Broad-winged Hawk is common in the mild seasons in Nova Scotia but uncommon in the winter after most move further so...
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Bullock's Oriole

May 21, 2021 - The Bullock's Oriole is a rare bird although it has become an annual regular to Nova Scotia. It used to be combined with...
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Ipswich Sparrow

May 13, 2021 - The Ipswich Sparrow is an "all Canadian bird", almost all born on Canada's Sable Island. The proper name should be Sable...
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Eastern Towhee and Grey Catbird

May 11, 2021 - I reedited my photos from yesterday due to excessive noise in the photographs. Noise is the curse of all good photograph...
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Eastern Towhee

May 10, 2021 - The Eastern Towhee is an annual visitor best described as uncommon, certainly not rare. This example was a male in its f...
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Grey Catbird

May 10, 2021 - Our Grey Catbird has returned, the first of a pair. This time of year before the leaves erupt one can see their nest in...
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Pine Warbler

May 03, 2021 - The Pine Warbler is a tough bird, often the first to arrive in the spring and the last to leave in the fall. It has nest...
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Carolina Wren

April 19, 2021 - The wrens are a wonderful family of birds with a wide variation in song types; the haunting woodland song of the Winter...
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Pileated Woodpecker

April 11, 2021 - Laura and I enjoyed an early spring woodland walk this morning. Our target species was the Pine Warbler which was a no s...
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American Tree Sparrow in Snow Storm

April 04, 2021 - The Tree Sparrow is another all Canadian bird with most breeding well north of the U.S. of A. border in Canada's boreal...
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Dark-eyed Junco in Snow Storm

April 04, 2021 - The Dark-eyed Junco is actually a sparrow and challenging to photograph due to its (you guessed it) dark eye. The eye is...
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Blue Jay in Snow Storm

April 04, 2021 - The Blue Jay is a common North American bird and is a year round resident in all Canadian provinces although many do mig...
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Song Sparrow in Snow Storm

April 04, 2021 - The recent snow storm, the last of the season we hope, brought most of our local birds up to the feeders. We usually hav...
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Fox Sparrow

March 19, 2021 - The Fox Sparrow is among our most elegant sparrows with an amazing song. We had one stay with us for 18 months several y...
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Lesser Scaup

March 16, 2021 - The Greater and Lesser Scaup can be hard to tell apart. On the Greater Scaup the high point of the head is ahead or over...
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Black Guillemot

March 16, 2021 - The Black Guillemot is a stunning bird in breeding plumage with its jaunty red legs and feet. In winter it presents a mo...
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Iceland Gull

March 16, 2021 - Whenever I see an Iceland Gull I usually take a good look just to make sure its not the mega rare Ivory Gull. I once had...
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Lesser Black-backed Gull

March 04, 2021 - The Lesser Black-backed Gull appears to be sleeping in Sambro Harbour which is dangerous since Bald Eagles roam this are...
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Merlin

February 24, 2021 - The Merlin is a mid sized falcon larger than the Kestrel and smaller than the Peregrine Falcon. It also tends to hunt mo...
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Bald Eagles Aplenty

February 24, 2021 - Bald Eagles have a favorite tree in the Annapolis Valley but this display and congregation is larger than usual. Count t...
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Iceland Gull

February 24, 2021 - The Iceland Gull, primarily a winter visitor, is plentiful this time of year. I've seen dozens flocking together over th...
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Hooded Merganser

February 24, 2021 - The Hooded Merganser is an elegant and photogenic duck if you can find one close enough to photograph. Its quite flighty...
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Horned Lark

February 16, 2021 - The Horned Lark despite its diminutive size is a winter survivor in Nova Scotia. It moves in flocks and it is easily sta...
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Red-tailed Hawk

February 16, 2021 - The Red-tailed Hawk is a buteo spending most of its time soaring while looking for prey or sitting in a tree or on a hay...
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Pine Grosbeak

January 30, 2021 - Laura and I enjoyed the antics of Pine Grosbeaks as they fed beside the road on our trip to the Annapolis Valley. They p...
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Bald Eagles

January 30, 2021 - A visit to the Annapolis Valley is always an opportunity to photograph Bald Eagles. Thanks to the disposal of dead chick...
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Tufted Duck

January 30, 2021 - The Tufted Duck is a Eurasian species but it commonly nests in Iceland. It is an irregular visitor to Nova Scotia and ca...
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Short-eared Owl

January 28, 2021 - I have been trying for thirty years to get decent photos of the Short-eared Owl. They were a common site at Oak Hammock...
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Peregrine Falcon

January 28, 2021 - Yesterday was a very successful day of photography in the upper Annapolis Valley for Laura and me. We found Bald Eagles...
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Sunny Morning on the Prospect Barrens

January 20, 2021 - I enjoyed a morning hike on the Prospect Barren, west of Prospect, Nova Scotia. I came into the barrens from the west en...
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Ring-necked Pheasant and Nashville Warbler

December 06, 2020 - Several years ago a male Ring-necked Pheasant took to jumping onto our deck railing. This was during the killer winter o...
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Ruffed Grouse

November 01, 2020 - The Ruffed Grouse was having a sand bath near our home. I photographed the bird at 1200mm, the limit of my lens. My new...
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Rudleys Point

November 01, 2020 - A tour of the eastern shore took me to Rudleys Point and the early morning yielded a spectacular sky. Birds on hand were...
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Sunrise Between Sambro Islands

October 23, 2020 - I enjoyed sunrise at Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park this morning. The park should have been named Pennant Point...
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American Wigeon

September 22, 2020 - The American Wigeon is a year-round resident of Nova Scotia found dabbling in small groups in woodland and city ponds. I...
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Mallard

September 22, 2020 - The Mallard has striking good looks but because it is common it does not get the respect and admiration it deserves, foo...
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Common Loon

September 22, 2020 - The Common Loon(another dumb name), is the iconic bird of Canada's wilderness lakes. It arrives early and leaves late an...
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Horned Grebe

September 04, 2020 - The Horned Grebe is a common bird, particularly in winter. It's not a shy bird but hard to photograph as it is constantl...
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Sooty Shearwater

September 04, 2020 - The Sooty Shearwater is seldom seen from the mainland but is often baited by trailing fish parts from a boat. It's an op...
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Forester's Tern

September 04, 2020 - The Forester's Tern is primarily a bird of the central plains. It winters along both coasts but not usually as far north...
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Merlin

August 09, 2020 - The Merlin is our mid sized Falcon. We see them coursing overhead our property and I often see them in the late summer a...
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Yellow-headed Blackbird

August 09, 2020 - The Yellow-headed Blackbird is thought to be rare in Nova Scotia although it is more likely an annual regular. It breeds...
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Snow Goose

July 28, 2020 - Snow Geese occasionally stray into Nova Scotia on their migration north or south. They are central flyway birds seen in...
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American Coot

July 20, 2020 - This unassuming little swimmer breeds locally in Nova Scotia especially in the large marshes near the New Brunswick bord...
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Grey Heron

July 13, 2020 - The Grey Heron, a Eurasian wader, is a mega rare bird for Nova Scotia. This one from Miner's Marsh is Nova Scotia's firs...
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Tundra Swan

June 26, 2020 - The Tundra Swan was once known as the Whistling Swan. It is very similar in appearance to the rare and endangered Trumpe...
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Wood Duck

June 26, 2020 - The Wood Duck is the best looking duck I have met in my travels. This majestic duck was almost hunted out of existence....
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Tricoloured Heron

June 26, 2020 - The Tricoloured Heron has stunning good looks. It is also relatively tame so Nova Scotia birders and photographers take...
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Baltimore Oriole

June 25, 2020 - The Baltimore Oriole has been a hard bird for me to photograph well although others have had good success. I had Baltim...
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Canada Warbler

June 06, 2020 - The Canada Warbler is threatened due to habitat loss and the reckless use of insecticides. Its an elegant bird with a de...
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Brown Thrasher

June 06, 2020 - The Brown Thrasher is common but sometimes hard to find if its not singing. Its song is a compilation of short opening p...
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Grey Catbird

June 06, 2020 - The Grey Catbird is our most common mimic thrush. Its kin are the Brown Thrasher and Northern Mockingbird. All three spe...
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White-winged Dove

May 30, 2020 - The White-winged Dove is easily separated from the Mourning Dove by its larger bill and lack of spotting on the back and...
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Ruffed Grouse

May 28, 2020 - The Ruffed Grouse is a favourite target and almost always found in our backyard multiflora bramble. I ran into a family...
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Redhead

May 16, 2020 - The aptly named Redhead is a handsome and rare visitor to Nova Scotia. It breeds in the centre of our continent mostly i...
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Blackpoll Warbler

May 16, 2020 - The Blackpoll Warbler flies from the Caribbean and South America to its breeding grounds, the mosquitto and black fly in...
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Snow Bunting

May 11, 2020 - The Snow Bunting is a handsome bird that brings the winter and leaves when spring arrives. It breeds in the wind swept t...
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Greater White-fronted Goose

May 03, 2020 - The Greater White-fronted Goose is an annual regular and better categorized as uncommon due to recent and regular annual...
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Greater Shearwater

May 03, 2020 - The Greater Shearwater is a pelagic bird preferring to spend most of it life at sea. It is not shy if baited with fish....
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Red-eyed Vireo

April 26, 2020 - The Red-eyed Vireo usually returns in late May about two to three weeks after its cousin the Blue-headed Vireo. The Red-...
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Snowy Egret

April 18, 2020 - The Snowy Egret is an annual regular and always welcome. Its good looks are complemented by it fishing antics, the up an...
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My Spirit Animal, The Pine Siskin

April 17, 2020 - I do not presume to understand cultures that embrace spirit animals, nor do I presume to understand or feel anything of...
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Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

April 17, 2020 - The Blue-grey Gnatcatcher is a nifty little bird squeaking its jumbled song as it happily forages, tail aloft. It's tame...
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Cedar Waxwing

April 16, 2020 - The Cedar Waxwing is widespread in Nova Scotia and gregarious. We have annual visits by this elegant bird at our multifl...
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Summer Tanager

April 12, 2020 - I had excellent equipment photographing this bird but sometimes there is a price to pay for low light and shooting throu...
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White-breasted Nuthatch

April 08, 2020 - The White-breasted Nuthatch is a nifty bird that displays a lot of unusual poses as it forages for edibles. Like the Red...
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Red-breasted Nuthatch

April 08, 2020 - The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a common yard and feeder bird. It's a bird I've not tried to photograph extensively but thi...
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White-winged Dove

April 06, 2020 - The White-winged Dove is an annual regular, not rare. The absence of spotting on the back and the much larger bill mark...
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Compendium of Rare Bird Visits to Nova Scotia

April 05, 2020 - This post is a compendium of rare bird visits to Nova Scotia that I have personally recorded. This compendium does not i...
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American Pipit

March 30, 2020 - The American Pipit is one of our earliest arriving and latest leaving birds. It is well known for its tail bobbing and "...
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak

March 24, 2020 - The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is stunning bird, male or female. It also knows how to defend itself. I volunteered at a band...
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Canada Jay

February 26, 2020 - The Canada Jay is our national bird even if the Governor General of Canada hasn't as yet said so. She will eventually. I...
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Tufted Duck

February 25, 2020 - The Tufted Duck is a rare visitor to Nova Scotia although it is an annual regular. The adult male can be confused with t...
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Lapland Longspur

February 25, 2020 - The Lapland Longspur is a welcome find on the coastal barrens in my area. I usually find them heading south in November/...
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Canada Jay(juvenile)

February 25, 2020 - OK, I was baffled by this bird for a while then bingo, the lights lit, a recently fledged Canada Jay. The Canada Jay is...
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Bald Eagle

February 22, 2020 - The Bald Eagle has exploded in population in Nova Scotia thanks to the chicken ranchers who started putting out their de...
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Our Overwintering Birds

February 21, 2020 - It's been a quiet winter with not much avian diversity in our yard but like every year since we moved here in 2000 we ha...
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Yellow-breasted Chat

January 02, 2020 - The Yellow-breasted Chat is our largest warbler although by simply looking at it it seems more likely to be related to a...
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo

January 02, 2020 - The Yellow-billed cuckoo is an insectivore so will not survive our winters. Its elegant and relatively tame, usually app...
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Arctic Tern

January 02, 2020 - The Arctic Tern breeds locally but it is a trans polar migrant. It completes the longest migration journey of any bird....
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Northern Mockingbird

January 02, 2020 - The Northern Mockingbird is renowned for its song, a series of mimics from several bird species. This make the bird easy...
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Northern Flicker

January 01, 2020 - The Northern Flicker will survive our winters especially if assisted with suet and seed. It specializes in eating ants s...
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Pine Grosbeak

December 30, 2019 - The Pine Grosbeak is widespread in Canada and a short distance migrant,.... if it migrates. It is primarily a Canadian b...
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Painted Bunting

December 29, 2019 - I photographed this Painted Bunting last summer. My photographs should have been better but for some reason they lacked...
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Pileated Woodpecker

December 23, 2019 - The Pileated Woodpecker is all together; elegant, audacious, colourfull and loud. If all the woodpeckers in all the land...
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Lincoln's Sparrow

December 20, 2019 - The Lincoln's Sparrow is easy to identify from its marvelous and melodic song. Otherwise look for the sharpish demarkati...
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Crested Caracara

December 19, 2019 - The Crested Caracara is the national bird of Mexico. It hunts by flying and running, pouncing on its prey. Like the Bald...
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Glossy Ibis

December 10, 2019 - The Glossy Ibis is an annual regular to Nova Scotia. I see them every year but not always close enough for photographs....
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Ivory Gull

December 09, 2019 - I've seen two Ivory Gulls in my life. The first one was an immature bird and my photographs did not do it justice. The s...
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White-faced Ibis

December 08, 2019 - The White-faced Ibis is a mega rare bird in Nova Scotia whereas its first cousin the Glossy Ibis is an annual regular. L...
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Nelson's Gull

December 07, 2019 - The Nelson's Gull is a hybrid between a Glaucous Gull and a Great Black-backed Gull. It took a great deal of head scratc...
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Great Egret

December 07, 2019 - The Great Egret is not a rare bird in Nova Scotia but certainly hard to find at imes. It's usually more numerous in the...
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Purple Sandpiper

December 06, 2019 - The Purple Sandpiper is a nifty bird. It spends its summers further north and winters along our coast although some can...
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Carolina Wren

December 05, 2019 - The Carolina Wren is an absolute stunner of a bird. This one was a treat to visit in its snowy home. It resided in a woo...
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Spotted Towhee

December 04, 2019 - The Spotted Towhee, a mega rare bird, was recognized as a seperate species from the Eastern Towhee(Chestnut-sided Towhee...
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Buff-breasted Sandpiper

December 03, 2019 - The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is my favourite shorebird. It's uncommon, not rare, but hard to find in its usual weedy loca...
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Killdeer and Boreal Chickadee

November 27, 2019 - The Killdeer is a mid-sized shore bird and quite skittish except when guarding its nest where it often uses the broken w...
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Greater Yellowlegs

October 25, 2019 - Greater Yellowlegs is among our latest shorebirds. Foolishly, Spotted Sandpipers and Killdeer often remain longer. I hav...
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Late Bird Migrants

October 17, 2019 - Migrants are getting harder to find as the weather hardens. The Common Grackle, American Robin(better known as the Canad...
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Cruise Ships Off Shoal Point and Chebucto Head

October 17, 2019 - The location of the Chebucto Head Light is on Shoal Point whereas Chebucto Head is about 500 metres south-west by the cl...
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Black-necked Stilt Revisited

October 17, 2019 - These photos are of my second encounter with a Black-necked Stilt. This bird is a a true rarity whereas most of the bird...
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Pectoral Sandpiper

September 28, 2019 - I enjoyed an early morning hike on the coastal barrens. The highlight was a Pectoral Sandpiper. A short down curved bill...
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Marbled Godwit Revisited

September 27, 2019 - I revisited the Marbled Godwit and obtained better photographs. The technique for approaching a bird is: -walk obliquel...
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Glossy Ibis

September 26, 2019 - Glossy Ibis does not photograph well in gloomy conditions. Bright reflected light brings out its glossy sheen nicely. Al...
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Marbled Godwit

September 25, 2019 - I photographed the Marbled Godwit from a fair distance so the photos are severe crops. There was a clutter of gulls arou...
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Black-necked Stilt

September 25, 2019 - The Black-necked Stilt, an elegant shorebird, is reported irregularly. It's probably an annual regular but that is impos...
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More Warblers and Friends

September 18, 2019 - I've encountered even more warblers at my favourite warbler trap(not Hartlen Point). Previously seen were Yellow-throate...
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Black Skimmers Trolling

September 18, 2019 - Black Skimmers dropped out from the eye of Hurricane Dorian(post tropical storm with hurricane cat 2 winds technically)...
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HMS Queen Elizabeth Inaugural Visit to Halifax

September 16, 2019 - HMS Queen Elizabeth paid an inaugural visit to Halifax. It motored past our home but due to trees I was unable to obtain...
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Warblers and Friends

September 13, 2019 - Some of these birds were blown in by the eye of Dorian, others are normal local birds and a few migrants from central Ca...
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Dorian

September 13, 2019 - Dorian was a disaster for humans and birds with a lot of property damage in Nova Scotia. For a time almost all of Nova S...
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Harbour Traffic the Day Before Hurricane Dorian

September 11, 2019 - I toured a few local hot spots before the arrival of Dorian. Harbour traffic was the highlight plus one bird and one but...
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Northern Wheatear

September 03, 2019 - I waited for a couple of hours to get these few distant photographs of the Northern Wheatear. This remarkable bird nests...
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Eastern Kingbird and Solitary Sandpiper

September 03, 2019 - I encountered an Eastern Kingbird, a frustrating bird at times as it insists on sitting on wires with its nose to the wi...
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Northern Flicker, Solitary Sandpiper and Friends

September 03, 2019 - Here are a few fall migrants that were good enough to pose. Least Sandpiper Magnolia Warbler Northern Flicker also...
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Confusing Fall Warblers and Great Blue Heron

August 28, 2019 - About 20 years ago I visited Point Pelee National Park, a must visit place for all bird lovers. I was talking to some pe...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron and Common Yellowthroat

August 28, 2019 - The Yellow-crowned Night Heron remained for about two weeks which is a typical stay for this crab eater when it finds su...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron

August 17, 2019 - The Yellow-crowned Night Heron continues to visit. It is my experience that when they find a good crabbing area they sta...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron

August 13, 2019 - The Yellow-crowned Night Heron was up to its usual ways,....eating crabs. The process is simple enough if a tad rough on...
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Cape Sable Expedition

August 12, 2019 - I visited Cape Sable last Saturday, including Cape Sable Light, the southernmost location in Nova Scotia. The weather wa...
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Great Blue Heron

July 15, 2019 - Every once in a while the stars align for a photographer. This happened with this Great Blue Heron. The target and hope...
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Salt Marsh Birds

July 13, 2019 - The coastal salt marshes of Nova Scotia are active and full of specialty birds like the Nelson's Sparrow, Savannah Sparr...
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Zaandam

July 06, 2019 - Zaandaam is a medium sized cruise ship, attractively designed. I photographed it off Chebucto Head/Shoal Point, Nova Sco...
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Little Blue Heron

July 04, 2019 - I encountered two adult and one second year(mostly white) blue Herons. The photographic framing was not as good as my fi...
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Painted Turtle

June 26, 2019 - We visited Kejimkujik National Park last Sunday in delightfully warm and sunny weather. We were hosted by battalions of...
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Cedar Waxwing

June 25, 2019 - The Audrey Hepburn of birds displaying the most beauty and grace is the Bohemian Waxwing. unfortunately it is a winter v...
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Little Blue Heron

June 22, 2019 - I photographed this Little Blue Heron in terrible backlighting conditions, the curse of all photographers. Nevertheless,...
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Blackpoll Warbler

June 21, 2019 - The Blackpoll Warbler is a common nesting species in Nova Scotia along coastal boreal forests, the wilder and wetter the...
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Spring Warblers of Nova Scotia

June 21, 2019 - Here's my roundup of the spring warblers of Nova Scotia. The general rules apply; I identify 95% of what I hear, see 15...
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Blackburnian Warbler and American Redstart

June 15, 2019 - Two warblers that make good use of colour are the American Redstart and Blackburnian Warbler. Interestingly, their songs...
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Nelson's Sparrow and Salt Marsh Friends

June 15, 2019 - The Nelson's Sparrow is a denizen of our coastal salt marshes easily located thanks to its emphatic buzz. It's a handsom...
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Pine Warbler

June 12, 2019 - The Pine Warbler is an early arrival to its nesting grounds. You guessed it, it prefers tall mature pine trees which doe...
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Olive-sided Flycatcher

June 12, 2019 - The Olive-sided Flycatcher is an elusive bird except for its continuous telltale song, "quick-three-beers". Its a specie...
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Bay-breasted Warbler

June 12, 2019 - The theory of insanity was starting to show itself after I tried twice to find the Bay-breasted Warbler in the same loca...
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Lewis's Woodpecker

June 08, 2019 - The Lewis's Woodpecker is a resident and short distance migrant of the continental west up to British Columbia. I looked...
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak

June 05, 2019 - This was our second adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak of this spring. It was hungry and lingered at the feeder, a much t...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Expedition

June 04, 2019 - I took an overnight trip to Chignecto Provincial Parks. My target species were Mourning Warbler and Cape May Warbler res...
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Turkey Vulture

June 04, 2019 - I saw this pair of Turkey Vultures on my second morning of my visit to Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. I have never seen...
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Canada Jay

June 04, 2019 - Canada Jay There was a national competition and vote for Canada's National Bird. This bird won as it should. It is an a...
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My Second Walkabout at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

May 31, 2019 - I enjoyed my second warbler walk of the year at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park although I had a late start and could onl...
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My First Walkabout of the Year at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

May 28, 2019 - I enjoyed my first walk of the year at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park. The weather has been so lousy even the rhodora is...
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Spring Migrants and a Few Winter Friends

May 26, 2019 - It has been a nasty spring in Nova Scotia with constant rain, wind and near freezing night time temperatures. I haven't...
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak

May 26, 2019 - This male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was a visitor to our property. I photographed it through the kitchen window, always a c...
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Black-bellied Whistling Duck

May 26, 2019 - This Black-bellied Whistling duck was content to lie about in the sunshine as the property owner cut the grass nearby. I...
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Painted Bunting

May 26, 2019 - The Painted Bunting is a rare southern visitor to Nova Scotia usually seen at feeders. It's a durable bird, one having s...
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Pine Warbler

May 06, 2019 - The Pine Warbler has been nesting Nova Scotia continuously for at least ten years in my experience. I know this from ann...
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A Few Recent Birds

May 05, 2019 - The Pine Warbler is an annual regular nester in Nova Scotia and seems to prefer its own company, hence it appears to nes...
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Glossy Ibis

May 05, 2019 - The Glossy Ibis remains at Brookfield Marsh. Ducks Unlimited has provided a great deal of wonderful habitat not only for...
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Great Egret at Brookfield Marsh

May 02, 2019 - I went to Brookfield Marsh early in the morning and to my delight the great white bird was already in attendance. For re...
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Martinique Beach Piping Plovers

April 15, 2019 - A trip to Martinique Beach, our first outing of the year, yielded a superb day albeit with cold offshore winds. A pair o...
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Harbour Seal, Butcher's Falls and Ipswich Sparrow

April 04, 2019 - Winter's icy grip is slowly receding and humans can get out and about again onto the beaches and into the woodlands. Bu...
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Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawk

February 17, 2019 - I took a quick tour of the valley west of Halifax to search for raptors and owls. I had no luck with owls my preferred t...
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Ruffed Grouse

February 17, 2019 - This Ruffed Grouse has visited our place on several occasions, always at dusk, and in the same birch tree in our back ya...
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Barred Owl

January 12, 2019 - I glanced out our kitchen window near dusk and there was a Barred Owl sitting in a tree. This is the first Barred Owl I...
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Turkey Vultures

November 29, 2018 - When I came to Nova Scotia in 2000 Turkey Vultures were rare to uncommon in the Halifax Area. About 2010 they began to m...
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A Very Late Greater Yellowlegs

November 29, 2018 - I visited Sandy Cove which is the best single birding location I've encountered in Nova Scotia and I've been to a lot of...
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Late Migrating Birds in Nova Scotia

October 29, 2018 - I've captured a few of the late migrants of our Nova Scotia nesting species of birds. The transient birds from the west...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds

October 17, 2018 - I visit Evangeline Beach every year to see the shorebirds; mostly Semipalmated Plovers and Semipalmated Sandpipers with...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron, the Revisit

September 17, 2018 - The Yellow-crowned Night Heron made a revisit to the salt marsh on the Chebucto Peninsula. This heron is unusual because...
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Grey Catbird

September 11, 2018 - Grey Catbirds nested in our front yard rose bramble again this year. They celebrate before and after nesting with a sing...
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Yellow-belled Flycatcher

September 09, 2018 - I don't keep bird records but our property in Portuguese Cove is highly productive especially with migrating species. I...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron

September 09, 2018 - The coastline from Duncan's Cove to Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park offers superb birding year round. This includ...
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Bay-breasted Warbler

July 21, 2018 - I searched for the Bay-breasted Warbler in May and June in my usual places without luck. By late July most will have lef...
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Nelson's Sparrow

July 18, 2018 - The Nelson's Sparrow is a common denizen of our coastal wetlands. It's elegant appearance belies its buzzy trill. Yet th...
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Flycatchers, Sparrows and Vireos

June 27, 2018 - The Eastern Wood-Pewee appears in my experience to be declining. Many of the locations where I used to find them are now...
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June Warblers of Nova Scotia

June 25, 2018 - Warblers are a tricky bird to photograph. I can usually identify about 95% by song, peeps and tweets can be tricky, see...
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Thrushes and Mimic Thrushes

June 25, 2018 - I visited my usual locations to find and photograph the Swainson's thrush. The Hermit Thrush just appeared in front of m...
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Pine Warbler

June 25, 2018 - The Pine Warbler is a recent nesting species in Nova Scotia. We have visited and confirmed our colony by song and photog...
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Surfing Common Eiders

May 09, 2018 - These Common Eiders were surfing into Sandy Cove's beach, Halifax, an unusual activity for them. I snapped a few quick p...
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Indigo Bunting

May 01, 2018 - This Indigo Bunting was at Sandy Cove's beach, Halifax municipality. This location is a local hot spot as it entices mig...
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Great Egret

May 01, 2018 - The Great Egret is a photographer's dream, elegant and majestic. Although common in the American south it is uncommon he...
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Upland Sandpiper

May 01, 2018 - The Upland Sandpiper is a favourite bird of mine well remembered from my years living on the Canadian prairies. We often...
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Ipswich Sparrow

April 06, 2018 - The Ipswich Sparrow is an "all-Canadian bird", born and raised mostly on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. It's adapted...
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Tricoloured Heron Portraits

April 04, 2018 - My cameras images' natural ratios are 3:2 and 4:3 since this is the ratio of their sensors. The Tricoloured Heron was ph...
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Little Blue Heron

April 03, 2018 - This Little Blue Heron did not want to pose. It remained at the back of the salt marsh until it abruptly flew off. I man...
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Tricoloured Heron in the Ultimate Pose

March 30, 2018 - I obtained my best photos of the Tricoloured Heron last Wednesday evening. I went to the Sambro Head Salt Marsh at about...
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Tricoloured Heron and Great Egret

March 25, 2018 - While I was at the Sambro Head Salt Marsh this morning the Great Egret and the Tricoloured Heron decided quite obligingl...
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Tricoloured Heron

March 25, 2018 - Yesterday after photographing the Great Egret I returned to the marsh and immediately found a Tricoloured Heron. It was...
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Great Egret

March 25, 2018 - I photographed a Great Egret at Sambro Head Salt Marsh yesterday and today. This marsh has been a favorite of waders sin...
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Orange-crowned Warbler

March 23, 2018 - An Orange-crowned Warbler is no big deal in Florida's winter but it sure is here in Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia. This d...
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Merlin

March 20, 2018 - Merlin's have always been a challenge for me to photograph. They will perch for long periods scanning for prey but are s...
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Iceland Gull

March 20, 2018 - I encountered this Iceland Gull while searching for another bird. It was at Fisherman's Cove in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia....
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An Over-wintering Orange-crowned Warbler In Portuguese Cove

March 19, 2018 - Laura and I are enjoying the company of an over-wintering Orange-crowned Warbler. I don't feed it crickets, at least not...
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A Man and a Yellow-throated Warbler

March 19, 2018 - I visited Petite Riviere early in February to see and photograph an over-wintering Yellow-throated Warbler. This warbler...
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Bald Eagles

February 05, 2018 - Bald Eagles are a common site in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, in January and February since most of the chicken ra...
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Wood Duck Known as Sanford

January 01, 2018 - The Wood Duck which we have named Sanford after the park he frequents summer and winter, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, Halif...
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Great Egret

January 01, 2018 - This Great Egret was fishing for eels successfully on the north shore of Cole Harbour just after Christmas and before th...
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Moving Water

December 16, 2017 - The camera can often capture what the naked eye cannot. These moving water photos are an example of patterns and colours...
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Late Migrating Birds

December 02, 2017 - Every year there are late migrating passerines(perching birds). I photographed Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Comm...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron and Crab

December 01, 2017 - I watched this Yellow-crowned Night Heron as it fed. It's bill of fare consists of minnows, eels, shrimp and its mainsta...
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Snowy Egret

November 26, 2017 - The Snowy Egret visited the Sambro Bog and perhaps stayed too long for its own good. I wish it well on its journey. I wa...
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron

September 22, 2017 - I found my second Yellow-crowned Night Heron of the year. This is my third one between Ketch Harbour and Indian Harbour...
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Ruddy Turnstone

August 25, 2017 - There were several Ruddy Turnstones in breeding plumage and juvenile Spotted Sandpipers at Duncan Reef. The best time to...
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Peeps of Evangeline Beach

August 24, 2017 - I made a quick visit to Evangeline Beach, Nova Scotia, an annual pilgrimage to photograph the flocks of peeps; mostly Se...
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Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

August 19, 2017 - Yellow-crowned Night-Heron The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is a hard to find but annual regular to Nova Scotia. This one...
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Solitary Sandpipers

August 16, 2017 - I found two Solitary Sandpipers this morning. One was tame as they usually are and the other one was skittish. This unco...
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Blackpoll Warbler, Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron

June 23, 2017 - I had planned to search for the Blackpoll Warbler two days ago but the squalls kept me off the coastal boreal forest. No...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure

June 21, 2017 - I visited Cape Chignecto Provincial Park last week, an annual pilgrimage for me. My target species were Mourning Warbler...
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Chezzetcook Salt Marsh

June 21, 2017 - The Chezzetcook Salt Marsh is one of the largest accessible salt marshes in the Halifax area and always surprises me wit...
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Nelson's Sparrow

June 21, 2017 - I usually photograph the Nelson's Sparrow at Rainbow Haven Provincial Park but do to the squalls yesterday I opted for t...
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Black-bellied Whistling Duck

June 21, 2017 - I left early yesterday morning to see and photograph the Black-bellied Whistling Duck in Musquodoboit Harbour. It's a ve...
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Warbler Walk, June 4, Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

June 21, 2017 - I led my annual warbler walk at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park on June 4. The sky threatened but never rained on us. We...
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Old Annapolis Road Trail

June 01, 2017 - The Old Annapolis Road Trail is one of my favourite places near Halifax. It's great for a leisurely nature hike or for n...
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Pine Warbler

May 21, 2017 - Pine Warbler Laura and I found a Pine Warbler for the sixth year in a row in the same location. This small breeding col...
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Canadian Warblers are Returning

May 18, 2017 - I spent about two hours along Sandy Cove Road this morning and enjoyed a nice arrival of warblers, perhaps a week early,...
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Sandhill Crane

May 11, 2017 - I found this Sandhill Crane alongside Route 224 on the way to Shubenacadie. It was clustered with a dozen Canada Geese....
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Canada Jay

May 09, 2017 - I encountered a pair of Canada Jays along Sandy Cove Road. They haven't molted yet so their plumage is a little rough. T...
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Summer Tanager

April 30, 2017 - Laura alerted me to a new bird approaching our kitchen window feeder. I blurted Western Tanager but Laura kept me out of...
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Eastern Phoebe and Friends at Sandy Cove

April 28, 2017 - I returned to Sandy Cove for a second look. As before I sat on a rock with a thermos of java brew and waited for the bir...
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Harlequin Ducks and Others

April 27, 2017 - I visited Duncan's Cove and found 10 Harlequin Ducks just briefly as 8 immediately flew off. The surf was high and the r...
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Prothonotary Warbler and Many Other Birds

April 24, 2017 - I had a good morning of photography in mild temperatures and bright sunshine until the fog began to roll in late morning...
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Audio Recording of Cardinal Singing Predawn

April 19, 2017 - My young male Cardinal is singing hard for a mate. I recorded it predawn this morning and scanned my camera around a bit...
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Cardinal Singing in the Morning and Brown Thrasher

April 14, 2017 - The Northern Cardinal was singing brightly this morning on our power line. It was backlit which compromises the photo bu...
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Prothonotary Warbler

April 10, 2017 - The Prothonotary Warbler is a an annual regular to Nova Scotia and is locally rare. In Canada it breeds along a narrow s...
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Winter of the Finch

March 31, 2017 - The lousy weather continues in Nova Scotia with more snow and wind. All the birds know it's spring though since they are...
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Northern Cardinal

March 14, 2017 - Our juvenile Northern Cardinal arrived in the summer and was soon joined by a juvenile female. These birds are a big dea...
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Pink-footed Goose and Red-throated Loon

February 19, 2017 - Laura and I enjoyed this 7 degree day by looking for the reported Pink-footed Goose and Sandhill Crane. We found the Pin...
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Warbler Walk June 4, 2017 and February, 2017, Edition of The Bridge

February 16, 2017 - My annual warbler walk will be held as usual on the first Sunday morning of June, this year at 7AM, June 4, 2017, at Jer...
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Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle

January 22, 2017 - I took a quick tour around Canning and Sheffield Mills, Nova Scotia, searching for raptors. My best photographs although...
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Red-headed Woodpecker

January 17, 2017 - I went to Bass River, Nova Scotia yesterday to find and photograph the juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker. If this handsome...
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Carolina Wren

December 26, 2016 - The Carolina Wren is an infrequent visitor to Nova Scotia. I photographed this one in Queens County in 2010. I never loa...
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Northern Cardinal and Vegetable Garden Raiding Buck

September 07, 2016 - Northern Cardinal and Vegetable Garden Raiding Buck In 16 years at our place in Portuguese Cove we've never had more th...
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Eastern Wood-pewee, Least Flycatcher and Swainson's Thrush

June 10, 2016 - The Eastern Wood-pewee is a species of special concern. It is declining in numbers probably due to the environment of it...
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Three Stunning Warblers

June 08, 2016 - There are many stunning warblers sometimes stunning beyond belief. Three common stunners here in Nova Scotia are America...
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Barred Owl, Nashville Warbler and Killdeer

May 30, 2016 - During our visit to Mount Uniacke Museum Estate park yesterday to see and photograph the Painted Trillium we were surpri...
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Old Annapolis Road Trail

May 26, 2016 - I did a tour of the Old Annapolis Road Trail today both to check out the safety of the trail since it is no longer maint...
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Canada Warbler Joins the Roundup

May 23, 2016 - There are at least 16 species of warbler on territory in three locations with 14 species at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Pa...
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Early Warblers at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

May 16, 2016 - I enjoyed my first albeit brief warbler hunt at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park this morning. There were rain squalls and...
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Great Egret

May 01, 2016 - Yesterday I took advantage of available time and decent weather to rush out to Brookfield Marsh to photograph the Great...
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Pine Warblers

April 29, 2016 - The Pine Warbler is a new nesting warbler in Nova Scotia. This is the fifth consecutive year(or longer) that Pine Warble...
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Cedar Waxwings

April 28, 2016 - The most elegant bird in Canada is the Bohemian Waxwing. When I say elegant I mean, "Audrey Hepburn" elegant. The Cedar...
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Glossy Ibis and Little Blue Heron

April 27, 2016 - I took my longest trip of the year yesterday with a 7AM departure from Portuguese Cove to Little Dover. I took the highw...
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Overwintering and Migrant Birds at Portuguese Cove

April 19, 2016 - This is a compendium of some of our over-wintering and early migrating birds from the last week at Portuguese Cove. It'...
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Ipswich Sparrow

April 04, 2016 - Other priorities prevented me from arriving at Crystal Crescent Beach early this morning to find and photograph the Loui...
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White-winged Crossbill, Goldfinch and Tree Sparrow

April 01, 2016 - The White-winged Crossbill continues to be a daily regular at our place in Portuguese Cove(up to and including April 4)...
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White-winged Crossbill Continues to Visit

March 29, 2016 - The White-winged Crossbill continues to be a regular at our feeder in Portuguese Cove. All photos except two are taken t...
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Ring-necked Ducks

March 28, 2016 - Laura and I enjoyed a walk-around of the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, yesterday. Sanford, the Wood Duck, was now...
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White-winged Crossbill

March 27, 2016 - A first winter male White-winged Crossbill paid us a quick visit today. It came in with a bunch of Bohemian Waxwings tha...
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Fox Sparrow and Tree Sparrow

March 23, 2016 - I photographed two of my favourite sparrows yesterday, both through two layers of window glass. Any attempt at opening a...
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Grey Catbird and Friends

February 13, 2016 - A Grey Catbird arrived yesterday and was working the multiflora tangles for berries in the front and back yard. I manage...
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February 2016 Edition of The Bridge

February 09, 2016 - Here is the February, 2016, edition of The Bridge. This newsletter highlights the good work of the Five Bridges Wilderne...
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Saving our Chat

January 21, 2016 - Our Yellow-breasted Chat remains alert, active and eats vigorously several times per day. It remains alive only because...
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Sanford and Son, Wood Ducks

January 10, 2016 - Laura and I met the Wood Ducks today, Sanford and Son, at The Dingle, Sir Sanford Fleming Park. I can no longer distingu...
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Yellow-breasted Chat in 2016

January 03, 2016 - Our Yellow-breasted Chat remains healthy and alert. It feeds several times a day and there is no doubt now that it will...
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Yellow-breasted Chat in its First Snowfall

December 27, 2015 - Our Yellow-breasted Chat took its first snowfall in stride. The bird is active, alert, stealthy and beautiful. No distan...
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Christmas Day Yellow-breasted Chat, December 25, 2015

December 26, 2015 - Our Yellow-breasted Chat was on station all of Christmas Day, eating multflora berries, grapes and yes even a chunk of s...
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Yellow-breasted Chat

December 22, 2015 - The Yellow-breasted Chat that arrived yesterday at our place in Portuguese Cove to celebrate the winter solstice with us...
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Winter Solstice Sunrise Behind Duncan Reef December 21, 2015

December 21, 2015 - I went to Duncan Reef during the darkness of the predawn morning to photograph the winter solstice sunrise at Duncan Ree...
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Sandhill Cranes

December 17, 2015 - I found the Sandhill Cranes in Milford this morning. These are probably the same birds I first photographed August 24, 2...
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Mountain Bluebirds

December 11, 2015 - I left Portuguese Cove at 6:30AM, December 10, for the drive to Cape Sable Island on the first leg of my Mountain Bluebi...
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Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

December 08, 2015 - On the morning of December 7 on my hike to Duncan Reef I first heard and then saw and photographed a Blue-grey Gnatcatch...
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White-winged Dove

December 03, 2015 - Our White-winged Dove was back again today and offered some photographic opportunities despite the rain and gloom. I pho...
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White-winged Dove and Tree Sparrows(Winter Sparrows)

December 02, 2015 - Migration is four to six weeks late this year. Finally, on December 1, we had our first Tree Sparrows arrive at our plac...
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Sharp-shinned Hawk

November 23, 2015 - The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a regular visitor to our place in Portuguese Cove especially in the winter. These beautiful bi...
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Purple Finches and Multiflora Berries

November 15, 2015 - It's been a quiet start leading up to winter photography. Gloomy days and high winds have discouraged walkabouts. The Tr...
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Snow Buntings and Gale at Duncan Reef

October 31, 2015 - Yesterday there was a gale at Duncan Reef. The sea was alive and so were the Snow Buntings. I sat at my usual spot snugg...
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Sanford the Wood Duck

October 21, 2015 - The famous Spryfield Wood Duck is back! Laura Elliott and I encountered the bird yesterday evening during a walk around...
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Barbara Hinds

October 20, 2015 - I found out recently about the passing of Barbara Hinds. We lost touch in recent years but I remember her well for grace...
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Snow Buntings and Ipswich Sparrow

October 19, 2015 - Laura Elliott and I visited Duncan Reef this afternoon and found three Snow Buntings and one Ipswich Sparrow. There was...
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Ipswich Sparrow

October 14, 2015 - This was my first trip to Duncan Reef in two weeks thanks to a virus and lousy weather. The wind was howling from the so...
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Baltimore Oriole and Indigo Bunting

October 14, 2015 - Visits by two recent migrants were pixel captured at our place in Portuguese Cove. I've given up trying to lower the win...
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Crested Caracara

October 14, 2015 - Laura and I were out the door, October 14, at 6:30AM and on our way to visit the Crested Caracara at Gaspereau, Nova Sco...
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Little Blue Heron, Brookfield Marsh

October 06, 2015 - The highlight of my October 5 trip was finding the juvenile Little Blue Heron at Brookfield Marsh. The level line of sig...
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Wilson's Snipe

October 02, 2015 - Laura and I visited Brookfield Marsh September 30, just ahead of the deluge. We immediately spotted a juvenile Little Bl...
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Little Blue Heron, Canning

October 01, 2015 - Laura and I found the juvenile Little Blue Heron September 29 in Canning, Nova Scotia. It never came close so my cropped...
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Late Summer Birds of Duncan Reef

September 25, 2015 - This compendium of some of the late summer birds of Duncan Reef includes the period between the last week of August to t...
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Sandhill Cranes

August 31, 2015 - Laura and I visited the Sandhill Cranes south of Shubenacadie August 24. We found four Sandhill Cranes within a ten minu...
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Baird's Sandpiper

August 28, 2015 - Here are some Baird's Sandpiper photographs from August 25. I checked Duncan Reef this morning but there was no joy. Th...
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Evangeline Beach Shorebirds

August 23, 2015 - I made two trips to Evangeline Beach this year in search of peeps; Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, White-...
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Birds of Duncan Reef

August 23, 2015 - About the middle of August shorebirds begin to migrate through the Duncan Reef area. The reef is the only hospitable pie...
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Cape Sable Journal

August 19, 2015 - I joined the stampede to Cape Sable on August 15, Cape Sable Day, the annual fundraising gala for the Cape Sable Light....
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Smiley's Provincial Park

August 12, 2015 - Laura and I visited Smiley's Provincial Park twice in early August on the hunt for a rare orchid which we never did find...
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Old Growth Forest on Troop Island

July 08, 2015 - Beth McGee ferried me over to Troop('s) Island on Monday July 6. I didn't do a tour of the island or look for specific s...
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Pine Warbler and Least Sandpiper

May 23, 2015 - Laura and I visited Oakfield Provincial Park on May 16 to search for the Pine Warblers. This park was our first stop on...
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Canada Warbler at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

May 23, 2015 - I have found the Canada Warbler at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park on territory in two locations, so far. I expect more C...
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The Ibis of Seaside Provincial Park

May 06, 2015 - Laura and I made the trip to Waterside Beach Provincial Park on Monday May 4, Nova Scotia, to see the White-faced Ibis(1...
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The Killer Winter

April 24, 2015 - The winter of 2015 was the worst in our experience and the worst for most folks in Nova Scotia. White Juan, a major stor...
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Fieldfare in Apple River, Nova Scotia

March 01, 2015 - I visited the Fieldfare in Apple River, Nova Scotia, February 27, for the second time. This was a day trip with a 6AM de...
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Eurasian Kestrel, Eurasian Wigeon and Others

February 22, 2015 - This sunny morning motivated me to tour around Halifax. My stops were Hartlen Point, The Dingle, Purcell's Cove, Ketch H...
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Fieldfare in Apple River, Nova Scotia

February 13, 2015 - I pondered a trip to Apple River, Nova Scotia, for days to see and photograph the Fieldfare but the weather has been dre...
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Raptors Aplenty

January 24, 2015 - Yesterday, January 23, was predicted to be the last good day of decent weather for a while so I decided to try and searc...
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Gathering of Bald Eagles

January 21, 2015 - I took a reconnaissance trip to Sheffield Mills, January 20, to view the assembling eagles. It was bitterly cold thanks...
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Wood Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, American Coot and Others

January 13, 2015 - The Wood Duck relocated from the Frog Pond to the Dingle when the Frog Pond froze over. The south end of the North-west...
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Eurasian Kestrel

January 02, 2015 - The Eurasian Kestrel was first found, photographed and reported by Kyle Shale on December 26, 2014 at Hartlen Point alth...
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Wood Duck and Pied-billed Grebe

November 17, 2014 - Laura and I went for a walk around the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, Halifax, on Sunday November 16. Our target s...
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Cattle Egret

November 05, 2014 - I was on a prowl for a reported Snowy Egret that had moved somewhere from Duncan's Cove the day before. The ditches alon...
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo

October 10, 2014 - I encountered the Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Duncan Cove, Halifax Regional Municipality, on October 9, 2014. This elegant b...
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Brier Island Journal

September 24, 2014 - Laura and I visited Brier Island Sept 5-7, with a stop at Annapolis Royal Marsh on route. The weather was moderately coo...
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Lots of Peeps at Evangeline Beach

August 19, 2014 - I made my last trip to Evangeline Beach August 6 and it was a good one. I saw the largest flocks of peeps I've ever seen...
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Troop Island Journal, August 2, 2014

August 11, 2014 - I visited Troop Island for the second time this year on August 2. The weather was iffy with showers the day before and t...
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Shorebirds of Evangeline Beach

July 28, 2014 - Laura and I enjoyed our first visit of the year yesterday to Evangeline Beach, in search of shorebirds. We arrived at ab...
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Laughing Gulls at Sandy Cove's Beach, Halifax

July 17, 2014 - Four Laughing Gulls spent about a week at Sandy Cove's Beach. I checked on them daily and managed a few decent photos. S...
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Recent Birds

July 17, 2014 - I went to Meisner's Point again, for the last time this year, to search for the suddenly elusive Blackpoll Warbler. Once...
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Cliff Swallows Playing in the Mud

July 17, 2014 - After a visit to Dollar Lake Provincial Park, June 29, I went along Wyse Road since this road is often productive for wi...
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The Warblers of Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

July 09, 2014 - About ten years ago I published a guide to the warblers of Lewis Lake Provincial Park, now renamed Jerry Lawrence Provin...
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Sambro Island Journal 2014

June 27, 2014 - Three of us, Ray Staszko, Keith Lowe and I, visited Sambro Island last Monday. I gave my companions just 24 hours notice...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park

June 21, 2014 - I took a 24 hour trip to Cape Chignecto Provincial Park on Thursday and Friday. I left Thursday afternoon and after chec...
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Troop Island Journal

June 18, 2014 - Yesterday Laura and I were delighted to enjoy an outing to Troop Island, off Seabright, in St. Margaret's Bay with Beth...
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A Visit to Rainbow Haven Provincial Park

June 14, 2014 - I visited Meisner's Point yesterday in the hopes of photographing a Blackpoll Warbler but the weather did not cooperate...
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A Visit to Brookfield Marsh

June 14, 2014 - On my way to Truro I stopped for a short tour of Brookfield Marsh. It was too early for wildflower activity but I did en...
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Wildflower Walk Around the Frog Pond

June 14, 2014 - Laura and I took a wildflower walk around the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, on Sunday primarily for the Pink Lady...
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Black Swallowtail

June 11, 2014 - Laura and I were enjoying our picnic lunch behind the Greenwings Legacy Interpretative Centre last Sunday when a butterf...
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Old Annapolis Road Trail

June 04, 2014 - I was pleased to hear from reliable sources that there may be changes in the works to curb the ATV activity in the old B...
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Flycatchers and Warblers

May 30, 2014 - I visited three places in recent days, Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park, Dollar Lake Provincial Park and Meisners Head, Ea...
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Bay-breasted Warbler and Swainson's Thrush

May 26, 2014 - I took a drive on May 24 up to The Old Annapolis Road Trail system with Bay-breasted Warbler and Swainson's Thrush as my...
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Pine Warbler and Least Flycatchers

May 17, 2014 - There are at least two generations of Pine Warblers that may have bred at their breeding site. Two years ago Fulton Lave...
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The Warblers of Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park

May 16, 2014 - I visited Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park for the first time this year. The gates which were supposed to be open at 8AM w...
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Say's Phoebe at Sandy Cove's Beach

May 12, 2014 - On May 13 Richard Hatch phoned my house, Laura answered, at 8:45AM about a Say's Phoebe at Sandy Cove's Beach. I of cour...
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Master of Light and Dark

May 05, 2014 - · Hans Toom: Master of light and dark By Beverly Clarkson, Chebucto News May 2014 If you happen to be a senior who is l...
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Harlequin Ducks at Duck Reef

April 30, 2014 - I walked the reef loop this morning starting from Duncan's Cove then along the high ridge to the WW2 bunker and then dow...
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Snowy Owl at Hartlen Point

April 30, 2014 - I made another tour of the eastern shore yesterday from Hartlen Point to Grand Desert and the Dyke Road. Everything star...
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Great Egret and Snowy Egret

April 27, 2014 - I visited Conrad's Beach yesterday morning at 8:30AM. After parking my car a quick scan revealed a Great Egret in the no...
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Birds of the Eastern Shore

April 23, 2014 - I took a trip along the eastern shore between Martinique Beach and Cole Harbour yesterday. My first stop at Martinique B...
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Snowy Owl and Fog

April 15, 2014 - I took a trip up the eastern shore yesterday as far as Dyke Road, East Chezzetcook, and back to Lawrencetown Marshes, Ra...
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Northern Saw-whet Owl and Other Recent Highlights

April 12, 2014 - On our evening walk along Sandy Cove Road, Halifax Regional Municipality we heard a Northern Saw-whet Owl calling agress...
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Northern Cardinal at Portuguese Cove

April 01, 2014 - Northern Cardinals are not often seen here in Portuguese Cove. Our home faces the coastal barrens and the surrounding fo...
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March 2014 Edition of the Bridge

March 22, 2014 - Please find attached a link to the March 2014 edition of The Bridge. Highlight link to open. http://www.hanstoom.com/d8...
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Snowy Owl at Hartlen Point

December 26, 2013 - It's always sad when a mass invasion of Snowy Owls happens. It usually means they are either starving on their breeding...
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The Great Bean Goose Expedition

December 09, 2013 - I awoke at 6AM in hopes of a 7AM departure to Yarmouth. The weather was awful with drizzle and fog at Portuguese Cove bu...
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