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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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The Story of Grand Pré
January 05, 2025 - I visited the farmlands of Grand Pré yesterday to inaugurate my 2025 photography season. These farmlands are below sea l...
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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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Halifax on Christmas Day
December 29, 2024 - I toured the Halifax area on Christmas day for about three hours mostly on the eastern half of the Chebucto Peninsula. I...
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Peggy's Cove After the Snow Storm
December 24, 2024 - I went out to Peggy's Cove to test out some new for me photographic equipment. One would need mountaineering gear to scr...
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December Snow In Nova Scotia
December 24, 2024 - I took a drive around the Musquodoboit River loop after our recent snow storm to check out the scenery. Like all snow ev...
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A Late Fall Gale
December 19, 2024 - This is my last series of photos from late fall gales, this time at Martinique Beach, Nova Scotia's premier open ocean b...
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November Gale
December 19, 2024 - This late November gale mostly photographed at Peggy's Cove and area was not as fearsome as I hoped. Wave height is more...
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A Second Walk Among the Woodland Fungi
December 05, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed a second walk at Smiley's Provincial Park, looking once again to see and photograph the fungi, mushr...
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A Walk Among the woodland Fungi
December 05, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed two walks in Smiley's Provincial Park in the fall. This park is easily accessible year round. The pa...
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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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A Fall Stroll at the Frog Pond
December 05, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed a late fall stroll around the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park. The fall colours have mostly fade...
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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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Brier Island Sunset
November 05, 2024 - During a recent visit to Brier Island I photographed the sunset from the south end of the island. I suspect there was so...
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Sandy Cove Sunset
November 05, 2024 - In my quest to find and photograph our comet C/2024 S1 ATLAS I've tried various locations. This one was at Sandy Cove. I...
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A Time to Rest or a Time to Fly
October 31, 2024 - When I returned for my second visit to the resting area at the guzzle at the east end of Evangeline Beach the gathering...
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The Challenge of Counting Semipalmated Sandpipers
October 31, 2024 - A challenge always worth accepting is to estimate the size of a Semipalmated Sandpiper gathering. This bunch at the guzz...
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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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Quest for Comet C/2024 S1 ATLAS Update One
October 21, 2024 - I managed a few photos from the parking lot at the Swiss Air memorial. I essentially took these photos hand held. I rest...
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Quest for Comet C/2024 S1 ATLAS
October 19, 2024 - I have tried for three nights to see comet C/2024 S1 ATLAS and have not seen it with 10X42 binoculars or naked eye which...
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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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Driving the Sambro Loop in Fall
October 13, 2024 - The Sambro Loop fall colours trip was my most successful. I particularly enjoy juxtaposition of water, clouds and colour...
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Woodland hike in Bell Park on a sunny Sunday
October 12, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed a Sunday walk at Bell Park on the route to Mount Uniacke Estate. It is a richly forested area with g...
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Wentworth Falls Trip
October 10, 2024 - I went to photograph the fall colours of the hardwood lands of Colchester County and Wentworth Falls. Unfortunately the...
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Surfer at Martinique Beach
October 10, 2024 - Catching surfers in these poses is difficult especially since the talent is not always evident. Most photos were of bobb...
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More Early Fall Colours in Nova Scotia
October 09, 2024 - This fall colours trip was primarily in Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park and points on route and nearby.
Nova Scotia Fall...
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Early Fall Colour in Nova Scotia
October 08, 2024 - This fall colours trip was along the Musquodoboit River. It was a bit early for the full show.
Musquodoboit River (low...
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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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August 17, 2024 Supermoon, Nova Scotia
September 25, 2024 - The Supermoon of August 17, 2024 was clearly visible later in the evening. When it first rose as seen at Peggy's Cove it...
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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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Late Summer Gale Along the Nova Scotia Coast Part Two
September 25, 2024 - I took the usual route for weather events along the coast; Herring Cove, Portuguese Cove, Duncan's Cove, Ketch Harbour,...
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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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Late Summer Gale Along the Nova Scotia Coast Part One
September 18, 2024 - These are photos of a late Summer Gale Along the Nova Scotia Coast. This is part one of two parts. I followed the Chebuc...
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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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Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid
August 31, 2024 - The Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid is early this year. It's Nova Scotia's latest blooming orchid showing flower heads up t...
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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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Ghost Plant
August 25, 2024 - The Ghost Plant or more commonly known as the Indian Pipe is a true plant without chlorophyll.
I find them in small clu...
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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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Helleborine Orchid
July 28, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed a morning stroll in Smiley's Provincial Park. We were looking for the Helleborine Orchid and to our...
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Halifax Harbour Traffic
July 26, 2024 - In my travels around Halifax Harbour I photograph harbour traffic both docked and moving.
Halifax Harbour Traffic
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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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Ragged Fringed Orchid
July 23, 2024 - Laura pointed out these Ragged Fringed Orchids beside the road on our evening walk. Now here's the thing. There is a tre...
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Harbour Cranes in Fog or Sunset
July 23, 2024 - ............and for something different how about our harbour cranes in fog or sunset?
Harbour Cranes in Fog or Sunset...
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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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Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 30, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed a walk in Smiley's Provincial Park yesterday. This park was flooded out during the torrential downpo...
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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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Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid Walk
June 12, 2024 - Laura and I enjoyed a walk around the Frog Pond at Sir Sanford Fleming Park. It was a pleasant day, mostly sunny and mil...
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Nelson's Sparrow and Alder Flycatcher
June 12, 2024 - I visited a coastal salt marsh looking for Nelson's Sparrow. It's easy to find thanks to its distinctive buzzy trill son...
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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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Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 03, 2024 - The Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid is a rare and endangered flower whose location once found should never be revealed for...
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Painted Trillium
June 03, 2024 - Laura and I often go to Mount Uniacke Museum Estate in the spring to visit with the Painted Trillium. Timing is importan...
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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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Ipswich Sparow, Bon Voyage
May 18, 2024 - Ipswich Sparrow, Bon Voyage, as they fly to Sable Island. This is likely the last Ipswich Sparrows I will see until the...
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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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Peggy's Cove Sunset May 13, 2024
May 14, 2024 - I went to Peggy's Cove to view the aurora borealis last night but alas there was no joy. However, the sunset was spectac...
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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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The Last of My Nova Scotia Winter 2023-2024 Photographs
May 12, 2024 - These are the last of my collection of Nova Scotia 2023-2024 winter photos. After a snowfall one has to move about quick...
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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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Nova Scotia Winter Scenes
May 02, 2024 - I started out in photography shooting film. I did my own developing and printing. Those 36 shot canisters would sometime...
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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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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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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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Multi Ocean, a Utility Ship From Norway
March 17, 2024 - This unusual, for me, utility ship, the Multi Ocean is visiting from Norway. It can be seen at Sambro Harbour.
Multi Oc...
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Oceanside Surf
March 17, 2024 - There is a stretch of shoreline from the Fisheries Research Station at the end of Sandy Cove Road to Inner Sambro Island...
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The Angry Sea
March 04, 2024 - There was yet another gale along our coast in eastern Nova Scotia last week. The trick as always is to take photos in th...
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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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Ordinary Things Seen in a Different Light
February 19, 2024 - A container ship becomes a work of art if seen from a different perspective.
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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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After a Snow Day in Nova Scotia
February 05, 2024 - I toured the Sambro loop in search of winter photos. It was a pleasant day and the light was excellent. While I type thi...
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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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HMCS Max Bernays
January 20, 2024 - There was no planning here. I was driving the Sambro Loop past Portuguese Cove when I spotted the HMCS Max Bernays headi...
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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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Broad-winged Hawk and Last Photos of 2023
January 01, 2024 - I ventured out after a light snowfall in search of memories. One of my favourite winter subjects is architecture and of...
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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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Christmas Morning at the Bedford Basin
December 30, 2023 - On Christmas Morning I snapped these photographs of haze and fog over the head of the Bedford Basin. The Bedford Basin w...
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Nova Scotia's Second December Gale
December 30, 2023 - We had another major gale, force 8, with hurricane strength gusts. Unfortunately the coastline was mostly fogged in so I...
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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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Red-shouldered Hawk
December 08, 2023 - The Red-shouldered Hawk is now a Nova Scotia nesting bird and a year round resident. This example has returned from its...
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Black-headed Grosbeak
December 05, 2023 - This rare bird almost turned into a tale of woe for me. I set up with a view of the feeder from the road expecting some...
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Nova Scotia's 2023 Premier Bird, the Grey-crowned Rosy Finch
December 02, 2023 - I first photographed the Grey-crowned Rosy Finch January 23, 2023. It is Nova Scotia's first confirmed record. I was not...
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Sanderlings and Friends
November 22, 2023 - There was a shorebird melee at Sandy Cove's Beach in Halifax. I found European Starlings (always present year round), Sa...
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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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Even More Sandhill Crane Photographs
November 22, 2023 - The Sandhill Crane family continues to linger and feed in the corn field stubble. I have photographed them in previous y...
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Upland Sandpiper
November 08, 2023 - The Upland Sandpiper is near to an annual regular, albeit in small numbers. It is still considered rare and certainly ha...
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Vermilion Flycatcher
November 06, 2023 - I visited Chebogue Point to view and photograph the Vermilion Flycatcher. The Chebogue Point dairy farm is a rich bird a...
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Merlin
November 06, 2023 - I photographed the Merlin at Cape Sable Island. It was cooperative, thank you very much. The larger cousin the Peregrine...
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American Pipit
November 06, 2023 - The American Pipit was working the corn stubble on the fields of Grand Pre. It was hard to photograph thanks to the simi...
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More Sandhill Cranes
November 06, 2023 - A visit to Milford Road showed the same five Sandhill Cranes that I photographed recently. They were further away this t...
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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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Setting Crescent Moon at Peggy's Cove
October 22, 2023 - I had hoped to photograph The Pleiades and the Orion Nebula in one frame but it required a clear north eastern horizon b...
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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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Nova Scotia's October Orchid
October 04, 2023 - Nova Scotia's October orchid is the Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid. It was widespread up to about two weeks ago but they a...
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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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Queen Mary 2 and Norwegian Pearl
October 02, 2023 - I had planned on photographing the Queen Mary 2 on its morning arrival but the pea soup fog put an end to that plan. So...
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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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Supermoon Rise and Sunset in Smoke
September 30, 2023 - I had hoped to photograph Saturn and the Harvest Supermoon but alas stars were not visible through the smoke of the nort...
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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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Eclectic Mix of Recent Photographs
September 23, 2023 - I'd hoped to photograph three cruise ships departing at my favourite look-off at Chebucto Head but alas the clouds and d...
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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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Monarch Butterfly and Meadowhawk Dragonfly
September 19, 2023 - I'm not your "go to" guy for dragonfly identification. Indeed even the experts have to net them for closer inspection, a...
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Shoreline Tour after Post Tropical Storm Lee
September 19, 2023 - After Post Tropical Storm Lee passed I took a tour of the coastline from Tantallon to Peggy's Cove thence to Sambro Harb...
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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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Canadian Navy Fleet Week 2023
September 12, 2023 - Halifax International Fleet Week Sep 07 2023 - Sep 10 2023
Visit Website
https://www.hfxfleetweek.ca/
About the Eve...
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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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Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid
September 06, 2023 - The Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid is our latest orchid and flowers up to and sometimes past the first hard frost. The nam...
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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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Videos of Shorebirds and Surf at Martinique Beach
September 06, 2023 - I'm new at video so my work will be a little rough for a time. These videos are from my recent visit to Martinique Beach...
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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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Surf and Sunset at Peggy's Cove
September 05, 2023 - Peggy's Cove is a great location for astrophotography, capturing the angry sea and sunsets, often on the same late day o...
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Super Blue Moon August 31, 2023
September 02, 2023 - The Super Blue Moon occurred on August 30 and August 31. It was slightly larger and more brightly illuminated on August...
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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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Monarch Butterfly and Red Darner Dragonfly
August 30, 2023 - The Monarch Butterfly has been hard to find this year although there are often larger numbers moving south in September.
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A Test series of Handheld High Resolution Photos
August 30, 2023 - The Lumix GH6 is an amazing camera. It has a stunning 7-1/2 stops of image stabilization. This is what makes shooting hi...
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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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Wildflower Display
August 20, 2023 - Native wildflowers and imported escapees flowers of Nova Scotia. I always seem to neglect photographing the leaves which...
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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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Yellow Finger Coral Mushroom and Other Woodland Oddities
August 13, 2023 - Laura and I took a stroll through Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park primarily on our annual quest for the Yellow Finger Cor...
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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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Coastal Drive Around the Sambro Loop
August 10, 2023 - I enjoyed a coastal drive around the Sambro Loop from Spryfield to Ferguson's Cove, Herring Cove, Ketch Harbour, Sandy C...
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Supermoon August 1, 2023
August 02, 2023 - Laura and I went to Peggy's Cove to photograph the supermoon rising. As usual the horizon was obscured by a cloud bank s...
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My Newfoundland Trip Part One
July 11, 2023 - This is another sad story of my attempt at getting all the great scenes and critters of Newfoundland on film. Alas Newfo...
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Fortress of Louisbourg Part Two
June 22, 2023 - The interior photos are fascinating as they show how the governor lived and the soldiers lived. I hope the federal gover...
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Fortress of Louisbourg, Part One
June 20, 2023 - I usually catch the 11:15 PM ferry to Newfoundland allowing for a short restfull snooze during the crossing which is esp...
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Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 18, 2023 - I visited the gysum lands between rain storms to photograph the Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid. It's late this year but st...
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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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Painted Trillium
June 07, 2023 - Timing is of the essence when searching for the Painted Trillium. Laura and I found the Painted Trillium in its usual lo...
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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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Mill Falls – Kejimkujik National Park
May 25, 2023 - I went to Kejimkujik National Park yesterday but alas the cool weather has everything behind schedule at least one to tw...
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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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Pink Mayflowers
April 23, 2023 - Most Mayflowers have a tinge of pink around the edge but finding Mayflowers that are all or almost all pink is harder. T...
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Horsetail, Mayflower and Red Soldier Lichen
April 20, 2023 - Our evening walks are becoming more interesting as flora and fauna begin to appear. The Horsetail is just beginning to c...
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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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Mayflower and Coltsfoot, Early Spring Flowers
April 15, 2023 - Mayflower and Coltsfoot are Nova Scotia's beloved early spring flowers. The Coltsfoot has been blooming everywhere for t...
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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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Snow Day In Nova Scotia
March 04, 2023 - I took a short drive around the local area after a snowfall to photograph the scene. Although I left early the spring su...
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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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Grey-crowned Rosy Finch
January 24, 2023 - I photographed this elegant western finch on two occasions but I failed to combine good lighting with good views but I a...
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Nieuw Statendam
January 12, 2023 - This elegant cruise ship was photographed off Chebucto Head.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Celebrity Summit
January 12, 2023 - The Celebrity Summit was photographed off Chebucto Head. It is a seasonal regular to Halifax.
From Wikipedia, the free...
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HMCS Fredericton
January 12, 2023 - This is my favourite photo of HMCS Fredericton. It has a foreboding feel to it. The towering column of cumulus clouds co...
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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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The Angry Sea
January 09, 2023 - The first photo below is my favourite of the angry sea. The high ocean swell behind the islet with the gnarled tree is n...
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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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Peggy's Cove at Night
November 12, 2022 - Whilst waiting for the Pleiades and Orion to rise in the eastern sky I took some photos of Peggy's Cove at night. I've a...
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The Pleiades
November 12, 2022 - The Pleiades an open star cluster rises in the east these days and is relatively easy to find and photograph. To the nak...
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Blood Moon
November 08, 2022 - The Blood Moon is the culmination of the total lunar eclipse of November 8, 2022.
I was lucky since a column of clouds...
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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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Eastern Bluebird
November 01, 2022 - I went to Brier Island for a couple of days. On my first day, last Friday, I spotted a dozen Eastern Bluebirds on wires...
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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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Brier Island Scenes
October 19, 2022 - Brier Island is hot and cold, usually cold, for birds but the scenery is always a treat. If you visit and the sea is cal...
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Brier Island Sunset
October 19, 2022 - On a recent trip to Brier Island I photographed the sunset. The spokes are always a bonus if you can get them.
Brier Is...
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Night Sky Above Rees Lake
October 19, 2022 - Rees Lake accessed from the the Old Annapolis Trail is a challenge for my 4X4. Don't try it with your family RAV or any...
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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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Fiona
October 18, 2022 - Hurricane Fiona was a near miss for us unlike the unfortunate folks on the north shore of Nova Scotia. I took a drive ar...
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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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Monarch Butterfly
October 07, 2022 - The best time to see the Monarch Butterfly is late September to early October. Look for it on the coastal barrens often...
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East Chezzetcook Sunset
October 07, 2022 - Whilst waiting for full dark and the clouds to unobscure Jupiter I turned my attention to the sunset at East Chezzetcook...
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Yellow Lady's Tresses's Orchid
October 07, 2022 - The Yellow Lady's Tresses's Orchid is our latest flowering orchid flowering up to the first hard frost. Look for the sma...
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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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Humpback Whales
September 12, 2022 - Despite many trips to Brier Island this was my first whale viewing excursion. I arrived in good time at 11:30AM but it w...
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Annapolis Royal Gardens
September 03, 2022 - After my visit to Kejimkujik National Park I stopped at Annapolis Royal Gardens at about noon. This is Nova Scotia's pre...
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Our Milky Way
August 24, 2022 - While at Kejimkujik National Park I'd hoped for photographs of the Pleiades Cluster and the Andromeda Nebula, but the fo...
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Living Water, Kejimkujik National Park
August 23, 2022 - I visited Kejimkujik National Park primarily for the living waters of the Mersey River, butterflies and the night sky. T...
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Kejimkujik Lake Sunset, Kejimkujik National Park
August 22, 2022 - I came to the beach on Kejimkujik Lake to photograph the night sky and the sunset. The sunset though modest in presentat...
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Woodland Stroll Along the Mersey River, Kejimkujik National Park
August 20, 2022 - I enjoyed a woodland stroll along the Mersey River in Kejimkujik National Park. A highlight along the way was what looks...
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Woodland Plants, Caterpillers and Sunsets
August 18, 2022 - Laura and I enjoyed a mid day walk through the deeply shaded woods of Smiley's Provincial Park on a very hot day. Most b...
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Woodland Orchids and Wildflowers
August 03, 2022 - Laura and I went on the hunt for Helleborine Orchid and Coralroot Orchid. We had no luck with the latter but the Hellebo...
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Sundew and Monarch Butterfly
August 01, 2022 - Laura and I took a hike along the coastal barrens in search of orchids and other good things. We found a few Monarch But...
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Adventure of the Seas
August 01, 2022 - During our hike along the coastal barrens between Shoal Point and Chebucto Head I photographed the Adventure of the Seas...
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Peggy's Cove Sunset
August 01, 2022 - From time to time I visit Peggy's Cove for the sunset. Often there is fog or dense cloud that prohibits a nice presentat...
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Canada Lily in Rain
July 22, 2022 - I returned to my Canada Lily colony just after a rain storm in order to capture this elegant flower without shadows and...
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12 Spotted Skimmer
July 22, 2022 - Dragonflies and butterflies are getting harder to find thanks to the reckless use of insecticides and herbicides by farm...
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Canada Lily
July 22, 2022 - The Canada Lily is an elegant native wildflower which is hard to find but worth the effort. Abuse of this plant is evide...
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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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Upper Burnside Falls
July 17, 2022 - I hadn't visited Upper Burnside Falls for several years, say ten or so. My body paid the price hiking up the steep stair...
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Queen Mary 2
July 12, 2022 - The Queen Mary 2 is unique among ocean going vessels since it is the only ocean liner in the world. It is capable of yea...
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Aura of the Ocean
July 12, 2022 - The Atlantic Ocean off Chebucto Head was magical on this evening. The surface fog was just a few metres above the ocean...
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Grass Pink and Fringed White Orchids
July 06, 2022 - Laura and I tried for orchids and had some luck. These orchids require wading in bogs so rubber boots are a requirement.
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Showy Lady's Slipper Expedition
July 06, 2022 - Laura and I enjoyed our Showy Lady's Slipper expedition although the Canada Lily is still not in bloom. We returned via...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
June 30, 2022 - I visit Chignecto Provincial Park annually in my continuing and failed quest to find and photograph the Cape May Warbler...
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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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Halifax Waterfront Stroll
June 27, 2022 - Laura and I enjoyed a stroll along the Halifax waterfront in fair weather, ideal walkabout conditions.
We haven't been...
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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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Fortress of Louisbourg
June 20, 2022 - I visited the Fortress of Louisbourg on my way to catch the ferry to Newfoundland. Unfortunately the buildings were clos...
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Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 19, 2022 - Laura and I visited the Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid and although it was late in the season a few were still in good sha...
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Seven Seas Navigator
June 18, 2022 - Laura and I enjoyed an evening on the rocks near Chebucto Head awaiting the departure of the Seven Seas Navigator, a mor...
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Oasis of the Seas
June 13, 2022 - The Oasis of the Seas is reported as the largest cruise ship to visit Halifax. I stationed myself halfway between Shoal...
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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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Ice Storm of 2022
February 14, 2022 - I've posted some photographic memories of our ice storm of 2022. Some photos were taken while overcast the day the storm...
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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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My Photographic Equipment
December 08, 2021 - This is my current inventory of photography equipment. Not shown here is my carbon fibre tripod and carbon fibre gimbal...
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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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Rainbow at Albro Lake
November 30, 2021 - I photographed this spectacular rainbow at Albro Lake in the rain. The first three shots were salvageable but then the r...
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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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Blustery Day at Peggy's Cove
November 16, 2021 - A blustery day at Peggy's Cove is always worth a visit. Winter scenes are even more spectacular but watch your step and...
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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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Liverpool Sunrise
November 04, 2021 - On my recent Liverpool expedition in search of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher I made an early start from Halifax. I hoped...
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Fall Colours in the Hardwood Forest
October 27, 2021 - Thanks to the dismal weather predictions of today and most of tomorrow I decided to take one last go at fall colours yes...
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Fall Colours in the Neighbourhood
October 24, 2021 - I took a quick two hour drive around the neigbourhood to see our local fall colours. A drive to the hardwood lands would...
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Schooner Katie Belle
October 23, 2021 - Wooden ships whether power or sail driven are always a labour of love. They require constant maintenance because if the...
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A Fall Morning Along the Musquodoboit River
October 21, 2021 - My morning trek along the Musquodoboit River started with fog and mist and ended with solid overcast skies but with plen...
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A Good Day for Clouds
October 19, 2021 - I went out in search of fall colours yesterday on the coastal barrens. Unfortunately it is a week or two too early for t...
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Fall Colours and Reflections 2021
October 17, 2021 - I took a short drive to a few of my local favourite locations known for striking fall colours and I wasn't disappointed.
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Nuttall Brook Falls
October 16, 2021 - I enjoyed a morning hike to Nuttall Brook Falls in beautiful fall weather. These falls are magical and well hidden in th...
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A Morning Stroll on the Prospect Barrens
October 13, 2021 - I enjoyed a stroll on the prospect barrens in gorgeous weather, bright sunshine and light winds. Birds were scarce excep...
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Wentworth Falls
October 10, 2021 - Wentworth Falls commonly referred to as our bridal falls is a treat to photograph year round high water or low. Bring yo...
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Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid
October 10, 2021 - The Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid is our latest orchid blooming to the frost. Look for the yellow tongue inside the flowe...
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Coastal Barrens in Good Light and Bad
October 10, 2021 - The coastal barrens of Nova Scotia are a treat year round with the surf, rocky cliffs and differing conditions of light.
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Cutlass Fury 2021
October 06, 2021 - NATO exercise Cutlass Fury brought together ships from several allied navies to participate in antisubmarine exercises o...
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Butcher's Falls
September 16, 2021 - Laura and I visited Butcher's Falls after several years. Caution is in order since the access road has washed removing a...
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CCGS Hare Bay
September 14, 2021 - I photographed CCGS Hare Bay off Chebucto Head at full power plowing through the swells.
Length (m): 19
Breadth (m):...
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USS Forrest Sherman
September 14, 2021 - The Arleigh Burke class of destroyers are the backbone of the United States navy's fleet defence. The USS Forrest Sherma...
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York Redoubt
September 09, 2021 - Halifax and Halifax Harbour has been heavily defended from naval attack for hundreds of years. Many of the bunkers and g...
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A Rainy Day on the Chebucto Peninsula
September 09, 2021 - I enjoyed a short circuit of the eastern end of the Chebucto Peninsula on a cloudy and drizzly day.
Double-crested Corm...
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Clouds
September 02, 2021 - There are photographers that specialize in daylight sky and cloud photography. These photographs show why the interest e...
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Red Rock Falls
August 31, 2021 - On our evening walk at Chignecto Provincial Park we walked pass the red rocks. Normally the flow of water here is but a...
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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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Recent Photos
August 27, 2021 - These photographs are an eclectic mix of recent experiences as I visited a few of my local haunts. The lack of shorebird...
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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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Full Moon Rising
August 24, 2021 - The full moon, plus a few hours, is rising over Cape d'Or as seen from the beach halfway to Cape Chignecto. These photog...
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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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Eastern Bluebird Series 1
August 24, 2021 - I was fortunate to be able to watch a pair of Eastern Bluebirds raise their family at Chignecto Provincial Park.
I neve...
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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 31, July 29
July 29, 2021 - This is the last blog post of this adventure.
We hiked down to Anderson's Beach in the best weather of our trip; modera...
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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 27, July 25
July 26, 2021 - Laura and I hiked the Eatonville Trail as far as we dared. It was rough, steep and with sections of high grass which nec...
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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 25, July 23
July 25, 2021 - There was sunshine in the morning which gave us an opportunity to visit the Cape d'Or Light. The hike down to the light...
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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 Adventure Day 17, July 15
July 16, 2021 - ...and what a night it was! 32mm of rain fell in about 4-6 hours with almost continuous lightning and thunder. We haven'...
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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 6, July 4
July 05, 2021 - It was the worst day yet with steady rain and wind. Ugh! What does one do on such a day? Exploring is an option and I ch...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 5, July 3
July 04, 2021 - The weather continues as wet, windy and gloomy but the fog has lifted somewhat so Isle Haute is now clearly visible, but...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 4, July 2
July 03, 2021 - Yes folks, it was yet another day of fog, rain and gloom. On the up side the weather is cool, a two sweater walk this ev...
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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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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 2, June 30
July 01, 2021 - I used to identify plants from the records on my own website but alas the internet service out here are so slow I cannot...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure Day 1 , June 29
July 01, 2021 - This is our first day at Advocate Harbour. The weather was mostly fog with sunny breaks.
Wildflower Display
Driftwoo...
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Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid
July 01, 2021 - I went to the West Hants limestone lands to photograph the Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid. Sadly the environmental terrori...
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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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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park Adventure
July 01, 2021 - Laura and I are re-homing. We have 37 days to wait before our new place is completed so a 37 night trip to advocate Harb...
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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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West Pennant Sunset at Long Cove Point
March 26, 2021 - Long Cove Point has spectacular views for seabirds and ocean vistas. It is sheltered water so bobbing and diving sea bir...
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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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Portuguese Cove Sunrise, Spectacular Once Again
March 01, 2021 - It was yet another spectacular sunrise at Portuguese Cove. I took these photos from my front deck at 24mm, the widest le...
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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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Herring Cove Sunrise
February 24, 2021 - I enjoyed the Sunrise at Herring Cove prior to my trip to the Annapolis Valley. The sunrises here are a recent discovery...
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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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Bald Eagles on Grand Lake
February 16, 2021 - There are usually Bald Eagles patrolling the icy surface of Grand Lake. They prey on gulls usually the young ones that r...
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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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Short-eared Owl, the Revisit
February 16, 2021 - Laura and I found Short-eared Owls once again on our second trip to the Annapolis Valley. The Short-eared Owl blends wel...
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Common Loon in Portuguese Cove
February 16, 2021 - Occasionally I visit Portuguese Cove itself a small one acre sized horseshoe shaped haven from the nearby pounding surf.
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Surf on Eastern Head
February 16, 2021 - I photographed the surf pounding on Eastern Head, Herring Cove, Nova Scotia. It's tricky to get interesting photographs...
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Spectacular Sunrise
January 30, 2021 - There was a spectacular sunrise last Thursday that lasted mere minutes as usual so I stepped out onto the porch to obtai...
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Peggy's Cove to Tantallon
January 30, 2021 - I have not visited the Peggy's Cove area in the winter but I will return more often since the scenery as usual is specta...
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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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Snowy Scenes Early One Wintry Morning
January 26, 2021 - After our recent snowfall I enjoyed a walk and tour from the Armdale Roundabout to Sir Sanford Fleming Park and points i...
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Sunrise and Snow at Herring Cove
January 24, 2021 - My hopes for a combination of fresh snowfall and a clear sunrise were realized sooner than I hoped. I planned to visit s...
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Roof Icicles on a Sunny Morning
January 24, 2021 - We were treated to back lit roof icicles this morning. This is unusual for our home since it is well insulated and has a...
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My New Birding and Wildlife Camera and Lens
January 22, 2021 - Its been a long time coming but I finally have my Sony A7R IV with Sony 200-600mm lens. I have also purchased the rather...
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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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Sunrise at Herring Cove
January 18, 2021 - I enjoyed a rare clear sky sunrise at Herring Cove although a few clouds would add to the spectacle with the reflection...
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Blustery Morning at the Coastal Barrens
January 15, 2021 - I try to get down to Duncan Reef and the nearby coastal barrens frequently mostly for the exercise although Harlequin Du...
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Cold Moon, December 27, 2020
December 31, 2020 - My targets were the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades which I could see clearly from my front deck but alas my hiking camera...
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Great Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, December 23, 2020
December 24, 2020 - With rain and cloud on tap for the next several days yesterday was my last opportunity to take photographs of the Great...
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Great Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, December 22, 2020
December 24, 2020 - After giving up on photographing the Great Conjunction from Peggy's Cove Light due to the gale force wind I looked for a...
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Our Moon of December 22, 2020
December 24, 2020 - Whilst waiting for the Great Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter I photographed our moon. Our moon makes a handy target to...
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First Photos of the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter
December 17, 2020 - I made my first effort yesterday to photograph the great Saturn-Jupiter conjunction of 2020 with the best pairing yet to...
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Deep Panuke Under Tow
December 13, 2020 - The Deep Panuke is seen under tow off Chebucto Head on its way to its offshore location. This is an extending legs platf...
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Atlantic Kestrel
December 08, 2020 - The Atlantic Kestrel was photographed off Chebucto Head this morning. The wind was gusting to 60mph so I struggled to st...
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CCGS Cadboro Bay Running at 25 Knots off Chebucto Head
December 08, 2020 - The CCGS Cadboro Bay must have been at full speed or close to it at 25 knots (probably 100% continuous duty) based on my...
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Sunrise at Herring Cove Nature Reserve and Lookoff
December 06, 2020 - I visited Herring Cove Nature Reserve at the lookoff to photograph the sunrise. It was not a great sunrise but the light...
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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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CCGS Cadboro Bay
December 06, 2020 - There is new Coast Guard Vessel parked at Sambro, the CCGS Cadboro Bay, parked beside the CCGS Sambro. It's a much large...
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Western Prospect Barren
November 15, 2020 - I hiked the western end of the Prospect Barren in excellent weather but alas there were few birds to be found. Black Duc...
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Harlequin Ducks
November 08, 2020 - The Harlequin Duck is a hard bird to photograph not because its shy but because its often found fishing in the surf. Sli...
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Blue Moon October 31, 2020
November 01, 2020 - Yesterday's blue moon was on the same day as halloween, a rare coinicidence. It certainly got our cats excited:). My pro...
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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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High Coastal Barrens
October 24, 2020 - I hiked the coastal barrens from Duncan's Cove to Duncan Reef, thence to Duck Reef and the high barrens. The fall colour...
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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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Prospect Barrens
October 23, 2020 - I try to get onto the barrens west of Prospect, Nova Scotia, a couple of times a year. The far west end is more producti...
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Bell Park, Mount Uniacke and Mushrooms, Lichens, Mosses and Fungi
October 19, 2020 - Laura and I visited Bell Park, Mount Uniacke and we met lots of Mushrooms, Lichens, Mosses and Fungi along the way. Bell...
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Fall Colours Along the Musquodoboit River
October 17, 2020 - I continued my tour yesterday by following the Musquodoboit River from Middle Stewiacke to Musquodoboit Harbour. The fal...
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Butcher's Falls After a Heavy Rain
October 17, 2020 - I continued my tour on the Brookfield Marsh, Butcher's Falls, Musquodoboit River loop by stopping at Butcher's Falls. Th...
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Early Morning Fog
October 17, 2020 - I started out yesterday morning with a clear sky and high hopes which were quickly dampened by fog as I moved inland. At...
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A Stroll Around the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park
October 13, 2020 - I took a stroll around the Frog Pond, Sir Sanford Fleming Park, yesterday. I saw a pointer in full pointing pose, pointi...
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Peggy's Cove-Lewis Lake Loop
October 11, 2020 - Laura and I enjoyed the sun and wind as we toured the clockwise route from our place to Peggy's Cove and on to Jerry Law...
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Nova Scotia in October
October 10, 2020 - I took a drive around the Sambro Loop portion of the Chebucto Peninsula. The weather continues to be gloomy with a blust...
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Fall Colours and Wentworth Falls
October 08, 2020 - My Nikon Z7 was severely damaged in a tripod crash so these photos were taken with my Lumix hiking camera, a small but c...
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Autumn Stroll In Smiley's Provincial Park
October 07, 2020 - Laura and I enjoyed a walk in partial sunshine at Smiley's Provincial Park. Most of the birds have left now but we did s...
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Little Club-spur Orchid
September 22, 2020 - The Little Club-spur Orchid is a common attraction found in wet roadside drainage ditches. It is inconspicuous except wh...
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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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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
September 22, 2020 - The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is a common woodland bird and like many woodland birds is more often heard than seen. Look...
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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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Smoky Sun, Crescent Moon and Jupiter
September 21, 2020 - First up is the crescent moon which was fairly close to setting which is not a good time to photograph it due to the dep...
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My Second Milky Way Photos
September 07, 2020 - My second attempt at photographing the Milky Way Galaxy was yesterday both at Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park and...
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My First Milky Way Photos
September 07, 2020 - I went out two nights ago to take my first astronomical photos starting as I am sure most folks do with the Milky Way Ga...
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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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Dr. Ian Mclaren
August 10, 2020 - When Laura and I first came to Nova Scotia in 2000 we went on a field trip led by Ian Mclaren to Martinique Beach Provin...
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Peggy's Cove Light at Sunset
August 09, 2020 - I made my last foray to photograph Comet Neowise and for the second time only I was not thwarted by cloud or wind but al...
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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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The Twins
August 04, 2020 - Last year a doe gave birth to one fawn which grew up over the winter and as a yearling had a pair of twin fawns of her o...
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Sunset at Peggy's Cove and Shoal Point
August 04, 2020 - I've been looking for more opportunities to photograph Comet Neowise but I have been thwarted by cloud, wind and the moo...
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Comet Neowise and the International Space Station
August 02, 2020 - These photographs are from my first encounter with Comet Neowise two weeks ago. I had hoped to catch the passing of the...
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White Fringed Orchid Expedition
July 31, 2020 - I went on my first White Fringed Orchid trip yesterday. It's still early but I did find a few blooming. I was also hopin...
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Swamp Sparrow
July 28, 2020 - The Swamp Sparrow is a denizen of marshes and wet places. It has a jaunty cinnamon coloured cap with a white centre stri...
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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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Canadian Coast Guard Ships
July 23, 2020 - This is a collection of photos of Canadian Coast Guard ships. Most were photographed from Shoal Point or from our kitche...
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Semipalmated Sandpiper
July 23, 2020 - The Semipalmated Sandpiper is our most common and widespread sandpiper in July and August. It congregates in world recor...
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Comet Neowise
July 22, 2020 - This is the story of the Great Comet Neowise expedition, a five minute drive to Shoal Point (Chebucto Head Light) from o...
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Wilson's Snipe
July 20, 2020 - The Wilson's Snipe is heard more often than seen. When disturbed it takes off with its characteristic winnowing sound ca...
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North American Mink
July 20, 2020 - The North American Mink is widespread and common but shy so it is hard to find and harder to photograph due to lack of c...
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Varied Thrush
July 20, 2020 - I was not successful in photographing this elegant thrush well. It's odd because I used good equipment but severe croppi...
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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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Rain Drops on Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid and Canada Lily
July 13, 2020 - The Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid is finished for the season but I managed a few photographs just after a shower. I also c...
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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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Peggy's Cove Sunset
July 12, 2020 - Many of my photographs drop down on the right side and I have to crop to get them level. To my amazement this even happe...
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Canada Lily
July 11, 2020 - I visited the dying embers of the Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid and then checked out the native Canada Lily. The Canada Li...
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Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 27, 2020 - I visited the home of the Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid and Ram's Head Orchid twice this spring. I had no luck with the R...
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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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Spotted Sandpiper
June 26, 2020 - The Spotted Sandpiper arrives early and leaves late. It breeds in most of Canada and the United States, a true continent...
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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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Rhodora
June 26, 2020 - Rhodora is widespread and common in Nova Scotia. The more common reddish version is found in wet roadsides and edges of...
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Fringed White Orchid
June 26, 2020 - The White Fringed White Orchid is found in wet bogs typically sphagnum. When you find this lovely orchid wear long rubbe...
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Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 26, 2020 - The Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid is endangered and only found in a few locations in Nova Scotia, locations that are all be...
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Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 26, 2020 - The Pink Lady's Slipper is widespread and common in Nova Scotia. It blooms in early June and fades by the end of June de...
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Wetlands Trail, Mount Uniacke Museum Estate
June 26, 2020 - The Wetland's Trail at Mount Uniacke Museum Estate is among my favourite trails. Unfortunately, like most of the provinc...
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Blue Flag Iris
June 26, 2020 - The Blue Flag Iris is among our most elegant wildflowers. It is common and widespread throughout the province of Nova Sc...
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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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Red Fox
June 25, 2020 - The Red Fox is native to Nova Scotia and much loved for its interesting behaviour and good looks. They are easily tamed...
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NATO Navy
June 23, 2020 - Occasionally Halifax enjoys a visit by war ships of the NATO navies. They are easy to photograph due to the city's small...
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Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid 2
June 23, 2020 - The rare and endangered Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid is our largest and latest blooming orchid not reaching its peak unti...
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Nelson's Sparrow
June 19, 2020 - The Nelson's Sparrow is a denizen of the coastal salt marshes announcing itself with a buzzing song. It's a very attract...
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Swainson's Thrush
June 19, 2020 - The Swainson's Thrush is a common woodland thrush in Nova Scotia. It is found in woodlands both at higher altitudes and...
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Baird's Sandpiper
June 18, 2020 - Like most Sandpipers the Baird's Sandpiper is usually seen on the southward migration. Like many of its kind its a tame...
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Eurasian Wigeon
June 17, 2020 - The Eurasian Wigeon is an annual regular to Nova Scotia often wintering in local ice free ponds and coastal bays. Its a...
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Chestnut-sided Warbler
June 17, 2020 - The Chestnut-sided warbler although primarily a forest edge warbler is also found in the deep forest. It is a successful...
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Cattle Egret
June 17, 2020 - The Cattle Egret is the smallest of our white egrets. Its extremely tame if you can find one although it is an annual re...
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Ruddy Turnstone
June 17, 2020 - The Ruddy Turnstone is usually seen on its southward migration often with reduced flumage highlights. It is a tame bird...
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American Redstart
June 17, 2020 - The American Redstart breeds in Canada and the United States but mostly in Canada. The adult male is a striking bird whe...
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Compendium of Tall Ships
June 11, 2020 - This is a compendium of tall ships circuiting or entering Halifax Harbour. These magnificent vessels visit every few yea...
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Red Crossbill
June 10, 2020 - The Red Crossbill behaves and looks much the same as the White-winged Crossbill except for the white wings.
Like its pa...
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White-winged Crossbill
June 10, 2020 - Both Crossbill species, the Red Crossbill and White-winged Crossbill are primarily Canadian birds and we are pleased to...
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Monarch Butterfly
June 10, 2020 - The Monarch Butterfly is a regular in Nova Scotia sometimes occurring in large numbers. I once counted over 100 in one w...
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Ram's Head Orchid
June 09, 2020 - The Ram's Head Orchid is among Nova Scotia's rarest, if not the rarest native orchid. Unfortunately this leads to predat...
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Grass Pink Orchid
June 09, 2020 - The Grass Pink Orchid is another of our backyard orchids. High rubber boots are recommended to photograph this small orc...
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Common Murre and Black-legged Kittiwake
June 09, 2020 - The Common Murre and Black-legged Kittiwake often nest side by side. Their colonies are a sight to behold and treasure....
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Sora
June 07, 2020 - The Sora is a common marsh bird in Nova Scotia. The winnowing call is haunting especially when heard late in the evening...
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Tennessee Warbler
June 07, 2020 - The Tennessee Warbler is a fan of the spruce bud worm which is a good thing. The fact that outbreaks of spruce bud worm...
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Wilson's Warbler
June 07, 2020 - The Wilson's Warbler although common and wide spread has been a hard find for me. The female or immature is easily confu...
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Snowy Plover
June 07, 2020 - The Snowy Plover is mega rare on the east coast except for the west side of Florida and some Caribbean islands. It's pri...
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Dragon's Mouth Orchid
June 06, 2020 - The Dragon's Mouth Orchid is common and wide spread in Nova Scotia bogs. It is difficult to photograph well due to the p...
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Large Purple Fringed Orchid
June 06, 2020 - The Large Purple-fringed Orchid grows alone or in large colonies often in full sun. Like most orchids the flowering peri...
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Common Murre
June 06, 2020 - The Common Murre breeds in enormous colonies in Newfoundland and southern Greenland. It visits us in Nova Scotia during...
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Black-legged Kittiwake
June 06, 2020 - The Black-legged Kittiwake is a winter bird for Nova Scotia. It breeds further north on cliff faces and heads south alon...
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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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Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
June 06, 2020 - The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is a different butterfly species from the Tiger Swallowtail. Its common and widespread in...
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Ragged Fringed Orchid
June 06, 2020 - The Ragged Fringed Orchid is a common roadside orchid popping up in disturbed ground. Unfortunately road grading kills c...
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Least Sandpiper
May 31, 2020 - The Least Sandpiper is a denizen of the coastline often foraging among the kelp and weeds captured by the rocks. The pic...
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Moving Waters
May 31, 2020 - Photography for me is like using an artist's tool such as a paint brush or a chisel. Others use photography for technica...
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Razorbill
May 30, 2020 - The Razorbill is a nifty bird and easy to identify in flight with its magnificent bill leading the way. I have seen this...
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Painted Lady Butterfly
May 30, 2020 - In my field experience the Painted Lady is our most common coloured butterfly. The sulphurs and whites are probably the...
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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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Prothonotary Warbler
May 30, 2020 - The Prothonotary Warbler is a stunning bird. I tried to photograph this warbler twenty years ago in Rondeau Provincial P...
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Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs
May 30, 2020 - The Greater Yellowlegs and the Lesser Yellowlegs are similar in appearance. Although the Greater Yellowlegs usually has...
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Least Flycatcher and Alder Flycatcher
May 29, 2020 - Our two common flycatchers are the Alder Flycatcher and the Least Flycatcher. They look similar at a glance although the...
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The Tall Pine Forest
May 28, 2020 - I visited the tall pine forest to meet and greet the annual arrival of the nesting Pine Warblers. I was not able to capt...
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Angry Sea
May 28, 2020 - Seaside photographs seldom capture the splendor and power of the ocean. The trick is to have an object that can provide...
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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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Coastal Nova Scotia
May 28, 2020 - This is a compendium of coastal Nova Scotia photographs. Lack of haze and puffy cumulus clouds are always on order but n...
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Late Winter Sunrise
May 28, 2020 - These photos of sunrises were taken at various locations. At this time of year it requires early rising. Photos are usua...
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Black-throated Blue Warbler
May 16, 2020 - The Black-throated Blue Warbler is a favourite of mine, probably due to its navy blue head and back. It sings continuous...
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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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Yellow Warbler
May 16, 2020 - The Yellow Warbler is often the most numerous species in fresh water wetlands and marshes. At some banding stations over...
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Black-throated Green Warbler
May 15, 2020 - I heard my first Black-throated Green Warbler this morning, hooray! Meanwhile our resident male Yellow-rumped Warbler co...
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Northern Parula
May 15, 2020 - The Northern Parula is easy to identify thanks to its colour patterning especially the transitional colour changes on th...
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Ovenbird
May 15, 2020 - The Ovenbird has the most powerful voice in the woods. Its numerous, widespread and loud. Add to that its good looks and...
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Common Yellowthroat
May 14, 2020 - The Common Yellowthroat is widespread and easily found due to its tameness and rambunctious song. Its a striking bird an...
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Mourning Warbler
May 14, 2020 - The Mourning Warbler is absolutely stunning in the right light. Its hard to find in its thick brush habitat. I once met...
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Bay-breasted Warbler
May 14, 2020 - The Bay-breasted Warbler can be hard to find. It prefers mature forests and sings from the canopy. Its a coveted target...
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Hermit Thrush
May 14, 2020 - The Hermit Thrush is our most common thrush and like all thrushes it has a gorgeous song. The song is especially hauntin...
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Ville de Quebec
May 14, 2020 - This is my favourite photograph of the Ville de Quebec, one of our Halifax class frigates at speed off Chebucto Head. Th...
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Glaucous Gull
May 14, 2020 - The Glaucous Gull is our largest gull with an attitude to boot. Normally we only see them in the late fall, winter, and...
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Gadwall
May 13, 2020 - The Gadwall is an uncommon summertime breeder in Nova Scotia. It can be hard to find and easy to miss except for the con...
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Nashville Warbler
May 13, 2020 - The Nashville Warbler is not from Nashville. It's a continental bird with most nesting in Canada. It arrives early and l...
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Little Blue Heron
May 12, 2020 - The Little Blue Heron is an annual regular to Nova Scotia, certainly not rare. Its an extremely attractive bird with its...
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Short-billed Dowitcher
May 12, 2020 - The bills of the Short-billed Dowitcher and Long-billed Dowitcher overlap and their plumage is almost identical so the o...
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Blackburnian Warbler
May 11, 2020 - The Blackburnian Warbler is easy to find thanks to its striking good looks and easy to remember song, a rapid high pitch...
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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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Ruby-crowned Kinglet
May 11, 2020 - The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is easy to find thanks to its bellowing and melodic song that carries for kilometres through th...
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Snowy Owl
May 11, 2020 - The Snowy Owl movements are a function of the tundra population of lemmings. Unfortunately this does not affect Nova Sco...
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Northern Shoveler
May 10, 2020 - The Northern Shoveler was one of the first ducks to return after a Manitoba winter. Laura and I would go to Oak Hammock...
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Say's Phoebe
May 10, 2020 - The Say's Phoebe has been a challenge for me. I've encountered the bird more than once and interestingly the best photog...
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Northern Saw-whet Owl
May 10, 2020 - The Northern Saw-whet Owl is our smallest owl and unless you hear it calling, usually at dusk, it can be hard to find. I...
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Musquodoboit River, Nova Scotia
May 10, 2020 - The Musquodoboit River winds slowly through the Musquodoboit valley, sometimes rushing along but always photogenic, unti...
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Ipswich Sparrow
May 09, 2020 - The Ipswich Sparrow is a wholly Canadian bird with almost the entire world wide population breeding on Sable Island off...
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Orange-crowned Warbler
May 09, 2020 - The Orange-crowned Warbler winters in North America along both coasts but will only survive our winters here in Nova Sco...
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Hairy Woodpecker
May 09, 2020 - The Hairy Woodpecker like its smaller lookalike cousin the Downy Woodpecker is common and widespread in Nova Scotia. It...
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Downy Woodpecker
May 09, 2020 - The Downy Woodpecker is our smallest woodpecker and is common and widespread in Nova Scotia. Its a reliable feeder bird...
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Laughing Gull
May 08, 2020 - The Laughing Gull is an annual regular to Nova Scotia and common during weather events that drag reluctant birds north f...
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Golden-crowned Kinglet
May 07, 2020 - The Golden-crowned Kinglet is a challenge to photograph not because its shy but because its in constant motion flitting...
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Dovekie
May 07, 2020 - The Dovekie is the smallest of our alcids, slightly larger than a American Robin. Finding one bobbing about in the surf...
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Iceland Gull
May 07, 2020 - The Iceland Gull is a winter regular in Nova Scotia found along our eastern and southern coasts often in large numbers....
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Natural Ice Sculpture
May 07, 2020 - In the gorge beside the trail to Duncan Reef is Champagne Dam. This small dam was built during the second world war to p...
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Hidden Ponds
May 07, 2020 - The Hidden Ponds are a series of pools formed by the Hidden Falls. They are reminiscent of those romantic tropical movie...
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Upper Burnside Falls
May 06, 2020 - Upper Burnside Falls are easy to find at the end of a steep(no kidding) staircase. Unfortunately if the water is high th...
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Green-winged Teal
May 06, 2020 - Our native ducks are beautiful and elegant creatures gifted to and by nature. There is no need to kill these birds for "...
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Eastern Kingbird
May 06, 2020 - The kingbirds are renowned for their tenacious attitude and especially the risks they will take in defending their famil...
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak
May 06, 2020 - The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is common in favourable habitat of mature deciduous or mixed forests and uncommon elsewhere....
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Evening Grosbeak
May 05, 2020 - If there is one bird I would travel anywhere in Nova Scotia to photograph it would be the Evening Grosbeak. The good loo...
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Eastern Phoebe
May 04, 2020 - The Eastern Phoebe is often our earliest flycatcher to arrive in spring migration, sometimes a second to the Tree Swallo...
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Cliff Swallow
May 04, 2020 - There are three ways to photograph a Cliff Swallow; find them at a mud hole when they are collecting building material t...
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Blue-headed Vireo
May 03, 2020 - The Blue-headed Vireo is among our earliest arriving passerines. Its song is slower and more melodic than its later arri...
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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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Upland Sandpiper
May 03, 2020 - The Upland Sandpiper is a rare visitor to Nova Scotia. Laura and I were introduced to this bird in Manitoba where it lik...
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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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Whimbrel
May 03, 2020 - The Whimbrel is an early arriving shore bird, although it is seldom on the shore. It seems to prefer to forage upland in...
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Harlequin Duck
May 03, 2020 - The Harlequin Duck is a beautiful bird but quite the challenge to photograph as it moves about in the surf, usually in p...
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Common Tern
May 03, 2020 - Our resident Common Tern is every bit as elegant as the more exotic varieties. I was lucky to run into a bunch of them p...
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Yellow-throated Warbler
April 29, 2020 - I have many photos of this handsome warbler but unfortunately most were captured with older generation equipment and are...
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Spruce Grouse
April 29, 2020 - The Spruce Grouse is quite tame but the problem as always is to find one. I've had little luck photographing this specie...
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Sundew
April 29, 2020 - The Sundew is a predatory plant worthy of any science fiction horror movie. The sticky tentacles grasp the prey, then th...
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Dawson Brook Falls
April 29, 2020 - The Dawson Brook Falls are gorgeous in the summertime when the water is lower. Unfortunately, it helps to be a mountain...
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Queen Elizabeth 2
April 28, 2020 - These are rare and prized photographs of the Queen Elizabeth 2 leaving Halifax Harbour for the last time. She was conver...
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Queen Elizabeth
April 28, 2020 - The Queen Elizabeth is the sister ship of the Queen Victoria, both members of the Vista class of cruise ships. It is sli...
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Queen Victoria
April 28, 2020 - The Queen Victoria is a miniature version of the Queen Mary 2, although I would walk the plank if I was caught saying it...
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Winter Wren
April 28, 2020 - The Winter Wren like its forest companion the Brown Creeper is easy enough to find but hard to photograph well since bot...
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Yellow-rumped Warbler
April 28, 2020 - The Yellow-rumped Warbler is early to arrive and late to leave although it does go silent late in the summer so it is ha...
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Queen Mary 2
April 26, 2020 - I have hundreds of photos of this great ship, the Queen Mary 2, the only ocean liner in the world. These samples are tak...
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Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth
April 26, 2020 - Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth entering Halifax harbour off Chebucto Head at dawn. Its rare to see these two great shi...
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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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Northern Gannet
April 26, 2020 - The Northern Gannet or more properly known as the Great Northern Gannet(ask a Newfoundlander), is a magnificent flying a...
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Mount Uniacke Museum Estate
April 26, 2020 - In twenty years of visiting this estate mostly on the trails I've never gone inside the Uniacke Estate mansion or taken...
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Peregrine Falcon on Pole
April 26, 2020 - The Peregrine Falcon is the world's fastest bird while diving after prey and perhaps in horizontal flight as well. Altho...
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Kentucky Warbler
April 23, 2020 - I photographed a juvenile Kentucky Warbler last fall along with several other provincial goodies, including Prothonatory...
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White-crowned Sparrow
April 23, 2020 - The White-crowned Sparrow is an enigma for me. Its almost an annual regular for me in our back yard but I've never taken...
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Cape Chignecto Provincial Park
April 23, 2020 - It figures that this would be the year that I was going to rent a back country yurt at Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. W...
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Snowy Egret
April 21, 2020 - I used excellent equipment for these photos in the harsh light of the mid day sun and at long focal lengths. I cannot im...
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Snowy Egret
April 20, 2020 - Snowy Egrets and most herons and egrets will stay on a productive location where eels are plentiful. Sometimes they are...
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Nova Scotia Woodlands in Winter
April 20, 2020 - Just in case you were wondering what we left behind last winter here's a sampling of some Nova Scotia Woodlands in snow.
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Brown Creeper
April 19, 2020 - The Brown Creeper is the hardest non flying bird to photograph with perhaps the Winter Wren as a close second. This brow...
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Purple Finch
April 19, 2020 - The Purple Finch has been with us all winter in small numbers but now they are beginning to return in bunches. This hand...
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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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Prairie Warbler
April 18, 2020 - The Prairie Warbler is an annual regular to Nova Scotia, occurring infrequently in the spring and mostly in the fall. So...
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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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Tree Sparrow
April 17, 2020 - The Tree Sparrow is a regular and reliable over-wintering bird at our feeders. It has a marvelous whistled song easily r...
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Magnolia Warbler
April 17, 2020 - I expect to do a lot of backyard photography this year; birds, butterflies, orchids and wildflowers. One of our backyard...
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White-rumped Sandpiper
April 16, 2020 - THe White-rumped Sandpiper is common and widspread during the southward migration. It is easy to find with other shorebi...
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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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Eastern Wood-Pewee
April 15, 2020 - The Eastern Wood-Pewee is a favourite woodland flycatcher of mine. The cry of "peee-a-weee" is a haunting reminder of ou...
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Wentworth Falls
April 15, 2020 - Wentworth Falls is also known as the Bridal Falls. I've photographed these falls, high water and low, winter, fall, spri...
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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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Common Gallinule
April 10, 2020 - The Common Gallinule is an annual regular visitor to Nova Scotia. It crosses the border from its nesting sites in New Br...
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Pennant Peninsula
April 09, 2020 - We are fortunate here in the Halifax area to have such spectacular scenery easily accessible. One of the best trips in t...
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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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Red-headed Woodpecker
April 07, 2020 - I have seen but never been able to photograph successfully an adult Red-headed Woodpecker. They are extremely hard to fi...
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Pectoral Sandpiper
April 06, 2020 - The Pectoral Sandpiper is a common medium sized shorebird arriving early and leaving late. It is easy to identify by its...
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Black Guillemot
April 06, 2020 - The winter Black Guillemot is easy to photograph this time of year as it fishes near wharves. Wait for it to dive and th...
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Osprey
April 06, 2020 - The Osprey is the provincial bird of Nova Scotia. The population has revived after suffering through human stupidity, th...
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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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Red-bellied Woodpecker
April 06, 2020 - The Red-bellied Woodpecker is uncommon but a confirmed nesting species in Nova Scotia. I've had them at my feeders and s...
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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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Indigo Bunting
April 01, 2020 - The Indigo Bunting is an early arriving bird and much appreciative of sunflower seeds. It's relatively tame and easy to...
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Piping Plover
April 01, 2020 - The Piping Plover is one of our earliest arriving shorebirds, usually appearing in late March and early April. Martiniqu...
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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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Compendium of LIghts
March 30, 2020 - Nova Scotia has some remarkable lights and lighthouses including the tallest in North America at Cape Sable and the olde...
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Fall Colours in Nova Scotia
March 30, 2020 - Fall colours are always so cheery. We are lucky in Nova Scotia to have such a nice mix of deciduous and coniferous fores...
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Aspotogen Peninsula
March 27, 2020 - If cabin fever is getting to you then hop into your motorized conveyance and drive the Aspotogan Peninsula loop. Bring y...
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Lincoln's Sparrow
March 27, 2020 - Our overwintering Lincoln's Sparrows(2) have survived the winter. They pop their heads above their winter home from time...
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Maple Woodlands In Fall
March 27, 2020 - If cabin fever is beginning to develop try to think of all those lovely places and things we will all see later in the y...
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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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Barred Owl
March 24, 2020 - I have encountered Barred Owls in our boreal forests in several locations in Nova Scotia. More than once it has surprise...
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Peggy's Cove Compendium
March 24, 2020 - As we all sit sequistered in our homes waiting out the covid-19 storm there is ample time to think of good times in Nova...
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Winter's Water and Ice
March 23, 2020 - Winter brought us a lot of dark and cold yet there was also beauty and tranquility. We saw the eclectic mix of colours,...
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Pine Warbler
March 23, 2020 - The Pine Warbler is one of our toughest warblers, arriving early in the migration and leaving late. It has been nesting...
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Palm Warbler
March 22, 2020 - The Palm Warbler is our earliest arriving warbler in most years. It song is a musical trill much like Chipping Sparrow a...
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Fox Sparrow
March 22, 2020 - The Fox Sparrow is one of the earliest migrants. It has a wonderful technique of foraging, vigorously scratching the gro...
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Peggy's Cove Light at Sunset
March 22, 2020 - I much prefer sunrise photos since the human traffic is much lower. Alas this is not possible at Peggy's Cove. There are...
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Waterfalls
March 21, 2020 - Waterfalls are certainly among my favourite subjects but alas in Nova Scotia they are hard to find in readily accessible...
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Sambro Island Sunrise
March 20, 2020 - The Sambro Island sunrise is a favourite solar event of mine. The best time to see it is always in the winter when the s...
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Sharp-shinned Hawk
March 20, 2020 - The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest accipiter or bird hawk. Its an elegant bird with swift highly maneuverable flight...
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Black-backed Woodpecker
March 20, 2020 - The Black-backed Woodpecker is common and wide spread. But having said that try and find one. I know where they are and...
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American Robin
March 20, 2020 - Sometimes I feel we take the American Robin and Blue Jay for granted. European jaws drop when they see these elegant bir...
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Grey-cheeked Thrush
March 20, 2020 - The Grey-cheeked Thrush has the most haunting song of any bird I've heard, except maybe for the Varied Thrush in the dee...
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Sunrise at Martinique Beach
March 20, 2020 - The trick with these photos is to combine sunrise, low tide and scattered clouds at the same time. This is a tricky comb...
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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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Brewer's Blackbird, Northern Wheatear, Warbling Vireo and Other Highlights
October 27, 2019 - The Brewer's Blackbirds(2), very rare, were walking on the lawn in our back yard. I tried to get photos but lost them as...
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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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Fall in Nova Scotia
October 17, 2019 - Nova Scotia has some spectacular fall foliage especially when set off against calm water and broken clouds in partially...
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MV Asterix
October 17, 2019 - The MV Asterix is a Royal Canadian Navy replenishment ship. It is was privately converted and leased to the navy with a...
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Kite Surfing
October 17, 2019 - Kite Surfing is a challenging way to travel at high speeds along the wave tops. The tide and wind have to be just right...
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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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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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Sunrise Over the Atlantic Ocean and Harvest Moon
September 18, 2019 - During a rather strenuous three hour hike at times through nose high brush and grass I managed to photograph some sunris...
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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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Naval and Cruise Ship Arrivals
September 05, 2019 - There was some interesting harbour traffic today specifically the first visit of the brand new Scenic Eclipse, a small b...
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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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Sunrise Reflecting on a Wet Beach
August 28, 2019 - My first quality full frame camera was the Canon EOS-1Ds, purchased and used about 15 years ago. It was a beauty of a ca...
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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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Grandeur of the Seas
August 15, 2019 - I photographed Grandeur of the Seas off Shoal Point and Chebucto Head, at the entrance to Halifax Harbour. It was about...
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Monarch and Painted Lady Butterflies
August 13, 2019 - Monarch and Painted Lady Butterflies continue to move through my area. It appears to be a bumper year for Monarch Butter...
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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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Almost full Moon Day Before Partial Lunar Eclipse July 16, 2019
August 09, 2019 - This is the, "almost a full moon", the day before the partial lunar eclipse of July 16, 2019. This moon image is rare fo...
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Early Summer WIldflowers of the Coastal Barrens
August 09, 2019 - These are just a few of the wildflowers of the coastal barrens in early summer. Most others can be found on my website....
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Fringed White Orchid Super Cluster
August 08, 2019 - While on our trip to visit the first of the Helleborine Orchids we spotted this super cluster of Fringed White Orchids a...
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Caribbean Princess, Zaandam and Harbour Traffic
August 08, 2019 - I visited the coastal barrens in hopes of finding my first Green Adder's Mouth Orchid but still no luck. It's time to tr...
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Monarch, Painted Lady and Fritillary Butterflies
August 07, 2019 - It was a good day for butterflies in my area of Nova Scotia. August, September and October always seem to be the most pr...
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Fringed White Orchid
August 06, 2019 - What a difference a week makes. When we first visited the sphagnum bog we could only find three partially opened Fringed...
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Canada Lily
July 29, 2019 - I photographed this gorgeous native lily yesterday and a few photos a week prior.
Lilium canadense From Wikipedia, the...
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The Queens
July 29, 2019 - The Queens visited Halifax last Friday. The Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth arrived together coming in line. The Queen...
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Fringed White Orchid(White Bog Orchid)
July 29, 2019 - I look for this elegant orchid in sphagnum bogs. I finally found a pair and despite soaking my hiking shoes and socks an...
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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
July 27, 2019 - The Hummingbird Clearwing Moth is a favourite of mine. It's a daylight flying moth and since it likes Knapweed it is oft...
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Grass Pink Orchid in Morning Dew and Light
July 25, 2019 - I visit the coastal barrens this time of year to photograph shipping, including cruise ships, but I also enjoy the flowe...
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Peggy's Cove Light at Sunset
July 17, 2019 - I visited Peggy's Cove Light yesterday in the hopes of enjoying a good sunset. It was a gorgeous warm summer evening.
P...
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Aspotogan Peninsula
July 16, 2019 - We took a Sunday tour of the Aspotogan Peninsula, Nova Scotia. This route is scenic with numerous small fishing ports, a...
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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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White Admiral Butterfly
July 13, 2019 - The White Admiral Butterfly is common and widespread in Nova Scotia. Like all butterflies they don't like to pose.
Whit...
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AIDAVita
July 13, 2019 - AIDAvita is a medium sized cruise ship, nicely proportioned and designed. This one was photographed off Shoal Point at t...
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Adventure of the Seas
July 12, 2019 - The Adventure of the Seas is a large cruise ship with odd features; waterslide and minature golf on the top deck! Who ne...
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Grass Pink Orchid
July 11, 2019 - The Grass Pink Orchid is a wide spread and common orchid of Nova Scotia bogs, blooming later but overlapping with the Dr...
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Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid
July 08, 2019 - I visited the Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid colony about two weeks ago just prior to its usual blooming. Only two orchid h...
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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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Dragon's Mouth Orchid
July 03, 2019 - The Dragon's Mouth Orchid is a small bog orchid, abundant and wide spread in suitable habitat.
These photos were taken...
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Queen Mary 2
July 03, 2019 - The Queen Mary 2 has made her second visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia this year. This ship and possibly her smaller sibling...
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Snapping Turtle
July 01, 2019 - This Snapping Turtle was beside the road, perhaps considering a place to scratch out a hole in gravel and lay eggs.
The...
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Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid
June 26, 2019 - The Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid is one of the most common orchids in Nova Scotia rivaling the bog orchids in numbers. A g...
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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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Painted Trillium
June 21, 2019 - Whereas spring was two to three weeks late in Nova Scotia this year it did not seem to effect the later flowering wildfl...
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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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Wood Turtle
June 20, 2019 - The Wood Turtle is listed as endangered by the federal government. Their forest and watercourse habitat has been systema...
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Ram's Head Orchid
June 18, 2019 - The Ram's Head Orchid is Nova Scotia rarest or hardest to find native orchid. It prefers dappled light into alkaline soi...
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Yellow Ladies' Slipper Orchid
June 17, 2019 - The Yellow Ladies' Slipper Orchid is a hard to find gem like the Ram's Head Orchid. They prefer dry alkaline soil and fu...
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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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