Eastern Wood-pewee, Least Flycatcher and Swainson's ThrushThe Eastern Wood-pewee is a species of special concern. It is declining in numbers probably due to the environment of its wintering locale and reckless use of insecticides everywhere. This is a medium sized flycatcher with a haunting woodland song often used to set a wilderness mood in nature films. You can hear its song here, courtesy of The Cornell Lab of Ornothology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Wood-Pewee/sounds The Least Flycatcher appears to be doing well although it is hard to photograph as it moves about in its woodland haunts. The Swainson's Thrush has a beautiful song typical of all thrushes. I was not able to find the Eastern Wood-pewee and Swainson's Thrush in their usual locations so I went to Dollar Lake Provincial Park, a reliable hangout for these species. The Swainson's Thrush seems to prefer higher elevations although I have encountered them along coastal forests. Eastern Wood-pewee
Least Flycatcher
Swainson's Thrush
White RhodoraI believe the White Rhodora is a colour morph of the common Rhodora. It blooms early to mid June and is easily dissipated by heavy rain. Here are a few photos taken of this flowering shrub. White Rhodora
Three Stunning WarblersThere are many stunning warblers sometimes stunning beyond belief. Three common stunners here in Nova Scotia are American Redstart, Bay-breasted Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler. I doubt that any artist alive could start from scratch and do any better. All of these warblers were photographed in the area of Annapolis Royal Road Trail area. American Redstart
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Recent Birds at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park and Meisner's PointWith the leaves filling out the shrubs and trees birds are becoming harder to see although it is still easy to hear their territorial songs. Photos were taken at Meisner's Point and Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park. Alder Flycatcher
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Ovenbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Warbler Walk, June 5, 2015, Jerry Lawrence Provincial ParkWarbler Walk, June 5, 2015, Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park 20 of us enjoyed the warbler walk at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park in good weather and a minimum of black flies. Most warblers as usual were heard and not seen but we did see several species nonetheless, some in full and unobstructed views. The walk lasted 4-1/2 hours, the longest I've led. The Group Portrait
Blue Bead Lily
Strange Muck, possible a beaver dam overflow
Beaver Dam
Exhausted Walkers Near the Trip's Conclusion
Pink Lady's-slipper Orchid
Barred Owl, Nashville Warbler and KilldeerDuring our visit to Mount Uniacke Museum Estate park yesterday to see and photograph the Painted Trillium we were surprised and delighted to spot a Barred Owl. It actually moved closer to us and was chattering suggesting a nearby nest. Unfortunately, the owl was back lit(as usual) which compromised my photos. On our visit to the gypsum lands of West Hants County to enjoy early Ram's Head Orchid and Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid we found the resident Killdeer. Both parents were dutifully protecting their young, little more than puff balls on stilts. Last Saturday I had an interesting experience with a Nashville Warbler. It was interesting for two reasons; firstly, it sang a three part song much like a Tennessee Warbler which had me confused for a time, and secondly, it was low down in roadside foliage working the seed heads. Usually, the Nashville Warbler is high up in the trees and elusive but not this one. Barred Owl
Killdeer
Puff Ball on Stilts
Nashville Warbler
Ram's Head Orchid, Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid and MoreLaura and I enjoyed our first picnic trip of the year yesterday to Smiley's Provincial Park, Mount Uniacke Estate Museum Park and the gypsum lands of West Hants County. Our first stop at Mount Uniacke Museum Park was for the Painted Trillium. Also present was Trout Lily and to our surprise and delight, a Barred Owl. The Barred Owl was extremely interested in us and actually approached closer suggesting a nearby nest. Our second stop was at Smiley's Provincial Park to enjoy our picnic and a walk around the woodland trail looking for Early Coral-root Orchid. The woods here might be be too alkaline for this orchid although it does grow on moss which is abundant under the shade of the coniferous forest. Our third stop found us enjoying early blooming Ram's Head Orchid and Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid. The trail side used to crowd with orchids but not any more since they have been ravaged by rogue gardeners who have no ill conscience about illegally digging them out. Painted Trillium
Ram's Head Orchid
Trout Lily
Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid
Blue-eyed Grass
Old Annapolis Road TrailI did a tour of the Old Annapolis Road Trail today both to check out the safety of the trail since it is no longer maintained and also to exercise my new little hiking camera. The lenses I use for bird and wildflower photography are too heavy for hikes, except for short ones, so I purchased a small shirt pocket(literally) camera for such adventures. The trail is in good shape with a few wet spots and some frost heaved boardwalk timbers. Near the Trail Head and Parking Area
Indian Pear
Rhodora
Painted Trillium
Painted Trillium
One person at a time over the bridge please
The boardwalk has frost heaved creating teeter-totters and tripping hazards
Painted Trilliums and Starflowers
Garter Snake
The Trailhead on a Clockwise Loop
Canada Warbler Joins the RoundupThere are at least 16 species of warbler on territory in three locations with 14 species at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park alone. The beloved Canada Warbler has returned in the last 48 hours to Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park singing brightly on its breeding site. I didn't succeed in obtaining decent photos of all the warblers but other goodies were on offer. Wildflowers are beginning to appear especially during our brief period(one day) of great weather. We peaked at 29 degrees during our cross country circuit yesterday. Black-throated Green Warbler
Hermit Thrush
American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canoeing on Dollar Lake, Dollar Lake Provincial Park, in 27 Degree Heat
Common Grackle Surveying its Domain
Common Yellowthroat
Cuckoo Flower
Hobblebush
Indian Pear
Least Flycatchers
Marsh Marigold
Northern Parula
Northern Shoveler at Brookfield Marsh I photographed a pair of Northern Shovellers at Brookfield Marsh earlier this month. It looks like they are staying on to breed. This is a distant photograph.
Red-winged Blackbird
Rhodora
Ring-necked Ducks
Spotted Sandpiper This Spotted Sandpiper at Brookfield Marsh is looking for a mate.
Yellow Warbler
Early Warblers at Jerry Lawrence Provincial ParkI enjoyed my first albeit brief warbler hunt at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park this morning. There were rain squalls and gusting winds which discourage warbler activity but I did find; Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler(many), Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler and Ovenbird(many). I hope to get an early start tomorrow and find more of these woodland jewels. Black-throated Blue Warbler
Ovenbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spring Flowers, Butterflies and BirdsSpring is slow arriving in Nova Scotia. Manitoba is at least a month ahead of us and the lower mainland of British Columbia at least two months ahead of us. But spring does come here, eventually. Warblers so far include; Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Pine, Palm and Black-and-White. I haven't been out in the mornings yet to listen for them but I will soon. When I used to haunt Point Pelee National Park in early May I would spot or hear 20-30 migrating warbler species while back home it would still be so early that only seven or eight would be on territory. The beauty of it is that when I returned to Nova Scotia in the third week of May I enjoyed the warbler migration experience all over again. Blue-headed Vireo
Cabbage White Butterfly
Common Blue Violet
Hermit Thrush
Marsh Marigold
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Soldier Lichens
Spring Azure
Sweet White Violet
Great EgretYesterday I took advantage of available time and decent weather to rush out to Brookfield Marsh to photograph the Great Egret. I found the bird immediately, indeed I saw it from my car as I was parking. This was my second trip to look for the Great Egret and my third visit of the spring. Great Egret
Tree Versus TrailLast Sunday Laura and I explored the Tree Versus Trail at Sir Sanford Fleming Park. Along this route are eight photographs affixed to the trees. These photographs are the work of Frankie Macaulay, a project funded by the Reznick family student creativity award. The story is told on plaques at the trail heads. Frankie Macaulay's photographs depict the interaction between tree growth and man made intrusions. Tree Versus
The trail can be accessed from either end, off the Frog Pond Loop, or at the Adventure Earth Centre.
Here are some photos of Laura and I along the trail.
Hans, the great photographer, didn't think to bring along a standard lens to photograph the plaques so the following photos are taken by Laura's cell phone camera.
Pine WarblersThe Pine Warbler is a new nesting warbler in Nova Scotia. This is the fifth consecutive year(or longer) that Pine Warblers have returned to their colony and they are returning in even larger numbers in each succeeding year. I went to look for them two weeks ago and heard three singing on territory in the very tall pine trees. I returned last Saturday for another look and there were at least ten singing on territory. These warblers can be extremely difficult to photograph due to their habit of singing and nesting high up in the pine trees, and these pine trees are high. I only have one crummy photograph, severely cropped and enlarged, to show for my effort. When the park opens later this month I'll take my large telephoto in there and obtain better photos. Pine Warbler
Here's some photos taken at this location in previous years.
Another denizen of this tall coniferous forest is the White-breasted Nuthatch. White-breasted Nuthatch
Cedar WaxwingsThe most elegant bird in Canada is the Bohemian Waxwing. When I say elegant I mean, "Audrey Hepburn" elegant. The Cedar Waxwing is a slightly smaller member of the waxwing clan and certainly a close runner up. These photographs were taken on a hike down to Duncan Reef. Cedar Waxwing
At Duncan Reef a lobster fisher was hard at work.
Grey and Harbour Seals are commonly seen on Duncan Reef, especially at mid tides.
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