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 plan B was to photograph her on her departure. It was an excellent opportunity to exercise my 45mm F1.2 lens. I bought this high speed lens specifically for nighttime photography, cityscapes, street photography and of course this magificant ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2, departing Halifax at near total dark. Boy, I was not disappointed with this lens, the Leica 45mm F1.2.

The Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner in the world and capable of year round transatlantic crossings. Its stronger and faster than any cruise ship.

I photographed it at about 7:20 PM from my favourite rock located about half way between Chebucto Head and Shoal Point, opposite Parliament Rock.

Queen Mary 2

Norwegian Pearl

The Norwegian Pearl preceded the Queen Mary 2 out of the harbour in brighter light.

I photographed the Rusty Blackbird at Sandy Cove's Beach. At first blush it looked like a Cowbird but the white eye changed that consideration in a hurry.

At The Urban Farm Museum I found a Red-eyed Vireo.

Rusty Blackbird

Red-eyed Vireo

Autumn Meadowhawk

Song Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler

I had hoped to photograph Saturn and the Harvest Supermoon but alas stars were not visible through the smoke of the northern wild fires.

First up was the sunset since it would set before the moon would rise above the horizon. I shot the sun at Peggy's Cove at normal exposure and one stop underexposed. The results were somewhat spooky.

Second up was the moon rise but as usual the horizon was obscured but the moon finally rose above it and shone bright but very orange-red in the twilight.

Note how the bands on the sun changed colour as the refraction adjusted to the depth of smoke the sun had to shine through.

Sun Setting at Peggy's Cove Through Wild Fire Smoke

The Harvest Supermoon Shining Through Wildfire Smoke

I encountered Yellow-rumped Warblers (25+) and other species at Duncan's Cove and at Sandy Cove's Beach area (25+). The bunch at Duncan's Cove were on the east side of the road so of course the images were backlit and mostly unusable. This was a mixed warbler flock with Ruby-crowned Kinglets. The Yellow-rumped Warblers at Duncan's Cove were in the shrubbery near the water and also backlit but thanks to the ridge behind them the image quality was improved. So far I have not found a Solitary Sandpiper at Sandy Cove's beach. I usually find them here every year but perhaps they are late this year.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler 401 Yellow-rumped Warbler 450 Yellow-rumped Warbler 451 Yellow-rumped Warbler 452 Yellow-rumped Warbler 453

Cedar Waxwing

American Goldfinch

Great Blue Heron

Song Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler

I photographed the Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Phoebe from a long distance so the images are severely cropped. Both of these species were engaged in flycatching, a lucrative pastime when working pasture lands especially when horses are present. The location is on private property and a long ways up the driveway. Permission as always must be obtained when accessing private property. There was an Eastern Kingbird present as well.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird 100 Eastern Bluebird 101 Eastern Bluebird 102

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe 100 Eastern Phoebe 101 Eastern Phoebe 102

I'd hoped to photograph three cruise ships departing at my favourite look-off at Chebucto Head but alas the clouds and dusk allowed only one to be photographed and that was just as it was leaving the harbour by Duncan's Cove.

Birds, butterflies and dragonflies continue to be scarce. This is the worst year I can recall of the last 23 years in Nova Scotia.

Black-and-White Warbler

Black-and-White Warbler 100

Black-tipped Darner, a Strikingly Beautiful Dragonfly

Black-tipped Darner Dragonfly 100 Black-tipped Darner Dragonfly 101

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron 800

The Sailboats were Cruising at Dusk

Sailboat 100 Sailboat 101 Sailboat 102 Sailboat 103 Sailboat 104

Silver Cloud Just Off Duncan's Cove

Silver Cloud 100 Silver Cloud 101

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow 300

Sport Fisher Rushing Home

Sport Fisher 100

White-tailed Deer With Three Spotless Fawns, so Probably Early Spring Births

White-tailed Deer Doe 101 White-tailed Deer Doe 102

The White-breasted Nuthatch forages for goodies under the bark of trees by going down the tree, ostensibly to find stuff the Brown Creepers and Red-breasted Nuthatches have missed in their upward foraging. Most migrate but some overwinter especially if they can find a reliable food source such as sunflower seeds.

White-breasted Nuthatch

I'm not your "go to" guy for dragonfly identification. Indeed even the experts have to net them for closer inspection, a somewhat creepy practise.

As I expected Monarch Butterflies are becoming easier to find in September. They are among the most cooperative in posing for photographs. I have had a poor year for butterfly photography with even common butterflies such as Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and Painted Lady as yet unseen.

Meadowhawk Dragonfly

Meadowhawk 100

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly 700 Monarch Butterfly 701 Monarch Butterfly 702 Monarch Butterfly 703 Monarch Butterfly 704 Monarch Butterfly 705 Monarch Butterfly 706 Monarch Butterfly 707 Monarch Butterfly 708

After Post Tropical Storm Lee passed I took a tour of the coastline from Tantallon to Peggy's Cove thence to Sambro Harbour, Sandy Cove Beach, Duncan's Cove and the harbour shore from Portuguese Cove to Sir Sanford Fleming Park. The wind had subsided and so had the sea so the surf was hardly more than that I'd expect from a moderate noreaster. There was very little damage or fallen trees. The worst of the storm was on the west side of Nova Scotia after it made landfall at Long Island and Brier Island.

Common Yellowthroat at Sandy Cove Road

Common Yellowthroat 2000 Common Yellowthroat 2001

The Village at Peggy's Cove

Peggy's Cove 100

The Gulls Rode Out the Storm on the Rock Bluffs Near Peggy's Cove

Peggy's Cove Gull Flock 100

The Coastal Surf

Post Tropical Storm Lee 100 Post Tropical Storm Lee 101 Post Tropical Storm Lee 102 Post Tropical Storm Lee 103 Post Tropical Storm Lee 104 Post Tropical Storm Lee 105 Post Tropical Storm Lee 106 Post Tropical Storm Lee 107 Post Tropical Storm Lee 108 Post Tropical Storm Lee 109 Post Tropical Storm Lee 110 Post Tropical Storm Lee 111 Post Tropical Storm Lee 112 Post Tropical Storm Lee 113 Post Tropical Storm Lee 114 Post Tropical Storm Lee 115 Post Tropical Storm Lee 116

Peggy's Cove Light

Post Tropical Storm Lee 117

The Fishing Fleet and Pleasure Craft were Snugged Against the Dock at Sambro Harbour

Sambro Harbour 400 Sambro Harbour 401 Sambro Harbour 402 Sambro Harbour 403

This first summer Common Eider male duck had me befuddled for a time primarily due to the yellow on the bill. I wrestled between Common Eider and White-winged Scoter for a time but the lack of field marks for a White-winged Scoter had it removed as a possibility.

I don't often see Common Eiders alone. This example was fishing close enough to shore to allow for decent photographs.

Common Eider, First Summer Male

Common Eider 103

Common Eider 100 Common Eider 101 Common Eider 102

About the Event

Halifax International Fleet Week will showcase Halifax as Canada's defence and ocean hub with participation from Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) service members from across the country as well as the United States, Germany, England, and France.  Sailors will congregate in the historic garrison town from Sept. 7-10 to enjoy an extended weekend of camaraderie, sportsmanship, legendary maritime hospitality, and the ability to extend and demonstrate our international allyship. The week coincides with the RCN offshore exercise CUTLASS FURY 2023.

Parade of Ships

Cruise ships at Immigration

Cruise Ship Terminal 100

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant 100

Gear for Floating Wind Turbines

Floating Wind Turbines 100

HMCS Frederiction

HMCS Frederiction 100 HMCS Frederiction 101 HMCS Frederiction 102 HMCS Frederiction 103 HMCS Frederiction 104

HMCS Charlottetown

HMCS Frederiction 105 HMCS Frederiction 106

HMCS Glace Baty 100

HMCS Max Bernays

HMCS Max Bernays 100 HMCS Max Bernays 101 HMCS Max Bernays 102 HMCS Max Bernays 103 HMCS Max Bernays 104 HMCS Max Bernays 105 HMCS Max Bernays 106

HMCS Moncton 100

USNS William McLean

USNS William McLean 100 USNS William McLean 101 USNS William McLean 102 USNS William McLean 103 USNS William McLean 104 USNS William McLean 105 USNS William McLean 106 USNS William McLean 107 USNS William McLean 108

USS James E. Williams

USS James E. Williams 100 USS James E. Williams 101 USS James E. Williams 102 USS James E. Williams 103 USS James E. Williams 104 USS James E. Williams 105

USS Porter

USS Porter 100 USS Porter 101 USS Porter 102 USS Porter 103

The Waterfront Boardwalk and Goody Stands

Waterfront Boardwalk 100

Laura and I toured the Noel shore and stopped at Anthony Provincial Park for a picnic and while Laura picked the last remaining blackberries I hunted out the few remaining and probably migrating birds. I was delighted to find and photograph the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Least Flycatcher, both woodland birds. The warblers present did not pose for me.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

The Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid is our latest orchid and flowers up to and sometimes past the first hard frost. The name stems from the yellow tongue of the flower. They like very dry and well drained ground.

Yellow Lady's Tresses Orchid