I spent about two hours along Sandy Cove Road this morning and enjoyed a nice arrival of warblers, perhaps a week early, possibly due to the steady south wind of recent days.

I heard and saw the following nine warbler species; Northern Parula, Yellow, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Black-and-white, Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Wilson's. I wasn't successful in photographing them all but they all sang for me.

Other attendees were Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Robin, Northern Flicker, Alder Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Boreal and Black-capped Chickadee, Song Sparrow, Grackle, and lots of singing Purple Finches and Goldfinches. Surprisingly I did not hear a Hermit Thrush although we have heard them at home in Portuguese Cove.

Tomorrow the excitement begins as the provincial parks will open. I'll be at the park gates at 8AM, Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park, and perhaps a drive up to the Old Annapolis Road Trail.

American Redstart

American Redstart 1 American Redstart 2 American Redstart 3

Black-and-White Warbler Black-and-White Warbler 1 Black-and-White Warbler 2 Black-and-White Warbler 3 Black-and-White Warbler 4

Wilson's Warbler Wilson's Warbler 1 Wilson's Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 3

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warbler 1 Yellow Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 3

I found this Sandhill Crane alongside Route 224 on the way to Shubenacadie. It was clustered with a dozen Canada Geese. It was so far away it was hard to see. My photographs are severe crops utilizing little more area than a point and shoot camera sensor might capture. Folks that say high resolution cameras like mine are not needed definitely do not photograph birds.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane 1 Sandhill Crane 3 Sandhill Crane 4 Sandhill Crane 5 Sandhill Crane 6

I encountered a pair of Canada Jays along Sandy Cove Road. They haven't molted yet so their plumage is a little rough. The Canada Jay is the quintessential  "all Canadian" bird. It nests almost exclusively everywhere in Canada and is non migratory. It stashes food in the fall and winter to give its early brood a good start to life.

There were at least five Winter Wrens heard singing and yes the Osprey has returned to the cell tower.

Canada Jay

Canada Jay 1 Canada Jay 2 Canada Jay 3 Canada Jay 4 Canada Jay 5 Canada Jay 6 Canada Jay 7 Canada Jay 8 Canada Jay 9 Canada Jay 10

It's been done a gazillion times by as many people, photographing the sunset at Peggy's Cove. Nevertheless for Nova Scotians its a ritual performed at least once or twice a year just like sunrise over Sambro Island.

I used a different approach this time. Rather than the usual wide angle lens spanning the horizon I opted for a telephoto lens. The effect is not better but it is different. The shadows of folks milling around the light is always interesting.

Peggy's Cove Sunset

Peggy's Cove Sunset 2 Peggy's Cove Sunset 3 Peggy's Cove Sunset 4 Peggy's Cove Sunset 5 SKD42568

Laura alerted me to a new bird approaching our kitchen window feeder. I blurted Western Tanager but Laura kept me out of trouble again and upon review of Sibley Guide to Birds I corrected myself to first spring male Summer Tanager.

The conditions were late day and gloomy and I only had time for a few quick shots, hand held, through the kitchen window. Perhaps it will return tomorrow and give me an opportunity to do better.

Summer Tanager Summer Tanager 3

Summer Tanager 1 Summer Tanager 2

I returned to Sandy Cove for a second look. As before I sat on a rock with a thermos of java brew and waited for the birds to parade by and just like yesterday they did. The highlight was some decent photos of Eastern Phoebe our first arriving flycatcher and it was hard at work.

American Robin

American Robin 8 American Robin 9

Dark-eyed Junco Dark-eyed Junco 1 Dark-eyed Junco 2 Dark-eyed Junco 3 Dark-eyed Junco 4

Eastern Phoebe Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Eastern Phoebe 3 Eastern Phoebe 4 Eastern Phoebe 5 Eastern Phoebe 6

My Favourite Photograph of the Morning, Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe 7 Eastern Phoebe 8 Eastern Phoebe 9 Eastern Phoebe 10

Ipswich Sparrow Ipswich Sparrow 5 Ipswich Sparrow 6 Ipswich Sparrow 7 Ipswich Sparrow 8 Ipswich Sparrow 9 Ipswich Sparrow 10 Ipswich Sparrow 11

Palm Warbler Palm Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 2 Palm Warbler 3 Palm Warbler 4 Palm Warbler 5 Palm Warbler 6 Palm Warbler 7 Palm Warbler 8 Palm Warbler 9 Palm Warbler 10

Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2

I visited Duncan's Cove and found 10 Harlequin Ducks just briefly as 8 immediately flew off. The surf was high and the rule is to always stay off black or wet rocks so I could not venture too closely to the bonded pair that remained to dive and frolic in the surf remarkably close to the shoreline rocks.

At Sandy Cove a little further west from Duncan Reef I sat on a beach rock and waited for the birds to march by and so they did. Highlights were Prothonotary Warbler, Ipswich Sparrow and large freshly plumaged American Robins.

The maggots at Sandy Cove had hatched into kelp flies in the bright morning sunshine so the birds had their choice of the bill of fare.

American Robin American Robin 1-1 American Robin 2 American Robin 3 American Robin 4 American Robin 5 American Robin 6 American Robin 7

Surf at Duncan Reef Duncan Reef Surf 1 Duncan Reef Surf 2

Harlequin Ducks Harlequin Duck 1 Harlequin Duck 2 Harlequin Duck 3 Harlequin Duck 4 Harlequin Duck 5

Ipswich Sparrow Ipswich Sparrow 1 Ipswich Sparrow 2 Ipswich Sparrow 3 Ipswich Sparrow 4

Prothonotary Warbler Prothonotary Warbler 31 Prothonotary Warbler 32 Prothonotary Warbler 33

Ipswich Sparrow Ipswich Sparrow 5

Prothonotary Warbler Prothonotary Warbler 35 Prothonotary Warbler 36

Song Sparrow Song Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 2

I had a good morning of photography in mild temperatures and bright sunshine until the fog began to roll in late morning.

At Duncan Reef I found about 10 Harlequin Ducks but 8 flew away before I could approach them. I did manage to photograph a bonded pair fishing just off shore but I couldn't get close due to dark ie dangerous rocks.

Activity picked up at Sandy Cove's beach. I spotted an American Pipit which is not a shy bird and usually easy to photograph. I also saw Yellow-rumped Warblers, Savannah Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Ipswich Sparrows and lots of American Robins. The highlight at the beach was the Prothonotary Warbler still there and eating maggots after two weeks. Fortunately this is also a friendly bird. I used my trusted and reliable technique of sitting on a rock and waiting for them to march by and so they did. American Robins in freshly minted plumage look great. The Robin is an astonishingly beautiful bird but as Mother Nature would have it we often take them for granted because they are so abundant here. When the occasional American Robin visits Europe hundreds of birders and photographers mass around it and are amazed by its good looks. I got some good photos of the Prothonotary Warbler, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Ipswich Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow.

Here's the Prothonotary Warbler with others to come on line later: Prothonotary Warbler 18 Prothonotary Warbler 19 Prothonotary Warbler 20 Prothonotary Warbler 21 Prothonotary Warbler 22 Prothonotary Warbler 23 Prothonotary Warbler 24 Prothonotary Warbler 27 Prothonotary Warbler 29 Prothonorary Warbler 30

My young male Cardinal is singing hard for a mate. I recorded it predawn this morning and scanned my camera around a bit to find it but it was too dark. When I get a clean recording without traffic noise and the bird posing for me then perhaps a piano duet would be in order. I set the camera on the window ledge at 560mm, hand held. Next time a tripod will be used but this was my first attempt.

5P2A5349Northern Cardinal Singing

The Northern Cardinal was singing brightly this morning on our power line. It was backlit which compromises the photo but has a charm of its own. A Brown Thrasher was working around the front yard feeder this morning. Unfortunately I am between telephoto lenses so the Brown Thrasher will remain unphotographed unless it stays past the long holiday weekend.

There is no excuse for me not recording the Northern Cardinal in song so next time it sings I will record its beautiful and melodic song.

Northern Cardinal Singing

Cardinal in the Morning 1000

The Prothonotary Warbler is a an annual regular to Nova Scotia and is locally rare. In Canada it breeds along a narrow strip of Lake Erie's northern shore. Laura and I saw our first Prothonotary Warblers in Rondeau Provincial Park, a peninsular park, that captures migrants as they cross Lake Erie exhausted and in need of refueling. I prefer Rondeau Provincial Park to Point Pelee National Park since there are just as many great birds to find there and a lot less people.

I rushed out to Sandy Cove Beach at the end of Sandy Cove Road yesterday after dinner, minus my apple pie, after reading a report of a sighting there. I found the bird immediately and from previous experience I know that this is not a shy bird and easy to photograph. It works the kelp heaps for maggots and I even captured one pinned in the warbler's bill. This area is one of the premier rare bird locations in the Halifax area akin to Duncan's Cove and Hartlen Point. The tidal circulation ensures an abundance of decaying kelp heaps which foster the growth of maggots. I found a Loggerhead Shrike here a few years ago and identified it by its song. My photos were of poor quality unfortunately but it was confirmed as a mega rarity nonetheless.

The camera has not been built that can capture the luminescent golden colour and beauty of this bird but we all keep trying. It nests over water and there is a trail in Rondeau Provincial Park that has nest boxes over an open water bog. This is where Laura and I first saw this elegant bird.

I had my apple pie when I got home.

Prothonotary Warbler 1 Prothonotary Warbler 2 Prothonotary Warbler 3 Prothonotary Warbler 4 Prothonotary Warbler 5 Prothonotory Warbler 7 Prothonotary Warbler 8 Prothonotary Warbler 9 Prothonotary Warbler 10 Prothonotary Warbler 11 Prothonotary Warbler 12 Prothonotary Warbler 13 Prothonotary Warbler 14 Prothonotary Warbler 15 Prothonotary Warbler 16 Prothonotory Warbler 17

I took a tour of the Musquodoboit Valley in hopes of finding some early waders but alas no luck. I stopped off at Butcher's Falls since the recent rain would make for a spectacular show. I was not disappointed.

ButchersFallsAfterARain1012 ButchersFallsAfterARain1010 ButchersFallsAfterARain1013 ButchersFallsAfterARain1015 ButchersFallsAfterARain1016 ButchersFallsAfterARain1000 ButchersFallsAfterARain1004 ButchersFallsAfterARain1001 ButchersFallsAfterARain1006 ButchersFallsAfterARain1005 ButchersFallsAfterARain1002 ButchersFallsAfterARain1007 ButchersFallsAfterARain1009 ButchersFallsAfterARain1008 ButchersFallsAfterARain1014

The lousy weather continues in Nova Scotia with more snow and wind. All the birds know it's spring though since they are all singing. 

This has been the winter of the finch, with daily tallies at our place in Portuguese Cove as follows:

Goldfinch(100-200)

Purple Finch(50-100)

Pine Siskin(10-20), my Spirit Bird!

Other attendees at our feeders or seen nearby from our house are:

White-throated Sparrow(30-50)

Black-capped Chickadee(10-30)

Song Sparrow(20-40)

Tree Sparrow(5-10)

Starlings(50-100 but erratic)

Blue Jay(20-50)

Mourning Dove(10-50), depending on the weather)

Red-breasted Nuthatch(2)

Dark-eyed Junco(10-30)

Cardinal(1), singing

Red Crossbill(1)

Spruce Grouse(1-2 but erratic)

Ruffed Grouse(1-2 but erratic)

Ring-necked Pheasant(2-6)

Hairy Woodpecker(2)

Downey Woodpecker(2)

Northern Flicker(1)

Fox Sparrow(1), yes its singing

Barred Owl(1 heard)

Sharp-shinned Hawk(1-?)

Turkey Vulture(1)

Bald Eagle(1+ but erratic)

Brown Creeper(2)

Crow(5-20 but erratic)

Common Raven(5-10 but erratic

American Robin(2-50 but erratic)

Bohemian Waxwing(50+ but erratic)

Plus lots of sea ducks and aerial birds.

I think we're spending more money feeding our birds this winter than ourselves and our three cats.

Beside Portuguese Cove Road

Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (1)

Long Pond, Spryfield  Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (4) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (5)

The Dingle 

Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (8)

Purcell's Cove

Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (10) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (12)

McNab's Island Light 

HMCS Glace Bay HMCS Glace Bay HMCS Glace Bay

Herring Cove Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (28) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (30) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (32) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (34)

Portuguese Cove Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (36)

Sambro Island Light Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (37)

Sambro Head  Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (47)

Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (48) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (49)

Indian Harbour Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (50) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (51) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (52)

Indian Harbour Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (53) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (55) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (56)

West Pennant River Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (57) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (58) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (59) Chebucto Peninsula Early Spring Snow Storm (60)