Ruddy TurnstoneThere were several Ruddy Turnstones in breeding plumage and juvenile Spotted Sandpipers at Duncan Reef. The best time to visit this location is September through November. Ruddy Turnstone
Spotted Sandpiper
Queen Mary 2I enjoyed photographing the annual departure of the Queen Mary 2 near sunset when the best light is available. This was photographed between Shoal Point and Chebucto Head, Nova Scotia. This is the only ocean liner in the world. It is capable of year round trans Atlantic crossings. All the "cruise ships" are hotels built on motorized barges.  
Peeps of Evangeline BeachI made a quick visit to Evangeline Beach, Nova Scotia, an annual pilgrimage to photograph the flocks of peeps; mostly Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers, a few Least Sandpipers and the occasional White-rumped Sandpiper.
Armada of Tall ShipsArmada of Tall Ships Rendez-vous 2017 Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 1, 2017 Most ships can be identified by their name plates on the bow, name plates on the stern, sails or flags.
The complete set of photos is here complete with names: http://www.hanstoom.com/p404310875
Yellow-crowned Night-HeronYellow-crowned Night-Heron The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is a hard to find but annual regular to Nova Scotia. This one was in the Bedford Basin yesterday. Laura knew the homeowners so I was able to get some favourable photographs. Note the white plumes starting to develop. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
The shadow of the heron acts as a natural polarizing filter.
Solitary SandpipersI found two Solitary Sandpipers this morning. One was tame as they usually are and the other one was skittish. This uncommon bird is an annual regular to the shores of the Chebucto Peninsula. They are similar to the Lesser Yellowlegs but look for the prominent white eye rings and white spectacles. They also have a speckled back which is very distinctive even at a distance. The front on view shows the distinctive "V" of the spectacle frames.
Note the distinctive white "V" on the face.
USS Dwight D. EisenhowerThe USS Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Halifax on Canada Day, July 1, 2017. This is my first USS aircraft carrier in 17 years in Halifax. The days before Canada Day it showed nicely under sunny skies but Canada Day itself was rainy and foggy. Everything you need to know about this aircraft carrier is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dwight_D._Eisenhower USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
Blackpoll Warbler, Snowy Egret and Little Blue HeronI had planned to search for the Blackpoll Warbler two days ago but the squalls kept me off the coastal boreal forest. Nova Scotia's boreal forest extends on a narrow strip close to the coast where the Blackpoll Warbler, a rugged bird, can enjoy the company of sun and wind bleached skeletons of long dead spruce. They do not have the gaudiness of other warblers but the simple camo well suited to their summer home. They are quintessential Canadian birds of the north. I circled Chezzetcook salt marsh on my way to Meisner's Point to find the Blackpoll warbler. On route I found my Snowy Egret once again and also a Little Blue Heron and in a remarkable display of wader camaraderie the Snowy Egret flew further away and landed adjacent to the Little Blue Heron. I'v never seen that before or am I likely to see it again. Lots of info on this remarkable warbler and its long distance non stop over water migration of 2500 kilometres here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpoll_warbler Blackpoll Warbler
Hermit Thrush It's sporting a bill full of nestling fodder.
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron These waders are a long distance away necessitating severe cropping of the image. They show distortion due to rising air currents all compressed onto my film frame.
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park AdventureI visited Cape Chignecto Provincial Park last week, an annual pilgrimage for me. My target species were Mourning Warbler and Cape May Warbler but alas no luck. There a lot of photographs in this blog despite my limited one night stay. Some photographs were taken on route and while returning to Halifax. Cape Chignecto
A salt marsh on the route to Cape Chignecto.
Cape d'Or Light
Tidal rips near Cape d'Or.
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Luppin
Magnolia Warbler
Ovenbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Swainson's Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Alder Flycatcher
Blue Flag Iris
Cape Chignecto
Cape d'Or
Cape d'Or Light
Columbine
Grey Catbird
Ground Hog
Painted Lady
Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid
Rhodora
Ruffed Grouse
Blue Flag Iris
Goslings I had to backtrack on the trail since mother and father were guarding ten little Canada Geese and I wasn't going to disturb them or get attacked.
Eastern Kingbird The backlighting does not help image quality.
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Northern Parula
Proof of Life The Pine Warbler is a new nesting species in Nova Scotia. This parent is gathering food for its young. I counted four bugs and/or grubs in its bill.
Pink Lady's Slipper Orchid
Swainson's Thrush The Swainson's Thrush is the greyest of our wood thrushes.
Chezzetcook Salt MarshThe Chezzetcook Salt Marsh is one of the largest accessible salt marshes in the Halifax area and always surprises me with its offerings. Yesterday it squalled so photography was limited to what I could accomplish from my car. No problem since the first bird to show was a Snowy Egret, my first of the year. Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron .....a very soggy one!
Savannah Sparrow
Nelson's SparrowI usually photograph the Nelson's Sparrow at Rainbow Haven Provincial Park but do to the squalls yesterday I opted for the Chezzetcook Salt Marsh where I could photograph from my car and yes, stay dry. I like the ochre colouration on the the face. Nelson's Sparrow
Black-bellied Whistling DuckI left early yesterday morning to see and photograph the Black-bellied Whistling Duck in Musquodoboit Harbour. It's a very rare duck of the deep south and arrived here in a group of ten. It was well worth the trip despite the squalls coming and going. Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Warbler Walk, June 4, Jerry Lawrence Provincial ParkI led my annual warbler walk at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park on June 4. The sky threatened but never rained on us. We found 14 warbler species out of a possible 20 species that have shown nesting behaviour in previous years. Notably absent was our beloved Canada Warbler although others have seen it here earlier this year. Also absent for the third year in a row was Eastern Wood-Pewee. Flycatchers were represented only by the Alder Flycatcher. The decline in diversity and numbers of species is evident year after year. There were 23 of us(count the legs and divide by two with uneven counts always rounded up). We were fortunate to have some representation from the Wild Flora Society this year so all the wildflowers, trees and shrubs could be identified. Our Intrepid Walkers We put in almost four hours along the trail.
Cedar Waxwing
This open area is boggy with a creek running through it. It has beavers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Harriers, Broad-winged Hawks, Osprey and lots of Swamp and Song Sparrows.
The wet understory is preferred by Canada Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. The Canada Warbler nesting area North of Lewis Lake is a large wet area like this with many more tall living trees and running water quite impassable to sane humans.
Old Annapolis Road TrailThe Old Annapolis Road Trail is one of my favourite places near Halifax. It's great for a leisurely nature hike or for nature photography. Specialities of this area are Swainson's Thrush, Bay-breasted and Blackburnian Warbler and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. It is also renowned for black fly swarms and is probably the best area for Cape May Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher near Halifax. I was successful yesterday in photographing the Swainson's Thrush and Bay-breasted Warbler although I will have to improve my photos of Bay-breasted Warbler. I will return several times in the next two months. Bay-breasted Warbler
Swainson's Thrush
Ram's Head Orchid, Yellow Ladies Slipper Orchid and Painted TrilliumI went to a couple of my favourite places this morning primarily searching for rare and endangered orchids. They are getting harder to find as the trolls come into these places with their little pails and little shovels and desecrate the orchid patches. These trolls have no respect for nature, fellow orchid lovers or themselves. Our worst enemy in protecting these rare and endangered species is social media. Well meaning folks post details of their finds for all the world to see. These sites are rare bird alerts, nature forums and floral sites. They often use Facebook or Yahoo to disseminate information on birds and flowers. Education does not work. I did find one small patch of Ram's Head Orchid. The rest of the row is gone! The orchid itself is about the size of a dime and low to the ground. One has to lay down on the ground to photograph these elegant orchids, sometimes a wet experience. The Yellow Ladies Slipper Orchid is just beginning to open. I only found one clump during a quick search although there are others around still closed. The Painted Trillium is not rare or endangered but still a treat to find and photograph. Ram's Head Orchid
Yellow Ladies Slipper Orchid
Painted Trillium
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