RazorbillThe Razorbill is a nifty bird and easy to identify in flight with its magnificent bill leading the way. I have seen this bird flying by off Shoal Point, Nova Scotia, which is incorrectly called Chebucto Head by many folks. Its another all Canadian bird nesting from Newfoundland to Labrador and on some islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Razorbill
Painted Lady ButterflyIn my field experience the Painted Lady is our most common coloured butterfly. The sulphurs and whites are probably the most common butterflies overall. We saw our first Painted Lady of the year two weeks ago. We planted a Clethra alnifolia(the coastal sweet pepper bush or summersweet) shrub near our front steps. Its a late summer bloomer much appreciated by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is a native species.
Four years ago for reasons unknown but appreciated hundreds of Painted Ladies descended on the summersweet feasting on the nectar of the tall white flowering plumes of this magnificent shrub.
Painted Lady
White-winged DoveThe White-winged Dove is easily separated from the Mourning Dove by its larger bill and lack of spotting on the back and of course the prominent white wing bar. We've had three backyard visits by this primarily Mexican bird. It usually stays for one or two weeks when it does appear. Like other doves it is not a shy bird and easy to photograph. White-winged Dove
Prothonotary WarblerThe Prothonotary Warbler is a stunning bird. I tried to photograph this warbler twenty years ago in Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario. They nest in Rondeau Provincial Park in bird boxes over water..........but to see this bird in Nova Scotia is a treat. The first photo below is a migrant lurking in the shrubbery of Pennant Point Provincial Park(Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park). The lighting did wonders to the colour of the bird but alas I had to remove noise from the photo which washes out the detail but no matter I have lots of other photos of this bird taken in Nova Scotia. I do not know of any records of the Prothonotary Warbler nesting in Nova Scotia but then again who can check out all of our wilderness areas that are perfect for nesting such as the wetlands of the Tobeatic Wilderness Reserve. Prothonotary Warbler
Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser YellowlegsThe Greater Yellowlegs and the Lesser Yellowlegs are similar in appearance. Although the Greater Yellowlegs usually has a longer and upturned bill this is not a reliable means of separating the species since the bill lengths of the two species overlap and the upturn in the Greater Yellowlegs bill is not always prominent enough to be diagnostic. Both species are Canadian birds, born and raised in the Canadian Tundra, but a few Greater Yellowlegs do nest in Nova Scotia although the presence of both species can overlap. The most reliable way to separate the species is by size since the Greater Yellowlegs is larger, quite evident when the two species are side by side. They can be separated most reliably by song. The Greater Yellowlegs has a three part song whereas the Lesser Yellowlegs has a one or two part song. The songs of both species is usually uttered when the birds take flight.
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Flycatcher and Alder FlycatcherOur two common flycatchers are the Alder Flycatcher and the Least Flycatcher. They look similar at a glance although the Least Flycatcher has a larger eye ring but this is not diagnostic. They reside in different but overlapping habitats, the Alder Flycatcher preferring shrubs of the forest edge whereas the Least Flycatcher prefers the deep woods. The quickest and surest method of identification is their songs which are quite different. Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
The Tall Pine ForestI visited the tall pine forest to meet and greet the annual arrival of the nesting Pine Warblers. I was not able to capture the golden yellow of the Pine Warbler like I had hoped. Perhaps a day with better light will help. The Pine Warbler was probably a female which is less showy than the male. There were lots of other warblers present including my beloved Blackburnian Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Northern Parula. A Winter Wren was singing from the deep woods. Northern Flicker
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Angry SeaSeaside photographs seldom capture the splendor and power of the ocean. The trick is to have an object that can provide scale but this is usually impossible since who would be out on the water in harsh weather and close to the shoreline rocks. Angry Sea
Ruffed GrouseThe Ruffed Grouse is a favourite target and almost always found in our backyard multiflora bramble. I ran into a family on a hike and the adult male or female(its hard to tell the difference) jumped towards me and bellowed. I backed away. The adult bird was so close to me I couldn't focus the camera. The hatchlings disappeared into the brush soon after the encounter. Ruffed Grouse
Coastal Nova ScotiaThis is a compendium of coastal Nova Scotia photographs. Lack of haze and puffy cumulus clouds are always on order but not always delivered. Coastal Nova Scotia
Late Winter SunriseThese photos of sunrises were taken at various locations. At this time of year it requires early rising. Photos are usually most effective at low tide, especially if the receding tide has left a sheen of water on the sand. The cargo ship sunrise photo is my favourite and was taken through my living room window. Sunrise in Nova Scotia
Black-throated Blue WarblerThe Black-throated Blue Warbler is a favourite of mine, probably due to its navy blue head and back. It sings continuously so it is easy to find and in my field observations the local population of this species has exploded. It is found in all our national and provincial parks in mature forests. A reliable field mark for this species in all its plumage patterns throughout the year, male and female, is the white patch on the wing. Black-throated Blue Warbler
RedheadThe aptly named Redhead is a handsome and rare visitor to Nova Scotia. It breeds in the centre of our continent mostly in the prairie provinces and adjacent states and winters further south scattered throughout the continent . It used to breed nearby in New Brunswick but I have no record of recent activity. Due to its relative proximity we should be seeing more of this bird. Redhead
Blackpoll WarblerThe Blackpoll Warbler flies from the Caribbean and South America to its breeding grounds, the mosquitto and black fly infested boreal forests of Northern Canada. It is almost wholly a Canadian bird. It breeds in Nova Scotia in the wind swept spruce forests of the exposed Atlantic Ocean coast. The song of this warbler will test your hearing with peaks reaching 10,000 hertz. I can still hear it, hoorah! Blackpoll Warbler
Yellow WarblerThe Yellow Warbler is often the most numerous species in fresh water wetlands and marshes. At some banding stations over 90% of the warblers banded are Yellow Warblers, such as at the now closed banding station at Lake Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada. The station was closed due to flooding by the rising waters of Lake Manitoba. It is a friendly bird and easy to photograph. The male has the burgundy striping on the chest whereas the female's chest is all yellow. It sings from the tops of marsh grasses, shrubs and reeds for extended periods. Yellow Warbler
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