The Ram's Head Orchid is Nova Scotia rarest or hardest to find native orchid. It prefers dappled light into alkaline soil usually on well drained side slopes. I went three times to find this orchid. No I'm not insane. The problem was the awful spring weather delaying the orchid by almost three weeks. When I found it June 16 some were already fading so clearly timing is everything with this orchid.

The orchid itself is the size of the fingernail on your little finger. It's small and often shrouded by a mantle of leaves. It also resides in tick infested areas so sensible precautions have to be taken.

I used a telephoto lens(560mm F8, full frame) at slow shutter speeds due to the overcasting clouds and shady conditions. The plus side to the conditions is that there was no shadow to diminish the image quality. The antishake filter on my editing software kept crashing so I couldn't use it but I have no regrets. It was well worth the effort.

Ram's Head Orchid

Ram's Head Orchid 100 Ram's Head Orchid 101 Ram's Head Orchid 103 Ram's Head Orchid 104 Ram's Head Orchid 105 Ram's Head Orchid 106 Ram's Head Orchid 107 Ram's Head Orchid 108 Ram's Head Orchid 109 Ram's Head Orchid 110 Ram's Head Orchid 111 Ram's Head Orchid 112 Ram's Head Orchid 113 Ram's Head Orchid 114 Ram's Head Orchid 116 Ram's Head Orchid 118 Ram's Head Orchid 119 Ram's Head Orchid 121 Ram's Head Orchid 122 Ram's Head Orchid 123 Ram's Head Orchid 124

The Yellow Ladies' Slipper Orchid is a hard to find gem like the Ram's Head Orchid. They prefer dry alkaline soil and full sun light although they will prosper in dappled light.

I found this orchid on each of my three trips searching for the Ram's Head Orchid. By my third and last trip of the year it was in bloom everywhere along the route.

Yellow Ladies' Slipper Orchid

Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 100 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 101 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 102 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 103 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 104 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 105 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 106 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 107 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 108 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 109 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 110 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 111 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 112 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 113 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 114 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 115 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 116 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 117 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 118 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 119 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 120 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 121 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 122 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 123 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 124 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 125 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 126 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 127 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 128 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 129 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 130 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 131 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 132 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 133 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 134 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 135 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 136 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 137 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 138 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 139

Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 100 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 101 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 102 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 103 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 104 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 105 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 106 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 107 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 108 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 109 Yellow Ladies's Slipper Orchid 110

Two warblers that make good use of colour are the American Redstart and Blackburnian Warbler. Interestingly, their songs are somewhat alike too although the American Redstart has a different tonal quality and at least 22 variations on the theme of its song often challenging beginners.

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler 100 Blackburnian Warbler 101 Blackburnian Warbler 102 Blackburnian Warbler 103 Blackburnian Warbler 104 Blackburnian Warbler 105

Blackburnian Warbler 40

American Redstart

American Redstart 60 American Redstart 61 American Redstart 63 American Redstart 64

American Redstart 1

The Nelson's Sparrow is a denizen of our coastal salt marshes easily located thanks to its emphatic buzz. It's a handsome bird with ochre accents on its face and chest. It's tail is short and sharply pointed. It also has a substantial bill.

Nelson's Sparrow

Nelson's Sparrow 109 Nelson's Sparrow 100 Nelson's Sparrow 101 Nelson's Sparrow 102 Nelson's Sparrow 103 Nelson's Sparrow 104 Nelson's Sparrow 105 Nelson's Sparrow 106 Nelson's Sparrow 107 Nelson's Sparrow 108 Nelson's Sparrow 110

Red-eyed Vireo

It is a bird of dense woodlands. I saw this one on route to the salt marsh. Note the hooked bill reminiscent of its larger cousin the shrike.

Savannah Sparrow Savannah Sparrow 100 Savannah Sparrow 101 Savannah Sparrow 102

Song Sparrow Song Sparrow 100 Song Sparrow 101 Song Sparrow 102

The Pine Warbler is an early arrival to its nesting grounds. You guessed it, it prefers tall mature pine trees which does make it hard to find except for its distinctive musical trill.

Its also a late migrant not so much from its local haunts but stray western birds passing through the province. They come to the ocean and say, "whoops", and then turn south sometimes well into November.

Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler 100 Pine Warbler 101 Pine Warbler 102 Pine Warbler 103 Pine Warbler 104 Pine Warbler 105 Pine Warbler 106 Pine Warbler 107 Pine Warbler 108

The Olive-sided Flycatcher is an elusive bird except for its continuous telltale song, "quick-three-beers". Its a species of concern and threatened in many areas due to the reckless use of pesticides by farmers. We don't need perfect vegetables and grains!

Like the Bay-breasted Warbler this flycatcher likes to sing from lofty perches not in woodlands but in marshes and beaver dam created wetlands. The distinctive open vest look is a good field mark.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 Olive-sided Flycatcher 4 Olive-sided Flycatcher 5 Olive-sided Flycatcher 6 Olive-sided Flycatcher 7 Olive-sided Flycatcher 8

The theory of insanity was starting to show itself after I tried twice to find the Bay-breasted Warbler in the same location as in previous years. The theory being that if you keep trying the same thing and expecting a different result then you are insane. Well I tried a new location and yes the Bay-breasted Warbler was there. Hooray!

This warbler likes to stay high in the canopy so getting eyeball level shots is a challenge.

Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler 100 Bay-breasted Warbler 101 Bay-breasted Warbler 102 Bay-breasted Warbler 103 Bay-breasted Warbler 105 Bay-breasted Warbler 106 Bay-breasted Warbler 107 Bay-breasted Warbler 108 Bay-breasted Warbler 109 Bay-breasted Warbler 110

The Lewis's Woodpecker is a resident and short distance migrant of the continental west up to British Columbia. I looked for one in early July 2004 near Elgin, Nova Scotia. How and why this bird ended up in the great white north is a mystery. The bird circled a home in Duncan's Cove, Nova Scotia, with every movement followed by a moving mass of birders. It never came close due to this birding pack so my photos are severely, I mean severely, cropped.

Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker 12

Lewis's Woodpecker 11

Lewis's Woodpecker 4 Lewis's Woodpecker 5 Lewis's Woodpecker 6 Lewis's Woodpecker 7 Lewis's Woodpecker 8 Lewis's Woodpecker 9 Lewis's Woodpecker 10

Lewis's Woodpecker 20 Lewis's Woodpecker 21 Lewis's Woodpecker 22

This was our second adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak of this spring. It was hungry and lingered at the feeder, a much tamer bird than the previous Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It was probably enjoying a welcome refueling stop after a long flight leg. Like our first visitor this bird stayed for about five days.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 40 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 41 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 42 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 43 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 44 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 45 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 46 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 47

I took an overnight trip to Chignecto Provincial Parks. My target species were Mourning Warbler and Cape May Warbler resulting in two strikes with no hits. The trip was nonetheless enjoyable with some evening rain the first day. I have a few bird photos, some remarkable images of Turkey Vulture warming their wings in the morning sun and some scenic Nova Scotia countryside. The Turkey Vultures are shown in a separate blog.

American Redstart

American Redstart 40 American Redstart 41

Black-throated Green Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler 40

Blackburnian Warbler Blackburnian Warbler 40

Nova Scotia Scenes  Brookfield Marsh 40

Canada Goose and Family(this is the boy scout march, leader in front, minions in the centre and the 2IC guarding the rear)  Canada Goose Family Flotilla 1

Canada Jay(also known as Grey Jay, Gray Jay-the misspelled form, Camp Robber, Whiskey Jack) This is Canada's national bird, so far unofficially)

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 11

Nova Scotia Scenes Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 40 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 41 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 42 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 43 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 43 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 44 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 45 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 46 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 47 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 48 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 49 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 50 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 51 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 52 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 54 Cape Chignecto Expedition Scenes 55

Cape d'Or Light

Grey(sp) Catbird

Grey Catbird 40 Grey Catbird 41

Hermit Thrush(annoyed at my presence)

Hermit Thrush 40 Hermit Thrush 41

Log Home-amazing!
Log Home 1

 Memories-lots of them here Memories 1 Memories 2 Memories 3

Ovenbird Ovenbird 40 Ovenbird 41 Ovenbird 42 Ovenbird 43

Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush 40 Swainson's Thrush 41 Swainson's Thrush 42

Tree Swallow Tree Swallow 1 Tree Swallow 2

Turkey Vultures(see more photos on my dedicated blog of this amazing display) Turkey Vulture 41

Wentworth Falls(tripod and neutral density filter not used)

Wentworth Falls 1 Wentworth Falls 2 Wentworth Falls 3

Yellow Warbler Yellow Warbler 40 Yellow Warbler 41 Yellow Warbler 42 Yellow Warbler 43 Yellow Warbler 44

Countryside Pastoral Scene  Pastoral 1

I saw this pair of Turkey Vultures on my second morning of my visit to Cape Chignecto Provincial Park. I have never seen this behaviour from Turkey Vultures before although I do not see them as much as folks further to the south would. They are not swimmers so could this be a simple delight in absorbing the warmth of the morning sun-who knows?? Perhaps they are drying the overnight dew before beginning their long soaring tipsy foraging flight.

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture 41 Turkey Vulture 43 Turkey Vulture 44 Turkey Vulture 45

Canada Jay

There was a national competition and vote for Canada's National Bird. This bird won as it should. It is an almost exclusive Canadian bird, non migratory, with a great Canadian personality; gregarious, friendly and a loyal and protective parent.

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 Canada Jay 11

I enjoyed my second warbler walk of the year at Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park although I had a late start and could only stay for two hours. The warbler tally is now at 16 species on territory. I did not hear or see the Canada Warbler but I do know where its nesting. The Olive-sided Warbler is now on territory and singing brightly, "quick-three beers", an unmistakable song.

American Redstart

American Redstart 30 American Redstart 31

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee 30 Black-capped Chickadee 31

Common Yellowthroat Common Yellowthroat 30 Common Yellowthroat 31 Common Yellowthroat 32 Common Yellowthroat 33 Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird 30 Eastern Kingbird 31

Grey Catbird Grey Catbird 30

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler 30 Magnolia Warbler 31 Magnolia Warbler 32

Palm Warbler  Palm Warbler 30

Yellow-rumped Warbler  Yellow-rumped Warbler 30 Yellow-rumped Warbler 31 Yellow-rumped Warbler 32 Yellow-rumped Warbler 33 Yellow-rumped Warbler 34