Like most Sandpipers the Baird's Sandpiper is usually seen on the southward migration. Like many of its kind its a tame bird and will approach closely if you don't move and just wait.

It nests in the tundra and is a visitor to most provinces and states on its southward trek.

Baird's Sandpiper

The Eurasian Wigeon is an annual regular to Nova Scotia often wintering in local ice free ponds and coastal bays. Its a dabbler so quite at home with our other dabbling ducks in winter ponds.

Photos below show it beside the more common American Wigeon, on the left. Its golden beret is a good field mark.

Eurasian Wigeon

The Chestnut-sided warbler although primarily a forest edge warbler is also found in the deep forest. It is a successful warbler found almost everywhere. It is a boisterous singer and easily located. Its good looks is also an attract for photographers.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

The Cattle Egret is the smallest of our white egrets. Its extremely tame if you can find one although it is an annual regular. They turn up in the oddest places. I photographed one alongside and on a local road. The only edibles in the area were green frogs.

It is usually seen in farm yards and on the backs of large cattle where it does the host a favour by picking off insects and parasites. It forms large flocks around cattle herds or water buffalo and similar large bovids.

Cattle Egret

The Ruddy Turnstone is usually seen on its southward migration often with reduced flumage highlights. It is a tame bird and easily photographed as long as you stay still and wait for it to march by.

As its name implies it makes a living by picking off morsels from rocks it turns over. It also works tidal ponds.

Ruddy Turnstone

The American Redstart breeds in Canada and the United States but mostly in Canada. The adult male is a striking bird whereas the immature male and female less so, albeit with their own subtle elegance.

They are wide spread and common with a myriad of variations in their songs akin to a rambunctious Black-and-White Warbler. I find them deep in forests and forest edges.

American Redstart

This is a compendium of tall ships circuiting or entering Halifax Harbour. These magnificent vessels visit every few years and are always worth the wait. Set up early with a medium zoom lens like a 70-200mm f2.8 and enjoy the spectacle.

Compendium of Tall Ships

Alexander Von Humboldt II 100 Alexander Von Humboldt II 101 ATYLA 100 ATYLA 101 ATYLA 102 Blue Clipper 100 Blue Clipper 101 Bluenose 11 100SONY DSC Bluenose 11 101 Bluenose 11 102 Cisne Branco 100SONY DSC Danfor 100 El Galeon 100 El Galeon 101 El Galeon 102 Gazela 100 Gulden Leeuw 100 Gulden Leeuw 101 HMCS Oriole 100 HMCS Oriole 101 Larinda 100 Larinda 101 Mist of Avalon 100 NRP Sagres 100 Oosterschelde 100 Oosterschelde 101 Peter von Danzig 100 Picton Castle 100 Pride of Baltimore 11 100 Regina-Germania 100 Renaissance 11 100SONY DSC Silva 100SONY DSC Simon Bolivar 100 Simon Bolivar 101 Sloop 11A20623 100SONY DSC Spaniel 100 Spaniel 101 Spirit of Bermuda 100 Spirit of Bermuda 101 Spirit of South Carolina 102 Spirit of Southern Carolina 100 Spirit of Southern Carolina 101 St. Lawrence II 100 St. Lawrence II 101 Tavoy IV 100SONY DSC The Bounty 100 The Bounty and Pride of Baltimore II 100 The Bounty and Pride of Baltimore II 101 Tree of Life 100 Tree of Life 101 USCGS Eagle 100 USCGS Eagle 101 USCGS Eagle 102 Whitebird 100 Wylde Swan 100

The Red Crossbill behaves and looks much the same as the White-winged Crossbill except for the white wings.

Like its partner the White-winged Crossbill the Red Crossbill is a large finch, quite tame and readily visits feeders.

Red Crossbill

Both Crossbill species, the Red Crossbill and White-winged Crossbill are primarily Canadian birds and we are pleased to have them. Their specialized crossed bills are an adaption to working the cones of coniferous trees, although they frequent both fir and spruce forests.

The crossbills are tame and will visit feeders dwarfing the other finches.

White-winged Crossbill

The Monarch Butterfly is a regular in Nova Scotia sometimes occurring in large numbers. I once counted over 100 in one walk. It is easily confused with the less common Viceroy Butterfly which has a "v" on its wings below the body.

Look for it alongside roadsides working the wildflowers. Milkweed is the favourite but usually only occurs where it has been planted to attract and help the Monarch Butterfly.

Monarch Butterfly

The Ram's Head Orchid is among Nova Scotia's rarest, if not the rarest native orchid. Unfortunately this leads to predation by humans who are stupid enough to dig up a rare and protected ochid in hopes of either selling it or trying to store it in one's garden.

The Ram's Head Orchid requires alkaline well drained soil with dappled sunlight. It's fussy about its home. If you find them tell no one especially the wild flora societies since they will bring out troops of gawkers and potential raiders.

It is small with the flower head about the size of your little finger nail.

Ram's Head Orchid

The Grass Pink Orchid is another of our backyard orchids. High rubber boots are recommended to photograph this small orchid. Like its stable mate the Dragon's Mouth Orchid they are hard to photograph well due to their boggy habitat and habit of waving in the wind which defeats depth of field settings unless you like sky high ISO settings.

Grass Pink Orchid

The Common Murre and Black-legged Kittiwake often nest side by side. Their colonies are a sight to behold and treasure. They nest on the ledges(barely) of ocean side cliffs with large colonies in Newfoundland.

Common Murre and Black-legged Kittiwake