Monday, June 28, 2010

June 26 trip across the Bay





Today we were across the bay in an area called the prong. Handstand was really putting on a show for us and we had some incredible close approaches. Can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon. I think our passengers felt the same. Enjoy the pics!

Great trip on the Bay of Fundy




Here is some pictures from our whale watch trip on June 26. Fist was tail lobbing that day and flipper slapping. Our captain was marking alot of feed in this area so we had some really good looks at some humpbacks.

Whales, dolphins and seabirds





Hi Everyone
Just thought i would put on some of our sightings from a couple days ago 17 miles across the bay. Hope you enjoy them i certainly enjoyed the trip! It was pretty awesome we even seen a double breach that day! Along with Atlantic white-sided dolphins, harbor porpoises, puffins, gannets, razor-billed auk, wilson storm petrels, greater shearwaters and sooty shearwaters.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Fin Whales

Hi Everyone
Well today was rainy and cold but it didn't dampen our spirits although it sure dampened my pants haha! Went out whale watching and sighted 2 adult Fin whales feeding in around the buoy area. These are the largest baleen whale we usually get in our area and it was great to see them so close to the boat. They really are majestic whales.We also sighted some Harbour Porpoises, Northern Gannets, Wilson's storm petrels, and greater and sooty shearwaters.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Bay of Fundy whale car comes to visit Brier






Hi Everyone
Today i didn't go out on the boat whale watching but sighted a mother and calf Right Whale in the harbour from shore. My friend Terri who has the Bay of Fundy Blog and is promoting the Bay of Fundy in her customized whale car was just driving back from Joshua Slocum's monument when i yelled out STOP THE CAR! I SEE A RIGHT WHALE! We couldn't believe our eyes so we pulled the whale car over and got out as soon as we could. We grabbed our camera gear and tried to get a good picture of the whales going through the harbour. After that excitment Terri took some video shorts of the whale watching businesses then we went to Northern and Western light to look at some of the flora and fauna in that area. We sighted Pitcher Plants, Grass Pink, Dragon's-mouth, Rose pogonia and the endangered Eastern Mountain Avens.All in all we had a very enjoyable day!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Sightings from today



Hi Everyone
Today started out foggy this morning but i did manage to see 2 catbirds in my back yard before heading out to work. On the whale watch today we steamed towards the rip 4 miles off Western Light we finally seen the sun! Our sightings today include 1 Minke whale and 2 Humpback whales. One was Gremlin and the other still need to be identified. Pelagic birds in our area were Sooty and Greater Shearwaters, Wilsons Storm Petrels, Puffins, and Northern Gannets. All in all it turned out to be a good day.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

North Atlantic Right Whales



Hi Everyone
Well today whale watching we were in for a special treat. We sighted a Mother and Calf Right Whale not to far off Northern Light by the buoys. There are only 400 North Atlantic Right whales left in the world so it is especially great to see a mom with her calf. Today we had a bit of wind come up so we couldn't get to our usual places to look for humpbacks. We also sighted 14 Common Terns, Lots of Wilson Storm Petrels skimming the tips of the waves, Greater and Sooty ShearwatersNorthern Fulmars, and in the harbour some Black Guillemots. All in all a very good day indeed. Here is some pics from today enjoy!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

6 Humpbacks


Littlespot

Chorni



Hi Everyone
Well we had another fabulous day on the water.We sighted 6 humpback whales about 6 miles from Northern Light. Littlespot, Pierce, Lagoon, Chorni squiggle, and New Moon.
We also sighted some puffins flying by, Northern Fulmars, Greater and Sooty Shearwaters and Wilson storm- petrels and a grey seal. Here is some pics from the day...

Whale Watching yesterday

Cetacean Adventure with Littlespot
Black and White Warbler
Greater Shearwater
Littlespot
New Moon
Pierce
Hi Everyone
Yesterday i went out whale watching and about 4 miles off the Island we sighted two humpback whales named Little Spot and Pierce. After we watched them awhile we travelled down further and spotted two more humpbacks bubble net feeding. We identified them as New Moon and Sunburst. Harold our captain noticed on the sounder alot of feed close to the surface and everyone was dining on it.Also circling the area were 2 minke whales, and habour seals. Some of the birds we noticed were Greater and Sooty Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, Northern Gannet, a puffin and 1 Black and White warbler flying around our boat. Got a picture of it in mid flight!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Cetacean Adventure

I wanted to put on a video my husband had taken out whale watching the other day in the zodiac. As you can hear from his voice he was very excited! I think i would have been too! Enjoy

Nature Conservancy Volunteer Event

Hello Everyone
Yesterday i participated in a volunteer event hosted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.NCC is dear to my heart because i worked as the steward for the Brier Island Nature Preserve for three years so of course i went to help them out. Joining staff and members of our communities we pitched in and cleaned up alot of garbage in the pond cove area. We also re-roped areas, and planted trees. Craig, NCC coordinator for N.S was the designated chief on the bbq that day and cooked up a delicious lunch for all the volunteers. Even my GOMI (Gulf of Maine Institute) girls were pitching in and doing a great job. Volunteering is the backbone of our communities, its nice to see our community pull together to create a place we can be proud of. Will put on some pics as soon as i get them loaded onto mhy computer..

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Snowy Egret

Eric Mills reports...
A Snowy Egret in Big Pond cove.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Bird Report

Eric Mills Reports....
While doing a little recreational birding before atlasing, I found a Black-billed Cuckoo in downtown Westport this morning.

Bluebirds in the area have increased to 5 (maybe 6).

Other migrants: a singing Red-eyed Vireo, Nasheville Warbler, Canada Warbler.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Humpbacks, lightning storms

Hi Everyone
Last night we had some thunder and lightning displays! The Westport Church steeple was hit blowing out the whole side of it and a couple of houses were hit that blew the plugs out of the wall! Thank goodness no one was hurt.
Today my husband went out whale watching and came across 3 HUMPBACKS! Yay! they are finally here! As soon as they are Identified i will put them up.
I also sighted a Bluebird flew by when i was looking at the church steeple.

The three male humpbacks were identified as Luna, Cloud and Gremlin.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Whales, Orchids and Birds


Northern White Bog Orchid

Dragon's Mouth


Hi Everyone
Yesterday on the zodiac cruise my husband sighted a Fin Whale! The zodiac must have looked awfully small compared to the Fin whale. The fin whale is the second largest baleen whale and the largest we usually see in our area, although a few year ago Shelley sighted a Blue Whale but this is not a common occurance. Also sighted in the area right now Minke Whales, Greater Shearwaters, Terns, Red-necked Phalaropes, petrels, Northern Gannets and Harbour porpoises.
On land i scouted out Western Light and noted a couple of Dragon-mouth Orchids in Bloom and near Slocums monumnet along the coastal path was Northern White Bog Orchids. I just love to smell these orchids because they have the a sweet scent kind of like cinnamon. Also sighted 2 Northern Harriers flying low over a field.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Eastern Bluebirds

Eric Mills reports.....
This morning a group of three E. Bluebirds ( a male and two females) arrived on the island.
When I left, they were half-heartedly gathering around a Tree Swallow box at the picnic ground on the Lighthouse Road.

Also today, a Wood Pewee and an Ovenbird. Despite a lot of hummingbird feeders on the
island there were no hummers to be seen until this morning, when a male buzzed the
windows of our cabin.

A slight but noticeable increase in the number of singing Blackpoll Warblers on the island today.

Migration continues, although it is hard to discern in the background of singing birds on territory.