Northern Light Bird Banding Station List

Brian reports...
Here is a list of the birds we banded yesterday near North Point. I left the island early this morning, and it was much quieter than Tuesday. Still lots of birds in the (mainland) woods, so perhaps Earl will get them into migration mode.

Brier Island - Aug. 31 (49 birds)
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10 Red-eyed Vireo
8 Black-throated Green Warbler
4 American Redstart
4 Magnolia Warbler
3 Alder Flycatcher
2 Canada Warbler
2 Least Flycatcher
2 Blackburnian Warbler
2 Swainson’s Thrush
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Philadephia Vireo
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
1 Black-thoated Blue Warbler
1 Black-and-white Warbler
1 Yellow-Warbler
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Northern Parula
1 Northern Waterthrush

Thanks again to Lance Laviolette, Bander-in-charge,
Brier Island Migration Monitoring Station.

My unexpectant parting gift...

Hi Everyone
Well yesterday was my last day for whale watching. Will be going to Newfoundland to continue my studies in fish and wildlife. Will try to put on more of our trips when i can for everyone. Hope everyone has a great fall! See you next summer...
This was my parting gift last night. Peajack Breaching by the boat.

Shuttle and Calf

Today as we travelled out into the Bay of Fundy we were buzzed by two Hummingbnirds! We also sighted 7 tree swallows flying by! Lots of whales moving in closer to our Island. In the evening we sighted Shuttle and her calf Breach! Didn't get the calf i was in shock so when i returned to my senses i waited with my camera up and sure enough Shuttle breached in front of me! Amazing!Here is a picture of Shuttle breaching.

Mother and Calf Right Whale

AS we were coming back from a fantastic cruise the final finale was seeing one of the most endangered whales in our area. A North Atlantic Right whale mother and calf pair was sighted swimming through our harbor! Here is some pics!

Mother and Calf Pairs!

Today was like a nursery area! We sighted Knuckles and her calf, Lace and her calf, and Flash with her calf all together! There was also 6 other adult humpback whales in the area so we all had a wonderful day. On our 1:30 we had a whale named Sockeye who wanted to see if he could get everyone wet!!!! What a great encounter, you wonder who is watching whom!
We also seen Badge, Pisces and Magpie today.

Great day on the water

Today we had another great day on the water and steamed down to the rip area where we came Quote and her calf which we haven't seen since June. We also sighted some harbor porpoises, grey seals, red and red-necked phalaropes, wilson storm petrels, Northern Gannets, 3 Atlantic Puffins and Greater Shearwaters.
At 1:30 we sighted Knuckles and her calf with Badge. At 5:30 we sighted Knuckles and her calf with the calf rolling around looking at us and playing in the rockweed. Badge and Meteor joined the mother and calf pair and some harbor porpoises were close by. Flash and her calf was further below these whales.

Shuttles return!

Hi Everyone
Went out the southern end of the island passed Greenhead we sighted 2 Bald Eagles and 1 Spotted sandpiper and near ledge areas in back of the Island where Grey and Harbor Seals like to lay on the rocks and rest at low tide. Lots of Red-necked Phalaropes in the rockweed streaks. We also sighted an Ocean Sunfish slowly swimming along in this area. We then came across Shuttle and her calf. The calf was very friendly and curious and was rolling around looking at us. It was such a gogeous day and the water so clear you could saee the calf very well underwater. As we steamed along further towards the rip area we sighted a Minke Whale along the way and many harbor porpoises. We also sighted two other adult humpback whales named Peajack and Pierce.
IN the evening we sighted two mother and calf pairs Flash and her calf and Bungee and her calf. We also sighted Badge and Jawa. Many gannets were diving in the shoal area and we sighted some Atlantic-white-sided dolphins which are always lots of fun to watch. As we headed around Northern light i noticed about 10 Common terns.

Right Whales sighted

Hi Everyone
Well today was a bit choppy but we had some really good looks at the whales anyway. We also got a chance on our 1:30 cruise to see 2 Right Whales! Here is some pics of the day...

Travels to Newfoundland

Hi Everyone
I wanted to let all of my readers know i will be moving to Corner Brook Newfoundland at the end of August to study at the College of the North Atlantic. It is a 2 year course and i will be studying Fish and Wildlife Technology. I am having difficulties finding a place to rent that is near the college and that is pet friendly, i have two older labrador dogs. My husband will be joining me later as soon as whale watching is done. So i thought i might turn to my readers for some help. If you know of any lodgings i would appreciate your help. Thanks so much...i will continue my nature sightings in Newfoundland hopefully but i will be coming back home to Brier Island next summer and will continue reporting the nature sightings in my travels.
June Swift

Breaching whales, new mother and calf pairs

Hi Everyone
Yesterday we had some good cruises although it was a bit rough we still managed to get some good views. On our evening cruise we seen a new mother and calf pair. Flamingo and her calf! That brings the mother and calf pairs in our area up to 12! Fantastic! On our way in we sighted a whale breaching, and then we sighted Flash and her calf. On the zodiac they had a Sperm whale sighting, which is unusual for our area. Ususally we just get baleen whales but once in awhile a toothed whale will travel through our area but they don't stay long. All in all a great day!

Fall Migrant Birds

Reports from Eric Mills..
This morning a group of 35+ Red-breasted Nuthatches was at Northern Point, Brier Island, at dawn. Many of them soon flew off to the NE, as fall migrants often do. This is 2-3 weeks earlier than my previous late summer records
The only other obvious migrant was an adult Ovenbird in the end thickets at the point.

Who is watching whom!

Hi Everyone
Well these last few days have been terrific! Great weather, whales and people.The whales we have sighted have been close to our island and in numerous numbers. Some new whales have come into our area including some new mother and calf pairs which is always exciting. We have had some incredible close approaches and i wonder who is actually watching whom!