Brier Island Nature Blog

Birds of Brier Island New Book!

2011-12-06T03:42:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile but i wanted to bring a new book to your Christmas Shopping List. Eric Mills and Lance Laviolette have written and produced a new book entitled "Birds Of Brier Island". This special issue can be purchased at:http://tinyurl.com/brierislandbirds/The cost is $25 + postage & handling

Migration Bird Count

2011-05-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Report from Eric Mills...
Four of us (Anne and I, Murray Newell and Cindy) had a colorful morning during the NSMC. At one time, we had a male Scarlet Tanager and a male Summer Tanager in the same binocular field; close by were a male Cardinal, a Baltimore Oriole, about 8 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a male Indigo Bunting.

Later in the day, Anne and I found 2 more Summer Tanagers (a male on the Camp Road and a female at a feeder in Westport), while Murray and Cindy found a Blue Grosbeak in Westport.

The Eurasian Wigeon is still in Pond Cove, along with a pair of Gadwalls (two males yesterday).

Long and Brier Island Adventure Bay of Fundy Travel Show

2011-04-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

Bird Sightings

2011-04-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Richard Stern reports...
9 Turkey Vultures in a group over the Camp Rd. early afternoon, a Male Cardinal in Westport, 2 Horned grebes off Southern Point

Little Blue Heron

2011-04-10T08:42:00.001-07:00

Eric Mills reports...
This morning, there is an impeccable adult Little Blue Heron in a saltmarsh pond in Westport. It is preening and feeding actively - apparently newly arrived

Spruce Grouse

2011-04-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Eric and Anne Mills report...
Rarity is relative. This afternoon, Anne spotted a male Spruce Grouse scuffing about in the leaves near the S end of the Camp Road. We watched (and photographed) it at our feet for half an hour or so. This is only the second documented record for the island, the first being one I saw dead in a hunter's hands, also on the Camp Road, on 11 October 1971.

Other birds of the day: a few migrating D-cr. Cormorants; a Sapsucker; a Downy Woodpecker (scarce); am imm. Northern Shrike; a singing Cardinal; migrant R-w. Blackbirds; and a singing male House Finch (super-scarce). Many Robins, Song Sparrows and Juncos moved out overnight.

Bird Sightings

2011-04-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Eric and Anne Mills report...
On Brier Island, we found a male and two female Barrow's Goldeneyes with ten Commons in the big pond Pond Cove, and nearby a Wilson's Snipe, a Killdeer and an Ipswich Sparrow with many Song Sparrows. An E. Phoebe was feeding on rocks at the N end of Westport, and there were still three Fox Sparrows (one singing) at a feeder along the Camp Road. It was an interesting mix of late winter and early spring today.

Brier island Christmas Bird Count

2010-12-16T10:18:00.001-08:00

BRIER ISLAND CHRISTMAS COUNT, 14 DECEMBER 2010

Weather overcast with showers, then broken cloud; 7-4C. Wind SSW 10-15 kph

0800-1700 AST

Participants: Cindy Garron, George Garron, Louise Garron, Anne Mills, Eric Mills (compiler), Richard Stern, Anne Mills.

54 species, 1833 individuals

Black Duck - 39; Mallard - 1; Common Eider - 107; Surf Scoter - 14; Black Scoter - 11; Long-tailed Duck - 42; Bufflehead - 3; Common Goldeneye - 7; Red-breasted Merganser - 16; Ring-necked Pheasant - 1; Red-throated Loon - 3; Common Loon - 14; Horned Grebe - 1; Red-necked Grebe - 23; Northern Gannet - 22; Double-crested Cormorant - 1; Great Cormorant - 100; Great Blue Heron - 1; Turkey Vulture - 2; Bald Eagle - 1; Northern Harrier - 3; Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1; Red-tailed Hawk - 2; Peregrine Falcon - 1; Purple Sandpiper - 2; Herring Gull - 240; Iceland Gull - 5; Great Black-backed Gull - 92; Black-legged Kittiwake - 307; Jaeger sp. - 1; Dovekie - 6; Razorbill - 204; Black Guillemot - 27; Atlantic Puffin - 1; alcid spp. - 122; Rock Pigeon - 13; Mourning Dove - 31; Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1; Hairy Woodpecker - 1; Northern Shrike - 1; Blue Jay - 13; American Crow - 94; Common Raven - 5; Black-capped Chickadee - 79; Boreal Chickadee - 1; Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2; White-breasted Nuthatch - 1; Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1; European Starling - 79; Bohemian Waxwing - 70; Dark-eyed Junco - 3; Northern Cardinal - 3; Red-winged Blackbird - 2; Common Grackle - 4; American Goldfinch - 6.

Birds during count week but not on count day: White-winged Scoter, Ruffed Grouse, Rough-legged Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Horned Owl, Rusty Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird.

Comments: We were lucky to get a count done only 12 hours after the violent storm on December 13 had ended. The numbers of birds seem to have been reduced by the storm. No Song Sparrows! no White-throated Sparrows! despite plenty of both in the preceding two weeks. Gull numbers were way down, despite the presence of many hundreds sheltering from the storm the day before. With only three observers in the field (the other three did a stellar job on feeders) we couldn't pay enough attention to the sea where there was a day long flypast of Kittiwakes, Razorbills, and probably other species. Our numbers represent only a small sampling of what must have passed the island while we were attempting to sample all the island's habitats.
Eric L. Mills

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Eastern Phoebe

2010-12-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

Eric Mill reports...

Today, Ian McLaren and I found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and an E. Phoebe in Westport.

Other interesting birds included Barrow's Goldeneyes, Red-throated Loon, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcons, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, White-breasted Nuthatches, Am. Pipits, Cardinals, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, Grackles, a male Rusty Blackbird, and Purple Finch - some perhaps useful for the winter list.

Dead Humpback Whale Calf

2010-12-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Lisa Clark reports...
A dead Humpback Calf has washed up on the shores near Western Light.

Cattle Egret

2010-11-01T18:32:00.001-07:00

Carl Haycock reports....
Ray Tudor reported an egret following his horse at the Brier Island Lodge on Halloween morning. I went up and it is a Cattle Egret. It is still there this morning. Have not seen the skimmers since saturday evening

Intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull, Brier Island

2010-10-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

Report from Eric Mills....
Among the gulls feeding in Pea Jack Cove at high water and in a gale late this afternoon was a very dark Lesser Black-backed Gull that was hard to pick out from the Great Black-backs and showed very little contrast between mantle and wing tip intensity. It had relatively large primary spots, eliminating (onthat feature and others) ''Baltic'' Gull. Sure looked like the W European intermedius to me.

Black Skimmers

2010-10-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Report from Eric Mills...
Thousands of passerines arrived on the island yesterday and today, but the only real exotics were 3 immature Black Skimmers that joined the resting gulls on the Westport waterfront this afternoon.

Common Nighthawk

2010-10-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

Reports from Carl Hayock
Common Nighthawk sighted off and on for 2 weeks.
Lots of warblers and sparrows

Bird Highlights

2010-10-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Report from Eric Mills
On Friday Oct 8th
Here on Brier most of the seasonal specialities have been seen; highlights today include Lesser Black-backed Gull, Green Heron, Common Moorhen, and Field Sparrow.

Brier Island Weekend

2010-09-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Report from Richard Stern....
Just got back from a weekend on Brier. As we arrived at about 9pm, a Coyote stood in the Lighthouse Rd. near the farm, and ran ahead of us before ducking into the Big Meadow. On Saturday night we could hear them howling from our camp.

Saturday was foggy, wet, and SW winds - so hardly any birds, but we did get a single Laughing Gull between our camp and Whipple Point. Today was much better, as the wind had turned NE by this morning. For most of the day anywhere you looked, the sky was full of Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged hawks, with a smattering of Red-tails (all juv., interestingly), N.Harriers, Kestrels, Merlins, Peregrines and just 2 T.Vultures. Flocks of Blue Jays roamed all over the island, and with the large number of Sharpies around, their terminal cries were not infrequent. Flickers were very much in evidence. Just before we left a Peregrine posed on a seaweed covered rock near the ferry.

A sea watch from N.Point this morning was excellent, with a feeding frenzy about 0.5km offshore, with hundreds of Gannets, Kittiwakes, Gr. Shearwaters, 2+ Parasitic Jaegers, all milling around, and at one point a whale breached in the middle of it. Gannets were flying by close offshore right around the island all day.

There were very few passerines.

Orca, and Humpbacks

2010-09-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Sightings of a lone Orca whale again near Brier Island. Humpbacks are also still in the area along with dolphins.

Orca in the Bay of Fundy

2010-09-16T17:54:00.001-07:00

On September 14th Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises sighted an Orca Whale with a pod of dolphins.He also sighted lots of pilots whales. For pictures and more information visit Brier Island Whales Blog...
http://brierislandwhales.blogspot.com/

Bay of Fundy: Canda's New7Wonders of Nature Finalist

2010-09-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Northern Light Bird Banding Station List

2010-08-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

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)
------------------------------------

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...

2010-08-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-08T16:30:00.001-07:00

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

2010-08-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

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!

Sunset Cruise

2010-07-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

This is for the the Tennessee boys who was on our sunset cruise. Here is some pics from that cruise, enjoy!

Great day on the Bay of Fundy!

2010-07-30T03:54:00.000-07:00

Today the Bay of Fundy was calm clear and sunny. As we made our way out into the Bay Capt. Harold pointed out a Bald Eagle flying into the harbor. I also noticed a Spotted Sandpiper near the rocks and Great Blue Herons sitting in the trees. Some Common Terns could be seen flying near Northern Light and a Harbor Seal was resting on the rocks as we made our way out into the Bay. About 2 miles off the Island we sighted our first humpbacks. We identified them as Luna and Gremlin. As we continued on we sighted Flash with her 7th calf. The calf was curious of our boat and would roll over showing us its ventral grooves and his long pectoral fins. He tried to splash everyone and showed off his beautiful tail. Its fun to see the curiousity of the young calves and they endear themselves to everyone. On our 1:30 cruise 4 adult humpbacks were sighted in a group. They were identified as Tigris, Sunburst, Baton and Arroya. It is amazing to see these four humpbacks side by side on the surface. You can really notice how large they are and the different shapes of their dorsal fins. On our way in i noticed some puffins flying by, 2 Common Murres, and some harbor Porpoises. On the 5:30 cruise we had a gorgeous sunset cruise. We counted 10 different humpbacks in a 2 mile radius of each other. Some of the humpbacks we Identified was: Flash and her calf, Rooftop, Collision, and Sabot. Nothern Gannets were diving everywhere around us and flocks of Red Phalaropes were drifting in the tide streaks.

South Polar Skuas

2010-07-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning we sighted 2 South Polar Skuas and two Manx Shearwaters. We also had sightings in the morning of a Fin Whale feeding.

Fantastic Day!

2010-07-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
We had some amazing cruises today even though the seas were a bit choppy Flash's calf was enjoying himself greatly! Breaching and tail lobbing,and flipper slapping. All of a sudden Flash the mom breached and the calf went over to its mom. One of the children on the boat commented that the calf was in trouble and would probably be grounded!
On the evening cruise we sighted Sunburst playing with a piece of Kelp rolling around with it on its snout! Then we sighted one up ahead breaching and went over to see who it was. We found out it was patches and he was really showing off tail lobbing and rolling on its back pectoral fins in the air slapping the water and doing a back stroke. All in all we had a fantastic day!

Fantastic day on the Bay of Fundy

2010-07-24T02:50:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Yesterday was Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises 24th Anniversary so they had three whale watch cruises at half price for people to come on board and celebrate their anniversary date. On the morning trip we had three different species of whales.A mother and calf Humpback whale, Minke Whales, and a Fin Whale in an area 4 or 5 miles off Brier Island. This area is where ledges act as a biological pump and food gathers there and so do the whales sometime. Keep in mind they can be anywhere out there so not just in the ledge areas, we were lucky to find them so close to the Island. Lots of birds in this area also. Flocks of Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, Northern Gannets, Greater Shearwaters, the occational Sooty Shearwater, Puffins, and we sighted a common Murre fly by.
On our afternoon cruise we sighted a mother and calf Humpback whale. The mother we identified as Flash, who is a regular visitor to the Bay of Fundy area. The calf was is learning how to feed and was practicing yesterday by bubble netting. This is when the blow a stream of bubble underneath their prey to concentrate them in a tighter ball. It looks like boiling water on the surface. She was curious of the boat and did a couple close approaches turning to have a closer look at us. We also sighted Tigris an adult humpback male who was having an afternoon siesta. We call this logging, their breathing pattern slows and they rest on the surface of the water just like a log! He woke up for a brief minute turned on his side to look at us then promptly went back to sleep! The highlight was sighting a magnificient frigatebird. See posting on the frigatebird below.
On our Sunset cruise we went to the same area and sighted Flash and her calf again only this time the calf was very active. It was flipper slapping and tail lobbing and breached a couple of times! Mom even slaped her pectoral fins on the surface. As we watched another humpback whale named Baton joined them. IN the distance i could see another humpback coming over to join them also. We ID the fourth whale as Puppet.Clouds of phalaropes were in the tidal streaks, and many Greater Shearwaters and Northern Gannets were in the area also.
All in all a fantastic day on the Bay of Fundy!

Magnificient Frigatebird

2010-07-24T02:37:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure and sheer delight to watch a Magnificient Frigate bird circle around our boat while we were out on an afternoon whale watch. It was about 4 miles off the Island and it kept circling around our boat and wanted to land on our radar!
My husband was on the zodiac and he took some video of it trying to land on his radar. Here is some pictures of this Magnificient bird!

Sightings from the Bay of Fundy

2010-07-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today was clear with a bit of fog. On our 9:30 cruise we headed towards Northwest buoy and found Flash and her calf. We also sighted two other adult humpback whales Half Moon and Flame. We also sighted Harbor Porpoises and Greater Shearwaters, Red Phalaropes, Wilson Storm Petrels, Northern Gannets and Puffins. As we had our lunch before the 1:30 cruise i sighted a Common Tern perched on a mooring so i grabbed my camera and Harold inched the boat up slowly so i could get a picture of this common tern. We then boarded everyone and headed out into the Bay of Fundy again. This time we decided to steam towards the rip which is about 6-7 miles off Western light. Capt. Timmy Crocker sighted 2 humpbacks before the fog shut in thick and we got some looks at Luna and Slingshot.Our Sunset cruise the fog had lifted and it cleared off for a beautiful evening on the water. With the sun going down clouds of phalaropes could be seen doing aerial displays. Northern Gannets were diving and habor porpoises were splashing and hiding in amongst the waves. We had close encounters with 0034 Arroya, Puppet and Shark. On our way in we sighted a Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle and 2 Common Terns on the mooring.All in all a very lovely evening to end the day.

Humpback whales

2010-07-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today was sunny and clear. We had to steam 7 miles off Western Light and sighted three humpback whales. We found out they were Flame, Three Dots, Partition. Lots of Harbor Porpoises and Greater Shearwaters, Wilson's Storm Petrels,Red Phalaropes, Northern Fulmar, and Northern Gannets.
On the afternoon trip we sighted a Minke whale and 6 humpback whales! Flash and calf, joined the group and it was synchronized swimming at its best. Here is some pics from the day.. enjoy

Fog cleared Finally!

2010-07-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Well the FOG finally cleared! We could finally see the spouts of whales instead of shutting down the boat and listening for their spouts. This morning was terrific! We steamed up towards Moore's ledge and Northwest ledge where we sighted 5 different humpback whales and 1 Minke whale. On our way out of the harbour we sighted a mature Bald eagle sitting up in the top of the tree line. Also sighted 2 eider ducks with 2 ducklings. Flash and her calf wwas sighted and the calf certainly entertained everyone on the boat. The calf was tail lobbing rolling over and flipper slapping. Even the calf's mother Flash started to wave its pectoral fins in the air and we had a couple of the humpback adults close approach the boat.
Lots of seabirds in the area. More Red Phalaropes are showing up and we also sighted Puffins, Greater and Sooty Shearwater, Wilson storm petrels, Northern Gannets were diving and even sighted a jellyfishso it turned out to be a great morning.
On the afternoon cruise we sighted the mother and calf again along with some new adults.

BREACHING Humpack Whale

2010-07-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

HI Everyone
It was a foggy day today but we perservered and Capt. Todd Sollows found a whale actually it was breaching by his boat and called us. So we steamed up to where the whale was last sighted and encountered Rooftop who was tail lobbing and flipper slapping. We watched her for awhile and then we steamed further and found Haze. We finally steamed towards the Island when i sighted a calf briefly. Then all of a sudden its mother came up to the surface and we knew it was Flash and her calf. Then all of a sudden the little calf breached by the boat twice! What a great ending to our whale watching trip.

Notes from our whale watch trip today

2010-07-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well the fog burned off into the harbor and a little bit beyond then as we steamed offshore it socked back in again. In the fog we shut down the boat and listen for the whales spout. When the come up to breath you can hear their blow and find their location by sound. This is what we had to do this morning and we sighted Flame and Half Moon along a ledge area stemming the tide. The afternoon trip we went in an area further down in back of the Island off on the rip. In this area we sighted 3 humpback whales. Couldn't get good looks at the underside of the tails where their pigment patterns lie but i did ID Flame in this area when the other two.
My husband was on the zodiac and went out a little later and sighted 8 humpbacks in a group. He said he could hear them vocalizing! Some of the whales he sighted in this group were Meteor, Flame, Half Moon, Magpie, Luna, which are males. Here is some pics from todays trip...enjoy

Whale watching trip notes

2010-07-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

Puffins

Fulmar

Flame

Well we have had some pretty good trips in the fog this week. We sighted humpback named Flame and had lots of Puffins in a group, Red Phalaropes,Northern Fulmars, Wilson Storm Petrels and Northern Gannets.

Ocean Sunfish

2010-07-13T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

Last evening we had a mola mola, Ocean Sunfish come into our harbor and got disoriented and came in close to the beach and ferry wharf. It finally swam out when the tide changed to flood. Here is some pics...

Sightings from a wet and foggy day

2010-07-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today was foggy and at times pouring day rain but that did not hinder our whale sightings. On our morning cruise we sighted 4 adult humpback whales. One we identified as Pina. The others didn't bring up their tails but one had scarring on its jaw and on its tail. It looked like it had been entangled at some point in time. On our second trip out we come across Flash and her calf. This will be Flash's 7th calf. Harbor porpoises, grey and harbor seals and Greater Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwaters, Puffins, Lots of Wilson's Storm petrels, Northern Fulmars, an on our way in we sighted 3 Great Blue Herons in the trees.

New mother and calf humpback whale pair

2010-07-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today was foggy but it was clear when we got out past Northern Light. It hung off long enough to find Mocha with her new calf, and Rooftop. Then on the way in the fog started to shut in again but we sighted Luna on the way end. Also sighted some Puffins, Northern Fulmars, Great Shearwaters and Harbor Porpoises.

Close approaches

2010-07-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

Pinpoint

Hi Everyone

Well we had another incredible trip on the bay today even though the weather was quite foggy. We had a curious humpback whale today he close approached our boat and blew bubbles and turned over to have a look at us. Guess he was people watching! We found out later that this was the 2004 calf of Horizon named Pinpoint. We also sighted Grommet and Filigree.

Feeding frenzy

2010-07-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Today we had groups of humpbacks lunge feeding through krill at the surface. Underneath the krill you could see herring and then up through this rich soup whales, gannets, shearwaters habor porpoises were joining in the feeding frenzy. Today we sighted the food chain in action. Loved it! I also sighted a Parasitic jaegar, 2 razor-billed auks, puffins, manx shearwaters, sooty shearwaters, greater shearwaters, and wilson storm petrels. Here are some pics from today

Bubble blowing whales July 5th cruise

2010-07-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone

Today was a gorgeous day on the water. I was in a t-shirt which doesn't happen very often. We had some juveniles playing with us today. One was even blowing bubbles all around our boat then would roll over to have a look at us. You can see on the sounder the whale underneath the boat blowing bubbles! Loved it. We also sighted an Osprey trying to catch a salmon at the salmon cages but having no luck and a common murre was in amongst the greater shearwaters.

Whales and Birds

2010-07-03T14:57:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today we steamed to a ledge area called the rip and sighted about 8 Humpbacks and 1 Right Whale. We also sighted some Atlantic white-sided dolphins and some birds observed were Greater Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, common murre, and Northern Gannets. ON our way down the harbor we sighted a Great Blue Heron, Eider ducks with 2 ducklings, and a mature Bald Eagle.

Lunge Feeding

2010-07-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone
Well we certainly have had some beautiful weather in our area hopefully it will stick around for awhile. Today out on th whale watch we steamed up long island shore passed Boar's head lighthouse in Tiverton and made our way up along Digby Neck. What a feeding frenzy! Quote and her calf along with Rooftop was lunge feeding over and over again so we got some great looks at the baleen inside a humpback whales mouth. These baleen plates act as a filtering system and sieves out water and keeps their food inside. The humpbacks were dining on Krill which was plenitful in this area. We also sighted many fin whales feeding in the same area.On the way in we sighted a minke whale so that made three different species of baleen whales for our sightings today. Harbor Porpoises were a treat splashing not to far from our boat. Lots of Northern Gannets diving, Greater Shearwaters, Puffins, Razor-billed Auks, Common Murres, Manx Shearwater, and Northern Fulmars. All in all we had a pretty spectacular day. Here is some pics of the day. Enjoy!

June 26 trip across the Bay

2010-06-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Fin Whales

2010-06-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

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.

Bay of Fundy whale car comes to visit Brier

2010-06-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

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!

Sightings from today

2010-06-21T15:47:00.001-07:00

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.

North Atlantic Right Whales

2010-06-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

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!

6 Humpbacks

2010-06-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-19T06:14:00.001-07:00

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!

Cetacean Adventure

2010-06-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

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..

Snowy Egret

2010-06-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

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

Bird Report

2010-06-08T16:12:00.000-07:00

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.

Humpbacks, lightning storms

2010-06-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

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.

Whales, Orchids and Birds

2010-06-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Eastern Bluebirds

2010-06-03T09:40:00.001-07:00

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.

Red-necked Phalaropes

2010-05-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Red-necked Phalaropes Flying

Phalaropes
Hi Everyone
I forgot to put on the pictures of the Red-necked Phalaropes i sighted yesterday. Clouds of them were doing their aerial displays moving across the water. Enjoyed the show!

Wonderful day on the water

2010-05-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Different colorations of lobsters

Minke Whale

Sooty Shearwater

Atlantic Puffin

Hello Everyone
What a fun filled day i had today. Tomorrow is the last day of lobster fishing in District 34 so many of the fishermen were bringing in their traps. Our villages have been very busy unloading traps onto the wharf and piling them on shore to wait for next year lobster season to start again in November. I also took a tour of the lobster pound and Howard showed me some of the lobster oddities he has saved in a crate. He will let them go at the end of the season. Will post some of the pictures. He also showed me the tanks where they are stored at 35 degrees water in individual compartments until they are shipped out to market.
I also went out on a whale watching zodiac ride today with my husband. Gorgeous day on the water with wonderful people! We sighted 3 Minke whales, Clouds of Red-necked Phalaropes, Atlantic Puffins, 1 Sooty Shearwater, Northern Gannets, a group of Harbour Porpoises and watched the grey and harbor seals at gull rock ledges.

Landmarks of the Island

2010-05-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Slocum's Monument
Rhodora
Bunchberry
Greenhead

Hello Everyone
Wanted to put on some pictures from the other day when the sky and ocean were bright blue. I walked to Slocum's monument (Joshua Slocum was the first man to circumnavigate around the world alone). As you walk along the path to the monument you can see many plants starting to flower. As i look around i see Blueberries flowering, Alpine Whortleberry (which is an artic blueberry, rare for the island), bunchberry, cinnamon ferns,and rhodora. As you walk farther toward the end of the path and look to your right over the sea you will see columns of basalt rocks. The highest cliff on Brier is called,"Greenhead". Here is some pictures of the day enjoy...

Western Light, Primrose

2010-05-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Went for a hike to Western Light to look for primula laurentiana and found 297 flowering plants. I also sighted sedum, silverweed and a beach blue flag peaking out through the rocks. A Northern Harrier in the grey phase was flying low over the bog.

Nature Notes from the day

2010-05-22T05:32:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Went for a hike yesterday to pond cove and sighted some shorebirds. 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Semi-palmated Sandpiper, 4 Purple Sandpipers and 1 Ruddy Turnstone.Also in the area was 3 turkey vultures.
Some flowering plants at Slocums monument include: Alpine whortleberry, blueberry, foxberry, rhodora, bunchberry, cinnamon fern starting to unfurl its fronds, blue-beaded lily. Could hear the Canada Geese honking loudly from Peter's Island. Lots of warblers moving in to the area. Yellow-rumped warbler, American Goldfinch, yellow warbler, redstart some Baltimore Orioles, Common Grackles, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows. Here is some pictures from the day...

Whales

2010-05-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Recieved a report yesterday that a local fisherman sighted a humpback breaching in the St. Mary's Bay. Also my husband Jamie has sighted Minke whales, lots of puffins, gannets out on the zodiac cruises.

Beautiful Evening

2010-05-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
What a beautiful evening it turned out to be. Got to go for a hike to Gooseberry Cove and pea jack and noticed some flowering plants. Starflower, Rhodora, Labrador tea, Bunchberry, Blue-beaded Lily,and Geum Rivale.
Also sighted American Goldfinches, Catbird, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Common Grackles, Baltimore Orioles, and a Redstart.
David Pugh told me that two Phoebe's are nesting in his fathers barn.
This morning while traveling to the tiverton ferry i noticed 2 Great Blue Herons flying.

Weekend Sightings

2010-05-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Well yesterday was a wishy washy weather day. Gotta love Nova Scotia weather wait 10 minutes and it will change! Sightings from the zodiac ride were Grey Seals, Adult Northern Gannets, Black Guillemots,and lots of Puffins sighted in St. Mary's Bay.Lots of Barn Swallows around the lower wharf. Sunday was much better weather wise. Pond Cove i walked to end of the field and looked at some of the seaweeds that were in the tidepools and sighted 1 Willet and two Double crested Cormorants flying with nesting material in their beaks, and few eider ducks in groups. Northern Light i sighted 1 Merlin, 3 Turkey Vultures, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows. Lots of Red Admirals Butterlies,and 1 Mourning Cloak. On Friday i sighted a Canadian Swallowtail hitching a ride on the ramp of the ferry. Flowering plants out are Rhodora, Strawberry plants, blueberry, foxberry, bunchberry,sheep sorrel, wild lily of the valley.IN the village Common Grackles, Robins, Baltimore Orioles, Starlings nesting in the street lights, old shops, and eves of old barns. American Goldfinches, tree swallows and barn swallows.

First Zodiac Cruise!

2010-05-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Well tomorrow is the big day. My husband Jamie will be the captain for the new zodiac Brier Island Whale & Seabird Cruises purchased this year. Crossing my fingers that the weather will cooperate!

Oriole, Bunting, Grosbeaks

2010-05-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Laura Titus reports...
Just confirming my oriole sighting... I was within six feet of one in my my yard yesterday (Saturday), a paler orange in colour, and also have had three male rose breasted grosbeaks and one female today. An indigo bunting has been visiting my grandmother's feeder at her property on Second St.

Have a great week!

Spring Migration Notes

2010-05-10T17:07:00.000-07:00

Eric Mills reports...

The migration count on Saturday was cut short by rain, but the Brier Island highlights were:
75 Brant; 34 Red-throated Loons (off Northern Point and at sea); 27 Greater Yellowlegs (17 in one area, 10 in another); 32 Purple Sandpipers; 3 Razorbills off Northern Point; 2 Eastern Kingbirds in Westport; a fine pre-dawn chorus of Winter Wrens; singing Hermit Thrushes; 2 Gray Catbirds; a (resident) N. Mockingbird; an influx of N. Yellowthroats; at least 5White-crowned Sparrows in Westport; and (not to be sneezed at!) 2 House Sparrows in Westport.
Observers were Eric & Anne Mills, Carl Haycock and June Swift.

Friday (May 7) and Sunday (May 9) were actually better birding days: a beautiful adult female Peregrine; an E. Willet; a flypast of hundreds of Razorbills on Friday; arrival of Catbirds; the resident Mockingbird singing up a storm; a Brown Thrasher strolling along the Lighthouse Road; a scattering of warblers (Nasheville, Magnolia, Myrtle, Black-throated Green, Parula, Black and White, N. Yellowthroat); a scattering of Chipping Sparrows;several singing White-crowned Sparrows in Westport; up to 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at a time in Westport; a brilliant ad. male Indigo Bunting at the N end of Second Street today;and an immature male Baltimore Oriole in Westport this morning.

Very pleasant birding, and, except for a few hours of rain during the NSMC and strong winds today, good conditions too.

Nesting Birds

2010-05-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

David Pugh reports..
As well as nesting B Ducks, today I spotted an Amer Bittern & a Greater Yellow Legs in the pond behind my house, both seemed unafraid when approached within 20 ft. A variety of Wrablers searching out goodies in the alders also. One female RB Grosbeak hangs out arround the feeder, seems she is without a friend. The Purple & Gold Finch are plentyful, not like last year when the number was down.

Wonderful New Book and Great Website

2010-05-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a wonderful book i have been reading entitled, "World Ocean Census". This describes the 10 year long mission from scientists collaborating around the world to find out what lives in our oceans, the history of our oceans and the future of our oceans. Here is the website explaining in more detail about this project, beautiful pictures, exciting research, maps and videos.
Census of Marine Life

Annual Spring Migration Count

2010-05-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone
Today was the Annual Spring Migration Count. Here is some of my sightings for the day...

Spring Migration Count
2010-05-08

Today was overcast and raining.
Gooseberry Cove Sightings
15 Adult Northern Gannets
10 Eider Ducks
Peajack
1 Song Sparrow
2 Robins
5 Black-capped Chickadees
2 Downy Woodpeckers
1 Black and White Warbler
Heard a Grouse drumming

Towards the path to the top of the new lane
Lively\s Pond
2 Black Ducks
2 Common Grackles (sighted one in amongst the alders and it looked like it was at a nest. As I approached it flew away but the grackles would call back and forth to one another and stayed relatively close.)
Near the horse fence at the top of new lane
2 Catbirds chattering noisily
2 Cock Pheasants
4 Black-capped Chickadees
1 American Goldfinch
2 Robins
2 Tree Swallows
At the Ball Field
1 Cock pheasant
New Lane
2 Robins
30 American Goldfinches
3 Common Grackles
1 Mourning Dove
At Dawns feeder
1 female Purple Finch
1 White-throated Sparrow

As for flower sightings
White and Blue Violets, Mountain-fly Honeysuckle, Gooseberry, Rhodora, Forget-me-nots, wild pear, ground ivy, strawberry blossoms, and blueberry blossoms.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

2010-05-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

Eric Mills sighted:
A pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at a Westport feeder as Anne and I arrived on the island late this afternoon (in the fog).

Baltimore Oriole

2010-05-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Julie sighted a baltimore oriole from her kitchen in Freeport, it was in a spruce tree across the street. Beautiful bright orange against the green.

Beautiful Evening ends with a Rainbow

2010-05-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
It turned out to be a beautiful night so i took a walk to Northern Light then around the village. Near Wally's store along the harbour i sighted 10 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Black Ducks, 1 Canada Goose flew overhead honking and Eider ducks. IN the Salt Marsh a Northern Harrier was patroling its territory flying low over the marsh. Then on the way home i sighted a rainbow over Long Island.

Spring Arrivals

2010-05-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone
Todays weather was quite a treat. Blue skies and sunshine, so i decided to go help my son pick some periwinkles at Western Light this morning. FOrgot how much i enjoy the solitude on the beach and looking at the different seaweeds and creatures in amongst the tidepools. Some sightings today include: my first Bank Swallow today at Northern Light and a Tree Swallow at Western Light.A red-tailed hawk has also been sighted hunting in this area. Lots of Goldfinches,pheasants, Common Grackles, black-capped chickadees and Robins around. At Pond Cove i sighted my first shorebird sighting for this year. Three Greater Yellowlegs! Also at Big Pond was 3 Canada Geese in amongst lots of gulls. A Northern Harrier was hunting in the area also. It felt good just to walk along the beach and listen to the sound of the waves and soak up the sun. I call it my ocean therapy don't think i could live without it!Hope everyone got a chance to get out today and enjoy this lovely weather.

What is in the waves....

2010-04-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone On Sunday night i went for a walk to pond cove and the waves were coming in green! All over the beach was a green color so i scooped some up and put it in a bag with some sea water and then took it into my oceans class the next day to look at it under a microscope. Will post what it was when i finally figure it out myself. There is a few clues....but it needs more investigation. Will let you know when i find out or anyone who might like to take a guess can post a comment. Don't you love nature, Enjoy

New Spring sightings and contruction

2010-04-24T17:14:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today was a bit cool but as the evening approached the wind dropped out and it was lovely. The water was like glass...
Went to pond cove today where construction is underway to put in a new parking lot and fix up the road. This should make it easier for people to enjoy the beach and the Brier Island Nature Preserve. The Nature Conservancy of Canada received money and is also fixing up the trail around whipples point to Western light. Also they are putting in a new parking lot there to. This is to avoid many off roads that go all over the place and destroy natural habitat needed for the plants and animals in these areas. The students of Westport Village School did a village clean to coincide with Earth Day. We will also be having a volunteer event in June to clean up pond cove area.Many hands make light work so they say. Hopefully we will get alot of community volunteers out because pond cove is such a special place for visitors and our communities.
Some spring sightings from today include: Strawberry Blossoms, Violets, new dune grass shoots peeking up through the sand. Rose rogosa bushes and beach pea are showing us there leaves. Also some Ground Ivy, and dandelions. Some turkey vultures were soaring around the village. At Northern Light i sighted a Northern Harrier.

Eastern Bluebird

2010-04-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Eric Mills
A female E. Bluebird arrived late this afternoon along the Lighthouse Road. To my knowledge, this is the first of the year here.

Tree Swallows

2010-04-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone
Well the tree swallows have finally arrived! Dotted along the hydro lines i sighted them in Freeport and Tiverton today. Today was a special treat weather wise after yesterdays bad weather. Tonight after i got home went for a hike around Gooseberry cove and up Peajack. Sighted a black duck in a little pond. Lots of frog eggs, a Northern Harrier and Turkey Vultures overhead. Lots of Robins, Grackles Starlings and Goldfinches around.The red maples are budding out and the leaves are out on the Skunk cabbage in Freeport.

Freeport nature sightings

2010-04-18T05:37:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone
Well it turned out to be a spectacular morning. My husband and i decided to go to the fiiremans breakfast in Freeport and check out their new firehall. It looks great! We had some time before the ferry so we drove around the cove and sighted 6DEER! Couldn't believe it! This was near dartmouth point. As we were driving back a Rabbit hopped up the road in front of us. We then took a drive to Beautiful Cove.I got out and walked the shoreline to Lavena's catch. Sighted a Northern Harrier, eider ducks and black ducks. What a gorgeous walk! Just love smelling the good old salt air and looking out to sea. WIll try to get out for a hike in Westport this afternoon. Hope everyone enjoys this beautiful day!

Sightings from today

2010-04-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

HI EVeryone
Today was cool but clear and so i hiked to Northern Light and then went to Western Light. On the way to Western Light i sighted some Leatherleaf in bloom along the edges of the bog. Lots of Pitcher-plant leaves are coming up also. By the graveyard i sighted a Northern Harrier in Grey phase, a northern flicker and lots of Robins. Along my route to Northern Light i sighted Ground Ivy, 3 Turkey Vultures and a Bald Eagle. Lots of American Goldfinches around and heard a Cardinal by the library.

Yearling Harp Seal

2010-04-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

Ian Maclaren Id the seal pup I found at pond cove as a yearling harp seal for sure (i.e., not this year's pup, but a "beater" from last year). That silvery coat, almost white below, with large black spots and blotches, are typical, as is the rather gentle face. No ice, so it's hauled out ashore. They've turned up all over NS from time to time, even several miles up the Avon River, and are regular in winter-spring on the beaches of Sable Island - see the Greenhorsesociety website. Thanks for your help Ian!

Deer

2010-04-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, a friend and i sighted a White-tailed Deer eating in a bog near Gull Rock road. We also sighted a Muskrat toward Northern Light at the end of water street.

Turkey Vultures

2010-04-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

Andy Moir reports...
We counted 20 turkey vultures circling over Petit Passage as we waited for the ferry to cross from East Ferry to Tiverton.

Spring Sightings

2010-04-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

Carl Haycock reports...
Spring has certainly arrived early. Peepers have been out for a week now. Yesterday the slugs were out in full force on the paved roads! And I found 2 Wood ticks on my Bernese Mountain Dog!

A few new birds have arrived.
1 Brown Creeper
1 W.B. Nuthatch
6 Boreal Chickadees on Camp road
1 Am Kestrel
6 N. Flicker
1 Fox Sparrow

Laura reports....
a brown creeper on Easter Sunday in a tree on the New Lane. There has been a female cardinal visiting my feeders..

Beautiful Spring day

2010-04-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful spring day! I hiked peajack and back then went to Western Light and hiked around whipples point to pond cove. I'm sure i will feel it tonight! HA! HA!
At the second cove in along the bar i sighted 100 Brant.Lots of gulls pairing up and going with some nest material around whipples point area. I met up with my aunt Louise while hiking whipples point and she sighted a Great Blue Heron today at little pond. Hope everyone enjoyed this wonderful day, i know i sure did!

Pileated Woodpecker

2010-04-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
As i was walking up the new lane today towards Western Light when i heard this constant hammering and decided to investigate. I walked toward Western Light road and on a telephone pole, the same one we used to put up Nesting Bluebird boxes was a PILEATED WOODPECKER.I didn't have my camera on me so i made a loop back to my car, rushed home and was hoping it would still be there when i got back and it was! Got some of these terrific photos of the Pileated woodpecker. When i looped home to get my camera i went past a field where 4 horses were penned and inside was a Killdeer displaying the broken wing trick to lure me away.
Other sightings today: Common Loon, eider Ducks, Black Ducks, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Robins, Common Grackle, Lots of Crows, Ravens carrying nesting material, Pheasants, Black-capped Chickadees, and Song Sparrows. Coltsfoot was blooming in abundance at peajack, and in the ditches lots of frog eggs.

New Arrivals

2010-04-04T06:17:00.001-07:00

yesterday and this morning i sighted some new arrivals to our Island. Northern Flickers, and i heard a Northern Cardinal by my house. Also sighted pollywog eggs and heard peepers.

Possible Minke Whale

2010-04-04T06:15:00.001-07:00

Christine reports...
Tonight at Lavena's Catch Cafe I chatted with Craig Theriault, who is a lobster fisherman in the winter, and the captain for Petite Passage Whale Watch in the summer. He said today he saw a whale breaching in the Bay of Fundy off Flour Cove, Long Island, (Digby County). He thought it was a Minke.

Signs of Spring

2010-04-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone
Today was sunny with a bit of fog. Went for a hike to pond cove and sighted lots of Black Ducks gathering at Big Pond and Little Pond, Green-winged teal, 2 pairs of Canada Geese and about 100 Brant in the cove, lots of Song Sparrows singing, Savannah Sparrows, and some Black-capped Chickadees. Also heard Spring Peepers today! At Western Light i sighted a Mourning Cloak butterfly, Lots of Robins at the Picnic field, and some Sedum peeking up through the basalt rocks, eider ducks, and found lots of quartz in the cove near Western Light.