Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island

Autumn:  September 23 to December 21, 2008

(March 2009).

The number in brackets indicates the minimum number of individuals seen during the period.

American Bittern (1) - October 11-27, numerous sightings of 1 juvenile in the west ponds area.

Cattle Egret (1) - October 30, 1 with horses near the Station.

Great Egret (1) - October 22 to November 3, 1 at the west ponds.

Northern Gannet (>500) - October 2, >20 adults and immatures feeding at the east tip; October 26, >300 feeding at the east tip, and 100s more feeding and flying east along the north side of the east spit.

Double-crested Cormorant (5) - September 29 to October 13, sightings of at least 5 individuals (adult and first year) on the north and south beaches

Great Cormorant (2) - October 26, 2 first year birds at the east tip.

Snow Goose (1) - October 11, 1 white morph adult with Canada Geese at the west ponds.

Canada Goose (14) - October 11, 14 at the west ponds; October 13-22, a single bird at a pond near West Light.

American Wigeon (4) - October 13, 4 females at the west ponds. Also, 12 wigeons at the ponds on October 31, but species not identified.

Blue-winged Teal (3) - October 3, 3 at a pond near No3.

Ring-necked Duck (2) - October 11-13, 2 (including one female) at the west ponds.

American Coot (4) - October 5, 1 at the west ponds, and October 15-30, 2 at the west ponds; November 1, 2 at a pond near No3.

Killdeer (2) - October 31, 2 near the Station.

Black-bellied Plover (32) - October 15-26, 32 counted on a section of the south beach and the west spit, but probably >100 on the island.

Whimbrel (1) - October 1, 1 on the north beach of the west spit.

Sanderling (>350) - seen in groups of 50 to 100s at various locations, and between September 27 and October 26, >350 on the island.

Common Snipe (2) - September 23, 1 near East Light; October 19, 1 at the west ponds.

Ring-billed Gull (3) - September 27, 3 together on the north beach.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) - September 27, 1 adult on the south beach east of No3.

Osprey (1) - October 6, 1 near the Station.

Peregrine (2) - between September 23 and October 22, numerous sightings between the west spit and East Light; 2 birds together at the west ponds on October 1.

Mourning Dove (4) - during October 4 to November 3, numerous sightings of 1 to 3 individuals at various locations between West Light and the Station.

Snowy Owl (1) - October 25, 1 feeding on shorebirds (Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover) along the south beach.

Belted Kingfisher (1) - September 22 to October 6, several sightings of a male in the west ponds area.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) - October 2, 1 juvenile west of West Light, on inland driftwood.

Downy Woodpecker (1) - October 12, 1 adult west of West Light, on inland driftwood.

Northern Flicker (3) - during September 23 to October 11, 3 individuals (including one male) sighted between West Light and East Light.

Catbird (1) - between September 30 and October 13, 1 west of West Light.

Northern Mockingbird (1) - September 24, 1 west of West Light.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) - sightings of a single bird on October 11, October 24, and November 3 —likely at least 2 individuals.

Water Pipit (5) - October 6, 5 at the west ponds.

Bohemian Waxwing (2) - October 24, 1 near West Light, and November 3, 2 at the Station (all adults).

Cedar Waxwing (>25) – on September 24, >15 at the Station; October 12, >25 at the Station; November 5, 1 at the Station (mostly juveniles).

Eastern Bluebird (1) - November 2-3, 1 female near the Station.

American Robin (6) - October 6, 1 at the Station; sightings of 1 and 2 birds throughout October; and on November 3, 6 at the Station.

Blue-headed Vireo (1) - October 7, 1 west of West Light.

Red-eyed Vireo (1) - October 2 and 8, 1 along the ponds road.

Black-throated Green Warbler (1) - October 12, 1 adult female along the ponds road.

Pine Warbler (1) - October 24, 1 immature female west of West Light.

Palm Warbler (>10) – between September 23 and October 25, >10 individuals at various locations between West Light and east Light, but likely more numerous.

Black-&-White Warbler (6) – October 1, 6 birds seen between West Light and No4.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (1) - October 16, 1 male at the Station.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (>25) – October 6, 1 west of West Light; October 12, >25 near the Station.

Ovenbird (1) – on September 30 and October 2, 1 in the West Light area.

Redstart (1) – on October 1 & 12, 1 sighted west of West Light.

Scarlet Tanager (1) - October 19-31, numerous sightings of 1 bird near the Station.

Lapland Longspur (>30) - October 13, >30 near No3 ponds.

Snow Bunting (>20) – October 17, 2 on the south beach near No2; October 26, >20 in one flock at the west ponds.

Chipping Sparrow (2) – October 5 to 15, 2 individuals seen between West Light and the Station.

White-throated Sparrow (>12) – September 23 to October 24, >12 birds seen between West Light and the Station.

White-crowned Sparrow (4) - September 24 to October 10, sightings of 1 adult and 3 immature birds between West Light and the Station.

Song Sparrow (2) – during October 8 to 26, 2 individuals were sighted between West Light and the Station.

Savannah Sparrow (not Ipswich) (1) - October 10, 1 at the Station.

Fox Sparrow (1) - October 12, 1 at the Station.

Swamp Sparrow (1) - October 11, 1 west of West Light.

Lincoln’s Sparrow (2) - September 29, 1 on west spit, and October 19, 1 at the Station.

Junco (>15) – between September 23 and November 3, >15 individuals at various locations between the west spit and East Light.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) - October 1, 1 at the Station.

Dickcissel (1) - October 17-22, 1 immature at the Station.

Indigo Bunting (1) - November 2, 1 found recently dead near the Station.

Common Grackle (3) - between October 24 and November 3, 3 individuals sighted in the West Light-Station area.

Rusty Blackbird (2) - September 23, 1 fall male at East Light; October 10-11, 1 fall male along the ponds road.

Northern Oriole (5) - September 30, 4 west of West Light; October 25, 1 at the Station.

Pine Grosbeak (1) - November 3, 1 female near West Light.

White-winged Crossbill (1) - October 11, 1 along the ponds road, feeding on goldenrod.

Common Redpoll (4) - October 25, 4 in beach grass on the west spit.

Purple Finch (8) - between October 9 and November 3, at least 8 individuals (males and females) sighted between West Light and No3.

Pine Siskin (>100) - October 8, >100 in several flocks between West Light and the Station, feeding on goldenrod.