Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island

Autumn — September 23  to early November, 2009

(January 2010).

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

Great Egret (5) - 1 to 5 individuals seen throughout October and early November, e.g. October 7, 4 at Pinetree Pond south of the Station; October 13, 1 at Pinetree and 4 at the west ponds; November 2, 1 at Pinetree.

Northern Gannet (6) - October 13, 6 juveniles feeding along the south beach.

Double-crested Cormorant (2) - September 30, 1 first year on the east tip; October 20, 1 first year at the west ponds.

Great Cormorant (1) - September 30, 1 first year on the south beach.

Canada Goose (9) - October 22, 9 in a flock on the south beach.

Green-winged Teal (>15) - October 10, >15 in group feeding at the west ponds; October 28, 6 at a pond near No3.

Ring-necked Duck (2) - October 17, 1 at the west ponds; October 22, 2 at the west ponds.

Black-bellied Plover (20) - October 1, 15 on the south beach; October 30, 20 on the east spit.

American Golden Plover (>32) - August 22, 2 at pond east of the Station; September 3, >30 in one flock on the west tip.

Whimbrel (1) October 6, 1 on the north beach of west spit.

White-rumped Sandpiper (>20) - October 17 & 29, a flock of >20 on the north beach near Dead Horse Pass.

Sanderling (>500) - September 29 to October 30, >500 in flocks along the south beach and on the east spit.

Dunlin (2) - October 29, 2 on the north beach of west spit.

Common Snipe (1) - between October 13 & 20, three sightings of 1 bird at various locations (likely 3 different individuals).

Red Phalarope (2) - October 19, 2 freshly dead (moulting juveniles) near a building at West Light (specimens to be archived at NSM).

Lesser Black-backed Gull (1) - October 1, 1 adult on the south beach.

Northern Harrier (1) - October 11, 1 adult flying westward along the north beach dunes past the Station; October 22, 1 coursing over landscape west of West Light.

Peregrine (3) - between September 30 and October 30, 1 to 3 birds seen at various locations from West Light to the east tip: on October 20, 3 individuals were seen together in flight near the Station; and on October 30, 2 birds were on the east spit, one feeding on a freshly killed Dovekie.

Kestrel (2) - September 25, 2 seen flying over the north dunes west of West Light.

Mourning Dove (5) - October 10, 2 near the Station; numerous sightings of 1-4 birds during October 13-30; and on November 1, 5 together near the Station.

Black-billed Cuckoo (1) - October 13, 1 freshly dead on the south beach east of No3 (specimen to be archived at NSM).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1) - October 2, 1 (female or immature) near the Station.

Belted Kingfisher (1) - September 12 & 22, 1 male at the west ponds; October 6, 1 near West Light.

Downy Woodpecker (1) - October 8, 1 female west of West Light.

Northern Flicker (1) - September 30 to October 1, 1 male at East Light; October 14 & 22, 1 near West Light.

Catbird (2) - between September 6 and October 9, 1 near the Station; October 21, 1 at No3.

Northern Mockingbird (1) - October 12-14, 1 at the Station.

Townsend’s Solitaire (1) October 17, 1 at West Light.

Swainson’s Thrush (1) - October 1, 8 & 24, sightings of a single bird between West Light and the Station.

Golden-crowned Kinglet (1) - October 21, 1 female west of West Light near structure.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) - October 24, 1 west of West Light.

Horned Lark (4) - October 22, 4 together on the south beach.

Cedar Waxwing (>20 ) - October 9 & 14, >20 juveniles at the Station.

American Robin (4) - October 15-30, 4 individuals at various locations between West Light and the Station.

Cliff Swallow (1) - October 3, 1 west of West Light.

Warbling Vireo (1) - October 1, 1 in goldenrod near No3.

Blackpoll Warbler (2) - October 9-10, 1 near the Station; October 21, 1 in dune vegetation in No4 area.

Palm Warbler (5 ) - between September 25 and October 30, at least 5 from West Light to No3.

Prairie Warbler (1) - October 1, 1 at No3.

Yellow Warbler (1) - September 30, 1 at the Station.

Black-&-White Warbler (1) - September 30, 1 on the east spit (female or immature).

Black-throated Blue Warbler (1) - September 30, 1 male at the Station.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (>12) - between September 25 and October 20, numerous sightings, with >12 in the West Light-Station area on October 10.

Magnolia Warbler (3) - September 29-30, 1 at West Light and 2 at East Light.

Canada Warbler (1) - October 2, 1 (female or immature) at West Light.

Hooded Warbler (3) - October 1-2, 1 immature at West Light, and 1 adult male at the Station; October 4, 2 adult males in the West Light area.

Ovenbird (1) - October 2-4, 1 between West Light and the Station.

Northern Waterthrush (1) - October 11, 1 along the ponds road.

Wilson’s Warbler (1) - October 1-3, 1 male west of West Light.

Redstart (3) - October 1-3, 3 between West Light and the Station (all female or immature).

Yellow-breasted Chat (1) - September 29, 1 along the ponds road.

Lapland Longspur (2) - October 1, 2 near No3.

Snow Bunting (8) - October 22, 2 on the south beach; October 30, 4 on the north beach and 4 on the east spit.

White-throated Sparrow (3) - between October 1 & 28, 3 west of West Light.

White-crowned Sparrow (3) - October 8, 3 juveniles at the Station.

Junco (6) - between October 7 & 29, at least 5 individuals near the Station (one missing all tail feathers); October 30, 1 at East Light.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3) - September 29, 1 female west of West Light; October 21, 1 first fall male at West Light; October 22-26, 1 female at the Station.

Dickcissel (2) - October 14, 1 found recently dead; October 26 to November 2, 1 immature at the Station.

Blue Grosbeak (1) - October 1 & 3, 1 (female or immature) west of West Light.

Indigo Bunting (1) - October 6, 1 at the Station; and October 8, 1 (different individual) west of West Light (both in female or fall plumage).

Common Grackle (4) - between October 24 & November 1, 4 individuals at various locations from West Light to the Station.

Northern Oriole (10) - September 29-30, 4 near West Light, 1 at the Station, and 5 at East Light (all fall immature).

Purple Finch (1) - October 17, 1 female west of West Light.