Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island

Autumn – September 23 to December 21, 2007

(January 2008).

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

Northern Gannet (>30) - October 8, >20 (mostly juveniles) feeding along the north side of the west spit; November 15, >10 adults fly westward along the north beach.

Double-crested Cormorant (>8) - September 28, 1 first year at the west ponds; October 1, 7 (adult & first year) fly over the south beach near East Light; October 2, 1 first year at the west tip; November 17, 1 first year at the west ponds; and November 22, 1 first year at the east tip.

American Bittern (2) - October 1, 1 on the south side of the west spit; November 15, 1 at the west ponds.

Great Blue Heron (3) - November 15, 2 at the west ponds; December 13, 1 west of West Light.

Canada Goose (10) - November 16, 10 at the west ponds; November 22, 9 at Galli Pond.

Green-winged Teal (>100) - September 25-28, >100 at the west ponds.

American Wigeon (1) - October 1, 1 female at the west ponds.

Northern Pintail (8) - October 1, 8 at the west ponds; November 18, 5 at the west ponds.

Blue-winged Teal (1) - November 15 & 18, 1 at the west ponds.

Greater Scaup (6) - November 18, 6 at the west ponds.

Hooded Merganser (1) - December 3, 1 female at the west ponds.

Northern Harrier (1) - November 21, 1 on the west spit.

Kestrel (5) - September 28, 4 at the West Light; October 7-8, 1 male near West Light; November 16, 1 male near West Light; November 20 & December 3, 1 female between West Light & Old Helipad; and December 14, 1 male west of West Light.

Merlin (1) - September 26-28, 2 sightings between West Light & the Station.

Peregrine (>2) - September 28, 2 at the west ponds; October 1, 1 on the east spit; November 16-22 & December 14, multiple sightings of 1 dark juvenile in the West Light area.

Black-bellied Plover (>70) - October 2, >50 at the west spit; October 8, >30 at the west spit; & November 22, >20 between the west and east tips.

American Golden-Plover (6) - September 25, 6 in a north side field northwest of Bald Major. Otherwise not counted.

Semipalmated Plover (1) - November 25, 1 on the south beach east of No3.

Whimbrel (10) - September 25, 10 on the north beach between the Station & No3.

Sanderling (>350) - November 22, >250 on the south beach between the Station & No3, & >100 on the south side of the east spit.

Dunlin (5)  - November 22, 5 on the south beach east of the Station.

White-rumped Sandpiper (>5) - November 20, >5 singletons in vegetation on south beach dune west of West Light. More numerous, but not counted.

Common Snipe (1) - November 17, 1 in heath vegetation near the Station.

Iceland Gull (>10) - October 22, >10 on the east tip. More numerous, but not counted.

Mourning Dove  (1) - November 21-25, 1 west of West Light; December 3, 1 at the Station.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (2) - September 23-24, 1 along the ponds road; October 5, 1 near West Light and 1 recently dead at No2.

Short-eared Owl (1) - November 18, 1 on dune near the dike; December 3, 1 coursing over the No2 area. Both sightings in early afternoon.

Belted Kingfisher (1) - September 23, 1 at the west ponds; October 10, 1 male near the Station.

Northern Flicker (4) - September 26, 1 male & 1 female near the Station; October 1, 2 at West Light, 1 female at East Light & 1 on the east spit; and October 8, 1 at West Light.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1) - September 25 to October 5, 1 juvenile at the Station.

Common Crow (1) - November 21-25, several sightings of a single bird between the west spit and No3.

Horned Lark (3) - October 6, 3 on south beach near No3.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (2) - October 1-2, 1 female at the Station & 1 female at East Light . Probably more numerous.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) - October 1, 1 along ponds road & 1 on south beach dune east of No3.

American Robin (1) - September 26, 1 juvenile at the Station; October 1-9, 1 in the West Light area.

Gray Catbird (1) - September 25, 1 at the Station.

Northern Mockingbird (1) - September 27-28, 1 west of West Light.

Water Pipit (>50) - October 2, >50 on beach dunes near West Light.

Bohemian Waxwing (>130) - November 16, 25 between West Light & the Station; November 25, 5 adults west of West Light; December 9, >30 at the Station;

December 18, >50 at West Light & >80 at the Station. All adults.

Cedar Waxwing (>30) - September 25, >30 adults & juveniles at the Station; October 8-9, 10 at the Station.

Magnolia Warbler (1) - September 25, 1 fall adult male at the Station; October 1, 1 at West Light.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (7) - October 1, 2 at West Light, >2 at the Station & 2 at East Light; December 20, 1 at the Station.

Black-&-White Warbler (1) - September 24-25, 1 female west of West Light.

Black-throated Green Warbler (2) - September 25-26, 2 at the Station.

Yellow-throated Warbler (1) - September 23, 1 at West Light.

Blackpoll Warbler (1) - September 26, 1 along the ponds road.

Palm Warbler (15) - between September 26 & October 9, at least 15 individuals between West Light & No3. Probably more numerous.

Wilson’s Warbler (1) - September 24-25, 1 west of West Light; October 1, 1 at East Light.

Common Yellowthroat (1) - October 1, 1 female at East Light.

Chipping Sparrow (1) - October 6, 1 west of West Light.

Savannah Sparrow (1) - December 13-15, 1 west of West Light.

Lincoln’s Sparrow (1) - October 9, 1 west of West Light.

Swamp Sparrow (1) - October 1, 1 at West Light.

White-throated Sparrow (>12) - October 1, >6 at West Light, 4 at the Station, 2 at East Light (and likely more numerous on the dunes); October 8, 15 near West Light.

White-crowned Sparrow (>70) - September 25-28, 1 immature near West Light; October 9, >45 in West Light area & >25 at the Station.

Dark-eyed Junco (6) - 09/23, 1 at West Light; October 9, 6 between West Light & Station.

Snow Bunting (>150) - November 22, >100 in one flock on south dune near No2; November 25, >100 on south dune near No2 & 50 in Green Plains area.

Blue Grosbeak (1) - between September 24 & October 8, sightings of 1 female west of West Light (possibly 2 individuals).

Indigo Bunting (1) - September 25 to October 1, 1 at the Station.

Rusty Blackbird (1) - October 8, 1 west of West Light.

Purple Finch (8) - September 25, 1 male & 4 females at the Station; October 8, 6 at the Station.

White-winged Crossbill (2) - October 8, 1 juvenile west of West Light; November 17-22, 1 male west of West Light.

Pine Grosbeak (1) - December 14, 1 female west of West Light.

Pine Siskin (1) - October 8, 1 at the Station.

American Goldfinch (1) - October 8, 6 at the Station.

Common Redpoll (>20) - November 17, 5 males west of West Light; November 22, >20 in one flock west of West Light.

Evening Grosbeak (1) - December 14 & 18, 1 at the Station.