|
Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island April 29 to May 13, and May 20 to July 31, 2004. (August 2004).
|
|
Observations were limited by very thick and persistent fog throughout July.
Sooty Shearwater (3) - July 4, 3 flying east along the south side of east spit. Northern Gannet (>30) - May 2, 18 adults flying west along the south beach east of No3. Small numbers seen occasionally during May and June - the latest noted were 5 immatures flying west along the south beach on June 10. Great Cormorant (1) - May 2, 1 adult (breeding plumage) on the east tip. Double-crested Cormorant (4) - April 29, 2 adults at the west ponds; May 8 and 18, and June 18, 1 immature at the west ponds. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (1) - July 30, 1 adult standing at the waters edge on north beach near East Light. Snowy Egret (1) - May 4-13, 1 at the west ponds. Great Egret (2) - April 29, 2 at the west ponds - one found dead the next day. Great Blue Heron (7) - April 29, 5 at the west ponds (as well as 2 recently dead in the same area). Occasional sightings of 1 to 3 individuals at the ponds, with the latest sighting, 2 birds, on May 13. Canada Goose (9) - June 10,1 at pond near No3; June 19-23, 9 the west ponds. Blue-winged Teal (2) - April 30, 2 (male and female) together at pond near the Station; May 29, 2 (male and female) together at pond west of No3. Ring-necked Duck (1) - April 29, 1 male at the west ponds. Greater Scaup (2) - May 8-13, 2 (male and female) at the west ponds. American Kestrel (1) - April 29, 1 near the Lily Pond; May 12, 1 near the Station. Common Moorhen (1) - May 6, 1 (breeding plumage) at the west ponds. American Coot (1) - May 4, 1 at the west ponds. Semipalmated Plover (5) - July 30, 4 on sand flat near No3, and 1 at the west ponds. Willet (13) - June 1, 4 at No3 and 1 east of No3 on the south beach; July 31, one group of 8 on the south beach east of No3. Greater Yellowlegs (>10) - May 1, 1 at No3, with occasional sightings of 1 to 7 during May through to the end of July. July 9, 1 at the west ponds catching and eating small fish. Lesser Yellowlegs (1) - earliest noted was 1 at the west ponds on July 14. Spotted Sandpiper (9) - June 1-2, 9 nesting birds at the west ponds, No3, and along the north and south beaches. Whimbrel (2) - July 11, 2 on the south beach near No3. Ruddy Turnstone (>10) - earliest noted was 1 on south beach, July 25. On July 30, >10 scattered on the beach. Sanderling (>250) - May 1, >100 on the south beach west of No3. On July 10, 1 near No3, and by July 30, >250 on the south beach. Semipalmated Sandpiper (1) - first noted on July 31, 1 at the west ponds. White-rumped Sandpiper (1) - first noted on June 17, 1 at pond west of No3. Short-billed Dowitcher (13) - July 13, 1 at the west ponds. Sightings of 3-4 birds at the west ponds throughout July; and July 28, 13 together at one pond. Pectoral Sandpiper (2) - July 31, 2 at the west ponds. American Woodcock (1) - June 9, 1 at the west ponds. Pomarine Jaeger (7) - May 3, 7 adults flying east along the south beach east of No3 (southeasterly winds). Laughing Gull (3) - June 6 to July 20, 1 to 3 adults south of the Station, flying or standing on the beach or near the freshwater pond. Bonaparte's Gull (1) - May 3, 1 adult at the east tip. Little Gull (1) - June 1 and 12, 1 immature at No3. Glaucous Gull (4) - May 1, 1 immature on the south beach near No3. Several sightings during May, and on July 19, 1 immature seen on the west spit. Iceland Gull (>50) - May 1-2, >50 adults and immatures scattered on the west and east spits. Occasional sightings immatures during May through July. Black-legged Kittiwake (>10) - May 2, 2 feeding off the east tip with terns. Throughout May to mid-June, sightings of 3 to 4 adults near the tern colony south of the Station, and small numbers of adults with terns on south beach east of No3. July 5, 1 immature on the west tip. Rock Dove (2) - June 24 to July 26, 1 (not banded) at the Station. On July 11, a second bird (banded) joined the first but was gone the following day. White-winged Dove (1) - May 23-30, 1 west of West Light. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1) - July 8, 1 at the Station. Black-billed Cuckoo (1) - June 10, 1 along the west ponds road. Common Nighthawk (1) - June 10, 1 male at West Light. Chimney Swift (1) - June 26, 1 found recently dead at the Station. Northern Flicker (2) - April 29, 2 between West Light and the Station. Olive-sided Flycatcher (1) - June 13, 1 west of West Light. Eastern Wood-Peewee (2) - May 20 and June 3, 1 near the Station; June 8-11, 1 near West Light. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (6) - June 1, 1 on south beach east of No3; June 10, 2 west of West Light, 2 at West Light, 2 at the Station. (At least 10 other Empids seen between West Light and the Station during June.) Eastern Kingbird (6) - May 6-22, 1 at the Station; June 10, 5 at the Station and 1 near No3; and latest sighting, 1 at the Station, July 3. Tree Swallow (5) - May 4, 1 at the west ponds; May 24, 1 near the Station; and June 10, 3 at the west ponds. Purple Martin (1) - April 29, 1 near the Station. Bank Swallow (2) - May 4 and 28, 1 at the west ponds. Barn Swallow (>15) - April 29, 1 at the west ponds, and occasional sightings of 2-5 during May through to the end of June. July 29, 1 west of West Light. Red-breasted Nuthatch (2) - June 2, 1 at West Light; June 13-19, 1 west of West Light; June 20, 2 in the West Light area; and June 24, 1 west of West Light. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (3) – April 29, 1 at the Station, and during May 4 and 28, observations of several different birds at various locations between West Light and the Station. Veery (1) - May 13 and 20, 1 at the Station. Grey-cheeked Thrush (1) - May 20, 1 at the Station. Swainson's Thrush (1) - May 24, 1 at the Station; June 11, 1 west of West Light. Hermit Thrush (5) - April 29, 4 at the Station; June 14, 1 west of West Light American Robin (3) – April 30 to June 13, 3 or more sighted between West Light and the Station. Catbird (2) – May 11, 1 near East Light; June 1, 2 between West Light and the Station; and 1 seen in the West Light area on numerous occasions from May 13 to July 27. Brown Thrasher (2) - May 5-6, 1 near West Light; May 28-29, 1 near the Station; June 2, 1 west of West Light. Water Pipit (1) - June 2, 1 at the west ponds. Cedar Waxwing (17) – June 1 to 21, sightings of up to 17 together at the Station. Tennessee Warbler (2) - June 12, 1 west of West Light; June 13, 2 near the West Light area; and June 14-17, 1 west of West Light. Magnolia Warbler (4) - May 21, 1 near West Light; June 6, 1 male west of West Light; June 11, 3 females between West Light and the Station; and June 13, 2 at West Light. Yellow-rumped Warbler (9) – April 30, 1 at the Station; May 13, 1 west of West Light and 8 along the ponds road. Black-&-white Warbler (4) – June 1, 1 male near the Station; June 5, 1 female at West Light; June 6, 1 near East Light; July 31, 1 near West Light. Black-throated Green Warbler (4) - May 21, 1 male on the west spit; June 5, 1 near West Light; and June 6, 2 near East Light. Blackpoll Warbler (5) – May 20, 2 males at the Station. Between May 27 and June 21, numerous sightings of males and females between West Light and the Station. Palm Warbler (3) - April 29, 1 at West Light; May 2, 2 near East Light; and May 6, 1 at West Light. Yellow Warbler (17) - May 21 to June 11, 3 between West Light and the Station. July 30, 1 near West Light; and July 31, 14 in the West Light and ponds road areas. Mourning Warbler (1) - June 2, 1 male at the Station. Wilson's Warbler (2) – June 3, 1 male west of West Light; June 4, 1 male at West Light and 1 male at the Station. Ovenbird (2) - May 13, 1 along the ponds road; and May 21, 1 on the north beach, west spit. Common Yellowthroat (3) - May 31, 1 west of West Light; June 2, 1 male and 2 females between West Light and the Station; and June 6, 1 female west of West Light. American Redstart (2) - June 4 to 14, several sightings of 2 birds in West Light and Station areas. Fox Sparrow (1) - May 2, 1 at the Station. Lincoln's Sparrow (3) – May 8, 1 near West Light; May 20-31, 1 at the Station; June 2, 2 near the Station. Song Sparrow (4) - May 1, 1 west of West Light; May 2, 3 west of West Light; and on May 25, a different individual (very pale) seen west of West Light. Swamp Sparrow (1) - June 2, 1 west of West Light. White-throated Sparrow (>32) - April 29, 3 between West Light and the Station; April 30, >20 at the Station, and 12 scattered east of the Station. During May through to June 8, 1-5 birds seen at various locations on the island. White-crowned Sparrow (9) - May 8, 3 between West Light and the Station; May 13, 9 between West Light and the Station. Dark-eyed Junco (10) - April 29, 8 at West Light, and 2 at the Station. Between May 5 and 13, 1-2 birds at the Station. Snow Bunting (2) - May 9-13, 2 west of West Light. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) - April 30, 1 at the Station. Common Grackle (9) - April 29-30, 2 at the Station; May 13, 6 west of West Light; June 1-2, 1 at the Station. Purple Finch (7) - between April 30 and June 12, sightings of at least 7 birds (mostly females) at or near the Station. Pine Siskin (2) - April 30, 1 at the Station; June 6, 1 west of West Light. American Goldfinch (3) - May 13, and June 2-3, 1 male at the Station; June 12, 1 female at the Station. Evening Grosbeak (1) - June 6-8, 1 female at the Station. |