Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island

March-May 2006

(September 2006).

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

Magnificent Frigatebird (1) - May 24, 1 adult male found dead near inland pond edge - the bird died on the island (i.e. was not a corpse that washed ashore), and had been dead for less than 24 hours.

Snowy Egret (1) - May 1-3, 1 at the west ponds.

Northern Gannet (>30) - during April 4-7, >30 adults seen feeding along the north side of the west spit.

Double-crested Cormorant (>20) - April 26 to May 26, 1-3 sighted at various locations; and May 30, a group of 20 adult and first year birds flew eastward Old Main.

Canada Goose (6) - between March 31 and May 30, at least 6 individuals (singletons and groups of 3 to 4) sighted from the west ponds to No3.

Wood Duck (1) - March 25, 1 male at Iris Pond.

Blue-winged Teal (4) - April 19, 2 males and 2 females at the west ponds; May 24 and 30, 1 male and 1 female together at the west ponds.

Green-winged Teal (3) May 1, 1 male carolinensis at the west ponds; May 6, 2 male carolinensis and 1 female together at the west ponds.

Northern Shoveler (12) - between March 4 and May 1, 8 to 12 individuals (including at least 4 males) sighted at the west ponds.

Black-bellied Plover (>20) - March 4, 1 on the south beach near the west ponds; and May 24-26, >20 on the west and east spits.

Killdeer (1) - May 24, 1 near West Light.

Whimbrel (2) - May 26, 2 on the south side of the east spit.

Purple Sandpiper (1) - March 21, 1 very fresh corpse found near the Station.

Ruddy Turnstone (>15) - March 4, 1 on the west spit; April 4, 1 near the west ponds; May 24, 9 on south beach east of the Station; and May 31, 8 on the west spit.

Red Knot (4) - May 26, 4 on the south side of the east spit.

Sanderling (>400) - March 6-7, >150 on the north and south beaches; April 27, >200 in one group on the south beach and >50 on the east tip; and May 24, >280 scattered along the south beach.

Dunlin (2) - March 10, 2 on the south beach near No3.

Short-billed Dowitcher (4) - May 23-24, 4 at the west ponds.

Common Snipe (1) - April 11, 1 inland just east of the Station.

Wilson’s Phalarope (1) - May 23, 1 at the west ponds.

Glaucous Gull (3) - March 4 to April 4, sightings of at least 3 (first and second winter birds) on the west and east tips.

Northern Harrier (2) - March 7, 2 near a freshwater pond south of the Station.

American Kestrel (1) - April 13, 1 female west of West Light.

Peregrine (1) - a single bird sighted in the West Light and west ponds area on March 3, March 30-31 and April 27-28 (possibly different individuals).

White-winged Dove (1) - May 31, 1 west of West Light.

Rock Dove (1) - March 21-29, 1 banded individual at the Station.

Northern Flicker (4) - from March 4 through May 2, numerous sightings of 1 to 2 individuals in the West Light to Station area; at various locations; and May 3, 2 males at East Light (probably different individuals).

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1) - May 30, 1 west of West Light.

Eastern Kingbird (2) - May 6, 1 near No3; and May 28, 2 near the Station.

Common Crow (1) - March 25, 1 west of West Light.

Purple Martin (6) - April 19, 1 at the west ponds; May 30, 3 east of the Station.

Bank Swallow (1) - May 24, 1 near the west ponds.

Cliff Swallow (1) - May 24, 1 near the west ponds.

Tree Swallow (4) - during April 18 to May 26, 4 in the West Light area.

Barn Swallow (10) - during April 18 to May 24, at least 10 in the West Light area.

Grey-cheeked Thrush (1) - May 26, 1 at the Station.

Swainson’s Thrush (1) - May 26, 1 near West Light.

Hermit Thrush (2) - May 1, 1 east of the Station; May 30, 1 at West Light.

American Robin (9) - March 31, 4 in the West Light to Station area; April 11, 9 between West Light and No4; April 24, 1 at the Station; May 6-8, 1 at the Station; and May 24, 1 at West Light.

Catbird (>3) - between March 4 and May 30, numerous sightings from West Light to the Station - probably 3 or more individuals.

Water Pipit (1) - March 7, 1 along the ponds road.

Bohemian Waxwing (18) - March 4, 18 near the Station.

Cedar Waxwing (35) - May 26-31, as many as 35 near the Station.

Northern Parula (1) - May 24, 1 near West Light.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (>10) – March 31, 10 at the Station; and May 6, 1 male (breeding plumage) west of West Light.

Black-&-White Warbler (1) - May 24, 1 male at the Station.

Blackpoll Warbler (2) - May 30, 2 males near the Station.

Common Yellowthroat (1) - May 24-31, 1 female west of West Light.

American Redstart (1) - May 30, 1 near the Station.

Fox Sparrow (5) - during March 30 to April 12, at least 5 between West Light and East Light.

Song Sparrow (4) - during March 30 to April 12, at least 4 between West Light and the Station.

Junco (>19) – between March 29 and May 29, at least 19 sighted from West Light to East Light.

White-throated Sparrow (4) - during April 28 to May 31, at least 4 sighted between West Light and the Station.

White-crowned Sparrow (2) - singletons sighted west of West Light on May 6 and May 25-27.

Snow Bunting (>100) - groups of 5 to >40 birds sighted at various locations from March 4 to May 3.

Indigo Bunting (2) - May 28, 1 male (breeding plumage) at the Station; and May 25-31, 1 male (first spring) near the Station.

Common Grackle (4) - March 29, 1 at the Station and 1 at East Light; March 31, 3 at the Station; and April 28 to May 3, 1 between West Light and the Station.

Red-winged Blackbird (1) - April 4, 1 female at the Station.

Pine Siskin (1) - May 31, 1 at the Station.

Common Redpoll (>15) - March 8, 1 at the Station; and March 21, >15 near the Station.