Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island,

April 4 to July 31, 2003.

(August 2003)

 

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

Wilson's storm-petrel (5) - July 3, 5 feeding in an oil slick associated with a well-decomposed sperm whale carcass in the surf zone at the north side of east spit.

Northern Gannet (30+) - April 4, more than 30 adults feeding off the west tip of the island. Small numbers seen occasionally during April and early May - the latest noted were 7 adults flying west along the north beach on May 19.

Great Cormorant (2) - April 5, 1 adult (breeding plumage) at the west ponds; May 4-10, 1 immature feeding in the west ponds.

Double-crested Cormorant (12) - April 26-29 1 immature at the west ponds; May 4, 1 adult at the west ponds; June 1, 8 flying west along north beach; and July 3, 2 flying west over the Station.

American Bittern (1) - May 5, 1 at the west ponds.

Canada Goose (5+) - April 22, 2 at the west ponds; May 12, 3 at No3 ponds; and July 5, 1 near No3.

Greater Scaup (2) - June 4-7, 2 (male and female) together at the west ponds.

Common Eider (1) - April 21, 1 on the west spit.

Osprey (2) - May 9 and June 3, 1 near the Station, probably two individuals.

American Kestrel (1) - May 14-15, 1 male near the Station.

Black-bellied Plover (1) - June 7, 1 on the north side of west spit.

Willet (2) - May 18, 1 on north beach; July 3, 1 on north beach.

Spotted Sandpiper (2) - first birds seen were on May 18, 2 on the south side of west spit.

Whimbrel (1) - July 11, 1 on south beach near West Light.

Ruddy Turnstone (1) - the first seen was on July 29, 1 on south beach.

Sanderling (150+) - July 29, more than 150 on south beach between the Station and No3.

Semipalmated Sandpiper (5) - first birds seen were on July 29, 5 at the west ponds.

Short-billed Dowitcher (12) - July 10, 2 at the west ponds; July 18, 12 at the west ponds.

Long-tailed Jaeger (1) - June 19, 1 immature on the west spit.

Laughing Gull (6) - June 3-5, 1 adt at the west ponds; July 5, 6 (3 adult and 3 first summer) on sandflat near Wallace Lake.

Iceland Gull (100+) - April 21, over 100 on the west spit; June 13, 2 immatures at the west ponds.

Black-legged Kittiwake (8) - June 7, 8 adults on sandflat near Wallace Lake.

Belted Kingfisher (1) - May 13-14, 1 female near West Light.

Northern Flicker (2) - April 16, 1 at the west ponds; April 17, 2 east of the Station near the old helipad.

Eastern Wood-pewee (1) - June 30, 1 at the Station.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (2) - June 11-13, 1 near West Light; July 9-10, 1 between West Light and the Station. (On June 13, 3 other Empidonax flycatchers seen in the same area.)

Eastern Phoebe (1) - April 16 and 19, 1 near the Station.

Eastern Kingbird (4) - June 7, 2 at West Light and 1 at the Station; July 2, 1 west of West Light.

Tree Swallow (1) - May 20, 1 at West Light.

Purple Martin (1) - June 7, 1 at West Light.

Bank Swallow (1) - June 28, 1 near West Light.

Cliff Swallow (1) - June 13, 1 near the Station.

Barn Swallow (20+) - May 1, 2 at the Station; May 18, 15 or more feeding at the west ponds; June 13, 4 between West Light and the Station; July 31, 3 west of West Light.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (5+) - April 29, 1 at the west ponds; May 20, more than 5 in one bush along the ponds road.

Hermit Thrush (1) - April 30, 1 along the road; May 2-15, 1 at the station.

American Robin (9) - April 5, 4 at the Station; and during May 2-18, 5 between West Light and East Light.

Gray Catbird (2) - April 28-29, 1 west of West Light; May 12-19 1 (a different individual) at the Station.

Northern Mockingbird (1) - on April 17, and between April 26 to May 12, 1 near the Station.

Cedar Waxwing (7) - June 10, 6 at the Station; July 11, 1 near West Light.

Magnolia Warbler (3) - May 20, 1 male at the Station; June 9-10, 2 near the west ponds.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (4) - May 18, 4 east of West Light; June 19, 1 at the Station.

Black-&-White Warbler (1) - May 20, 1 male at the Station.

Black-throated Green Warbler (1) - May 20, 1 near the west ponds.

Prairie Warbler (1) - July 31, 1 near West Light.

Blackpoll Warbler (1) - June 4-5, 1 male near the west ponds; June 11, 1 male west of West Light (possibly the same individual).

Palm Warbler (1) - May 18, 1 at No2; May 20, 1 at West Light (possibly same individual).

Common Yellowthroat (1) - June 7, 1 female west of West Light.

Chipping Sparrow (1) - May 12, 1 at the Station.

Fox Sparrow (3) - April 5-28, 3 between West Light and East Light.

Savannah Sparrow (1) - April 18, 1 near West Light.

Lincoln's Sparrow (4) - May 19, 2 near West Light, and 2 at the Station.

Song Sparrow (5+) - April 5-7, 1 at the Station; April 15, 5 between West Light and East light; April 28, 4 near West Light.

White-throated Sparrow (25+) - April 16, 1 at the Station; May 18, 25 between West Light and the Station.

White-crowned Sparrow (8) - May 12, 2 at the Station; May 18, 8 between West Light and No2.

Dark-eyed Junco (10+) - April 5, 1 near the west ponds; sightings throughout April, 10+ individuals; latest noted May 18, 1 at West Light.

Snow Bunting (6) - April 27-28, 6 near West Light.

Indigo Bunting (1) - May 20, 1 male at the Station.

Bobolink (2) - May 4, 2 males, 1 at the Station and 1 at No3.

Red-winged Blackbird (1) - May 1-4, 1 male at the Station.

Common Grackle (1) - April 17-18, 1 at the Station.

Brown-headed Cowbird (4) - April 10-14, 1 male near West Light; April 17-19, 3 females at the Station; May 2, 1 female at the Station.

Baltimore Oriole (2) - April 28, 1 near West Light; June 5, 1 at the Station.

Purple Finch (6) - April 25, 1 female near West Light; May 2, 4 females near West Light; May 6, 1 male near West Light; May 20, 3 females between West Light and the Station.

Pine Siskin (11) - May 20, 11 at the Station; June 5, 1 at the Station.

Evening Grosbeak (1) - May 15, 1 at the Station.