Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island

Summer — June 22- September 22, 2009

(September 2009).

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

Leach’s Storm-petrel (>10) - July 8, >10 feeding inside the surf line along the north beach.

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (2) - between July 26 and September 3, numerous sightings of 1 to 2 individuals (immatures) in the west ponds area.

Little Blue Heron (1) - July 10, 1 adult at the west ponds.

Double-crested Cormorant (5) - from July 4 to September 4, 5 first year birds were seen at various locations between the west spit and the west ponds.

Blue-winged Teal (4) - August 8 & 29, 1 female at the west ponds; September 12-14, 4 at the west ponds.

Killdeer (1) - August 31, 1 at the west ponds.

Black-bellied Plover (>40) - June 23, 1 on the south beach near West Light; August 14, >25 on the west spit; and October 1, 15 on the south beach.

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

Whimbrel (>27) - July 21, 5 on the north beach; August 14, >20 feeding in heath near the Station, and 7 on the south beach; and September 16-17, 2 on the north beach.

Short-billed Dowitcher (3) - July 18, 3 at No3.

Ruddy Turnstone (>45) - July 24, 1 on the north beach; August 5-6, >25 on the west and east spits; and September 1, >20 on the eastern quarter of the north beach.

Solitary Sandpiper (1) - August 22, 1 at pond near No2.

Pectoral Sandpiper (4) between August 8 & 22, at least 4 individuals at various ponds.

Common Snipe (2) - September 12, 2 at the west ponds.

Franklin’s Gull (1) - July 6, 1 adult on the south beach.

Laughing Gull (2) - June 25 & July 16, 1 adult sighted on the south beach; July 26, 1 (second summer) at the west ponds.

Black-legged Kittiwake (>78) - September 1, >40 (mostly adults) on the east spit; September 3, 38 (mostly adult) on the west tip.

Peregrine (1) - on August 30 & September 20, 1 on the west spit.

Kestrel (1) - September 20, 1 near West Light

Merlin (1) - September 20, 1 near the Station.

Rock Dove (1) - between June 24 and September 10, numerous sightings of a single distinctive bird west of West Light.

Northern Flicker (2) - September 20, 1 at West Light.

Catbird (3) - between July 16 and September 21, 1 to 3 birds seen near the Station (including a juvenile during September 6-21).

Cedar Waxwing (>30) - July 25, 3 at the Station; between August 7 & September 15, 3 to 16 (adults & juveniles) at the Station; and September 20, >30 (adults & juveniles) at the Station.

Tree Swallow (3) - August 12, 2 adults west of West Light; August 21, 1 adult near No3.

Barn Swallow (>15) - between July 30 and September 1, 1 to 15 birds near a structure west of West Light.

Red-eyed Vireo (2) - August 24 to September 16, 1 to 2 birds in West Light area (one individual seen eating woolly caterpillars on 3 days).

Black-throated Green Warbler (1) - September 20, 1 along the south beach road.

Yellow Warbler (4) - between July 25 & August 24, at least 4 birds sighted at various locations from West Light to the Station.

Black-&-White Warbler (1) - September 16, 1 (female or immature) at West Light.

Northern Waterthrush (1) - August 21, 1 near the west ponds; August 24, 1 west of West Light near structure.

Wilson’s Warbler (1) - September 15, 1 at the Station (found dead the following day)

Common Yellowthroat (3) - July 3-4, 1 male at the Station; August 20 & 24, 1 (female or immature) west of West Light; and September 4, 1 male at the Station.

Redstart (1) - between August 17 & September 19, numerous sightings of 1 bird (female or immature male) at various locations from West Light to the Station (likely more than 1 individual).

Brown-headed Cowbird (1) - September 3, 1 juvenile riding on the back of a band stallion.

Northern Oriole (2) - between September 6 & 18, 1 to 2 individuals seen near the Station and West Light.