Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island,

August 1 to November 1, 2003.

(November 2003)

 

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

Pied-billed Grebe (1) - October 31, 1 at the west ponds.

Greater Shearwater (1) - October 11, 1 feeding along the north side of the east tip.

Northern Gannet (>200) - October 8, 2 juveniles feeding along the north side of the west tip; October 11, >50 (mostly juveniles) feeding off the east tip; October 25, >150 (all ages) feeding around the west tip.

Great Cormorant (3) - between September 10 and October 17, 3 (including one 1st year) standing on the beach at the west tip.

Double-crested Cormorant (>12) - September 12, 6 flying west over the Station; during September 19 to October 24, at least 6 (adults and 1st years) standing on the beach and in the west ponds.

Green Heron (1) - October 10-12, 1 adult at the west ponds.

Cattle Egret (1) - October 27-31, 1 at the west ponds, feeding near and amongst horses.

Great Egret (2) - October 23, 1 at the west ponds; October 24-29, 2 at the west ponds.

Great Blue Heron (4) - October 10, 3 standing together on the south beach just west of the No.3 area; October 17-30, 1 at the west ponds.

Canada Goose (6) - September 28 to October 12, 6 at the west ponds.

Black Duck (>20) - October 20, >20 at the west ponds.

American Wigeon (3) - October 20-25, at least 3 of this species in a group of 12 wigeons at the west ponds.

Eurasian Wigeon (7) - October 20-25, at least 7 of this species in a group of 12 wigeons at the west ponds.

Green-winged Teal (>35) - September 6 to October 27, 4-35 at the west ponds.

Blue-winged Teal (7) - September 28 to October 2, 3-7 at the west ponds.

Surf Scoter (4) - October 20-21, 4 in Wallace Lake.

Red-breasted Merganser (>30) - October 30, >30 in one group on the sea just off the north beach.

Ruddy Duck (1) - October 20-21, 1 female at the west ponds.

Osprey (1) - September 20, 1 west of West Light.

Northern Harrier (2) - during September 29 to October 29, numerous sightings of at least 2 individuals (both juveniles) flying over dunes between West and East Lights.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) - September 6-11, 1 juvenile near West Light and the west ponds. On October 10, a much larger accipiter juvenile was seen west of West Light - it was not a Sharp-shinned, but otherwise could not be identified.

Kestrel (3) - October 5, 2 at West Light; October 31, 1 near the Station.

Merlin (1) - September 11 and October 4, 1 near the Station and the west ponds (possibly the same individual).

Peregrine (4) - from August 15 to October 31, 1-4 individuals on dunes and beach between the west ponds and the east spit. Occasionally >1 seen at the same time in the same location, e.g. October 11, 3 on the east spit; and October 25, 2 at Wallace Lake.

Purple Gallinule (1) - October 9, 1 juvenile at the west ponds.

Common Moorhen (1) - October 20-24, 1 at the west ponds.

American Coot (4) - September 25 to October 25, 1-4 at the west ponds.

Black-bellied Plover (100s) - between August 8 and October 31, groups of 10 to 50 on the north and south beaches (e.g. August 17, >155 on the west spit).  Probably 100s during the three-month period, but no count.

Golden-plover (>100) - between August 17 and October 24, groups of 5 to 25 in beach and pond areas (e.g. September 19, >25 on the west spit). Probably 100 or more during the three-month period, but no count.

Semipalmated Plover (>180) - between August 17 and October 31, groups of 5 to 30 in beach and pond areas (e.g. October 14, >35 in one group on south beach). Probably 100s during the three-month period, but no count.

Killdeer (3) - between September 11 and October 29, 3 in the pond and beach areas near West Light.

Willet (1) - August 10, 1 on the south beach.

Solitary Sandpiper (3) - August 2-18, 1-2 at the west ponds; September 30, 1 near the Station.

Whimbrel (>60) - between August 4 and September 29, at least 60 individuals in heath and beach areas.

Hudsonian Godwit (2) - September 21, 2 at the west ponds; September 29 to October 1, 1 at the west ponds.

Ruddy Turnstone (>50) - August 1 to October 26, singletons and groups of 10 to >25 on the north and south beaches from the west tip to the east tip. Probably 100 or more during the three months, but no count.

Sanderling (>600) - October 10, >600 on the north and south beaches, with 100s on the south beach most days during August through October.

Dunlin (5) - October 25-31, 3-5 on the south beach.

Pectoral Sandpiper (5) - August 1-4, 1-2 at the west ponds; between September 28 and October 24, 1-3 at the west ponds.

Ruff (1) - September 29, 1 with Sanderlings on the south beach of the west spit.

Short-billed Dowitcher (32) - August 3, 32 at ponds between West Light and No.3; October 24, 1 at the west ponds.

Common Snipe (4) - September 28 to October 24, 1-3 at the west ponds; October 26, 1 east of East Light.

Black-headed Gull (1) - October 26, 1 at the west ponds.

Ring-billed Gull (4) - September 10, 4 juveniles at the west tip.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (2) - between September 10 and October 21, 2 adults, one on the west tip and one near Wallace Lake.

Black-legged Kittiwake (>200) - during August 17 to October 26, groups of 3 to 50 (adults and juveniles) at the west and east tips. On October 11, >200 feeding off the north side of the east tip.

Sabine's Gull (1) - September 29, 1 1st summer at the west tip.

Mourning Dove (8) - during September 30 to October 29, 8 between West Light and No.3.

White-winged Dove (1) - September 2-7, 1 west of West Light.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (5) - October 1, 2 at West Light and the Station; October 24, 2 at East Light; October 30, 1 along the west ponds road.

Black-billed Cuckoo (1) - October 6, 1 along the west ponds road.

Belted Kingfisher (3) - September 9, 1 at the west ponds; October 1, 1 flying west near the west end; October 10, 1 near the west ponds.

Northern Flicker (3) - September 13, 1 at East Light; October 8, 2 on the west spit.

Eastern Wood-pewee (2) - October 2, 2 between West Light and the Station.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1) - between September 3-9, 1 at the Station and West Light.

Least Flycatcher (1) - October 1, 1 near the Station. Between August 21 and October 1, at least 6 other Empidonax in the Station and West Light area.

Eastern Kingbird (2) - August 26-29, 1 at the Station; September 1, 1 at East Light.

Northern Shrike (2) - between October 15-29, 2 (one a very buffy juvenile) at West Light and the Station.

Solitary Vireo (1) - October 4, 1 along the west ponds road.

Red-eyed Vireo (2) - September 25, 2 at the Station; October 6, 1 along the south beach road near the Station.

Warbling Vireo (1) - September 23, 1 at the Station.

Tree Swallow (>52) - during August 21 to September 1, >52 between the East and West Lights.

Bank Swallow (5) - August 9, 1 near the Station; August 26, 4 west of West Light.

Barn Swallow (12) - August 2, 3 west of West Light; August 19, 12 west of West Light.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) - October 31, 1 near West Light.

Northern Wheatear (1) - October 1, 1 near the Station.

Grey-cheeked Thrush (2) - September 9, 1 along the west ponds road; October 17, 1 near the Station.

Swainson's Thrush (3) - September 10, 1 near West Light; October 1-10, 1-2 near West Light.

American Robin (3) - October 10, 2 at West Light; October 26, 1 at East Light.

Gray Catbird (3) - October 4, 2 between West Light and the Station; October 31, 1 at East Light.

Northern Mockingbird (2) - August 27 to September 3, 1 west of West Light; October 10-12, 1 at West Light.

Water Pipit (>10) - September 22 & 28, one group of >10 near the west ponds.

Cedar Waxwing (>40) - between August 7 to October 21, >40 adults and juveniles at the Station.

Nashville Warbler (1) - September 25, 1 near the Station.

Northern Parula (1) - October 23, 1 alng the west ponds road.

Magnolia Warbler (1) - September 25, 1 along the west ponds road.

Cape May Warbler (1) - September 30, 1 at the Station.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (>10) - August 12 to October 26, >10 near the Station and the West and East Lights.

Black-&-White Warbler (6) - August 8 to October 4, 6 near the Station and West Light.

Black-throated Blue Warbler (4) - September 22 to October 24, 4 (1 male and 3 females) at the Station and West Light.

Black-throated Green Warbler (3) - September 26 to October 12, 3 near the Station and No.3.

Prairie Warbler (3) - August 8, 1 near West Light; September 13, 1 west of West Light; October 1, 1 near the Station.

Blackpoll Warbler (5) - September 3-20, 4 between West Light and the Station; October 10, 1 at East Light.

Palm Warbler (2) - September 12-25, 1 at the Station; October 29, 1 at the Station.

Yellow Warbler (6) - August 5 to September 12, 6 near the Station and the West and East Lights.

Wilson's Warbler (4) - September 5 to October 17, 4 near the Station and West Light.

Hooded Warbler (1) - October 1, 1 male near the Station.

Worm-eating Warbler (1) - September 24, 1 at the Station.

Ovenbird (2) - August 22, 1 freshly dead near the Station; September 30 to October 1, 1 at the Station.

Northern Waterthrush (4) - August 13, 1 along the west ponds road; August 20, 3 along the road; October 25, 1 at the Station.

Common Yellowthroat (2) - September 18, 1 male at the Station; October 12, 1 male west of West Light.

Yellow-breasted Chat (2) - August 29, 1 west of West Light; September 30 to October 1, 1 at the Station.

Redstart (>8) - August 16 to October 10, >8 between West and East Lights.

Field Sparrow (1) - November 1, 1 near the Station.

Song Sparrow (1) - October 21-25, 1 west of West Light.

White-throated Sparrow (8) - September 9, 3 between West Light and the Station, with singletons throughout September and October; November 1, 1 at the Station.

White-crowned Sparrow (4) - September 21, 1 west of West Light; October 11-14, 2 at the Station; October 22, 1 west of West Light (all immature).

Junco (3) - September 12, 1 west of West Light; October 26, 2 near the Station.

Snow Bunting (2) - October 17, 2 on the south side of west spit.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1) - October 20-26, 1 female at the Station.

Blue Grosbeak (3) - August 31, 1 male at West Light; October 2, 1 west of West Light; October 17, 1 female at the Station.

Indigo Bunting (2) - October 1, 1 west of West Light; October 23-27, 1 at the Station.

Bobolink (>11) - October 4, >10 in field west of No.3; October 24, 1 west of West Light.

Red-winged Blackbird (1) - August 13, 1 female west of West Light.

Brewer's Blackbird (2) - October 22-25, 1 female at the Station; October 31, 1 male at West Light.

Northern Oriole (>13) - September 17, 1 west of West Light; September 30, >10 in West Light and Station areas; October 24, 2 in West Light area.

Purple Finch (>10) - August 27, 1 female west of West Light; scattered ones & twos during September and October; October 24, 5 (2 males, 3 females) near West Light.

Pine Siskin (1) - October 22-27, 1 west of West Light.