Atlantic Puffin, Northern Gannet, etc.

[murraybrown]

Hi all,

I've just returned from a 31/2 week trip to the Maritimes. Visited Nova Scotia/Cape Breton, PEI and New Brunswick.
While not really a birding trip, I managed to sneak my binoculars into the luggage and tried to use them whenever the opportunity presented itself. There were three other non-birders so I had to be quick!
There were lots of good birds seen and some of them I had seen only once or twice before so it was good to get another look.
Small flocks of Common Eider Ducks were seen from time to time and usually were all drakes as would be expected at this time of year.
Greater Black-backed Gulls were seen almost everywhere along the sea shore. Lesser Black-backed and Laughing Gulls were less common.

For me the highlight birds were lifers (not seen before) These were:

Northern Gannet, Atlantic Puffin, Bicknell's Thrush, Black Guillemot, Great Cormorant, Razorbill, and the the one that eluded me to the bitter end, the Northern Parula Warbler. Finally got a singing male in the sunshine on the top of a Spruce snag. What a relief!

My thanks to Dave Beeke and Thor Manson for their help and advice on some of the better birding spots.

Murray

[Gord]

Murray, welcome back! Enjoyed reading about your trip and the neat stuff you saw. Not bad for casual birding!

[Dave]

Murray, glad to hear you're back and great additions to your life list!
I am VERY curious, where did you see the Bicknell's? Great Bird.
Did you make it too some breeding islands for the puffins/razorbills or are these sited off the mainland?

I agree with Gord - great sightings for a 'non-birding' trip. Then again, is there such a thing as a 'non-birding' trip?

Dave Beeke

[Wetlander]

Stolen moments birding! Welcome home, and congrats on a great list of birds, Murray!

[oldfulica]

We were there a few years ago Murray and your post brought back memories. Isn't it great seeing so many birds for the first time?

[murraybrown]

Thanks for the welcome home guys.

Dave, the Bicknell's was right where you suggested I try. The Bog Trail Boardwalk. It seems I was very lucky to get it on my first try, as some others had tried walking the area without much luck.
The bird just popped up and landed on a stunted spruce about 5 meters away. It just doesn't get any easier.

Of interest was a report of a B.C. birder named Danny Tyson who reported seeing one there about a week earlier. It makes me wonder if it was the same bird.

I took the Bird Islands boat tour out of the Sidney area and was thrilled to be able to tick off 5 lifers in about 10 minutes. The birds were very relaxed and allowed some great close-up views.

Len, you are right about the pleasure of new birds in new places.

Murray

[Dave]

Excellent, Murray! The Bog trail came through! You are right, I have heard of other visitors spending days looking for Bicknell's with no success.

Congrats again.

I leave tomorrow morning with my small family for a camping trip that will eventually bring us to Arizona, so I am also looking forward to being in a new area for the first time!
Perhaps I will have an opportunity to post to this site from time to time, but campgrounds are not known for having Wifi!

All the best,

Dave

[murraybrown]

Ahh, Arizona! My first day in Tucson and I believe I added 13 lifers to an already fairly substantial list.

Have a great trip Dave and try to post from time to time. I've never birded there in the summer so am very interested in what you find.

Murray