Quoddy Link Birds: Aug. 7th

Most of the recent bird activity has been within the West Isles, with very little being spotted offshore. ARCTIC and COMMON TERNS remain abundant all through the area and we have been getting some excellent opportunities to observe and compare these two species. Many of the terns have been feeding with BONAPARTE'S GULLS in the powerful tidal currents off Green's Point. Also present in this area have been small numbers of PARASITIC and POMARINE JAEGERS that can be seen chasing after the birds in attempts to steal their catch. Almost all of these birds have been sighted right off Green's Point while we stop to observe a seal haul out site.

RAZORBILLS have been extremely abundant in the areas we visit, there are many father-chick pairs and over the last week the chicks have been extremely vocal, begging for food. This may be the time of year when the males stop feeding the chicks, encouraging them to feed on their own. Whatever it is they certainly make their presence known out on the water. The always abundant BLACK GUILLEMOTS are moulting into winter plumage and other alcids like COMMON MURRE and ATLANTIC PUFFIN have been seen in small numbers on recent trips.

Shearwaters have been in very low numbers over the last two weeks. MANX SHEARWATER has been the most abundant in the area in recent days with a few GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATERS being sighted. Very few NORTHERN GANNET in the area, with only a handful being spotted in recent days.

Migrants include small groups of shorebirds, a few hummingbirds and a large number of swallows. Also an increase in the number of OSPREY sighted.

I have also noted a significant increase in the number of GREAT CORMORANTS in the area.

Numbers of BALD EAGLES are increasing and we have been getting some great looks on most all our trips.

Sightings of interest by day:

Aug. 10th - a LEACH'S STORM PETREL was sighted off Adam Island

Aug. 11th - eight LESSER YELLOWLEGS were feeding next to the wharf in St. Andrews. Two TURKEY VULTURES sighted over Macmaster Island

Aug. 13th - a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was roosting with other gulls on the floating breakwater next to the St. Andrews wharf.

Aug. 14th - a GREATER YELLOWLEGS flushed off of Splitting Knife shoal when we stopped to look at the seals. A couple WILSON'S STORM PETRELS in Head Harbour Passage.

Aug. 15th - a POMARINE JAEGER sighted off Adam Island and lots of BARN and TREE SWALLOW moving through the area

Aug. 17th - a PEREGRINE FALCON of Mac's Tower a juvenile hunting terns off Green's Point. First RED-BREASTED MERGANSER of fall

Aug. 18th - On this day we did a charter to Campobello and I was able to check out the significant number of shorebirds in Friar's Bay. In total there were 300-400 LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS as well as one SOLITARY SANDPIPER and 5 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS.