Alcids like RAZORBILLS remain numerous with many father-chick pairs being sighted as well as lower numbers of COMMON MURRES. BLACK GUILLEMOTS are abundant and beginning to molt into winter plumage and the odd ATLANTIC PUFFIN has been seen.
Small numbers of GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATER are present and the first MANX SHEARWATER was recently recorded. Still a few NORTHERN GANNET around.
Small numbers of shorebirds, mostly SEMIPALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS as well as a few RUDDY TURNSTONES and unidentified larger shorebirds that were possible Sanderlings.
The Kittiwakes on Whitehorse island have abruptly ended their nesting season. On July 31st we visited the island and found it under seige by six bald eagles. Most of the nests were empty with only a few kittiwake chicks were left unattended. Most of the adult birds were roosting at one end of the island or feeding a short distance away, the majority of the chicks were nowhere to be found. I am not sure how many kittiwake chicks survived to fledge but have only seen a few hatch year birds roosting with the adults on the island. It was very interesting how the colony suddenly abandoned the nests and we are not sure whether or not the colony was abandoned due to the eagles or if most of the chicks fledged at the same time and therefore the adults left as well. We have seen very few eagles around the island up until this time and in recent days there has been up to 20 eagles at the island. See photos below
On July 28th - We had the first BLACK TERN of the season, an adult, and a few days later another was sighted. On the same day we also had two adult PEREGRINE FALCONS sitting on the hydrotower on MacMaster Island.
July 31st - we saw a couple small groups of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. Very large flocks of BONAPARTE'S GULLS feeding in Head Harbour Passage
Aug 1st. - PEREGRINE FALCON makes a kill and feeds on Mac's Tower. A BALD EAGLE is seen feeding on an adult herring gull off East Quoddy Lighthouse
Aug. 2nd - A probable RED PHALAROPE is sighted off East Quoddy lighthouse along with numerous small groups of shorebirds. 2 ATLANTIC PUFFIN fly past near Eastport, ME
Aug. 5th - A MANX SHEARWATER was spotted with a small group of GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATERS off Bliss Island
Aug. 6th - an adult, dark morph PARASITIC JAEGER off Black's Harbour
Lots of images to share from the last couple weeks, enjoy! If you are interested and haven't yet join the Bay of Fundy Birders facebook group then please CLICK HERE to join
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| Adult Black Tern |
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| Adult Black Tern |
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| Two adult Peregrine Falcon on Macs Tower |
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| Common and Arctic Terns on the water |
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| Arctic Terns in Flight |
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| Terns taking flight off Splitting Knife shoal |
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| Arctic Tern |
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| Arctic Tern |
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| Arctic Tern |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes with chicks on Whitehorse island |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes with chicks on Whitehorse island |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes with chicks on Whitehorse island |
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| Dead Kittiwake chick in nest |
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| Black-legged Kittiwake with chicks on Whitehorse island |
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| Adult Black-legged Kittiwake |
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| Black-legged Kittiwakes with chicks on Whitehorse island |
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| Recently fledged Black-legged Kittiwake chick on Whitehorse island |
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| Ruddy Turnstone with gulls on Whitehorse island |
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| Recently hatched and very late herring gull chicks on Whitehorse Island |
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| Gull fight! |
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| Gull fight! |
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| Juvenile Bonaparte's gull |
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| Adult Northern Gannet |
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| Gulls feeding with East Quoddy Lighthouse in background |
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| Grey seal and Black-legged Kittiwake on Whitehorse Island |
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| Eider ducks and Grand Manan island |
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| Double-crested Cormorants on Whitehorse island |
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| Bonaparte's gulls feeding in Head Harbour Passage |
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| Large group of Bonaparte's gulls |
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| Large flock of Bonaparte's gulls |
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| Large flock of Bonaparte's gulls |
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| Large flock of Bonaparte's gulls |
Thanks for viewing!
-Nick
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