Aug. 23rd - September 11th

Bird activity in the West Isles is coming to a climax with the greatest diversity being seen on the most recent trips. We have been spending most of our time in the areas around Black's Harbour and the Wolves.

Bird activity off the Wolves seems to come and go, with small numbers of Shearwaters, Puffins and Gannets moving to and from the inshore and offshore areas. Pomarine and Parasitic jaegers are been spotted on a daily basis in this area as well as the inshore around Green's Point lighthouse. A few common tern are still in the area.

Although we haven't been spending a lot of time within the Islands, the tidal currents around Eastport and Deer Island have attracted thousands of feeding gulls, as is usual this time of year. Bonaparte's are present in the many thousands as well as good numbers of black-legged kittiwake. These large groups of gulls usually hold other rarer species like little gull, black-headed and lesser-black backed gull and even SABINE'S GULL which has been reported in the area this year by Chris Bartlett. I look forward to spending some time looking through these flocks to see what we can find on the Pelagic trip on the 27th.

Fall migration has brought the first hawks of the season in the skies over Letete Passage as well as the first migrant hummingbirds of the fall season. Many immature great blue herons are appearing with the islands and more bald eagles are showing up as well. Also seen migrating are MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, an encouraging sign after not a single one was spotted last year.

The UPCOMING PELAGIC TRIP ON THE 27th of September is now almost full, with just 5 spots remaining. Some people may cancel so if you want to go and it is full please put your name on the reserve list. If you are currently signed up and unable to attend please let the office know ASAP.

Sightings of interest by day:

Aug. 23rd - 200-300 Shearwaters off South Wolf Island, mostly GREAT with a few SOOTY. One HUMMINGBIRD off Bliss Island. POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGER off Eastern Wolf Island. Small rafts of ATLANTIC PUFFIN

Aug. 25th - small groups of GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATERS with a single MANX. NORTHERN GANNET off Eastern Wolf Island

Aug. 26th - HUMMINGBIRD crossing Letete passage. Small numbers of Shearwater and 20-30 NORTHERN GANNET off Bliss Island. BELTED KINGFISHERS throughout islands. MERLIN over Simpson Island. 40-50 CALIDRIS sp. sandpipers on rockweed in Head Harbour passage.

***SABINE'S GULL REPORTED BY CHRIS BARTLETT IN HEAD HARBOUR PASSAGE AREA

Sept. 4th - 100-200 GREAT and SOOTY SHEARWATERS off South Wolf Island with small #'s of Atlantic Puffins. 2 MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

Sept. 8th - SHARP-SHINNED HAWK crossing Little Letete passage at 10:30 AM. 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS off Black's Harbour. MONARCH BUTTERFLY off South Wolf.

Sept. 9th - Adult PEREGRINE FALCON on Macs Island electrical tower. 2 OSPREY over Macs Island. First fledged juvenile BLACK_LEGGED KITTIWAKE of the fall (not from Whitehorse).

Sept. 11th - Small numbers of NORTHERN GANNET and ATLANTIC PUFFIN off South Wolf Island with 1 PARASITIC and 1 POMARINE JAEGER.

Bald eagle on Spectacle Island

Bald eagles feeding on herring ball off Campobello Island

Bonaparte's gulls with Campobello Island in background

Bonaparte's and Kittiwakes roosting on Black Rock

Bonaparte's and Kittiwakes roosting on Black Rock

Juvenile herring gull (top right) :)

Great blue heron

Great blue heron

Great shearwater

Great shearwater

Great shearwater

Gulls feeding on herring ball off Campobello Island

Gulls and terns roosting on Splitting knife shoal

Bald eagle and Head Harbour lighthouse

Parasitic jaeger (top) with pomarine jaeger (bottom)

Kittiwakes roosting on Splitting Knife shoal

Krill swarm at surface, a food source which draws thousands of gulls and other birds to the West Isles

Merlin over Simpson Island

Adult peregrine falcon on Macs tower

Jaeger sp.