Nashville Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Grant Milroy and I were out early this morning to see what we could find. We met in Hartland and went to a street where he knew Purple Martins had been in the past. Unfortunately they weren't there, but I now know where to go look another time (or year!). Next, we went to a few marsh type areas to find a Northern Waterthrush (he found one yesterday link here http://birdingnewbrunswick.ca/photo/4-northern-waterthrush-stylish-guy?context=featured, I've never seen one). We didn't find one, however I did get my first picture of a Nashville Warbler. Near the end of our morning, we did end up seeing a Rose-breasted Grosbeak after lots of patience. This was a first for me and brings my total to 146 for the year and 158 for life in NB.

Willet, Semipalmated Sandpiper - PEI

This evening, I returned from my first visit to PEI of the summer. I was there for about four days and found 52 different species of birds. Three were added to my life list - Willet (pic #4), Semipalmated Sandpiper (pic #1) and Pied-billed Grebe. I met up with a local birder, Ron Arvidson, on Monday and he showed me a great area that I was hoping to get to anyway, Noonan's Marsh, which is right after you cross the Confederation Bridge.

I was pleased to get pictures of Short-billed Dowitchers (pic #2) and to find a Bank Swallow colony (pic #3). The Island Nature Trust had posted that they were looking for Bank Swallows so I went for a drive to where I have seen them for the past couple of summers and posted a video on their group here; https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10153031750325258&set=o.190787204315860&type=2&theater

Northern Mockingbird, Swainson's Thrush

Today I had the privilege of being shown around the Irving Nature Park by Gilbert Bouchard. I am in Brown’s Flat for the weekend so he invited me to meet him early this morning.  After over 3 hours of walking/driving around the park and going up by his house, we saw and heard 53 different species. Gilbert has knows numerous species by ear and since he lives so close to the park, he knew exactly where to find many birds that I had yet to see. He helped me add ten new birds to my life list! Northern Mockingbird (pictured), Swainson’s Thrush (pictured), Winter Wren, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Nelson’s Sparrow, Short-billed Dowitcher,  Nashville Warbler, Black Scoter, and Lesser Scaup.

 

 

 

 

Black-throated Blue Warbler

I had the pleasure to go birding with Grant Milroy in the Coldstream area this past Monday. We were out early at 6AM and stayed out for over two hours. Grant helped me add five new species to my life list. We saw ten different warblers, five of which were completely new to me. One is pictured below (Black-throated Blue) and the others were; Ovenbird, Mourning, Canada and Northern Parula. I'm now up to 132 in NB for the year!