Birds, including owls, are making some strange sounds now with partial songs, young birds learning etc. An AudioMoth remote recording unit (courtesy of John Kearney) picked up this Barred Owl last week. It’s loud at first so the bird must’ve been quite near. I had not heard the hoarse fading calls at the end before:
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/271695061
Nancy D
E Dalhousie, Kings Co.
Things have been pretty slow here at our place in White Point, Queens. There
are the usual birds, a few sparrows mostly Song and a possible Swamp. Oddly
no White Throated Sparrows stayed at all to nest or have shown up yet. Very
unusual.
We did dismantle the Grapevine and Kiwi arbor so that caused consternation
all around. It has yet to be replaced. Still no feeders out as yet. They
will come soon. Today I had a visit from a Downy Woodpecker. Yes it was a
reminder. Get busy. Hunger will build soon.
There were 9 Mourning Doves checking out the area a few minutes ago. I was
delighted to see and hear a Mockingbird about 1/2 hour ago and I think it
was using the Oriole speak. I could not see an Oriole anywhere. I wandered
to the intersection with the golf course to see, but Just the Mockingbird.
We have a smattering of Chickadees and Goldfinches moving through the trees.
About 10 days ago we had a large rush of all sort of Warblers, many were
Pine and Palm. A wee Tree Creeper hung around for a few days, no sign of it
now. Same with White Breasted Nuthatches. Blue Jays, well there plenty, some
to share if someone wants a few. I think there was a Rusty Blackbird here
for a few hours but I could not get a photo. I have been driving a couple
times lately along the shore hoping to find something interesting. Saturday,
I hit a Monarch that flew off a roadside Aster into the windshield. Today
as I walked to the intersection slowly chasing after the Mockingbird, I
surprised a Monarch that was settled on a bit of Hawkweed on the edge of the
pavement then a few minutes later further down toward my place, another came
along and landed on me briefly. I will take that as a blessing. Both look
very fresh. How far they will go, who knows. They were heading west at a
pretty good clip.
Lots of Cabbages and Sulphers around today.
Best regards Marg
White Point Artist, Marg Millard
19 White Point 2 Rd., White Point, Queens Co.,
R.R. # 1 Hunts Point, Nova Scotia
B0T 1G0 Canada (902) 683-2393
MargMillard.ca By Appointment, please
"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tunes without the words
And never stops–at all." (Emily Dickinson)
This is a little video of the massing of starlings and their amazing
aerial display.
Don MacNeill donmacneill(a)bellaliant.net
> *https://www.youtube.com/embed/88UVJpQGi88*
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Dear All,
   Many years ago (1980 ?) I planted a Five Fingered Ivy near the
house on the side facing about NE. It has grown well but, as expected,Â
did not ever develop more than a faint hint of the scarlet fall leaf
coloration typical of this plant.
   A large willow east of the house was cut in (Aug. ?); 2019 so the
Ivy on the house was not shaded by this very large tree in 2020.
Recently leaves have developed some red coloration; not the brilliant
red of a full sun exposure but clearly different from previous years.
   On an unrelated matter this plant grows like a weed and has never
received any nourishment other than the odd Maple or Ash leaf missed by
raking. So I wonder if it fixes Nitrogen.
YT, DW, Kentville
The Boss and I took a cruise from around the Southwest this past Sunday and
Monday. Forgot my binoculars, but sightings of note follow:
We drove to the end of the road at West Head near Lockeport on Sunday, and
walked south down a path for another couple hundred meters. Surprised a
lone monarch butterfly in the scrubland. It headed south, and may the winds
guide it safely over the waters.
Saw three ruffed grouse at various locations in eastern Shelburne county (2)
and one in Kings County. They have been getting scarce in my home stomping
grounds south of Yarmouth in recent years. Cannot say the same for
pheasants.
Just now, I went across to water our greenhouse and what appeared to be a
bobcat ran across an open space (from one bushy area to another) about fifty
feet to my south. Right size, right shape, pointed ears, bobbed tail,
brownish colour (seen somewhat against the sun), feline running style, .
Have seen occasional suspicious footprints in the snow in previous years.
Did not follow it! Plenty of deer around .
Hi all:
I had 35 American pipits and 8 horned larks at Cherry Hill Beach today. The wind was so strong that it was hard to see with the salt spray and mist and very difficult to hold the camera steady enough for a few poor photos.
At Broad Cove I found at least three immature white-crowned sparrows. I had six opportunities where I could have obtained photos, but ended up with none. The first bird stayed in place for about five minutes in the open, but I could not find it in the viewfinder due to it being directly into the sun. That was the case with all of my other opportunities as well. I tried to circle around for a better angle, but it was not to be. The birds were at the drive just before the pond that falls either side of the road. A short way up from there I also had a sparrow, which I had the impression of a possible grasshopper sparrow. I had just raised the binoculars on it when it flew off the side of the road and I could not relocate it.
James R. Hirtle
LaHave
After a while with no red finches was rather surprised to see what appeared to be a pair of house finches at the feeder this morning.
Peter Stow Hubbards
Have a lovely adult male B. Oriole since Wednesday aft, Oct. 7. First
saw him on the peanut feeder! Now he also has an orange and some grapes
(which he doesn't seem to be eating). Don't remember ever having an
adult plumaged bird before.
Lois Codling
L. Sackville
Here is the latest Winter Finch Forecast. It applies mostly to Ontario
and adjacent provinces and states but it is interesting to read about
the causes fof various movements. It does mention Evening Grosbeaks
being seen in the Maritimes this winter
https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2020?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+…
--
Don
Don MacNeill donmacneill(a)bellaliant.net
