I understand that UCCB is using the old convent buildings in Mabou as a satellite campus. The other night a friend who grew up in that area mentioned to me those buildings used to be a great place to see Chimney Swifts. Does anyone know if this location is still an active roosting and/or nesting site for these at risk insectivores? If so, I hope the institution is aware of and protects the parts of the structure being used by the Chimney Swifts for the future. Comments?
Nancy D
Sent from my iPad
MARCH 31/21 - I have a few springtime phenomena to report: a bit of searching finally turned up about 5 flowering heads of coltsfoot along Wolfville’s Oak Avenue; and just north of the Acadia Arena the usual raven nest is occupied again; also today our east-end Wolfville neighborhood is suddenly full of singing song sparrows. Two days ago we had a very vocal male northern flicker. Then yesterday we had an obviously just-arrived bunch of 6+ red-winged blackbirds doing a “group gronk†of constant singing together. Now the migrant American robins are overdue here.
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
Hi all:
Yesterday morning I could hear a very vocal wren of some sort in the woods and multiflora behind the house. I don't know which species and was in a rush at the time for an appointment, so did not have chance to track it down. I've not heard it since. I did not have time to get a recording and I should have in hindsight. This doesn't help at all at this point. I assumed it might stay in the area and I would have a second chance at it.
James R. Hirtle
LaHave
I have received a number of emails explaining why I can't possibly have
heard a Red-eyed Vireo this morning, with all kinds of maps and data.
I withdraw my observation. There is no way I can reasonably pit my ears (and
years of experience in the woods) against all your eBird data, etc.
Probability is against me and with the data.
Andrew Steeves
Black River Lake
Kings County
Heard the first Red-eyed Vireo chatter of spring as the sun came up this morning. Nothing quite like the sudden presence of a long absent sound.
Andrew Steeves
Black River Lake
Kings County
MARCH 24/21 - Based on another (new?) bald eagle nest tip from Dianne & Gordon Thorpe, I drove to the Wallbrook bridge and Gaspereau River. From the bridge I looked downstream to the east, and it wasn’t difficult to find the nest close to the river in deciduous trees with an adult eagle sitting on the nest. It looked to be below the Stirling farmhouse and cemetery tower.
Then I drove to the Stirling house and just beyond it and looked again. The nest is not very conspicuous from there, but it is northeast from the house and just to the left of a prominent white birch trunk.
At Grand Pre I saw a small flock of 6+ common grackles with a red-winged blackbird.
At home in Wolfville there is a very vocal male? northern flicker advertising himself and his turf?
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville, and thanks to the Thorpes!
I saw a bat today at the start of the Gaspereau River Trail, White Rock,
Kings Co. I know very little about bats but I'm quite confident it's a
Little Brown Bat. I supposed it's unusual to see a bat in the daytime in
bright sunshine but at least it was, and has been, very warm. It didn't
seem to be obviously ill or dis-oriented like the last bats I saw 8 & 9
years ago. It seemed to be grooming its wings when it wasn't just being
quiet. I put a photo in my Mammals Gallery:
https://rickwhitman.smugmug.com/Nature/Mammals/i-xD3JsXX/A
Rick Whitman
