It is a great time of year to experience the bird life of the Bay of Fundy! Nesting and the raising of young is in full swing for most of our resident species which means plenty of interesting sights and some great opportunities for photography. Whitehorse Island is a star attraction this time of year and we make sure to visit this special area on each trip, when weather permits. The HERRING and BLACK-BACKED GULL chicks are getting big fast and the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES have hatched their first chicks. It is difficult to see in many of the nests but I have counted at least 5 nests that have chicks, some with two in each one. Many kittiwakes appear to still be incubating eggs and some continue to bring nesting material to the island. We have seen at times up to four COMMON RAVENS and a few BALD EAGLES at the island attempting to rob nests and grab chicks. On one occasion we saw a young eagle take a herring gull chick. Up until a couple days ago the DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT colony on the island appeared to be doing quite well, but during our visit to the island today I noticed that not a single bird was present at the main nesting area. More and more BONAPARTE’S GULLS have been showing up around the island, some with adult plummage. Small numbers of RAZORBILLS and BLACK GUILLEMOTS are seen on each visit to the island.
We also got a chance to visit Southwolf Island and I was surprised to see no evidence of nesting kittiwakes. This would be the first year in my six years on the Bay that I have not seen a good number of kittiwake nests on the island.
We have been visiting a bald eagle nest on Spruce Island with 2 chicks that are going to be ready to fly very soon. The nest is very visible and a treat to visit on each trip. The two chicks look very healthy and we often see the adults are never to far, providing some great looks.
COMMON EIDERS are plentiful and I have seen a good number of broods this year.
Sightings of interest;
June 25th – An adult LAUGHING GULL was sighted off the Wolves Islands.
July 8th – An ATLANTIC PUFFIN was seen in the Western Passage area.
Photos from our recent trips:
Atlantic Puffin sighted in Western Passage
Bald eagle chicks on Spruce Island
Herring gull with chick on Whitehorse Island
Great black-backed gull chicks on Whitehorse Island
Nesting herring gull and chick on Whitehorse Island
Nesting herring gulls on Whitehorse Island
Black-legged kittiwake on Whitehorse Island
Bonaparte’s gull on Whitehorse Island
Nesting black-legged kittiwakes on Whitehorse Island
Common raven flying over Whitehorse Island
Common ravens flying over Whitehorse Island
Black-legged kittiwake with chick on Whitehorse Island
Double-crested cormorants on Whitehorse Island
Nesting black-legged kittiwakes on Whitehorse Island
Herring gull with chicks on Whitehorse Island
Nesting black-legged kittiwakes on Whitehorse Island
Razorbills
Razorbill
Razorbill
Bald eagle on Whitehorse Island
Common eider duck brood
Common eider duck brood
Common eider duck brood
Double-crested cormorant in flight
Double-crested cormorants nesting on Whitehorse Island
Double-crested cormorants nesting on Whitehorse Island
Atlantic Puffin
Bald eagle chicks on Spruce Island
Are you still doing the birding trip in the fall?
Yes we are, Carol! It is scheduled for September 27th at 10AM and you can call the Quoddy Link office (506-529-2600) to reserve a spot on the boat! Hope to see you there
Hi Nick, we are the people who bought the westy from the Bubars. I enjoy following your career and appreciate your work. Trust all goes well for you. I am a creationist believer and find HIS fingerprints everywhere in nature. Have a great day. PS we are hoping to do a little camping around Deer Island and Campobello one of these fine weeks soon.
Good to hear from you, Grant! Thank you for the kind words and I hope you enjoy your trip to the area.