The Nesting Season June L-July 31, 1988
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CONTINENTAL SURVEY The Nesting Season June lJuly 31, 1988 ATLANTIC PROVINCES REGION Bruce Mactavish warmer,heRegion sunnierexperienced July. Rainfallacool, wascloudy near normal.June and De- a scriptionsof the conecrop on the white spruceand balsam fir acrossthe entire Regionranged from phenomenalto incredible. White-winged Crossbills were sent into a breeding frenzy in some areas. The ongoingbreeding bird atlassingproject in the Mar- itime Provincesturned up moresurprises. The mostnotable was a confirmedbreeding record of Solitary Sandpiperin New Brunswick. Some birds reaching their northern breedinglimits in southernNew Brunswickwere found to be more numerousthan expected. Major raritieswere a White-wingedTern and BlackVul- ture in New Brunswick and a Black-tailed Godwit in St. Pierre et Miquelon. Reporting was excellent from New Brunswick, New- foundland, and St. Pierre et Miquelon but nil or next to nil from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The 4 Ariantic Provincesand St. Pierre et Miquelon are now unified into oneRegion. We hopethat observerswill have more incen- tive to contributeto somethingthat is closerto being their own.There wfil be morespace to elaborateon bird sightings significantto this specificRegion. Coverage will be more thoroughfrom peoplewho are very knowledgeableabout the area and are very active in the field. ABBREVIATIONS- St. Pierre et Miquelon = S.P.M. Place names in itolics are counties. Volume 42, Number 5 1265 LOONS TO WATERFOWL -- South of Labrador,Mlque- An ad Golden Eagle July 23 at Hare Bay, NF, was quite ion, S P M is the only location where Red-throate•tLoons are notable for both location and date (IG) Another spent the known to nestregularly in the Region.This seasona few pairs summer on Grand Manan I., NB, where there have been sum- and one occupiednest were found there (RE). Nonbreeding mer sightingsin the previous3 years (BD). A family groupof Red-throatedLoons are routine through the summer in n. Merlinsat CampobelloI., NB, providedone of the few breeding Newfoundland; one June 5 near N. Sydney, NS (RB), and one records for s. New Brunswick (Wayne Petersen). An unsea- July 24 at Outer Cove, NF (KK), were more unusual. sonal Peregrine Falcon in early June was at St. Pierre, Most visitingbirdwatchers complained about the scarcityof S.P.M. (BL). Greater and Sooty shearwatersseen from the Newfoundland A pair of Com. Moorhenswith fledglingsJuly 22 at Hills- ferriesin July.The few who camein Junesaw the usualthou- borough,NB, wasat a new nestinglocation (RWa). An absurdly sandsof shearwatersthat were brought in close to shore by tame Sandhill Crane was seen at Shediacin late Juneand at spawningcapelin. Manx Shearwaterscontinued to be heard Chaleur, NB, July 24 & 27 (m.ob.). at nightat seabirdcolonies in S.P.M.and Newfoundland. Again Outstandingwas a pair of Solitary Sandpipers with two this summer they were heard vocalizinginside deep crevices younglate Julyat ColdBrook on the CainesR., Kent,NB (DAC) on ColumbierI., S.P.M. (AD, RE), and on Gull I., WitlessBay, This representsprobably the first breedingrecord south of c NF (WAM). Actual nestingis difficultto provebecause of their Quebecand Labradorin the east.A Black-tailed Godwit June nocturnal habits and undergroundnesting sites. To date the 12 at Grand Barachois,S.P.M., was presumedto have been the only breedinglocation known in the Regionis at Middle Lawn same bird seen there in early May (AD). An Am. Woodcock I., Burin Pen., NF. June4 was unusualat St. Pierre, S.P.M. (BL). "Southern" heronsreported were singleLittle Blue Herons at Moncton, NB, July 15-16 (m.ob.) and Cow Head, NF, July 8 GULLS TO ALCIDS -- LaughingGulls do not breed in the (fide HD) and a Tricolored Heron June 21-30 at Saint John, Regionbut are annual in summer.St. Pierre et Miquelon had NB (Alde Robichaudet al.). A family group of five Green- an immature June2 and an adult June6 & 9 (RE, AD). In New- backed Herons late July near Moncton, NB, furnished a rare foundland single adults were in St. John'sJune 9-11 (MP et provincial breedingrecord (RWa). al.), Pt. May June21, and Grand BeachJune 22 (CBr,PG), and A WoodDuck June5 at Carmanville,NF, was well northeast a 2nd-summerbird was at StephenvilleCrossing July 16 (ST) of its known breedingrange (fide GB). An ad. • Eur. Wigeon First-summer Com. Black-headed Gulls in Newfoundland were was at Tabusintac, NB, June 15-July 3 (HC). A Eur. Green- four June 19 at Bellevue Beach (CBr) and two July 19 at Riv- winged Teal presentat St. John's,NF, from May remained erhead, ConceptionBay (RB).Single ad. LesserBlack-backed until the late date of June 10 (CBu). A ½duck with a brood on Gull were at Stephenville Crossing,NF, July 17 (ST) and at S P.M. wasprobably a GreaterScaup, a speciesnot previously BiscayBay, NF, July 15 (KE). known to nestthere. Postbreedingconcentrations of • Greater Adult CaspianTerns in Newfoundlandaway from known Scaupin w. Newfoundlandwere of flocksof seven and 16 in breedingcolonies were 2 pairsJune 19 at BellevueBeach among late June and July at River of Ponds(BMt) and 20 July 16 at a Ring-billedGull colony(CBr), one June22 at Deer L. (BMt), Stephenville Crossing(ST). and nine July 16 at StephenvilleCrossing (ST). Four hundred Common Eiders had tremendous breeding successin the fifty Arctic Terns June 22 at Grand Beach, Burin Pen., NF, Bay of Fundy. Usually 80%-90% of the youngare lost due to includedmany breedingpairs and goodnumbers of first-sum- gull predation,but this summervirtually all survivedbecause mer birds (CBr).A LeastTern June19 at Bear Cove,Avalon the gulls were feeding on an unusual abundanceof herring Pen.,NF, was a provincialfirst, though perhaps overdue (Wd- (Peter Hicklin). liam Threlfall). Black Terns were singlesat Garnish,NF, June 20 (CBr,PG) and at L'Anse-aux-Meadowsin late June(DA) A White-wingedTern July9 at Cap Pele, NB, furnishedthe 4th RAPTORS TO SHOREBIRDS -- A Black Vulture June22 provincialrecord (DAC). More detailsare expectedon a sight- at Nacawick, NB, added yet another sightingto the province's ing of what may havebeen a White-wingedTern at St. Paul's, high all-time total,which is approaching20 (CJ).Single Turkey NF, June 16. Vultures Junela at North Head, Grand Manan I. (Frank Long- SummerDovekie sightings were singleseast of N. Sydney, staff), and June 15 at Caine's Pt. (DAC) were comparatively NS, June 5 (RB);Placentia Bay, NF, July 11 (KE);and S.P.M routine (Frank Longstaff).Northern Harriers appearedto be in July29 (MJB).An albinoAtlantic Puffin, completely white with goodnumbers throughout Newfoundland, perhaps taking ad- a uniformorange bill, wasat the largeseabird colony in Witless vantageof the highmeadow vole populations (m.ob.). Atlassing Bay, NF, July 14 (KE). producedRed-shouldered Hawk from 6 locationsin Charlotte in s.w. New Brunswick(BD). A Red-shoulderedHawk June24 DOVES TO FLYCATCHERS- An E. Screech-Owl was at Shulie R., NS, provided an intriguing summer sightingfrom heard calling at Big Indian L. near Saint John, NB, June 25 a province where it is very rare at any season(BMy). (RWe).The speciesmay breedin smallnumbers in that prov- ince. An unusual number of Snowy Owls were seen in June S.A. in Newfoundland: two early June in Gander (fide WAM), Unusuallyhigh numbers of Rough-leggedHawks were "several"in L'Anse-aux-Meadows(DA), oneJune 9 at St.John's seenduring the summerthroughout Newfoundland. The (fide DP), and one June21 at CapeSt. Mary's (fide PL). A N speciesnormally nests sparingly in the province.At least Hawk-Owl fledglingwas seen with an adult on the Bay d'Espmr one nest was found this summer. Several other pairs Hwy, NF, July 1 (RB).Boreal Owls nestedin a nest box at a were seenin courtship.They were particularly noticed provincial park in e. Newfoundland(fide BMt). Short-eared on the Great Northern Pen., where several local out- Owl sightingswere widespreadin Newfoundland,where the owls must have found the abundance of mice favorable for doorsmen commented on their unusual abundance and appearancein placeswhere not expected.Ten to 15 dif- producinglarge families. ferent individuals were present in the unlikely habitat A Chimney Swift was eastof the known breedingrange at of logged-outforest in the areabetween Daniels Harbour S.P.M. June 10 (MJB). and Port-au-Choixthrough July. The high meadowvole The atlassingproject in the Madtimes turned up a number populationin Newfoundlandand the very low vole pop- of Willow Flycatchers:five around Fredericton(PP), one June ulation in Labrador may explain this phenomenon(RB, 11 at Moncton (ST), one June20 at Millstream (RWe) (all in WAM, BMt et al.). Farther southa Rough-leggedHawk New Brunswick), and one June 25 at Cape Der, NS (BMy) A was presentin Riverside,NB, June 21-28 (RWa). rare midsummersighting of W. Kingbird was made at River- side, NB, July 2 (RWa). 1266 AmericanBirds, Winter 1988 WRENS TO WARBLERS -- A s•ng•ngHouse Wren June9 ville, NF, •n early June(fide GB) and near StuntJohn, NB, June was at St Andrews, NB (RB) Golden-crownedK•nglets often 17 (fide JW) A • N. OrmleJune 7 at S P M had a yellow breast go unnoticed in the breedingseason but were thought to be and undertail covertswith a gray belly, suggestingthe race very much more numerous than in recent summers in New bullockii (RE). Brunswick(DAC). Eastern Bluebirds appeared to be doingquite Pine Grosbeakswere particularly numerouson the Great well in New Brunswick especiallyin the southwest,where Northern Pen., NF, in late June and July (BMt). Pine Siskins they were found in 12 atlas squares (BD). Seven atlassing were widespreadand common throughout the Region. Red squaresalong the New Brunswickshore of the Bay of Fundy Crossbillswere very scarcein Newfoundlandbut presentm containedGray-cheeked Thrushes to the surpriseof some(BD). small flocks in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Another was singing at W. Advocate, NS, June 24 (BMy).