Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers



This was a flock of four birds, two Ruddy Turnstones and two Purple Sandpipers. In the second image you can see the purple
sheen on the back of the bird that gives the bird its name.  I have seen larger groups in the same area but
they've tended to stay on the outer ledges. December 22, West Head, NS.





Swamp Sparrow

One of two Swamp Sparrows I found during the Christmas bird count December 21.  They were part of a small group
of sparrows behind the beach at Hemeon's Head. The others included several Song and Savannah Sparrows
of which at least two were of the Ipswich sub-species.
 

Snowy Owl

One of two Snowy Owls at West Head on this day - December 13. This one was a willing subject
which always helps. I generally keep a fair distance if they show signs of nervousness.

Winter Wren

This bird was in my yard on December 4th when I managed to get these shots. There had been one
around a couple of weeks earlier - not sure if this is the same bird.

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Shot this on December 2 at Little Port Le'hebert. Later a pair of adults flew in and put on a pretty impressive
flight display, unfortunately too far away for decent pictures.

Snow Bunting

These are all shots of the same bird which allowed me to follow it around for a half hour or so. I don't think I distracted
it too much from feeding or stretching as it was doing in the middle pictures. November 30, West Head.

American Pipit

Shot on two consecutive days at the end of West Head, November 29, 30.

Red Knot

This guy seemed out of place, I'm used to seeing them in groups at Mathew's Lake. This one was by itself
at the end of West Head November 29 in the company of Snow Buntings and at least one Longspur.

White-throated Sparrow and Nuthatches

Just some of the first few shots from the new camera. These were all taken in my yard in East Jordan November 27 and 29.

Cattle Egret

Thanks to Bill for giving me a heads up about where to find this bird. I watched it pull an earthworm
out of the lawn and devour it.  I assume that's what it's searching for in these photos.
November 23, Shelburne NS.

Barred Owl

About to pounce on a mouse - well I'm not entirely sure it caught what it was after but it seemed to be
eating something shortly after.

Preening



I'm not sure if this bird was more interested in hunting or resting, it seemed to be doing a little of both.
November 22, Brighton Road, Lockeport NS.

Snowy Owl

One of two Snowy Owls at West Head November 22.

American Pipit

Sometimes you don't need to be that close to get an interesting shot.
November 22, West Head

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I'm very happy to have this bird back after an absence of a few months. Maybe she will stick around
for this winter as well. November 21, East Jordan

Pine Warbler

This bird was mixed in with a large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. It's still in it's first year and
so doesn't have the bright colours of an adult. November 16, Hemeon's Head.

Some Yard Birds

Fox Sparrow

American Goldfinch

Fox Sparrow

Black-capped Chickadee
A few shots of birds seen in my yard over the last week. The Fox Sparrow seems to have left and there has been
a Winter Wren which has mostly eluded my camera lens.

More Green Heron shots

These were taken on the same day as the American Coot pictures - November 4, Louis Head NS

Nuthatches

White-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

There have been several nuthatches in my yard in recent days. This is the first time I've had a
White-breasted come to the feeders, November 5-6, East Jordan, NS

American Coot

I went looking for the Green Herons but found this bird instead. Strangely there were two of these occupying
the same two ponds as the herons - with the bonus being that the adult Green Heron was still there.
November 4, Louis Head.