Piping Plover - Adult and Fledglings

I was asked by one of the local Piping Plover monitors to try to photograph the fledglings of this particular nesting pair. There was a concern that only one chick had survived in the week leading up to the time they would be fully fledged and ready to leave the area. I was happy to do so and also happy to report that all three young ones were still alive and well at the time. August 15, Louis Head Beach NS.

The flags on the legs help to identify the individual birds, the adult here is not flagged. While I was able to photograph all three fledglings only two are pictured in these photos.

Turnstones, Red Knot

Among the birds roosting at high tide in early August at Matthew's Lake were several Ruddy Turnstones and a single Red Knot. The Knots usually occur in small numbers here during the summer shorebird migration and often into Autumn where they gradually moult into their grey Winter plumage. They are notable not only for their rusty red breeding attire but because numbers have declined precipitously in recent decades, as much as 50% at their wintering grounds in South America.

Common Terns - Adult and Juveniles

Although Terns haven't nested in Matthew's Lake in recent years they do tend to feed there during the summer months and there may be a breeding colony in the area. I might know the location but I haven't checked out that particular spot for nesting this year. However the adults do show up accompanied by juveniles in late summer.

The juveniles differ from the adults in that they appear to have a receding "hair line" and have mostly black beaks. On this day in early August they were looking for roosting spots amongst the shorebirds. Sometimes it was a rock, other times it was an abandoned lobster pot.

Hudsonian Godwit

 I didn't make it to Matthew's Lake very often this past summer but whenever I did this bird was the one I was most anxious to photograph. They're one of the largest of all the shorebirds that frequent the lake and they only occur in small numbers, usually  6 or 7 individuals. These shots were taken on August 7.

Flocks on Rocks

When shorebirds like these aren't able to feed they are often roosting somewhere waiting for the tide to recede. In this case they have chosen the rocky western shore of Matthew's Lake. Here are three images, one of Semipalmated Sandpipers and two of mostly Short-billed Dowitchers with a lone Willet. These were taken August 5.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

As in past years I had several hummingbirds coming to feeders this summer.  While I always hope to be able to photograph males because of their bright "ruby" throat I usually end up settling for females or in this case an immature male. Pictured here with my favourite flower - crocosmia

Juvenile Male Belted Kingfisher

I believe this bird was one of the offspring of the kingfisher with fish from an earlier post. The limb he is perched on seems particularly attractive to kingfishers since at high tide they are able to dive directly into the river below. The site is a kilometer or more from their nesting location so it's interesting that they often choose this particular spot.  I have taken photos in previous years at the same location.