[NatureNS] Point Pleasant Park - birds

Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:19:03 -0400
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca>
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	It was so lovely yesterday morning when I went to the Farmers' 
Markets (we have two in Halifax) that afterwards I went for a walk in 
Point Pleasant Park.  I had not been there for some time.  The 
hard-packed snow on the main paths was melting in the sunshine, and 
the walking was pretty easy. I only walked from the lower parking lot 
as far as the Sailors' Monument, but spent quite a lot of time 
sitting down at several points and scanning the harbour with my 
binoculars.  The tide was coming in and nearly high, so very little 
shoreline was exposed.  I found the Purple Sandpipers huddled up on 
the beach rocks, almost at my feet, as I sat near the HMCS 
Bonaventure's anchor. There were two divers active in the waters at 
Black Rock Beach, so the Black Ducks that usually congregate there 
were scattered all along the shoreline.  There were scarcely any 
gulls about at all.

	There were several large flocks of waterfowl in the harbour, 
including 75+ Common Eiders off the breakwater, which dispersed when 
a big container ship arrived tended by two tugboats. Another flock 
was off the Point, dodging a lobster boat which was checking 
traps.  There was also a tight flock of White-winged Scoters.  I was 
disappointed not to see scaup, grebes, or more loons.  However, there 
were doubtless more birds on the Northwest Arm/Purcell's Cove side of 
the Park, which I didn't check.  And of course if I'd had a scope, 
I'd have seen more.

	I didn't walk in the interior of the park, so saw few landbirds, 
apart from Crows and Chickadees.  I didn't hear any Goldfinches, or 
Song Sparrows, although both are very vocal in my neighbourhood now.

	Species seen:

American Black Duck		120+
Mallard			10
Common Eider		170+
White-winged Scoter		40+
Black Scoter			5
Red-breasted Merganser	15
Common Loon		1
cormorant sp.			1
Purple Sandpiper		12
Black Guillemot		13


	Patricia L. Chalmers
	Halifax

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