[NatureNS] North Kingston BBS route (long)

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would have expected it; no dou
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Hi Patricia=2C
=20
Larry Neily here. We may or may not have met=2C I have a terrible memory fo=
r such things=2C but we do have something in common. I did the North Kingst=
on BBS for three years (1975-77) before moving to BC in 1977. I am trying t=
o add my old records to eBird and found that while I have the data=2C I do =
not have the exact starting point. I have 45 degrees 6 minutes North by -64=
 degrees 41 minutes West=2C but that isn't very accurate. I know it started=
 near Grafton=2C but would you be kind enough to give me an exact spot. Tha=
nks=2C Larry Neily
=20
Date: Sun=2C 7 Jul 2013 18:42:14 -0300
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
From: plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca
Subject: [NatureNS] North Kingston BBS route (long)

=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
        In late June I=0A=
visited the Annapolis Valley=2C where I ran my Breeding Bird Survey=2C the=
=0A=
North Kingston route. The survey begins in Grafton and goes due west for=0A=
2/3 of the stops=2C before heading up Stronach Mountain and over towards=0A=
the Fundy Shore.  The first part=2C along the valley floor=2C is through=0A=
agricultural land at the base of the North Mountain.  Mainly I find=0A=
grassland and open-country species in the fields close to the road=2C=0A=
vireos and warblers in the orchards=2C and I strain to hear flycatchers=2C=
=0A=
thrushes and warblers that are further back=2C in the woodlots behind the=
=0A=
farms.  With luck I see a few raptors.  A few ponds support=0A=
Common Yellowthroats=2C Red-winged Blackbirds and the like.  As soon=0A=
as the road heads uphill=2C the habitat changes (coniferous trees=3B dirt=
=0A=
roads through rich deciduous woodland) and the range of birds changes=0A=
dramatically - boreal forest birds=2C a greater variety of warblers=2C=0A=
etc.  Then back on paved roads=2C and a highlight is stop 43=2C the=0A=
Margaretsville Ducks Unlimited Marsh.  From there the route heads=0A=
along the Delusion Road to the outskirts of Port George.

=0A=
        I ran my=0A=
route on the 27th of June this year.   Miserable wet=0A=
unpredictable weather was as usual the reason for doing it later than I=0A=
would really like=2C but I was glad to avoid the first heat-wave of the=0A=
24th-25th.. =20

=0A=
        The=0A=
previous afternoon=2C I scouted out the route as well as some adjacent=0A=
areas=2C which I know from atlassing.  My first impressions were that=0A=
lots of birds were still singing=2C and some birds were really busy=0A=
gathering food or tending fledglings.  Chipping Sparrow families=0A=
were particularly common. I noticed some hayfields not yet cut where I=0A=
would have expected it=3B no doubt due to the wet weather.  It was a=0A=
pleasure to hear and see Bobolinks=2C three males displaying and a female=
=0A=
skulking=2C in an uncut field.  At one point I was driving along and=0A=
thought - what was that up on the power line that I just passed? =0A=
No=2C it wasn't a Robin=2C not a Starling=2C though it had hunched shoulder=
s=0A=
like one .... so I stopped and turned around.  Yes.  An Eastern=0A=
Bluebird!  A lovely male=2C flying down from the wire to pick up a bug=0A=
on the road=2C then back up on a fence rail=2C then - wait a minute - there=
's=0A=
a female too!  WOW!  That made my day.  I haven't seen a=0A=
pair of bluebirds in years.

=0A=
        Thursday=0A=
the 27th was overcast=2C more windy than I would have liked=2C and=0A=
cool.  It seems odd to think now=2C in this sweltering heat=2C that ten=0A=
days ago I was wishing that I was more warmly dressed.  It never=0A=
went above 14 C. all morning.   The day started auspiciously=2C=0A=
with a Barred Owl hooting right on cue at  4:58 a.m.  Other=0A=
noteworthy birds followed : an Eastern Phoebe=2C my first in the ten years=
=0A=
I have done this route: a singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a thicket of=0A=
cherries=3B and a Veery in among the Robins on the front lawn of a small=0A=
house near Mosher's Corner.  I found a house where I saw three=0A=
swallow species: Barn=2C Cliff=2C and Tree. (I checked the outbuildings lat=
er=0A=
but couldn't see any sign of nesting by Cliff Swallows.)  Up on the=0A=
North Mountain=2C driving between stops=2C a large bird appeared between th=
e=0A=
trees in the opening overhead=2C so I  pulled over briefly and=0A=
confirmed it was a Turkey Vulture.  Sure enough=2C when I made my next=0A=
stop=2C I glimpsed it again during the observation period.  I saw the=0A=
first TUVU ever recorded on a Nova Scotian BBS route in 2010=2C and I think=
=0A=
this is only the 2nd. =20

=0A=
        I have=0A=
just reviewed my data and was interested to find that despite the weather=
=0A=
and the somewhat late date=2C I found 55 species=2C which is on the high si=
de=0A=
of average=2C and 828 individuals=2C which is my 2nd highest count. =0A=
Crunching the numbers often contradicts first impressions.  During=0A=
the day I felt that warblers were less abundant=2C  but in fact I=0A=
detected about 25% more individuals than usual=2C mostly by song=3B I saw=
=0A=
very few.  (However a few warbler species were missing=0A=
entirely.)  On the other hand=2C as Donna Crossland observed=2C the=0A=
prolonged wet weather seems to have been hard on some ground-nesting=0A=
species.  Savannah Sparrows and Ring-necked Pheasants were both=0A=
present in lower numbers than average.  Bobolinks were much the same=0A=
as in recent years=2C which is to say low.  The timing of the first=0A=
cut of hay affects them the most.=20

=0A=
        I always=0A=
find myself wishing that my schedule=2C and the weather=2C allowed me to ru=
n=0A=
the route more than once in a season.  Not that all the results=0A=
would be eligible for submission to the database=2C but it would be=0A=
interesting to see what the differences are.

=0A=
        Cheers=2C
=0A=

=0A=
        Patricia=0A=
L. Chalmers
=0A=
        Halifax
=0A=

=0A=
  =20
=0A=
       =20

=0A=
         		 	   		  =

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<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>Hi Patricia=2C<BR>&nbsp=3B<BR>La=
rry Neily here. We may or may not&nbsp=3Bhave met=2C I have a terrible memo=
ry for&nbsp=3Bsuch things=2C but we do have something in common.&nbsp=3BI d=
id the North Kingston BBS for three years (1975-77) before moving to BC in =
1977. I am trying to add my old records to eBird and found that&nbsp=3Bwhil=
e I have the data=2C I do not have the exact starting point. I have 45 degr=
ees 6 minutes North by -64 degrees 41 minutes West=2C but that isn't very a=
ccurate. I know it started near Grafton=2C but would you be kind enough to =
give me an exact spot. Thanks=2C Larry Neily<br>&nbsp=3B<BR><div><hr id=3D"=
stopSpelling">Date: Sun=2C 7 Jul 2013 18:42:14 -0300<br>To: naturens@chebuc=
to.ns.ca<br>From: plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca<br>Subject: [NatureNS] North K=
ingston BBS route (long)<br><br>=0A=
=0A=
<font size=3D"3">=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BIn late Jun=
e I=0A=
visited the Annapolis Valley=2C where I ran my Breeding Bird Survey=2C the=
=0A=
North Kingston route. The survey begins in Grafton and goes due west for=0A=
2/3 of the stops=2C before heading up Stronach Mountain and over towards=0A=
the Fundy Shore.&nbsp=3B The first part=2C along the valley floor=2C is thr=
ough=0A=
agricultural land at the base of the North Mountain.&nbsp=3B Mainly I find=
=0A=
grassland and open-country species in the fields close to the road=2C=0A=
vireos and warblers in the orchards=2C and I strain to hear flycatchers=2C=
=0A=
thrushes and warblers that are further back=2C in the woodlots behind the=
=0A=
farms.&nbsp=3B With luck I see a few raptors.&nbsp=3B A few ponds support=
=0A=
Common Yellowthroats=2C Red-winged Blackbirds and the like.&nbsp=3B As soon=
=0A=
as the road heads uphill=2C the habitat changes (coniferous trees=3B dirt=
=0A=
roads through rich deciduous woodland) and the range of birds changes=0A=
dramatically - boreal forest birds=2C a greater variety of warblers=2C=0A=
etc.&nbsp=3B Then back on paved roads=2C and a highlight is stop 43=2C the=
=0A=
Margaretsville Ducks Unlimited Marsh.&nbsp=3B From there the route heads=0A=
along the Delusion Road to the outskirts of Port George.<br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BI ran my=0A=
route on the 27th of June this year.&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B Miserable wet=0A=
unpredictable weather was as usual the reason for doing it later than I=0A=
would really like=2C but I was glad to avoid the first heat-wave of the=0A=
24th-25th..&nbsp=3B <br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BThe=0A=
previous afternoon=2C I scouted out the route as well as some adjacent=0A=
areas=2C which I know from atlassing.&nbsp=3B My first impressions were tha=
t=0A=
lots of birds were still singing=2C and some birds were really busy=0A=
gathering food or tending fledglings.&nbsp=3B Chipping Sparrow families=0A=
were particularly common. I noticed some hayfields not yet cut where I=0A=
would have expected it=3B no doubt due to the wet weather.&nbsp=3B It was a=
=0A=
pleasure to hear and see Bobolinks=2C three males displaying and a female=
=0A=
skulking=2C in an uncut field.&nbsp=3B At one point I was driving along and=
=0A=
thought - what was that up on the power line that I just passed?&nbsp=3B=0A=
No=2C it wasn't a Robin=2C not a Starling=2C though it had hunched shoulder=
s=0A=
like one .... so I stopped and turned around.&nbsp=3B Yes.&nbsp=3B An Easte=
rn=0A=
Bluebird!&nbsp=3B A lovely male=2C flying down from the wire to pick up a b=
ug=0A=
on the road=2C then back up on a fence rail=2C then - wait a minute - there=
's=0A=
a female too!&nbsp=3B WOW!&nbsp=3B That made my day.&nbsp=3B I haven't seen=
 a=0A=
pair of bluebirds in years.<br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BThursday=0A=
the 27th was overcast=2C more windy than I would have liked=2C and=0A=
cool.&nbsp=3B It seems odd to think now=2C in this sweltering heat=2C that =
ten=0A=
days ago I was wishing that I was more warmly dressed.&nbsp=3B It never=0A=
went above 14 C. all morning.&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B The day started auspiciously=
=2C=0A=
with a Barred Owl hooting right on cue at&nbsp=3B 4:58 a.m.&nbsp=3B Other=
=0A=
noteworthy birds followed : an Eastern Phoebe=2C my first in the ten years=
=0A=
I have done this route: a singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a thicket of=0A=
cherries=3B and a Veery in among the Robins on the front lawn of a small=0A=
house near Mosher's Corner.&nbsp=3B I found a house where I saw three=0A=
swallow species: Barn=2C Cliff=2C and Tree. (I checked the outbuildings lat=
er=0A=
but couldn't see any sign of nesting by Cliff Swallows.)&nbsp=3B Up on the=
=0A=
North Mountain=2C driving between stops=2C a large bird appeared between th=
e=0A=
trees in the opening overhead=2C so I&nbsp=3B pulled over briefly and=0A=
confirmed it was a Turkey Vulture.&nbsp=3B Sure enough=2C when I made my ne=
xt=0A=
stop=2C I glimpsed it again during the observation period.&nbsp=3B I saw th=
e=0A=
first TUVU ever recorded on a Nova Scotian BBS route in 2010=2C and I think=
=0A=
this is only the 2nd.&nbsp=3B <br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BI have=0A=
just reviewed my data and was interested to find that despite the weather=
=0A=
and the somewhat late date=2C I found 55 species=2C which is on the high si=
de=0A=
of average=2C and 828 individuals=2C which is my 2nd highest count.&nbsp=3B=
=0A=
Crunching the numbers often contradicts first impressions.&nbsp=3B During=
=0A=
the day I felt that warblers were less abundant=2C&nbsp=3B but in fact I=0A=
detected about 25% more individuals than usual=2C mostly by song=3B I saw=
=0A=
very few.&nbsp=3B (However a few warbler species were missing=0A=
entirely.)&nbsp=3B On the other hand=2C as Donna Crossland observed=2C the=
=0A=
prolonged wet weather seems to have been hard on some ground-nesting=0A=
species.&nbsp=3B Savannah Sparrows and Ring-necked Pheasants were both=0A=
present in lower numbers than average.&nbsp=3B Bobolinks were much the same=
=0A=
as in recent years=2C which is to say low.&nbsp=3B The timing of the first=
=0A=
cut of hay affects them the most. <br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BI always=0A=
find myself wishing that my schedule=2C and the weather=2C allowed me to ru=
n=0A=
the route more than once in a season.&nbsp=3B Not that all the results=0A=
would be eligible for submission to the database=2C but it would be=0A=
interesting to see what the differences are.<br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BCheers=2C<b=
r>=0A=
<br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BPatricia=0A=
L. Chalmers<br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3BHalifax<br>=
=0A=
<br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B <br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B<br><br>=0A=
&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B&nbsp=3B</font></di=
v> 		 	   		  </div></body>
</html>=

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