Selected Bird Sightings at Sable Island

Spring – March 21  to June 20, 2007

(January 2008).

The number in brackets indicates the minimum number of individuals seen during the period.

Great Cormorant (1) - an adult in breeding plumage seen on April 10 flying over the Station; April 14, 1 at the west ponds.

Double-crested Cormorant (5) - May 25 to June 16, at least 5 (including 2 first year) birds at the west ponds & on the west tip.

Black-crowned Night-heron (1) - May 10, 1 at No2 pond.

Great Blue Heron (4) - between April 10 & May 2, at least 4 individuals at various ponds between West Light & No3.

Glossy Ibis (1) - May 24, 1 adult in breeding plumage at Iris Pond.

Canada Goose (7) - March 30, 2 fly over West Light; between May 14 & 27, 1 to 5 birds at the west ponds.

Wood Duck (2) - April 14, one pair at Gull Pond; between May 2 & June 20, several sightings of a single male.

Gadwell (1) - April 10-14, 1 male feeding with Black Ducks at ponds near No2.

Green-winged Teal (3) - April 6, 1 male & 2 females at Iris Pond.

Blue-winged Teal (2) - between April 10 & May 16, one pair seen at several different ponds between West Light & No2.

Ring-necked Duck (5) - April 11 & 30, 1 female & 4 males, respectively, at the west ponds.

Greater Scaup (1) - April 30, 1 male at the west ponds.

Osprey (1) - May 31, 1 flew eastwards over Lake Wallace, harassed & driven by a mob of >30 terns.

Kestrel (1) - May 28 & June 1, 1 female in the West Light area.

Peregrine (1) - May 2, 1 near No2 area.

Black-bellied Plover (3) - May 23, 1 on south beach of the west spit, & 2 at the west ponds; June 8, 3 at the west ponds.

Killdeer (1) - April 13, 1 at the west ponds.

Willet (1) - June 8, 1 at the west ponds.

Red Knot (3) - June 8, 3 together at the west ponds.

Laughing Gull (1) - June 3, 1 adult at the west ponds.

Bonaparte’s Gull (1) - June 3, 1 on the south beach east of No3.

Ring-billed Gull (1) - June 3, 1 adult on the south beach east of No3.

Black-legged Kittiwake (>20) - between May 23 & June 3, >20 adult & second year birds on the west & east tips.

Razorbill (3) - April 2, 3 swimming & diving on the water within 30 m of the south beach near No3 (many other large alcids scattered about on the water in same area >50 m off the beach—calm sea).

Northern Flicker (2) - during March 30 through May 18, sightings of at least 2 individuals (1 in West Light & Station area, 1 in East Light area).

Olive-sided Flycatcher (1) - June 8, 1 west of West Light.

Eastern Wood-peewee (1) - June 9-16, several sightings of 1 at West Light.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (4) - June 8-16, 4 between West Light & the Station.

Empidonax sp. (4) - between May 27 & June 20, 1-2 birds near West Light & the Station.

Eastern Kingbird (2) - May 1, 1 near West Light; during May numerous sightings of 1 near the Station, & on June 1, 2 along the ponds road.

Common Crow (2) - April 4-11, several sightings of 1 to 2 birds in the West Light area.

Horned Lark (1) - April 6, 1 near Plover Pond.; April 10, 1 at the west ponds.

Tree Swallow (1) - May 15, 1 at the west ponds.

Purple Martin (2) - May 19 & 23, 2 (female &/or first spring male) at the west ponds.

Bank Swallow (3) - May 17, 3 at the west ponds.

Barn Swallow (4) - between April 25 & June 9, small numbers (2-3 birds) in West Light-Station area.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2) - April 26-27 & May 14, 1 at the Station (likely different birds).

Swainson’s Thrush (1) - June 9, 1 at the Station.

Hermit Thrush (3) - between April 26 & May 3, 1 at the Station, & 1 at East Light; May 31, 1 on south beach east of No3.

American Robin (6) - between April 3 & May 23, at least 6 individuals seen between the West & East Light areas.

Gray Catbird (1) - May 28, 1 near the Station.

Northern Mockingbird (1) - March 31 to April 27, numerous sightings of 1 in the West Light area; May 1-16, sightings of 1 near the Station (likely the same bird).

Brown Thrasher (1) - between April 25 & May 3, three sightings of 1 at the Station.

European Starling (5) - March 30, 5 standing on a horse in the West Light area.

Bohemian Waxwing (6) - March 30 1 at the Station; April 1, 6 at the Station.

Cedar Waxwing (>20) - May 27 to June 20, more than 20 in West Light-Station area.

Northern Parula (1) - May 17, 1 male near West Light.

Cape May Warbler (1) - May 29, 1 male along the ponds road.

Magnolia Warbler (8) - May 23, 1 freshly dead male found near West Light; and between May 26 & June 9, at least 7 (males & females) in the West Light area.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (>10) - April 2, 5 birds at East Light; scattered sightings during May; June 20, 1 male near the Station.

Black-&-White Warbler (4) - between May 17 & June 17, at least 4 individuals (1 male, 3 females) in the West Light & Station areas.

Black-throated Green Warbler (1) - between June 8 & 19, several sightings of 1 in West Light area.

Blackpoll Warbler (4) - between May 24 & June 9, at least 4 birds (males & females) in the West Light area.

Yellow Warbler (4) - May 17 through June 20, at least 4 birds (including 3 males) in the West Light & ponds area.

Mourning Warbler (1) - June 16, 1 male along the ponds road.

Wilson’s Warbler (1) - June 8-9, 1 in the West Light area.

Ovenbird (1) - May 2, 1 at a pond near No3.

Northern Waterthrush (2) - between June 9 & 13, 2 in the West Light area.

Common Yellowthroat (5) - May 29, 1 along the ponds road; June 9-13, 4 males & 1 female in the West Light & ponds area; June 16-17, 1 male near West Light (singing almost continuously during both mornings).

Redstart (2) - June 8, 1 at West Light; June 9, 1 at West Light & 1 at the Station; June 11, 1 first spring male at West Light.

Summer Tanager (1) - May 25-26, 1 male near the Station.

Western Tanager (1) - June 9 & 11, 1 female at West Light.

Chipping Sparrow (1) - May 3 & 15, 1 at the Station.

Fox Sparrow (4) - April 22, 1 at the Station, 2 at East Light; May 22, 1 at the Station.

Song Sparrow (>10) - March 30, 1 west of West Light, 1 at the Station; between April 4 & 30, 1 to 3 birds at various locations, likely >10 individuals.

Lincoln’s Sparrow (2) - May 23 & 26, 1 near West Light & 1 near the Station.

Swamp Sparrow (4) - May 18 & 24, 2 different birds near West Light; June 20, 2 birds at West Light.

White-throated Sparrow (>30) - April 25, 3 west of West Light, 6 at the Station, 1 at East Light; between April 26 & May 28, 1 to >10 birds at various locations, likely >30 individuals.

White-crowned Sparrow (3) - May 20 to 31, many sightings in the West Light area—at least 3 individuals, but likely more numerous.

Dark-eyed Junco (14) - throughout March 30 to June 2, numerous sightings of at least 14 individuals at various locations between the West & East Lights.

Snow Bunting (10) - March 31, 10 near the west ponds; April 27, 1 near West Light.

Red-winged Blackbird (1) - May 3, 1 female at the Station.

Common Grackle (3) - between April 11 & May 14, 1 to 3 birds seen in the West & East Light areas.

Purple Finch (7) - between April 21 & May 30, at least 7 birds (males & females) seen in the West Light-Station area.

Pine Siskin (2) - May 30, 1 along the ponds road; June 3, 2 at the west ponds.

American Goldfinch (3) - April 12 through to June 17, 1 to 3 birds seen in the West Light area, most often foraging in stands of yarrow.

Evening Grosbeak (1) - May 22-23, 1 male at the Station.