ATLANTIC PROVINCES & ST. PIERRE ET MIQUELON 
Newfoundland's second record of Black-headed Grosbeak was a crowd pleaser in St. John's 4-9 
(here 4) November 2008. Photograph by Bruce Mactavish. 
Brier I., Nova Scotia is the 
hotspot for Red Phalarope, 
where there were counts of 5600 
on 1 Aug (R. Hunnewell) and 
30,000 on 23 Aug (FL). An un- 
precedented inshore feeding as- 
semblage of Red Phalaropes on 
the se. corner of Newfoundland 
included counts of 2000 at Cape 
Race (BMt, KK) and several 
thousand off St. Shotts 23 Aug 
(DB). 
GULLS THROUGH AUKS 
A first-cycle Franklin’s Gull at St. 
John’s 28 Nov-7 Dec was excep- 
tionally late and of an unusual 
age class for the Region, except- 
ing waifs from Hurricane Wilma 
of 2005 (PW et al.). There were 
no Laughing Gulls reported. There was a Lit- 
tle Gull at Black Point Centre, Pictou, NS 2 
Nov (KM, SV), and an ad. and first-cycle Lit- 
tle Gulls were among the swarm of seabirds 
feeding on capelin near Portugal Cove South, 
NF 24 Aug (BMt). A juv. Black-headed Gull 
feeding at Bellevue Beach, NF with 8 ads. on 
4 Aug was at a site where occasional nesting 
has long been suspected but so far not proven 
(BMt). A first-cycle Mew Gull (of the expect- 
ed nominate subspecies) appeared at St. 
John’s, NF 2 Nov and remained until the end 
of the reporting period (BMt). There were 2 
ad. Yellow-legged Gulls at St. John’s during 
Nov (BMt et al.). Single Sabine’s Gulls were 
ads. with gray heads in Newfoundland at 
Cape Race 23 Aug (KK, BMt) and Portugal 
Cove South 24 Aug (BMt) and an imm. off 
Canso, NS 20 Sep (CSj). Confirmed South Po- 
lar Skuas have been fleeting in the Bay of 
Fundy, but this season, there were three sight- 
ings supported by photographs: one at Brier 
L, NS 14 Aug OS) and singles off Grand Man- 
an L, NS on 22 Aug and 16 Sep (Dl). A pelag- 
ic trip off Canso, NS 20 Sep produced 21 Po- 
marine and 2 Parasitic Jaegers (CSj et al.). 
Black Tern has turned into a true rarity in the 
Region, with singles in Nova Scotia at Big L, 
Pictou 30-31 Aug (KM) and Hartlens Pt. 16 
Sep (MK). 
DOVES THROUGH WAXWINGS 
New Brunswick’s first Eurasian Collared- 
Dove arrived at a Harvey Bank feeder in the 
upper Bay of Fundy 15 Nov and stayed into 
winter (m.ob.). Single White-winged Doves 
were at Sable L, NS 11-13 (ZL) and in Marys- 
town, NF 24 Aug, the 3rd since Jun in that 
province (Tryphena Hanrahan). It was not a 
big year for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, with totals 
of 7 in Nova Scotia, 3 in St. Pierre et 
Miquelon, and 2 in Newfoundland. It was the 
biggest Snowy Owl flight in years. First ar- 
rivals were one near Halifax, NS 25 Oct and 2 
at Cape Race, NF 2 Nov. There were numer- 
ous sightings of singles at various locations 
across the Region. Highest counts as usual 
were at capes and peninsulas, with maximum 
counts of 9 at C.S.L, NS 18 Nov QN), 10 at St. 
Pierre et Miquelon in 2nd week of Nov (RE et 
al), 8 at Cape Bonavista, NF 23 Nov (JJ), and 
25 at Cape Race 15 Nov (BMt et al.). A North- 
ern Hawk Owl on an oil rig near Sable L, NS 
2 Nov was out of habitat (fide IM). A Boreal 
Owl at Fairmont, Antigonish, NS during Nov 
made a rare provincial record (RL). 
There were 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers re- 
ported, singles at Shubenacadie, NS 4 Nov 
(Bea Levy) and New Waterford, C.B.L, NS 
during last two weeks of Nov (CM, AM). A 
phenomenal influx of Red-bellied Woodpeck- 
ers reached the s. half of the Region mid- 
Oct-t-. A staggering total of at least 90 was tal- 
lied in Nova Scotia, including 14 on Seal 1. 5- 
24 Oct (FL et al). One reached Bishop’s Falls, 
NF 22-30 Nov, providing just the 5th provin- 
cial record (Don Hayward). Single Western 
Kingbirds were found at Sable L, NS 22 Sep 
(ZL) and Cape Sable 1. 16 Oct (JN et al). 
Stray Great Crested Flycatchers were one at 
St. Pierre, SPM 7 Oct QD, PH) and one at St. 
John’s, NF 29 Oct QWe et al). Nova Scotia 
had 2 Fork-tailed Flycatchers. One first ob- 
served on Bon Portage 1. 23 Sep (LB et al.) 
flew 10 km e. to Daniel’s Head, C.S.L, where 
it was present 24 Sep-8 Oct (MN et al.). The 
other was photographed at Southwest Marga- 
ree, C.B.L 11-12 Oct (G. & K. Glenryan). A 
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher appeared at the 
same location as a Fork-tailed Flycatcher at 
Daniel’s Head, C.S.L 31 Oct QN). 
There was an above-average autumn move- 
ment of Northern Shrikes noted 
across the Region. Both White- 
eyed Vireo sightings were from 
Nova Scotia: one at Duncan’s 
Cove 6 Oct (HT) and one at 
Harllen Pt. 1-2 Nov (TP et al.). 
St. Pierre et Miquelon's 5th Yel- 
low-throated Vireo was at St. 
Pierre 5 Oct (LJ), while Nova 
Scotia had singles at Herring 
Cove 10 Sep (SB) and Hartlen Pt. 
both 4 Oct (fide KM) and 1 Nov 
(TP). A Warbling Vireo was out 
of range and habitat at Cape 
Race, NF 28 Sep (KK). A male 
Purple Martin was lost at Re- 
news, NF 16 Aug (TB). 
Northern Wheatear reports 
included singles in Nova Scotia 
at Big L, Pictou 30-31 Aug (KM) 
and Cole Harbour 19-21 Sep (SM et al.) and 
in Newfoundland at Plum Pt. 5 Sep QG) and 
Bonavista 11 Sep OJ)- There was a moderate 
movement of Bohemian Waxwings in Nov. A 
huge movement totaling 3000 observed al 
Port Morien, C.B.L 16 Nov stood out from all 
other reports (CM, AM). 
WARBLERS THROUGH FINCHES 
Average numbers of southern warblers were 
found ibis season. Single Blue-winged War- 
blers were at Port Clyde, NS 15 Aug QH). 
Schooner Pond, C.B.L, NS 1 Oct (CM, AM), 
and Cappahayden 1 Sep (BMt, JWe). Yellow- 
throated Warbler was represented by records 
from C.S.L, NS 16 Oct (fide KM), Hartlen Pt., 
NS 25 Oct (TP), Stanford, Yannouth 26-30 Oct 
Qennifer Buckler), Port Medway, Queens 15- 
20 Nov (CSs), St. Jobn’s, NF 11-20 Oct 
(m.ob.), and Cape Broyle, NF 15 Nov (JC). 
Prairie Warbler totals were 21 in Nova Scotia 
and 8 in Newfoundland. A Cerulean Warbler 
was very nicely described in Dartmoutb, NS 
on the extremely late date of 30 Oct (DCu). A 
Prothonotary Warbler, always a highlight, vis- 
ited Daniel’s Head, C.S.L, NS 30 Aug-1 Sep 
Cave Swallows have become an annual event in 
the Northeast during Nov. They have to go the 
"extra mile" to reach this Region, where the species is still 
very rare. This fall marked the largest autumn influx so far, 
with 15 in New Brunswick 10-13 Nov: 5 at Mary's Point 
(DC et al.) and others at White Head I., Point Lepreau, She- 
mogue, Cormierville, and Inkerman (ST, JWi et al.). Sur- 
prisingly, Nova Scotia reported only one, at Florence, C.B.L 
on 11 Nov (DM). Newfoundland's anticipated first Cave 
Swallow finally appeared at exactly the place it was pre- 
dicted, a fly-infested kelp bed at Long Beach, near Cape 
Race 13-15 Nov (CD etal.). 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 1 
39 
