New Brunswick trip - August 3 to 14, 2009
Part 1 - Bay of Fundy shore - August 3-7
( BE SURE TO MAXIMIZE THIS WINDOW SO THAT PHOTOS APPEAR SIDE BY SIDE )
August 3
We left Ottawa early on Aug 3, Civic Holiday.
We drove to Montreal and stopped to see our nephew, Sean, from
Kelowna, who was working at a garderie on a French exchange. From
there, we pushed on to Rivière du Loup, and found a forested
campsite in the municipal campground. We had our dinner and went
to the shore to see if there were any birds. Alas, a
Double-crested Cormorant fly-past was the best we could find.
August 4
We awoke to a beautiful morning with birds singing everywhere. We
packed up and went birding on trails in behind the campsite. We
found many Chipping Sparrows and lots of warblers, including this
nice female Cape May.
We headed south to New Brunswick, stopping at
the border to pick up a few brochures. There were a few delays
due to construction, but for the most part, it was clear sailing
on the divided Highway 2.
We weren’t seeing any wildlife (despite the numerous moose
warning signs), so we decided to exit at Hartland and take a
slower route.
We checked out and drove over the longest covered bridge and
proceeded along our way right alongside the Saint John River. We
saw an empty Osprey platform, and then one with a pair at home. I
got out to photograph, making them nervous, so I did not get too
close. Later we saw a Merlin and and Eastern Kingbird perched on
wires along the route.
We finally got back on Highway 2 and went
directly to Johnson’s Mills and Ross & MA’s summer
retreat.
MA had a lamb roast on the BBQ which was almost ready, so we set
up our tent and had a wonderful meal.
Then we went next door to check out the shorebirds and the
sunset. The tide was out, so the sandpipers were very distant
– but we could see them. As the sun went down, a Bald Eagle
and a Peregrine Falcon flew past.
August 5
The next morning, it was drizzling, and the
tide was coming in, so we decided to head over to the Nature
Conservancy of Canada Shorebird Interpretation Centre, which was
not far away. Besides shorebirds, MA had seen a very cooperative
pair of Common Yellowthroats there the week before. Alas, no
Yellowthroats this time, but there were some Semi-palmated
Sandpipers and Semi-palmated Plovers on the shore – that is
until a Peregrine Flacon swooped in for some breakfast!
We toured the centre, then headed back to look for a Bald Eagle's
nest. On the way, we saw Mark, an NCC biologist, with his bicycle
at the side of the road. He was observing several thousand
Semi-palmated Sandpipers on the beach at high tide. You had to
look very closely, because they were stock still, looking for all
the world, like a pebble beach.
Finally, a Bald Eagle drifted by, which put
them up.
Down the road, at the bridge, MA did spot the
eagle nest with a juvenile home. We scoped it and tried
digiscoping.
After lunch, the timing was perfect to see the
shorebirds right next door on the beach. With the tide just going
out, they became active while still relatively close to us.
Ninety-nine per cent of them were Semi-palmated Sandpipers, while
the rest were Semi-palmated Plovers. The latter tended to hang
around the fringes, a little higher up the beach.
Margaret Ann had some things to do at the house
in Sackville, so we went with her and spent our time at the
Waterfowl Park. This is an area that had previously been drained,
but which now is managed for waterfowl. There are many trails and
bridges for easy viewing and a good visitor centre / gift shop.
Our highlights were American Widgeons, Greater and Lesser
Yellowlegs, Pied Billed Grebes and a Red-necked Phalarope (which
was too distant to photograph, unfortunately).
August 6
It was a lovely day. Songbirds were in every piece of alder on
the property. The Common Yellowthroats eluded us, but we saw
plenty of Song Sparrows.
We walked the beach for a while, but the tide was still out, and
so were the birds. A Bald Eagle flew over at the same time as
some shorebirds.
Margaret Ann had to close and winterize the trailer, so I
volunteered to give her a hand. This left Barbara some free time
to watch the shorebirds. They did not stick around long, as a
Peregrine Falcon scattered them.
We regretfully took our leave, but we had
booked a puffin tour on Grand Manan for two days hence, so it was
time to move on. We decided to check out Hopewell Rocks on the
way and then camp at Fundy NP for the night before going to Grand
Manan the following day.
At Hopewell Rocks, we saw several Bald Eagles, a Yellow-rumped
Warbler, a dark-eyed Junco, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
There were no shorebirds. We could see Ross & MA’s
trailer directly across Shepody Bay. The rocks were interesting,
but there were sure a lot of people. We had supper there and then
moved on to Fundy.
We left Hopewell Rocks and drove to Fundy National
Park. We found a campsite in Chignecto North Campground, and
hiked the loop bicycle tail looking for birds. We did not see
much, but got a good sense of the layout of the campground.
August 7
First thing in the morning, we drove to the bakery in nearby Alma to buy some of the famous cinnamon buns, and then headed back into Fundy to eat them at a picnic site. We decided we would have time for one short hike in Fundy before taking off. We chose the fairly short Caribou Plain loop trail
There was a Belted Kingfisher and White-throated Sparrow seen from the boardwalk and an unidentified mother duck and ducklings at a great distance on the larger pond. She did look like a Black Scoter, but that would be improbable. On the return loop, we saw a warbler and started pishing. Suddenly, the trees were full of warblers – Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Black and White, and others. It was a magical time.
There was a ferry to catch, so we had to move on.
To see Part 2, Grand Manan, click here.