Atlantic Region Fall 2025

Waterfowl through Loons

Snow Geese were represented in the region with an offshore flyby North of Cape Breton, NS on 10 Oct (Mark Jarrett), another in Pembroke, NS 27 Nov (Ervin Olsen), and an out of range flock of 31 at Petit Cap, NB on 27 Sep (ph. Rhonda Langelaan) was followed by a sprinkling of five sightings in the area of NB over the subsequent weeks. The only Ross’s Goose found in the region was one in the Truro, NS area 19–24 Oct (Dominic Cormier). A Greater White-fronted Goose also in the Truro, NS area 28–30 Nov (Jake Walker), and up to three in the greater Salisbury, NB area 10 Oct–1 Nov (Paul and Rhonda Langelaan). A Pink-footed Goose was in Arnold’s Cove, NL 12–19 Nov (ph. Gavin McKinnon), one in Truro, NS 16 Oct–3 Nov (ph. Ray Wershler), along with the long-staying individual in St. John’s, NL now into its seventh year in the city. Certainly the Truro, NS area takes the crown for the goose hotspot in Atlantic Canada this season, with six species, the highlight being a flock of four Barnacle Geese 18 Oct–21 Nov (ph. Andrew Bates). A Blue-winged Teal 2 Oct–19 Nov in St. John’s, NL entertained several birders (ph. Frank King). Unexpected was a flock of five Gadwalls in St. John’s, NL 7 Oct until the end of the season (ph. Charles Fitzpatrick). Rare in PEI, a male Redhead was at Cavendish Beach 13 Sep (Bruce Di Labio). Three separate sightings of Redhead were documented widely dispersed across NB. The only Tufted Duck away from their stronghold in St. John’s, NL was in Port au Port, NL 19–24 Nov (ph. Kathy Marche). An immature male King Eider 16 Sep at Yarmouth Bar, NS (ph. Kathleen MacAulay), and another 9 Oct in St. Lawrence, NL (ph. Brandon Collins) were notable for both location and how early they were in the season.

White-winged Doves, always an exciting vagrant, were spotted in: Charlos Cove, NS 10 Aug (Dianne Richard, ph. Natalie Barkhouse-Bishop); Halifax, NS 29 Sep–3 Oct; Francois, NL 2 Nov (Corey Courtney). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was at St. Pierre, PM 8–10 Oct (ph. Joël Detcheverry). The extremely late arrival of eight Yellow-billed Cuckoos 15–16 Nov across NL was unprecedented for how many arrived with one weather system. A rare and notably late Common Nighthawk was photographed at Galantry, PM 26 Oct (ph. Laurent Jackman). Increasingly scarce, the only Chimney Swift of the year in NL was at Middle Cove 22 Sep (Kenneth Knowles). A record 14+ Sandhill Cranes were distributed across NL, where 1 to 2 is the norm per season. Purple Gallinules had another successful season teasing birders, as multiple one-day wonders occurred with one in Saint John, NB 23 Oct; one Corner Brook, NL 29 Oct; one Sackville, NB 29 Oct (ph. Avery Mann); and one Chebucto Head, NS 2 Nov.

A Black-necked Stilt was in Wallace Bay, NS 4 Aug (ph. Zachary Deutsch) and another near Moncton, NB 28 Aug–1 Sep (Megan Boucher). Three separate sightings of American Avocets occurred around the Bay of Fundy with one in Falmouth, NS 30 Aug–2 Sep; one in Truro, NS 18 Sep–24 Oct; and another near St. John, NB 25–29 Oct. The timing and location of these separate sightings suggest that one individual may have been involved. American Oystercatchers remained in Cape Sable Island until at least 20 Sep. A flurry of Common Ringed Plovers occurred during a four day period in NL: Biscay Bay, NL 28 Aug (ph. Bruce Mactavish), Cape Freels, NL 28 Aug (ph. John Brattey); St. Mary’s, NL 31 Aug (ph. Colin Peddle). St. Pierre and Miquelon got their overdue first Common Ringed Plover record at La Pointe, PM 14 Sep (ph. Laurent Jackman). The Eurasian Whimbrel at Crystal Crescent Beach, NS first found 27 Jul remained until 3 Aug. The third record of Bar-tailed Godwit for NL remained at Stephenville Crossing for an entire month: 14 Oct–15 Nov (ph. Denise McIsaac). A Marbled Godwit was found at Morien Bay, NS 7 Sep–26 Oct (Allan and Cathy Murrant). A juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, a first record for the entire region, was at Hartlen Point, NS 7–19 Oct (ph. David Currie). The adult Curlew Sandpiper originally found at Witless Bay 24 Jul, and later re-found by the same observer 100km West of there on 27 Jul at Arnold’s Cove continued until 5 Aug (ph. Charles Fitzpatrick). Another Curlew Sandpiper was at Green’s Harbour, NL 14 Sep (ph. Alvan Buckley). Uncommon throughout the region, Wilson’s Phalaropes were recorded in all four provinces:

Two in Wallace Bay, NS 6–9 Aug, and another at the same location 16 Sep; Brier Island, NS 27 Aug; Kelleys Cove, NS 27–29 Aug; Cape Sable Island, NS 30–31 Aug; Petit-Riviere-de-l’Île Bernard, NB 4 Sep; Sackville, NB 22 Sep; Saint Peters Bay, PE 21–24 Sep;

Cape Freels, NL 27 Aug–1 Sep; Cape Broyle, NL 6 Sep.

Several South Polar Skuas were reported from the Bay of Fundy during Aug and Sep, with scattered records elsewhere throughout the region; three from Cape Race, NL 1 Aug (ph. Alvan Buckley), one alongside the NS to NL ferry 19 Sep (fide Claude Durand), two South of St. Pierre, PM 23 Sep (ph. Joël Detcheverry), and one seen from Guyon Island, NS 22 Oct (Megan Boucher). No confirmed Great Skua records were recorded from anywhere in the region throughout the year of 2025, likely reflecting significant declines in this species reported from the Eastern Atlantic. Any sighting of a Long-tailed Jaeger is exciting in the region; notable sightings were at least five immatures around Cape Race, NL 1 Aug (ph. Ian Jones), a juvenile at Cape Pine, NL 9 Sep (ph. Bruce Mactavish), and a late individual reported from Chebucto Head, NS 10 Nov (Dominic Cormier). A Dovekie photographed at Ferryland, NL 8 Aug was very early for the season (ph. Stéphane Barrette). Rare in the region, a Gull-billed Tern was at Cherry Hill Beach, NS 10–19 Sep (ph. Emerson Fiske). Forster’s Tern is uncommon in the region, and rare in PEI where the third confirmed record was found at multiple locations between 7–9 Sep (ph. Donna Martin). The only Sabine’s Gull of the season was in Head Harbor Passage, NB 16–27 Aug (Chris Bartlett, ph. Doug Hitchcox). A first summer Little Gull was at Cape Broyle, NL 6–8 Sep (ph. Alvan Buckley). Uncommon throughout the entire region, the only Franklin’s Gulls were at Cape Sable Island, NS 6–9 Sep (ph Ellen and Jerry Horak); and Pictou, NS 9 Sep (ph. Patricia Sowinski). Common Gulls were represented with: one Sable Island, NS 16 Aug (ph. Alex Grant); one Portugal Cove South and Trepassey, NL 21–27 Oct; and one Arnold’s Cove, NL 12 Nov (ph. Gavin McKinnon). The first record of California Gull for NL was found at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s 17 Oct (ph. Alvan Buckley) and not refound until 27 Nov. Uncommon for the region, a Pacific Loon was found by Mark Dennis flying by Cape Sable Island, NS 8 Nov.

Albatrosses through Tanagers

The movements of Cory’s Shearwater remain unpredictable in the region. This year several sightings came from the Bay of Fundy and from coastal Nova Scotia throughout the season. The third record of Wood Stork for NS originally found on Brier Island 22 Jul remained until at least 26 Oct (ph. Han Chen). As has become expected in recent years, there were two widely dispersed offshore sightings of Brown Booby: one 140 km directly South of Cape Sable Island, NS 9 Aug (ph. Aldric d’Eon) and one following the NL to NS ferry 7 Sep (ph. Justin Lapierre). Late Glossy Ibises were on St. Pierre, PM 6–7 Nov (ph. Patrick Hacala) and at Salisbury, NB 5–10 Nov (ph. Paul and Rhonda Langelaan). At least eleven Glossy Ibis sightings throughout NL from early Sep to Oct was notable, and coincided with a major incursion of the same species throughout Northwestern Europe and even Iceland, the Azores, and Bermuda. Circumstantial evidence supports the theory that the NL ibises were of European origin, considering the timing and concentration of sightings from the Northeastern facing areas of the island or offshore East of NL, with relatively few sightings throughout the remainder of the Atlantic region during this time period. There were multiple sightings of Yellow-crowned Night-Heron throughout southern parts of the region in 2025, where the species is an expected annual vagrant in Aug and early Sep; an individual at Baccaro Point, NS 7 Oct (Tony and Angie Millard) was notable. The only Little Blue Heron of the season was in Antigonish Landing, NS 31 Aug–10 Sep (ph. M. Boyd). Rare in the region, Little Egrets were in Gambo, NL 7–9 Nov (ph. Shirley Arnold) and another Brookfield Wetlands, NS 9 Nov (ph. Donna Reid). Western Cattle-Egrets were reported throughout the region in late Oct and throughout Nov.

Rare on the island with less than 15 confirmed records, a Golden Eagle was at Red Rocks Road, NL 27 Oct (ph. Vernon Buckle). A long overdue first record for the province, a Cooper’s Hawk was found in the Codroy Valley, NL 7 Nov and remained to the end of the season (ph. Kellie Joyce). The long-staying Steller’s Sea-Eagle remained throughout the season in the vicinity of Green’s Harbour, NL. The second record of Broad-winged Hawk for NL was found near L’Anse-au-Loop 13–14 Sep (ph. Lucas Berrigan), remarkably only 10 km away from the first record for the province. Rare anywhere in the region, a Swainson’s Hawk was found near Lac Frye, NB 22 Nov (ph. Duguay Rosemonde). Well North of their usual range, a Barred Owl was found in Happy-Valley-Goose Bay, NL 29 Oct (ph. S. Webber). Red-headed Woodpeckers were in Albert Mines, NB 25–26 Sep (ph. Alisha McMackin), and another Roberts Island, NS 7–19 Oct (ph. Mike MacDonald). Rare in the province, a Red-bellied Woodpecker visiting a feeder for one day in Conception Bay South, NL 21 Nov (ph. Helen Gillespie) was a great find.

Always exciting for the province, a Great Crested Flycatcher was near Cappahayden, NL 1–2 Oct (ph. Jared Clarke). The third NS provincial record of Tropical Kingbird came from Wolfville 9–27 Nov (ph. Alex Moore). NS had four Western Kingbirds this season: two were observed on Grand Manan, NB, 6 Oct (ph. Marc Leblanc) and 22 Nov (ph. Kenneth Lister) respectively. A Fork-tailed Flycatcher found in late Aug near Evangeline, NB remained until at least 3 Sep (Gerard Benoît, ph. Louise Duguay). Uncommon for the region, a Say’s Phoebe was observed by two residents in Wolfville, NS 9–11 Nov (fide eBird). White-eyed Vireos are uncommon in the region and were reported in all sub-regions except PEI this season; NL documented a record nine individuals on the island. Yellow-throated Vireo is uncommon throughout the region: sightings this season were from Grand Manan, NB 7 Sep (Andrew Olive) and 20 Sep (ph. Mike Bouman), Canso, NS 24 Oct (Jason Dain), and the furthest out of range individual was in St. John’s, NL 14–16 Oct (ph. Glenn Mitchell). A record-late warbling-vireo for NL was at Chance Cove, NL 10 Nov and suspected to be an Eastern Warbling-Vireo (ph. Alvan Buckley). Two unusually late Bank Swallows were reported 24 Oct at Grand Barachois, Miquelon, PM (Joël Detcheverry). The region’s only Cave Swallow this season was observed at a fish hatchery near French Village, NB 28 Nov (ph. Alanna MacFarlane). Out of range wrens included a Northern House Wren in Tors Cove, NL 20–22 Nov (ph. John Brattey) and a Marsh Wren in St. John’s, NL 25–27 Sep (ph. Alvan Buckley). Gray-cheeked Thrushes are surprisingly rare during the fall season, considering they breed in the region and are locally abundant in nearby areas. Two were detected during a nocturnal flight call count recording near Port Williams, NS 24 Sep (audio George Forsyth) and another observed on the same date near Renews, NL (Alvan Buckley). The only Wood Thrush seen in the region this season was just over the border in Madawaska Co, NB 9 Sep. A rare Varied Thrush was found in Mahone Bay, NS 27 Nov (ph. Maddie Cole).

A substantial flight of Evening Grosbeaks was noted throughout the region, peaking towards the end of November, as predicted by the Finch Research Network’s winter finch forecast (FiRN 2025). Similarly, Redpolls were noted to arrive in the region in mid to late November. The only Grasshopper Sparrow in the region this season was at Duncan’s Cove, NS 2 Nov (ph. Lucas Berrigan). Vesper Sparrows are uncommon to rare in the region, where at least 10 were reported in the maritime provinces, and the furthest out of range individual was at Cape Spear, NL providing the province with their sixth record 31 Oct–3 Nov (ph. Colin Peddle). Seaside Sparrow is less than annual in NS and NB, and unreported anywhere else in the country. Two sightings this season were: Hartlen Point 17 Aug (ph. Ray Wershler) and Wine Harbour, NS 20–21 Oct (Angela MacDonald). Reports of the Ipswich subspecies of Savannah Sparrow were above average this season, with a record seven noted on the Avalon Peninsula of NL. The third record for Labrador of Eastern Towhee occurred at a feeder in Forteau, NL 26 Nov (ph. Vernon Buckle) and stayed until the end of the season. A Yellow-breasted Chat in St. Pierre, PM on 15 Nov (ph. Patrick Hacala) was rare for the archipelago. Two out of range Yellow-headed Blackbirds provided Labrador with its fourth and fifth records 1–4 Oct (ph. Vernon Buckle). Two Bobolinks were observed together by Laurent Jackman at St. Pierre, PM 11–14 Oct (ph. Joel Detcheverry), and another near Cappahayden, NL 13 Sep (Renee Ferguson). An Orchard Oriole was in Yarmouth, NS 12 Aug (ph. Kathleen MacAulay) and another on Grand Manan Island, NB 9 Sep (ph. Andrew Olive).

The only Golden-winged Warbler was in Pleasantville, NS 13 Sep (ph. Mark Morse). Four Blue-winged Warblers were documented with the furthest out of range being widely observed in St. John’s, NL 28–29 Sep (Ian Jones, ph. Colin Peddle). A Prothonotary Warbler was an exciting find in Forteau, NL 15 Oct (ph. Vernon Buckle) where there was only one previous record for Labrador. NL’s 33rd record of Kentucky Warbler, in Renews 9 Nov–7 Dec, was a record late individual for all of Canada. Hooded Warblers are casual in the region with the further out of range individuals coming from Cape Race, NL 14 Oct (ph. Kenneth Knowles) and St. John’s, NL 17–26 Oct (ph. Alison Mews). The 16th record of Cerulean Warbler for NL was found at Trepassey, NL 22 Sep (ph. Bruce Mactavish). The fourth record of Yellow-throated Warbler for Labrador came from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL 26–27 Oct (ph. Brian Bishop), and a Yellow-throated Warbler was in St. Pierre, PM 15–29 Nov (ph. Patrick Hacala), where it is still rare but becoming increasingly expected in the fall and winter seasons. Casual to the region, a Black-throated Gray Warbler was observed in Halifax, NS 14–19 Oct (ph. Andrew Stadnyk). Three Townsend’s Warblers were reported from NL this season, but only one with sufficient documentation to rule out similar species: Cappahayden, NL 21 Nov (ph. Sheldon Anthony); another was found associating with other late warblers in Green Bay, NS 22–23 Nov (James Hirtle, ph. Ethan Sarty). Canada’s only Hermit Warbler in 2025 was an individual that remained loyal to a small patch of woods near Cappahayden, NL 15 Oct–21 Nov (ph. Sheldon Anthony). Record late for the region was a Canada Warbler in Logy Bay, NL 27–28 Oct (ph. Colin Peddle). Four Summer Tanagers throughout Eastern NL in late Oct to early Nov were above average and notable considering the lack of sightings elsewhere in the region. Casual to the region, a Western Tanager was in Halifax, NS 26 Oct (ph. Heather Michaud). Accidental in the region, a hunter encountered a Painted Bunting in Hebron, NB (fide eBird).

References:

Finch Research Network (FiRN). 2025. “Winter Finch Forecast 2025-2026.” Accessed 26 Feb 2026. https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2025-2026

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 1 Apr 2026.