Atlantic Region: Spring 2026

Waterfowl through Coots
A Greater White-fronted Goose in Charlottetown, Queens Co, PE 25 Mar–5 Apr (no ph. G. Fournier, no ph. Roberta Palmer, Melanie McCarthy et al.) provided a first spring record. Greater White-fronted Goose is casual to Nova Scotia in spring where three were reported this season. One continued into the season in Yarmouth, Yarmouth Co through 2 Apr (Kathleen MacAulay, Richard Donaldson). The Greater White-fronted Goose present in St. Joseph, Antigonish Co 4 Apr (no ph. Angela MacDonald) was likely one of two identified at Antigonish Landing, Antigonish Co 25 Apr–2 May (Angela MacDonald, m. ob.). Rare to New Brunswick in spring, two Greater White-fronted Geese were present at Fleuve St-Jean, St. Basile, Madawaska Co 8 Apr (Marie B.). The once-resident Pink-footed Goose of St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula, NL was last reported 23 Apr (Charles Fitzpatrick). Overall, Pink-footed Goose is considered rare to insular Newfoundland where an individual was reported in the community of Monkstown, Burin Peninsula, NL 17 May (Brad James). The Cackling Goose at Salisbury, Westmorland Co, NB 4 Apr (Rhonda Langelaan, Paul Langelaan) was only the second to be recorded in spring. Later, a Cackling Goose discovered at Val-Comeau, Gloucester Co NB 14 Apr (Duguay Rosemonde) provided a third spring record. A Barnacle Goose observed in flight at Val-Comeau, Gloucester Co, NB 12 Apr (Rosemonde Duguay) was the second recorded in spring. Similarly, a Barnacle Goose at Belle Isle Marsh, Annapolis Co, NS 27 Apr (Logan Lalonde) provided the second spring record.

Wood Duck was unusually abundant this season on the Avalon Peninsula, NL with a significant number of reports emanating from across insular Newfoundland. Uncommon to Newfoundland and Labrador in spring, Blue-winged Teal was found in significant numbers in ponds throughout the province this season. After overwintering in St. Pierre, St. Pierre Island, SPM, a Northern Shoveler continued through May 6 (Valérie Jackman et al.). Gadwall is an uncommon vagrant to Newfoundland and Labrador in spring. This season, individuals were noted at Grand Bay West, Port-aux-Basques 29 Mar (Stacey Keefer), and in English Point, Forteau, Labrador 30 Apr (no. ph. Vernon Buckle), while three were found at Virginia Lake, St. John’s 7–16 May (Charles Fitzpatrick et al.), two individuals at Grand Falls-Windsor 11–15 May (no ph. m. ob.), one at Cape Broyle, Avalon Peninsula (no ph. Todd Boland), and the last was reported in Bay Bulls, Avalon Peninsula 26 May (John Alexander). A Tufted Duck x Lesser Scaup hybrid was an exceptional find in the Quispamsis area, Kings Co, NB 4–14 Apr (Richard Blacquiere, Jim Wilson, Mark Morse) which provided a first record of this hybrid combination for the province. The presence of Barrow’s Goldeneye was far more abundant on the Avalon Peninsula of insular Newfoundland this winter and spring season than in previous years. One or two individuals is the norm, and almost always at Carbonear or Spaniard’s Bay, NL. This season 17 individuals were reported across the Avalon, continuing the trend of this increasingly reported species. A male Common x Barrow’s Goldeneye hybrid was present at Kelligrews, Avalon Peninsula, NL 1–7 Mar (Bruce Mactavish, Frank King).

Accidental to Nova Scotia, a Willow Ptarmigan at the parking lot of Cape Split Trail, Kings Co, NS (Debbie d’Entremont) was a second provincial record. Horned Grebe was well represented along the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador this season with reports emanating from Mobile 7–10 Mar (John Alexander et al.), Biscay Bay 19 Mar–16 Apr (Edmund Hayden, m. ob.), at Branch 29 Mar (Robert Blackmore et al.), and from Carbonear 13–14 Apr (Charles Fitzpatrick, Ann Marie Barry, Robert Blackmore). The stronghold of Red-necked Grebes aggregating off Gabion on the west coast of St. Pierre Island, SPM occurred again this year 10 Mar–14 Apr (Joël Detcheverry, Laurent Jackman, no ph. Patrick Hacala) with up to 50 individuals being reported. Casual in spring to Newfoundland and Labrador, a White-winged Dove in St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula 26 May+ (Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.) lingered through the season. Rare to Newfoundland and Labrador, a Chimney Swift was observed loosely associated with a swallow flock in Marystown, Burin Peninsula 20 May (Brandon Collins). Uncommon to St. Pierre et Miquelon, a Chimney Swift lingered at Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island 22–25 May (Laurent Jackman et al.). Ruby-throated Hummingbird is rare to the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland where an individual briefly visited feeders in Renews, NL 24–27 May (Clara Dunne, Todd Boland et al.). Uncommon across insular Newfoundland, individual Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were reported in Codroy Valley, NL 15 May (Kellie Joyce), while another was at Kippens, NL 18 and 20 May (Kathy Marche). A group of five American Coots which overwintered in St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula, NL lingered through the season with at least one individual remaining at Quidi Vidi Lake until 19 May (Frank King, m. ob.).

Oystercatchers through Gulls

Accidental to St. Pierre et Miquelon, an American Oystercatcher discovered at Grand Étang, Miquelon Island 11 May (Charlène Jézéquel) provided the French Isles with their second spring record and the third record overall. European Golden-Plovers, annual vagrants for Newfoundland and Labrador, were noted in Charlottetown, Labrador 24 Apr (Marilyn Morris), at Cartwright, Labrador 24 Apr (no ph. Sandra Dyson, Jeff Martin), and in Hare’s Ears south of St. Lawrence, Burin Peninsula 28 Apr (Brandon Collins) following a period of easterly winds across the Atlantic Ocean. Casual in spring to Prince Edward Island, an American Golden-Plover was present at Tracadie Harbour, Queens Co 12 and 13 May (Donna Martin, no ph. Melanie McCarthy). Unexpected was the presence of a Pacific Golden-Plover at Le Goulet wharf, Gloucester Co, NB 9 May (no ph. Michel Roy, no ph. Frank Branch, Rosemonde Duguay). Pending acceptance of this report by the New Brunswick Records Committee, it will not surprisingly represent provincial first. The species is an astounding migrant and one of those “possible anywhere” birds that is likely underreported as a vagrant due to the difficulty of distinguishing from the other Golden-Plovers. A Bar-tailed Godwit at Savage Harbour, Kings Co, PE 30 May+ (Dwaine Oakley, Bruce Mactvish, no ph. Ray Cooke, no ph. Dan McAskill, m. ob.) was an exceptional find. An initial identification was confirmed when Bruce Mactavish reviewed videotape that was sent to him by Dwaine Oakley. It represents the first record for the province and the second spring record for the region. Unexpected during spring migration, two Red Knots were reported on insular Newfoundland this season: one was found in Portugal Cove South, Avalon Peninsula, NL 16 May (Craig VanOverberghe, Nicole Karbusicky), while the other was present at the Stephenville Crossing estuary, NL 22 May (Kathy Marche).

Casual in spring to New Brunswick, a Ruff was in the Grande-Anse area, Gloucester Co 13–14 May (no ph. Philippe Basque, Phil Riebel et al.). Ruff is a nearly annual visitor to Newfoundland and Labrador in spring, with individuals being reported in Portugal Cove South, Avalon Peninsula 15 Apr (Bruce Mactavish), Harricott, Avalon Peninsula 3 May 2026 (Virginia Connors), and in Frenchman’s Cove, Burin Peninsula 10 and 31 May (Brandon Collins, Brenda Bungay). A casual spring vagrant to the French Isles, a Ruff was present at Pointe Blanche, St. Pierre Island, SPM 29–31 May (Laurent Jackman, Joël Detcheverry et al.). A Short-billed Dowitcher was at the Grand Barachois, Miquelon Island, SPM 7 May (Charlène Jézéquel). A casual vagrant in spring to Newfoundland and Labrador waters, a Great Skua was observed following an offshore research vessel over the Labrador Shelf 25 May (Jeannine Winkel), providing one of the few recent records for this species. A Dovekie observed by Jeannine Winkel offshore west of Port au Choix, Northern Peninsula, NL 23 May was relatively late for the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

A report of 24 Ivory Gulls came from a shrimp harvesting vessel offshore east of Belle Isle, NL 8 Mar (no ph. Jean-François Rousseau) that were grouped together with other gull species on the dense ice pack. Similarly, reports of a large group of approximately 60 migrating Sabine’s Gulls on the Labrador Sea, NL 26 May (Jeannine Winkel) provided the first ever live documentation of this species migrating in NL waters. Now casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon in spring, an adult Bonaparte’s Gull lingered at Le Porte de St. Pierre, St. Pierre Island 5 Mar–10 May (Valérie Jackman et al.). It was joined by an immature Bonaparte’s Gull on St. Pierre Island 11 Mar–10 May after which only the immature Bonaparte’s Gull remained through 25 May (Patrick Hacala). Laughing Gull is a casual vagrant to St. Pierre et Miquelon in spring where two were reported this season. An adult Laughing Gull briefly lingered at Étang Savoyard, St. Pierre Island 18 May (Laurent Jackman) while an immature Laughing Gull was present in the Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island 22 May (Laurent Jackman). Casual to Nova Scotia in spring two Laughing Gulls were on Noddy Island, Yarmouth Co 23 May (Alix d’Entremont et al.), while another was present at Bulls Head Wharf, Shelburne Co 24–25 May (no ph. Logan Moore, Mark Dennis, Sandra Dennis et al.). A Franklin’s Gull, a casual vagrant to insular Newfoundland, was at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s, NL 22 May (Alvan Buckley, Catherine Barrett, Vernon Buckle) and was the 43rd occurrence overall for that province. A first-cycle Common Gull that was first spotted at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s, NL 17 Dec lingered throughout the area of St. John’s, NL until 25 Apr (Bruce Mactavish), including being frequently sighted back and forth between the lake and Maddox Cove, NL, identified as the same individual by its unique tail pattern. Common Gull is an uncommon visitor in spring to Newfoundland and Labrador where another individual lingered in St. Shotts, Avalon Peninsula 7 Mar–3 Apr (no ph. Bruce Mactavish, m. ob.).

Loons through Larks

A Brown Booby photographed just offshore of Shelburne Co, NS 22 May (Matt Ross) provided the seventh spring record. Glossy Ibis is casual to Prince Edward Island in spring. This season one individual was at East Lake, Kings Co 10 May (Michelle Lamberson). Little Blue Heron is casual to insular Newfoundland in spring. This season individuals were present in Hare Bay, NL 12 May (Duane Collins), at Trinity, Bonavista Peninsula, NL 20 May (Lisa Murphy), in Torbay, Avalon Peninsula, NL 22 May (Hannah Ward), and at Searston, Codroy Valley, NL 31 May 2026 (Glenn Mitchell, Kellie Joyce, no ph. Todd Boland). Casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon during migration, a Snowy Egret lingered at Point Blanche, St. Pierre Island 6–28 May (Valérie Jackman, Patrick Hacala et al.). A Snowy x Little Egret hybrid was an exceptional find in Milton, Yarmouth Co, NS 15 Apr (Ronnie d’Entremont, Alix d’Entremont, Kathleen MacAulay et al.) and provided a first record for the hybrid in Canada. Two Golden Eagles observed in flight in the Jolicure area, Westmoreland Co, NB 11 Apr (no ph. Owen Roberts) were casual spring visitors. A Broad-winged Hawk, casual to Prince Edward Island in spring, was present on Poplar Island, Queens Co 22 Apr (no ph. Pam Watters). Two Red-shouldered Hawks, casual in spring to Nova Scotia, were reported: one lingered into the season at Lawrencetown, Annapolis Co to 1 Mar (no ph. Jake Chute), and the other was at nearby Granville Ferry, Annapolis Co 20 Mar (no ph. Calliope Kenney). A Red-headed Woodpecker in Shinimcas Provincial Park, Cumberland Co, NS 19 Apr–18 May (no ph. Shawn Hicks, Paul Gould, m. ob.) was the sixth spring record. Casual to Prince Edward Island in spring, five Red-bellied Woodpeckers were reported, suggesting an increasing presence in the province.

As an uncommon migrant breeder in Newfoundland and Labrador with a poorly understood and fluctuating abundance, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers showed well on insular Newfoundland this spring with reports emanating from: Burgeo, NL 16 Apr (Lee Peddle), Stephenville, NL 9–10 May 2026 (Randolph White, Kathy Marche), Rocky Harbour, Northern Peninsula, NL 15 May 2026 (no ph. William Melin, no ph. Clarence Melin), Monchy Woods Road, Gander, NL 18 May 2026 (Barry Day), Gambo, NL 24 May (Fred Woodman); four near West Gander Lake south of Glenwood, NL 22 and 26 May (Barry Day, Robert Blackmore), and from Great Rattling Brook, NL 30 May (Robert Blackmore). Additional reports from Miquelon, Miquelon Island, SPM 16 Apr (Charlène Jézéquel), and St. Pierre, St. Pierre Island, SPM 24 Apr–5 May (Patrick Hacala) reflected the season’s pattern of increased sightings for insular Newfoundland. Three American Three-toed Woodpeckers on Dunphy’s Pond Trail, Terra Nova National Park, NL 17–18 May were an exciting find (Fred Perry, Shirl Arnold). Black-backed Woodpeckers are an expected species across insular Newfoundland. However, following a severe forest fire year in 2025, burn sites like the one at Paddy’s Pond, Avalon Peninsula, NL have attracted dense concentrations of the species, where as many as seven individuals were observed on 18 May (Charles Fitzpatrick) and eight were observed on 19 May.

A Crested Caracara arrived at East Point, Kings Co, PE 21 May+ (Ryan Cheverie, Melanie McCarthy et al.) and provided the third overall record. Accidental to New Brunswick, a Crested Caracara at Lac Fry, Miscou, Gloucester Co 26 May (Andrew Olive, Rosemonde Duguay) was a first spring record. Least Flycatchers noted at Cape St. Mary’s, Avalon Peninsula, NL 22 May (Glenn Mitchell), on St. Pierre Island, SPM 22–25 May (Joël Detcheverry, Laurent Jackman), and on Long Point, Port-au-Port Peninsula, NL 24 May (Kathy Marche) were early migrants. An Eastern Phoebe in Miquelon, Miquelon Island, SPM 18 May (Charlène Jézéquel) provided the French Isles with their third spring and eighth overall record. Three White-eyed Vireos were reported in New Brunswick this season. The first, alongside Lighthouse Road, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 20 May (Marc LeBlanc) was the ninth record for spring. The next was in Saint John, Saint John Co 21 May (Melanie Watson) providing the 10th spring record. The eleventh spring record was an individual present in Anchorage Provincial Park, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 23 May (Marc LeBlanc). Individual Yellow-throated Vireos, casual to New Brunswick in spring, were at Grand Harbour, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 12 May (no ph. Karen Miller, Marc LeBlanc, Mitch Doucet, Irene Doucet, Mark Morse) while the other was located in Anchorage Provincial Park, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 15 May (Mitch Doucet, Irene Doucet). Accidental in spring to Newfoundland and Labrador, an Eastern Warbling Vireo at Trepassey, Avalon Peninsula 18 May (Glenn Mitchell) was the first to be documented in spring. A Tufted Titmouse at Trenton, Pictou Co, NS 16–22 Mar (no ph. Fred Mackenzie, Ronnie d’Entremont et al.) was the first in spring and the second record overall. Later, a Tufted Titmouse was in the Apple River area, Cumberland Co, NS 29 Apr–13 May (Kathleen Spicer) becoming the second spring record and third overall.

Swallows through Dickcissel

Completely unexpected, a Cave Swallow photographed at Blackhead, St. John’s Bay, Avalon Peninsula, NL 22 May (Colin Peddle) was only the second spring and third record overall for Newfoundland and Labrador. Gray Catbird is a species with a limited breeding range in Newfoundland and Labrador, yet the species occurs in the province regularly throughout the summer and shoulder seasons. This spring was no exception, with at least 10 records of Gray Catbirds across southeastern insular Newfoundland and a larger presence on the Avalon Peninsula than normal. Casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon in spring, two Brown Thrashers were reported this season: one was at La Réserve, St. Pierre Island 25–30 May (Joël Detcheverry), and the second was at Laveuse, St. Pierre Island 28–30 May (no ph. Joël Detcheverry). A Brown Thrasher at Cape St. George, Port-au-Port Peninsula, NL 24 May (Line Pomerleau) was a casual visitor. Casual in spring, a Northern Mockingbird was found alongside the highway just south of Cappahayden, Avalon Peninsula, NL 23 May (Alvan Buckely, Catherine Barrett, Vernon Buckle et al.) during the 2026 Birds Canada Birdathon. Townsend’s Solitaires were present in Kejinkujik National Park Seaside Adjunct, Queens Co, NS 16 Mar–2 Apr (Fred Mackenzie, m. ob.), in St. Andrew’s, Antigonish Co, NS 4 Apr (Colin MacDonald), and along the Bissett Trail, Cole Harbour, Halifax Co, NS 10–21 Apr (Heather Michaud, m. ob.). All told, these three individuals provided the third through fifth spring records for the species. A Redwing (ssp. coburni) in Halifax, Halifax Co, NS 8–10 Mar (no ph. Allyn Walker, Kyle d’Entremont, m. ob.) was the first recorded in spring and 12th overall. The Varied Thrush that overwintered in Bowring Park, St. John’s, NL lingered into the season as late as 8 Apr (Alison Mews) and became the second to be documented in spring. Casual to Newfoundland and Labrador in spring, a Northern Wheatear was at Renews, Avalon Peninsula 21–22 May (Charles Fitzpatrick). A Northern Wheatear at Cap Lumière, Kent Co, NB 23 May (Robert Shorthall, Caroline Arsenault) provided a first spring record.

The Brambling visiting feeders in Portuguese Cove, Halifax Co, NS 18–20 Apr (Diane LeBlanc, m. ob.) was the third spring and fifth record overall. A Lapland Longspur was unusually late for the season at Cape St. George, Port-au-Port Peninsula, NL 23–27 May (Scott McKinlay, Kathy Marche). A Lark Sparrow at Kellie Joyce’s feeders in Codroy Valley, NL 14–17 May 2026 (Kellie Joyce, Kathy Marche, Randolph White) provided a sixth spring record. This season there was an influx of Chipping Sparrows on insular Newfoundland with 14 individuals being reported. There was also a notable increase in White-crowned Sparrow sightings in eastern Newfoundland during their northbound migration in early spring, where they are uncommonly seen at that time of year. The Golden-crowned Sparrow that overwintered in St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula, NL lingered into the season through 28 Apr (no ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.) providing a first spring record. St. Pierre et Miquelon had its tenth and eleventh records of Ipswich Savannah Sparrows this season with one discovered at Pointe Blanche, St. Pierre Island 6 Apr (Laurent Jackman) and the other at Ravenel, St. Pierre Island 9 May 2026 (Laurent Jackman). All records of this subspecies on the French Isles have historically occurred between April and May.

An Eastern Meadowlark, casual to Prince Edward Island in spring, was present at North Cape, Prince Co 25 May (Fiep de Bie). A Western Meadowlark which briefly lingered at Argyle, Yarmouth Co, NS 22–23 May (Richard Donaldson, m. ob.) provided a third spring record. The Orchard Oriole present at Vallèe du Milieu, St. Pierre Island, SPM 19–23 May (Laurent Jackman, Patrick Hacala) provided a sixth spring record for the territory. Though common in fall, Baltimore Orioles are infrequent during spring migration to Newfoundland and Labrador, so observations of the species at Long Point, Port-au-Port Peninsula, NL 24 May (Kathy Marche) and in Fermeuse, Avalon Peninsula, NL 24–27 May (Linda Cutler Kenney, Charles Fitzpatrick) were notable.

Common Grackle is rare beyond Forteau, Labrador, NL so a report of a Common Grackle at Black Tickle, Island of Ponds, Labrador 30 Apr (Tara Keefe) was exceptionally northeast of their expected range.

A casual vagrant to St. Pierre et Miquelon, a Nashville Warbler lingered at the home of the observer in St. Pierre, St. Pierre Island 22–28 May (Valérie Jackman). Hooded Warbler is now casual in spring to Nova Scotia where a male was found at Hartlen Point, Halifax Co 4–18 Apr (Yuan Shen, m. ob.). Hooded Warbler is also casual to New Brunswick in spring where one was reported at Red Point, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co, NB 12 May (Marc LeBlanc, Michel Doucet, Irene Doucet et al.). A Northern Parula at Green Point, Gros Morne National Park, Northern Peninsula, NL 8 May (Alex Smith) was the earliest spring arrival ever for that species in Newfoundland and Labrador by over a week that forecasted an influx of Northern Parulas that continued through late May onward into summer. A Black-throated Blue Warbler observed in the Vallée des Sept Étangs, St. Pierre Island, SPM 22 May (Laurent Jackman) provided the eighth spring record for the French Isles. Accidental to Prince Edward Island in spring, a Pine Warbler seen and recorded singing at Point Pleasant, Kings Co 19 and 23 May (Melanie McCarthy) provided a first spring record. Two Yellow-throated Warblers, casual to Nova Scotia, were reported: one in Halifax, Halifax Co 6 Mar (Angela MacDonald, Megan Boucher) while the other was in Indian Harbour, Peggy’s Cove, Halifax Co 19 Apr (no ph. Nic Fieldsend). Subsequently, a Yellow-throated Warbler was discovered in Rothesay, Kings Co, NB 5 May (Heather Osepchook) where it is a casual visitor in spring. Summer Tanagers are rare in NL with one being reported at Pynn’s Brook, NL 12 May (Allison BP), and another in Bishop’s Falls, NL 19 May (Jackie Piercey Rose). Indigo Buntings were observed in Placentia, Avalon Peninsula, NL 9 May (no ph. Virginia Connors, Shirley Arnold), at Saint Lewis, Labrador, NL 10–11 May (Kayla Brown), in Fermeuse, Avalon Peninsula, NL 24 May+ (Linda Cutler Kenney), and at Carbonear, Avalon Peninsula, NL 27 May (Dana Evely).

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 12 Jul 2026.