Atlantic Region: Summer 2025

Waterfowl through Loons

A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck present in Vallée du Milieu area St. Pierre Island, SPM 2 Jun through 12 Jul (ph. Patrick Hacala, ph. Joël Detcheverry, ph. Laurent Jackman, ph. Valérie Jackman) provided the French Isles with their first record for that species. The male King Eider on White Islands, Northern Peninsula NL 11 Jul (ph. Alvan Buckley) was only the first to be documented with photos within that province in summer. Another King Eider, a female, found on Green Island, Sandwich Bay, Labrador, Happy Valley-Goose Bay 17 Jul (ph. Alvan Buckley, ph. Vernon Buckle) provided the province with its second summer record. A single White-winged Dove present in Chebucto Head, Halifax Co NS 22 Jun (ph. Diane LeBlanc, ph. Sean Dempsey) and in nearby Duncans Cove Halifax Co NS 28 Jun (ph. Ben MacDonald) was a casual visitor to that province. This season, Black-billed Cuckoos were in all areas within the region. Of interest, on St. Pierre et Miquelon, where the species is a casual vagrant in summer, one was reported at Mirande, Miquelon Island 24 Jun (eBird), another was in Savoyard, St. Pierre Island 27 Jun (Patrick Hacala), while the last individual was at Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island 3 July (ph. Patrick Hacala). On nearby insular Newfoundland, where Black-billed Cuckoo is considered a casual summer visitor, six were reported. Three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon, were reported this season: one was at the Réserve, St. Pierre Island 1–3 June (ph. Joël Detcheverry). Another was in Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island 2 Jun (ph. Patric Hacala), while the last was reported at Belle Rivière, Langlade 8 Jul (Joël Detcheverry).

A Common Gallinule which lingered into the season at Westport Marsh, Brier Island, Digby Co NS to 17 Jun (Eric Mills, Guy Stevens, ph. Aiden Redden) provided the province with its seventh record for the season. Another Common Gallinule at Penhorn Lake, Halifax NS 4–19 Jun (Bob Ryan, ph. David Currie, m. ob.) provided the eighth summer record for the province. The Common Gallinule discovered at Little Harbour, Kings Co PE 30 Jun (ph. Roberta Palmer) was only the fourth summer record. Black-necked Stilts were reported from two provinces this season. The first was found in the marsh behind the Harbour in Covehead, Prince Edward Island National Park, Queens Co PE 2 Jun (ph. Donna Martin) and provided only the third overall record to the province. Later, a visiting birder from Newfoundland reported a Black-necked Stilt in marshes along the Hillsborough River, Mt. Stewart, Queens Co PE 29 Jun (Alvan Buckley). Only perseverance and luck enabled the documentation of this individual which lingered in the area through 14 Jul (ph. Melanie McCarthy, and m. ob.) to obtain the fourth documented record for the province of this species. Meanwhile, a Black-necked Stilt located near Three Fathom Harbor, Halifax Co NS 3 Jun (ph. Chris Pepper) was the seventh documented summer record to that province. Later in the month, a Black-necked Stilt, possibly the same individual, was at nearby Clam Harbour, Halifax Co NS 16–17 Jun (ph. Eric Cole).

The American Oystercatcher pair at Bill’s Islet, Charlotte Co NB lingered into the season and were found to be guarding a chick 3–14 Jun while two lingered through 5 Jul (ph. Mitch Doucet, ph. Karen Miller, ph. Mark Morse et al.). Two European Whimbrels (ssp. phaeopus) at Elliston, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville NL 1–2 Jun (ph. (Kate McKay, ph. Lillith Armstrong, ph. Sheldon Anthony) provided the ninth and 10th documented occurrences of that subspecies to insular Newfoundland in summer. On Nova Scotia, a European Whimbrel (ssp. phaeopus) was present in a flock of Whimbrel at Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park, Halifax Co 27 and 31 Jul (ph. Rob Edsall, ph. Ray Wershler) was the fifth documented record of the subspecies to the province, and the first for summer. The Stilt Sandpiper on Machias Seal Island, Charlotte Co NB 10 Jul (ph. Paul Langelaan, ph. Rhonda Langelaan) was the sixth documented summer record to the province. Another was observed at the sewage lagoons in Dorchester, Westmorland Co NB 17 Jul (Megan Boucher). An unexpected visitor to the French Isles, a Solitary Sandpiper was at LaPointe, St. Pierre Island 15 Jul (ph. Laurent Jackman). A Curlew Sandpiper, accidental to Newfoundland and Labrador, was found at Witless Bay, Avalon Peninsula 24 Jul (ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.) and provided the third documented summer record to the province. The same individual was found 100km West at Arnold’s Cove, Avalon Peninsula 27–28 Jul (ph. Charles Fitpatrick et al.). An Ancient Murrelet discovered within Canadian waters at Machias Seal Island, Charlotte Co NB 26 Jun (ph. John Edmonson, Mark Hibbert) provided that province and the region with its second record for that species. Unexpected in summer, a Thick-billed Murre was just outside of St. Margaret’s Bay, Lunenburg Co NS 9 Jun (ph. Jason Dain). A Tufted Puffin photographed at Grand Colombier Island, an important seabird colony off the coast of St. Pierre Island SPM 3 Jul (ph. Christophe Barbraud, Bruno Letournel, Karine Delord, Victor Genevois) provided the first record for the French Isles and the second record for the Region.

Accidental to New Brunswick in summer, a Royal Tern at Alma Beach, Albert Co 6 Jul (ph. Justin Cuffaro et al.) provided a second summer record to that province. A Sandwich Tern found at The Gut, Little Codroy, St. George’s-Stephenville NL 4 and 6 Jul (ph. Dick Cartwright et al.) was the sixth summer record for Newfoundland and Labrador. Shortly thereafter, a Sandwich Tern, likely the same individual, was at nearby Codroy Valley Provincial Park, St. George’s-Stephenville 14 Jul (ph. Tuma Young). This bird was identified as the European sub-species, and very well could have been the same individual observed at nearby Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC earlier in the season.

A Black-headed Gull at Canon Point, Bathurst, Gloucester Co NB 22 Jul (ph. Duguay Rosemonde) provided a fifth summer record for the province. Casual to New Brunswick in summer, a Little Gull in the Petit-Rocher area, Gloucester Co 2 Jun to 31 Jul (Rosemonde Dugisy, Nicholas LeBlanc, ph. Louise Dugay et al.). Two Franklin’s Gulls present on Big Island, Pictou Co NS 21 Jun (ph. Erwan Bertin) provided the province with its seventh and eighth records for the species. Yet another Franklin’s Gull at Hartlen’s Point, Halifax Co 23 Jul (ph. David Currie) quickly upped that number to nine. Another Franklin’s Gull, possibly one of the previously mentioned pair, was at nearby Merigomish Point, Big Island, Pictou Co NS 29 Jul (ph. Ken McKenna). Casual on insular Newfoundland in summer, a Franklin’s Gull was at Drook, Avalon Peninsula 23–24 Jun (ph. Glen Mitchell, ph. Bruce Mactavish). The Common Gull at the Gut, Little Codroy, St. George’s-Stephenville NL 6 Jul (ph. Alvan Buckley) provided a third summer record for that province. Subsequently, another Common Gull was found in Hampden, Humber District-Corner Brook NL 16 Jul (ph. Nathan Hood) provided a fourth summer record to the province.

Albatrosses though Tanagers

An exceptional find, a European Storm-Petrel at Tern Islands, Kouchibouguac National Park, Kent Co NB 26 Jul (Rogert Titman, ph. Geneviève Gauthier) provided the first record to that province and the second regional and Canadian record for the species. Unexpected, a Wood Stork was found at Chester Basin, Lunenburg Co NS 29 Jun (ph. vt. Jason Meets) and provided the province with its second record for the species. Later, a Wood Stork, possibly the same individual, was in Westport Marsh, Brier Island, Digby Co NS 22 Jul (ph. Randy Lott et al.). Casual to Nova Scotia, two Brown Boobies were reported this season: one was observed in Nova Scotia waters, Yarmouth Co 2 Jun (ph. Aldric d’Eon), while the other rested on the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Capt. Jacques Cartier offshore of Halifax Co 21 Jul (ph. Greg MacDonald). A Brown Booby observed offshore of Grand Manan Island, Bay of Fundy, Charlotte Co NB 12 Jul (ph. Edward Muennich) provided the second summer record and the fifth overall record to the province. Unexpected in summer to St. Pierre et Miquelon, a Little Blue Heron lingered in the Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island 1–28 Jun (ph. Patrick Hacala, ph. Joël Detcheverry). A Tricolored Heron, casual in summer to Nova Scotia, at Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park, Halifax Co 2–3 Jun (David Currie, Darlene Pye et al.) was the only report for the region. A Snowy Egret visiting the Union area, Prince Co PE 1–2 Jun (ph. Amanda Beers, ph. Cindy Esau, ph. Angela Eady, ph. Michael Root) provided that province with its first summer record, and the sixth overall record, for that species. Green Heron is a casual vagrant to the French Isles where an individual was reported in, and around, Étang Boulet, St. Pierre Island SPM 19 and 24 Jul (ph. Joël Detcheverry, ph. Patrick Hacala, ph. Valérie Jackman).

The Western Cattle-Egret discovered in a farm field along Covedell Road, Northumberland Co NB 24 Jun through 2 Jul (ph. Philipe Basque, ph. Lewnanny Richardson, m. ob.) was the fourth summer record for the province. Accidental to Nova Scotia in summer, individual Western Cattle-Egrets were noted at the First Peninsula, Lunenburg Co 19 Jul (ph. Marja Gilson), and in the Cape Rouge area, Richmond Co 23–27 Jul (ph. Lisa Flynn Burton, ph. Rowland Spear). These two Western Cattle-Egrets provided Nova Scotia with its sixth and seventh summer records. First reported by a local resident, a Swallow-tailed Kite that briefly lingered along North Highlands Road, Inverness Co, Cape Breton Island, NS 15–19 Jun (ph. Bonny MacIsaac, Carlo Arreglo et al.) provided the fifth record in summer to that province. The Steller’s Sea-Eagle continued its sojourn on insular Newfoundland initially around Hall Town, North River, Avalon Peninsula NL 5 Jun though 20 Jul (ph. Glen Mitchell, m. ob.) and was later found at Greens Harbour Point, Avalon Peninsula NL 29 Jul+ (ph. Greg Duncan, Linda Ergonis et al.). Good fortune sometimes arrives on the doorstep for those who wait. A Swainson’s Hawk that appeared in a field behind the home of two New Brunswick birders in Salisbury Parish, Westmorland Co NB 30 Jun (ph. Paul Langelaan, ph. Rhonda Langelaan et al.) was quickly documented, providing the province with its first summer record for the species. Later, another Swainson’s Hawk observed in flight on Miscou Island, Gloucester Co NB 19 Jul (ph. Duguay Rosemonde) provided the second summer record for that province.

Accidental to Nova Scotia in summer, two Western Kingbirds were reported this season. The first was present in Canso, Guysborough Co NS 17–19 Jun (David Currie, Ray Wershler, Ken McKenna, ph. Diane Leblance, ph. Jason Dain et al.) and provided the province with its second summer record. Subsequently, a Western Kingbird found on Noddy Island, Yarmouth Co NS 27 Jun (ph. Mark Dennis, ph. Ray Wershler, ph. Ronnie d’Entremont) provided the third summer record to that province. Western Kingbird is also accidental to Newfoundland and Labrador in summer. The Western Kingbird present in Renews, Avalon Peninsula 11–13 Jul (Edmund Hayden, ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m.ob.) provided the province with its first summer record for the species. An Eastern Phoebe at Reidville, Humber District-Corner Brook NL 17 Jun through 1 Jul (Gilles Holmes, ph. Denise McIsaac, ph. Kathy Marche et al.) was only the sixth summer record for the province. A Yellow-throated Vireo at Rocky Harbour, Northern Peninsula NL 7–9 Jun (au. ph. Darroch Whitaker, ph. Cody Power, ph. Tina Randell, ph. Randolph White) was only the third to be documented to that province in summer. A Black-billed Magpie, an accidental vagrant to New Brunswick, was at Quai Cap-des-Caissie, Kent Co 5 Jun (fide New Brunswick Records Committee) and provided the province with its first documented record. Subsequently, and quite a surprise, a Black-billed Magpie was photographed by a trail camera on Guy’s Island, Canso Harbour 16–17 Jun (ph. Tom Kavanaugh). It then relocated to the mainland at Canso 20–21 Jun (Tom Kavanaugh, ph. Steve Vines, ph. Emerson Fiske, ph. Gerry Lunn, ph. Angela MacDonald et al.). This was the second documented record for Nova Scotia. Overall, these two reports represent the third and fourth records to the Region.

Accidental to New Brunswick in summer, a Tufted Titmouse in Fredericton, York Co 5–11 Jun (Adrian Barnes, Andrew Darcy, au. Judith Dewar) was only the second to be documented in summer in that province. Later in the season Tufted Titmouse was documented in two locations within St. Andrew’s, Charlotte Co NB 14 and 23 Jul (ph. Steve Tinker, ph. Dianne-Crouteau-Richard Butler) providing records three and four for the province. A House Finch that lingered into the season at Stephenville Crossing, St. George’s-Stephenville NL through 7 Jul (Anne Hughes, Todd Boland, ph. Denise McIsaac, ph. John Brattey, Alvan Buckley) provided a first summer record for the province. Accidental to New Brunswick in summer, two Field Sparrows were reported this season. One was in Second North River, Westmorland Co 4 Jun (ph. Rhonda Langelaan, ph. Paul Langelaan), while the other was discovered in Harewood, Westmorland Co 15 Jun (ph. Paul Langelaan, ph. Rhonda Langelaan). These two individuals provided the province with its fourth and fifth summer records for that species. A Yellow-headed Blackbird on Kent Island, Bay of Fundy, Charlotte Co NB 12 Jun (ph. Jelany Duali) was the only report this season, and provided that province with its third summer record. A first record for Pine Warbler in summer for Prince Edward Island was established when one was recorded singing along the Homestead trail, Cavendish, Prince Edward Island National Park, PE 4 Jun (au. Angela Eady, au. Michael Root). Accidental in summer to New Brunswick, a Prairie Warbler on the Chignecto Isthmus, Westmorland Co 19 Jun (au. Burke Korol) provided the third record for that province. Out of place, and unexpected, the Western Tanager at St. Anthony, Northern Peninsula NL 15 Jun (au. ph. Cody Power) provided the province with its third summer record for that species.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 3 Nov 2025.