Atlantic Region: Winter 2025–2026

Waterfowl through Gulls

Casual to Nova Scotia in winter, a Greater White-fronted Goose lingered in the Truro area, Colchester Co through 4 Dec (ph. Cara Kirkpatrick, Burke Korol). Two Greater White-fronted Geese reported at Cape Race, Avalon Peninsula, NL 12 Dec by the lighthouse keeper provided the latest record for the province, and a first report on a Christmas Bird Count when one individual was relocated at Cape Race, Avalon Peninsula 14 Dec (ph. Renee Ferguson). The four Barnacle Geese previously reported in Onslow, Colchester Co, NS which lingered through 3 Dec (Ross Hall, Jeff Odgen, Catherine Odgen) were casual winter visitors to the province. A Common Shelduck was an exceptional find in Black Duck Cove Provincial Park, Guysborough Co, NS 3–7 Dec (Kyle Horne, ph. Angela Macdonald et al.) and provided the province with its first record of the species. A flock of three Common Shelduck present in the Little Codroy Valley, St. George’s-Stephenville, NL 4 Dec were harvested by a hunter (fide Alvan Buckley).

A Gadwall that lingered into the season at Étang Boulot, St. Pierre Island, SPM through 14 Jan (Laurent Jackman, ph. Joël Detcheverry, ph. Valérie Jackman et al.) was the first winter record for the French Isles. Barrow’s Goldeneyes continue their upward trend in NL where several were reported this winter, including at least 10 on the Avalon Peninsula where normally one would be the norm (fide Alvan Buckley). Accidental to Prince Edward Island in winter, a Pied-billed Grebe present at the Montague River, Montague, Kings Co 23 Dec–17 Jan (ph. Dale Murchison et al.) provided a first winter record to that province. Sandhill Crane was previously accidental to Nova Scotia in winter. This season two individuals were along the Milford Road, Halifax Co 1 Dec (ph. Gerry Lunn), a total of 12 Sandhill Cranes were in the Milford area, Hants Co 2 & 6 Dec (ph. Paul Macphee, ph. Jason Dain). These individuals provided winter records one through 14 for the province. Subsequently, two Sandhill Cranes were present at Yarmouth Harbour, Yarmouth Co, NS 29–31 Jan (ph. Ronnie d’Entremont et al.), and two additional individuals were again noted in the Milford Road area, Halifax Co, NS 17 Dec–23 Jan (ph. Steve Vines, m. ob.).

A Marbled Godwit—the only one reported within the region—was observed at Daniel’s Head, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne Co, NS 2 Dec (ph. Logan Moore). Likely the same individual, a Marbled Godwit was relocated nearby alongside Ragged Island Road, Shelburne Co, NS 21–23 Dec (ph. Mark Dennis, ph. Emerson Fiske, ph. Jason Dain et al.) and provided that province with its third winter record. Accidental to St. Pierre et Miquelon in winter, an American Woodcock present in the yard of the observer, St. Pierre, St. Pierre Island 6 Feb (ph. Patrick Hacala) was the first to be documented in winter. A Forster’s Tern discovered during the Florence Christmas Bird Count, Florence, Cape Breton Island, NS 20 Dec (ph. David McCorquodale, ph. Mark Cranford) was only the fourth Winter record. Increasingly difficult to find on St. Pierre et Miquelon, a Bonaparte’s Gull at Point Blanche, St. Pierre Island 17 Jan+ (ph. Laurent Jackman et al.) provided the French Isles with their fourth Winter record. A Common Gull (ssp. canus), casual in winter to insular Newfoundland, was present at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula 17 Dec (ph. Bruce Mactavish), and a second was found in St. Shott’s, Avalon Peninsula 28 Feb 2026 (ph. Bruce Mactavish). A California Gull lingered into the season at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula through 24 Dec (ph. Ian Winter, ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.) and provided the province with its first winter record for the species. Accidental to Nova Scotia in winter, a Slaty-backed Gull discovered off Dennis Point Wharf, Lower West Pubnico, Yarmouth Co 16–21 Feb (ph. Alix d’Entremont, ph. Kathleen MacAulay, m. ob.) represents the fourth record for the province, and the first winter record.

Bitterns through Wrens

An American Bittern at Étang Savoyard, St. Pierre Island, SPM 17 Dec (ph. Laurent Jackman) was only the first to be recorded in winter on the French Isles. Similarly, an American Bittern at Cape Race, Avalon Peninsula, NL 14 Dec (Richard Thomas), and another at Mundy Pond, St. John’s, NL 13–15 Jan (Terry James, ph. Ethel Dempsey et al.) were the second and third winter records for the province. Casual in winter to New Brunswick, two Black-crowned Night Herons were at Ingall’s Head, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 20 Dec (ph. Karen Miller, ph. Mark Morse). The Golden Eagle in Gros Morne National Park, NL 2 Jan (ph. Alex Smith) provided insular Newfoundland with its 10th winter record. A Cooper’s Hawk, accidental to Newfoundland and Labrador in winter, continued into the season in Codroy Valley, St. George’s-Stephenville through 5 Dec (ph. Vernon Buckle), and provided a first winter record for the province. The Steller’s Sea-Eagle continued its sojourn on insular Newfoundland and was relocated near Whiteway, Avalon Peninsula, NL 30 Dec+ (Ian Jones, ph. Alvan Buckley, Bruce MacTavish et al.). Casual to New Brunswick in winter, an adult Red-shouldered Hawk was observed in a field next to the residence of the observer in Charlotte Co, NB 11 & 20 Dec (ph. Todd Watts). Red-shouldered Hawk is more common in Nova Scotia where six individuals were reported over the season.

Boreal Owls are difficult to detect throughout their wide range, with Nova Scotia being no different. One was present at an observer’s home in Pleasant Bay, Inverness Co, Cape Breton Island 3 Feb (ph. Tina Roach). This represents only the sixth documented winter record for Nova Scotia. A White-eyed Vireo at Quarry Pond, Ferryland, Avalon Peninsula, NL 4 Dec (ph. Sheldon Anthony) provided a third winter record for the province. This season, eight Eastern Phoebes were reported in Nova Scotia where it is a casual winter visitor. A Tufted Titmouse, accidental to Nova Scotia in winter, was found during the Pictou Harbour Christmas Bird Count. It lingered in New Glasgow, Pictou Co 1 Jan–17 February (ph. Ken McKenna, Emily Gillis, ph. Pat McKay et al.), providing the first documented winter record. A Carolina Wren present at feeders in Traveller’s Rest, Prince Co, PE 28 & 29 Jan (ph. Donna Martin, ph. Cindy Esau) was only the eighth winter record for the province.

Thrushes through Buntings

A Varied Thrush, casual to Nova Scotia in winter, lingered at feeders at Clam Point, Shelburne Co 31 Jan+ (ph. James Hirtle, ph. Mike MacDonald et al.). Varied Thrush is also casual to insular Newfoundland where individuals were noted in Renews, Avalon Peninsula 1–23 Feb (ph. Clara Dunne, m. ob.), and in the Bowring Park area, St. John’s, Avalon Peninsula 1 Feb+ (Fred and Colleen Wood, ph. Catherine Barrett, m. ob.). A Brambling was an exceptional visitor to Shoal Harbour, Clarenville, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville, NL 7–12 Dec (ph. Alma Whalen, Harold Whalen, ph. Alvan Buckley, ph. Brandon Collins et al.), and provided that province with its second record for that species. Casual to Nova Scotia in winter, seven Clay-colored Sparrows were reported this season. Although rare to New Brunswick in winter, exceptionally late Field Sparrows were reported at the Strawberry Hill Farm, Carleton Co 10 Dec–25 Feb (ph. Tim Livingstone), at Cape Spear, Westmorland Co 7 Dec (ph. Gilles Belliveau) and 15 Jan (ph. Marc Leblanc), and at nearby Botsford, Westmorland Co 15 Jan (ph. Caroline Arsenault). Casual to Nova Scotia, a Field Sparrow lingered at Port William, Kings Co 13 Dec–30 Jan (ph. George Forsyth, ph. Harold Forsyth et al.). A female Golden-crowned Sparrow in Quidi Vidi Village, St. John’s, NL 14 Feb+ (Mike Parameter, Todd Boland, ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.) marked the furthest east this species has ever been recorded. This was the third record for the province and the second that has occurred in winter. Eastern Towhee tends to be scarce throughout most of the region in winter, with Nova Scotia reporting 10 individuals, New Brunswick five, and Prince Edward Island recorded three. However, an Eastern Towhee at English Point, Forteau, Labrador-Happy Valley-Goose Bay 7–11 Dec (ph. Vernon Buckle) provided the second documented winter record for Labrador.

Casual to Nova Scotia in winter, a Yellow-headed Blackbird was reported lingering into the season at Dartmouth, Halifax Co through 6 Dec (ph. Burke Korol), and one was at Selfridge Corner, Kings Co 10 Jan (ph. Suzzanne Lovegrove). A Kentucky Warbler lingered until 7 Dec in Renews, NL (m. ob.) providing a record late date for that province. A Prairie Warbler, casual to Nova Scotia in winter, was at Brass Hill, Shelburne Co 14 Dec (Angie Millard, Tony Millard). Exceptionally late, a Townsend’s Warbler was photographed foraging at a homestead along Black Road, Lunenburg Co 2 & 4 Jan (ph. Miquel A. Morales). Unexpected, a Black-throated Gray Warbler—likely the same individual reported last season—at Churchill Downs Circle, Halifax Co, NS 10 & 19 Dec (ph. Andrew Stadnyk) was the only report of this species for the region. A Painted Bunting that attended feeders in Bayfield, Cape Tormentine, Westmorland Co, NB 19 Dec–25 Jan (ph. Burke Korol, m. ob.) was a casual visitor to the province.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 08 Apr 2026.