Atlantic: Spring 2024
Spring 2024: 1 Mar–31 May
David Seeler
dseeler@eastlink.ca
Recommended citation:
Seeler, D. 2024. Spring 2024: Atlantic. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-hjF> North American Birds.
Springlike conditions were quickly established for most of the region—except for Newfoundland and Labrador, where winterlike conditions lingered well into the season. Perhaps the most significant weather event for the region was the development of consistent strong winds emanating from the Norway Sea through to the northern parts of the region, due to a persistent Negative North Atlantic Oscillation. The negative NAO started 24 Mar 2024 and continued through 12 Apr. This event was noted in very early Apr by Bruce Mactavish, who notified Newfoundland and Labrador birders to watch this developing situation carefully and its potential to facilitate the movement of European vagrants to that province. Bruce pointed out, “The winds were better than average because of the direct isobars showing winds blowing directly from that space between Ireland and Iceland to southeastern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland, and that the winds were consistently strong all the way across the ocean.” He went on to note that these two features when combined are rare, and that the timing in early April was such that a different selection of birds, i.e. the earlier migrants, notably Whooper Swans, would likely be impacted. The importance of these predictions were quickly realized when a Graylag Goose was reported on 4 Apr, and that report was quickly followed by the report of a Eurasian Oystercatcher in downtown St. John’s that same day. It is fair to say that a tsunami of vagrants ensued to that part of the region.
Species of note this season include Graylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Whooper Swan, Common Shelduck, Canvasback, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Golden-Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, Swallow-tailed Kite, Steller’s Sea-Eagle, Mississippi Kite, Crested Caracara, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Redwing, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon), Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler Hybrid (F1), and Kentucky Warbler, among others.
Waterfowl through Tropicbirds
Part of a European invasion, individual Graylag Geese, accidental to Newfoundland and Labrador, were at St. Anthony, Northern Peninsula 4–20 Apr (ph. John and Ivy Gibbons et al.), and at Point Amour, Labrador, Happy Valley-Goose Bay 6 Apr (ph. Mitch Roberts). These two individuals provided the fourth and fifth records for the species to that province. Casual in spring to Nova Scotia, individual Greater White-fronted Geese were noted at Chezzetcook Inlet, Halifax Co 10–22 Mar (ph. Natalie Barkhouse-Bishop, ph. Wayne Greene, m. ob.), and in the Lower Truro area 18 Mar–2 May (Les Rutherford, m. ob.). Two Pink-footed Geese, accidental to Nova Scotia in spring, were reported this season. One Pink-footed Goose lingered into the season on Second Peninsula, Lunenburg Co through 9 Mar (ph. Logan Moore, ph. Mark Denis et al.), providing the ninth spring record for the province. The other, found in the Bible Hill area, Colchester Co 1 Apr lingered in the area through 2 May (Ross Hall, ph. Patricia Sowinski, m. ob.) and provided the 10th spring record for Nova Scotia. Exceptional were the reports of eight Barnacle Geese present on insular Newfoundland. Five Barnacle Geese were eventually found in the Goulds area, Avalon Peninsula. Three were present 4–7 Apr (Ian Jones, Fred and Colleen Wood, ph. John Alexander, m. ob.). Five Barnacle Geese were then reported within the same area 15–20 Apr (Ian Winter, ph. John Alexander et al.). Two Barnacle Geese found at Robert’s Arm, Notre Dame Bay-Lewisporte 5 Apr (ph. Shelly Winsor) were later reported at nearby Springdale 16 and 17 Apr. A Barnacle Goose was later reported to have been observed at Hare Bay, Northwestern Peninsula-St. Anthony Co around 15 Apr (Randy Strangemore, fide Vernon Buckle).
In continuation of the extravaganza, five Whooper Swans were reported in Newfoundland and Labrador providing spring records of two through six for that province. A Whooper Swan appeared at St. Lewis, Labrador, Happy Valley-Goose Bay 3 and 5 Apr (ph. Colleen J. Rumbolt). One Whooper Swan was discovered at Sops Arm, Main River, Humber District-Cornerbrook insular Newfoundland 5–9 Apr and 20 Apr (ph. Nicole Davis, ph. Eric Pike, m. ob.). Another was at Beaver’s Pond, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville 7–23 Apr (Jon Joy, ph. Mark Craig, m. ob.). Two Whooper Swans were reported at Twillingate, Notre Dame Bay-Lewisporte: the first was reported around 7 Apr without documentation. A deceased Whooper Swan found in the same area 17 Apr (Grant White et al.) was likely the previously observed individual. Accidental to Newfoundland and Labrador, a Common Shelduck, present at Cape Bonavista, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville 3–23 Apr (ph. Jon Joy, ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.) provided insular Newfoundland with its sixth record of the species for the province, and the second spring record for the province. Similarly, the Common Shelduck at Pointe de Miquelon, Miquelon Island SPM 4–22 Apr (ph. Charlène Jézéquel, m. ob.) provided the French Isles with their first record for that species. A Canvasback, accidental to Nova Scotia in spring, at the Brookfield Wetlands, Colchester Co 3–15 May (ph. Jeff Odgen, ph. Katherine Odgen, m. ob.) provided the province with its eighth spring record. Three Tufted Ducks—casual to New Brunswick—were present this season: one in Riverview, Albert Co 17 Apr (ph. Marjorie Wilson), another at the Marcombe Street Lagoons, Lower Cloverdale, Albert Co 17–18 Apr (ph. Jim Carroll, ph. Therese Carroll et al.), and the last was in Dieppe, Westmoreland Co 28 Apr (Paul Girouard). Exceptional to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, a Ruddy Duck at Glace Bay, Cape Breton Co, Cape Breton Island 2–15 Mar (ph. J.D. Bharvad, Mary Kennedy) provided the fourth documented spring record for the province.
A Eurasian Oystercatcher was an unbelievable find roadside within the city of St. John, Avalon Peninsula 3–7 Apr (ph. vt. Christina Child, m. ob.). It relocated to nearby Goulds, Avalon Peninsula NL and lingered there through 20 Apr (Levi-Harris-Hogan, ph. David Thornhill, m. ob.). This individual provided that province with its sixth overall record for the species, and its fifth spring record. European Golden-Plovers staged a significant incursion to Newfoundland and Labrador this season. Labrador, with only four previous records of the species, documented 11 European Golden-Plovers this season. Similarly, insular Newfoundland reported 54 European Golden-Plovers. Accidental in spring to Nova Scotia, a European Golden-Plover was at West Head, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne Co 21 Apr (ph. Mark Dennis, m. ob.) providing that province with its second spring record. Casual in spring to Nova Scotia, two American Golden-Plovers were discovered at The Hawk, Cape Sable Island, Shelburne Co 21 Apr–5 May (Paul Gould, Mark Dennis, m. ob.). Black-tailed Godwit is casual in spring to Newfoundland and Labrador. One Black-tailed Godwit was present in the Beaver Gullies area, Avalon Peninsula 4–13 Apr (ph. Charles Fitzpatrick, m. ob.). Of note were the five Black-tailed Godwits also present in the Cape Race area, Avalon Peninsula 7–20 Apr (ph. Bruce Mactavish, ph. Christopher Escott, m. ob.). Rare to insular Newfoundland, a Ruff lingered into the season at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s through 14 Mar (Charles Fitzpatrick, Fred and Colleen Wood, Judith Blackley, ph. Frank King, m. ob.). A Ruff was also observed at Black Beach, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville, Avalon Peninsula 27 Amy (fide Jessica Vincent). Ruff is casual in spring to St. Pierre et Miquelon, where an individual was located on La Pointe, St. Pierre Island 10–15 Apr (ph. Laurent Jackman et al.). Rare to Nova Scotia in spring, a Ruff was found in Glace Bay, Cape Breton Island 16–17 May (Alan and Cathy Murrant, J.D. Bharvad).
A Stilt Sandpiper discovered in Goulds, Avalon Peninsula 17–19 Apr (ph. Bruce Mactavish, ph. John Brattey, ph. Ethel Dempsey, m.ob.) was not only exceptionally early, but provided that province with its third spring record. A Willet at Pointe Blanche, St. Pierre Island 16 May (ph. Joël Detcheverry) was a casual vagrant to the French Isles. The Willet (ssp. inornata) at Trepassey, Avalon Peninsula this past winter lingered into the season through 1 Apr (ph. Bruce Mactavish, et al.), providing the province with a first spring record for this subspecies. A second Willet (ssp. inornata) discovered at Point La Haye, Avalon Peninsula 15 Apr (Bruce Mactavish) was believed to be a different individual (fide Bruce Mactavish).
Loons through Larks
The captain of the St. John NB to Digby NS ferry in the Bay of Fundy, Charlotte CO NB, documented an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross in flight 21 May (ph. Captain Danny Ingalls et al.). This fortuitous discovery provided New Brunswick with its second record of the species. Subsequently, Captain Ingalls and crew again observed the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross over the Bay of Fundy, Annapolis Co NS 23 May (ph. Captain Danny Ingalls et al.), providing that province with its second documented record for the species. A Brown Pelican at Chéticamp, Inverness Co Cape Breton Island NS 15–21 Apr (ph. Fiona Lynch, m. ob.) provided that province with its fourth spring record. The Gray Heron in the Ste. Anne du Ruisseau area, Yarmouth Co NS lingered into the season through 20 Apr (ph. Mark and Sandra Dennis et al.), providing the province with its first spring record for that species. Accidental to Prince Edward Island, a Snowy Egret in East Lake, Kings Co 14 Apr (ph. Hélène Blanchet, ph. Roberta Palmer) briefly relocated to nearby South Lake Kings Co 15 Apr (Roberta Palmer). This Snowy Egret represented the fourth record for the species for Prince Edward Island. Snowy Egret is casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon, where one at Pointe Blanche, St. Pierre Island 21–22 Apr (ph. Laurent Jackman, ph. Valérie Jackman) relocated to Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island and lingered 22 Apr–5 May (ph. Joël Detcheverry et al.). Tricolored Heron is casual to New Brunswick, where individuals were present at Anchorage Provincial Park, Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 14 Apr (ph. Mark Morse), and at Chance Harbour, St. John Co 27–29 Apr (ph. Jim Wilson, ph. Mitch Doucet et al.).
A Swallow-tailed Kite, accidental to New Brunswick in spring, was present on Grand Manan Island, Charlotte Co 21–25 Apr (Chris Southerland, Jesse Gagne, Sable Benson, ph. Mitch Doucet, Karen Miller et al.) and provided New Brunswick with its first spring record for the species. The Steller’s Sea-Eagle was again reported from insular Newfoundland via intermittent reports from Robin Hood Bay Dump, St. Johns 16 Mar (ph. Tina O’Rourke), at Moses Point, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville 10 Apr (ph. Lisa Murphy), and at Maiden Point, Cat Cove, Trinity Bay 30 May (ph. Robert Bartlett et al.). A Mississippi Kite was discovered in Bedford, Halifax Co NS 23 May (ph. Sylvia Craig) and provided a second spring record for the province. The Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk Hybrid that attended the property of Donna LeBlanc in Concession, Digby Co 4 Mar–17 Apr (ph. Donna LeBlanc) provided this province with their second record for this hybrid. A Swainson’s Hawk, present along Chebogue Road, Yarmouth Co NS 2–15 May (ph. Rick Brown, m. ob.) provided a second spring record for that province. The Red-bellied Woodpecker that overwintered along Horne Cross Road, Queens Co PE lingered through 5 May (Vanessa Bonnyman, Melanie McCarthy). Similarly, The Crested Caracara that overwintered on Prince Edward Island continued its stay through the season at a number of locations between Alliston, Kings Co 4 Mar (ph. Dale Murchison), and Marshfield, Queens Co 27–29 Mar (Glen Kelly). It was later relocated at Point Prim, Queens Co 10 May (Dale Murchison) and lastly was found at East Point 31 May (Roberta Palmer), in the field in which it was originally discovered in September 2023. This episode provided Prince Edward Island with its first spring record, in addition to the first records for fall and winter.
A Fork-tailed Flycatcher was a surprising find at Ile-aux-Foins Park, Northumberland Co NB 25–27 May (Suzanne Laglacé, ph. Donald Robichaud, Pam Watters, ph. Andrew Olive et al.), and provided the province with its second spring record. A casual visitor to Nova Scotia in spring, a White-eyed Vireo on the Kingston Peninsula Beach, Lunenburg Co 21 Apr (ph. James Hirtle) provided that province with its 12th documented spring record. A Yellow-throated Vireo at Cape Jourmain, Westmorland Co NB 14 Apr (ph. Kiirsti Owen) was that province’s third documented spring record for the species. Similarly, the Yellow-throated Vireo at Little Narrows, Victoria Co, Cape Breton Island NS 18–19 May (ph. Stephen McGrath, ph. Roland Spear) provided the province with its fourth spring record for that species. Warbling Vireo is casual to Nova Scotia in spring, where one was present in Port Williams, Kings Co 19–22 May (au. ph. George Forsyth) and two on 23 May (au. George Forsyth). Two Warbling Vireos were found in Sheffield Mills, Kings Co. 20 May (au. Jake Chute), while only one was present at that location 24–26 May (Harold Forsyth, ph. Natalie Barkhouse-Bishop, ph. Wayne Green). Unparalleled circumstances led to the documentation of the first record for Fish Crow for Nova Scotia and the region, when one was discovered on Cape Forchu, Yarmouth Co 16 May (au. Kathleen MacAulay).
Swallows through Dickcissel
Casual to Nova Scotia in spring, five Carolina Wrens were reported this season. A Marsh Wren found at Pleasant Lake, Yarmouth Co NS 16 Mar (au. Kathleen MacAulay, au. Alix d’Entremont) was carefully documented, providing that province with its eighth documented spring record. A casual migrant for Nova Scotia, a Gray-cheeked Thrush was a good find at Holland Harbour, Guysborough Co (ph. Angela MacDonald). The Redwing that lingered into the season at Étang Boulot, St. Pierre Island SPM to 3 Mar (ph. Valérie Jackman) provided the French Isles with their second spring record for that species. Casual to Prince Edward Island, a Brown Thrasher was present at New Haven, Queens Co 15 Apr (ph. Wes Slauenwhite). Casual in spring to New Brunswick, a Townsend’s Solitaire lingered into the season in the Landry area, to 4 Mar (ph. Mitch and Irene Doucet et al.), while another also lingered at Quispamsis, Kings Co through 9 Apr (ph. vt. Jim Carroll, ph. Therese Carroll). A Wood Thrush discovered along Red Rock Road, South Coast-Channel-Port aux Basques, NL 23 May (au. Allison Mews, au. Bruce Mactavish) provided that province with its ninth spring record for that species. Individual Varied Thrushes—or the same individual—were noted at Matthew’s Settlement, Northumberland Co NB 25 Mar (ph. Jen Walls), and at Sunny Corner, Northumberland Co NB 25 Mar (ph. Denise Boudreau).
Casual to Nova Scotia in spring, four Clay-colored Sparrows were noted this season—two were on Cape Breton Island, and two were on the mainland. A Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) was an exceptional find at Miquelon, Miquelon Island SPM 27–29 Apr (ph. Charlène Jézéquel) that provided the French Isles with its second record of that western subspecies. The Golden-crowned Sparrow at Canso, Guysborough Co NS that lingered into the season through 23 Mar (Tom Kavanaugh) provided the fourth spring record for that province. A Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler hybrid (F1) was discovered on Bon Portage Island, Shelburne Co NS 21 May (au. ph. Alix d’Entremont, au. ph. Kathleen MacAulay), providing that province and the region with their second records for this hybrid. A male Hooded Warbler in Ketch Harbour, Halifax Co 17–24 Apr (ph. Diane LeBlanc, ph. Sean Dempsey, m. ob.) provided that province with its 10th spring record. Out of place and unexpected, a Kentucky Warbler along Chebogue Point Road, Yarmouth Co NS 23–25 May (ph. Ray Wershler, ph. Mark and Sandra Dennis, m. ob.) was an exciting find that provided the province with its first documented spring record. Casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon, a Blackburnian Warbler was in the Vallée des Sept Étangs, St. Pierre Island 28 May (ph. Patrick Hacala). Casual to Newfoundland and Labrador in spring, two Yellow-throated Warblers lingered into the season in St. John’s—one to 5 Apr and the other to 7 May (ph. Frank Kink, m. ob.). Also casual to Nova Scotia in spring, a Yellow-throated Warbler was present in the Halifax Public Gardens 26 April–7May (ph. Jean-François, m. ob.). The Yellow-throated Warbler also appeared in Quispamsis, Kings Co NB 19 Apr (ph. Jim Carroll, ph. Therese Carroll). The Prairie Warbler at Horseshoe Turn, Halifax Co 23 Apr (ph. Mary Kennedy) was an unexpected find, giving that province its first documented spring record. A Chestnut-sided Warbler, causal to St. Pierre et Miquelon, was in the vicinity of the Village of St. Pierre, St. Pierre Island 30 May (ph. Laurent Jackman). Also casual to St. Pierre et Miquelon, a female Black-throated Blue Warbler was discovered in the Vallée des 7 Étangs, St. Pierre Island 20 May (Joël Detcheverry). A Blue Grosbeak in Corner Brook, Humber District-Corner Brook NL 26–28 May (ph. Tina Randall, ph. Randolph White et al.) was a casual spring vagrant. Similarly, the Blue Grosbeak found in the Vallée du Milieu, St. Pierre Island SPM 31 May (ph. Patrick Hacala) was a spring vagrant. Two Painted Buntings were reported within the Region this season. The first, found at Daniel’s Head, Shelburne Co NS 10–12 May (Logan Moore, ph. Mark Dennis et al.) provided the province with its seventh spring record. The other was located in Codroy Valley, St. George’s-Stephenville NL 21–23 May (ph. Kellie Joyce, ph. Kathy Marche, m. ob.) and provided that province with its fourth spring record for the species.
Report processed by Randi Minetor, 25 Jul 2024.
Photos–Atlantic: Spring 2024
This recorded audio and its associated sonogram was taken of a vocalizing Wood Thrush discovered along Rock Road, South Coast-Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador 23 May 2024. This Wood Thrush provided that province with its ninth spring record for the species. Audio © Allison Mews.
