Richard Stern is a 50-year-old ex-Brit who moved to Nova Scotia in 1977, and has lived in Kentville since 1981. He has a wife, 2 sons, 2 dogs, a house in Kentville and a cabin on
Brier Island, where he goes whenever possible to escape his acute care
medical practice and "get back to reality, if only for the weekend."
|
|
Why is this a good place to visit?
It has a wide variety of birds at
all times of the year, including many rarities, and many birds that are
hard to see otherwise, for example pelagics in summer. Plus the birds are easy to
find.
What time of year is the best time to go?
Spring is a good time to spot arriving migrants and rarities, summer is great for breeding Terns and taking trips to see pelagic seabirds. Fall is a good time for everything, but especially the hawk migration, and winter for coastal birds (sea ducks, loons, grebes etc.)
What can you expect to see?
I've seen 243 species there in the last 15
years, including all sorts of rarities, and all of the above-mentioned birds.
How does one get there?
Take the Digby Neck road west from Digby, then a ferry to Long Island and a
second ferry to Brier Island. The ferries, though short, are an adventure for non-maritimers, and often yield good birds.
 |
Brier Island Ferry
Photo courtesy of Richard Stern |
Where can we get more information?
Eric Mills
wrote a detailed article in Birding, 1988, vol.20, #1, p.31.
Any anecdotes, legends, unusual sightings?
My favourite birding moment on Brier Island was one May, when a Scarlet
Tanager landed on the roof of our cabin, and stayed around for most of that
morning - exciting enough in itself. But just an hour later, in the clear
blue sky overhead, an adult Mississippi Kite appeared and soared around
for about 5 minutes. This was a first confirmed sighting for the province,
and a "lifer" for me. We've also had a Bald Eagle on the roof, and our
cabin "yard list" includes Leach's Storm-petrels, Turkey Vultures, 16
species of waterfowl, 11 species of raptor, 4 species of owl, 15 species of
warbler, rarities such as Cattle Egret and Western Kingbird, and many more.
My favourite time there is in October, when the tourists have gone, the sky
is blue, and kettles of Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks drift across
the sky all day heading south.
What else is interesting about this spot?
Whales, unusual plants, and
great people.
 |
Cape Blomidon Eastern King's Co.
Photo courtesy of Richard Stern |
Why is this a good place to visit?
It's easy to access, it's a beautiful part of the province, and there are lots of good birds.
What time of year is the best time to go, and what can you expect to see?
During the winter around Sheffield Mills, Woodside, Kingsport and W.
Grand Pre you can see hundreds of Bald Eagles, Red-tails etc. The Grand Pre Dykes
are good
for Short-eared Owls, Lapland Longspurs etc. Late spring and summer you'll find
breeding woodland birds, including some "Valley specialties" such as
Scarlet Tanagers and Northern Goshawks. In the late summer you can see huge flocks of shorebirds at Grand Pre, and the Avonport to Windsor mud-flats.
 |
| Eastern Kings Co. |
How does one get there?
Everything is fairly accessible from Wolfville. Try contacting one of the local birders for specific directions to specific birds.
Any anecdotes, legends, unusual sightings?
This was Robie Tufts'
"stomping ground" and there are lots of references to it in Birds of Nova Scotia, especially
the early editions.
What else is interesting about this spot?
Acadian history, the Apple Blossom Festival in late spring.
