Birds of the national park

The bird song was obvious from the moment we left the car. The wetland between the parking lot and sand dunes of the national park at Brackley Beach was his domain and he let everyone know. I was drawn to his unusual voice.

 

You can hear the red winged blackbird here.

He was partially hidden in the spruce tree but the flash of colour on this shoulder was visible on occasion. Then he flew to last year's cattails and the red and yellow on his wings, visible when the male red-winged blackbird is courting, was in full display! He was a beauty.

 

This ruddy turnstone was cruising the beach, flipping the seaweed for insects or crustaceans. 

 

He is stout bird with a strong bill and a pattern on its back in flight.

 

A juvenile ruddy turnstone doesn't look much like the adult but the orange legs give it away. My husband and I saw this one last September in Savage Harbour, Prince Edward Island.

 

                        Juvenile ruddy turnstone

The sand dunes along the beach of the national park near Brackley, are the perch for a pair of bald eagles. They sit on the dunes, about twenty-five meters apart, and survey the area below them. The birds are visible from the road and have used this perch for at least a year. Others have reported the two in the same place numerous times.

 

Wind was high in the open area, making it difficult to hold the camera steady using the zoom. However, I managed to take two almost clear photos of these huge birds.

 

The tidal marsh of Brackley Bay in the national park had numerous ducks but also a small flock of greater yellow legs. One of these sandpiper type birds was in an area by herself as she waded in the cold water. 

 

Two others were never too far apart as they waded through the marsh. The long yellow legs and long beaks are designed perfectly for their niche. They walked away when I crossed the road to get a closer look.

Birds make any excursion on Prince Edward Island interesting for us.