Mark Dennis
@markcdennis.bsky.social
A birder and writer living in Nova Scotia. You can find my books at the evil/convenient Amazon. I'm anti stupidity and lean left, not religious. Follow the science and watch Corner Gas.
When you're out winter listing, birding in winter with an edge, it's the chance of finding things like this Black-throated Grey Warbler (which I did) that has you making random stops and chattering the bushes. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
When you're out winter listing, birding in winter with an edge, it's the chance of finding things like this Black-throated Grey Warbler (which I did) that has you making random stops and chattering the bushes. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Chasing birds in winter might seem a bit facile but it dilutes the winter and sets you up for spring. Sometimes you even get to see birds like this Say's Phoebe, rare in NS, on Boxing Day. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Chasing birds in winter might seem a bit facile but it dilutes the winter and sets you up for spring. Sometimes you even get to see birds like this Say's Phoebe, rare in NS, on Boxing Day. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
The winter listing season starts Dec 1 to the end of Feb. For those not in the know, in Canada we start going for lingering birds for our winter lists, it gets you out. This Vermillion Flycatcher was a great tick a few years ago, hoping to add to the 233 I have in NS. #Birds #Birdwatching #Birding
November 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The winter listing season starts Dec 1 to the end of Feb. For those not in the know, in Canada we start going for lingering birds for our winter lists, it gets you out. This Vermillion Flycatcher was a great tick a few years ago, hoping to add to the 233 I have in NS. #Birds #Birdwatching #Birding
Time for a blog post from southern Nova Scotia, quite a long one.
capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n... #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n... #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Nearly There
When I first stepped onto the listing treadmill with a Marmora’s Warbler on 21st May 1982, my ambition at the time, besides learning all I could about birds and birding, was to make the coveted ‘40…
capesablebirding.wordpress.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Time for a blog post from southern Nova Scotia, quite a long one.
capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n... #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n... #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
I thought I might not get a Cape Island Lincoln's Sparrow this year, it's late for them and they're more of a northern NS bird, all of ours are migrants. This one found my sparrow seed carpet in our yard, so a yard and island bird in one. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching #Sparrows
November 24, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I thought I might not get a Cape Island Lincoln's Sparrow this year, it's late for them and they're more of a northern NS bird, all of ours are migrants. This one found my sparrow seed carpet in our yard, so a yard and island bird in one. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching #Sparrows
Caught up with a Townsend's Warbler in Nova Scotia, I think at the 7th try over the years. This lovely bird was in Green Bay, NS consorting with a bright Prairie Warbler, two Parula and a Pine. #391 in NS. Of the hoped for western warblers, all I need now is Hermit. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Caught up with a Townsend's Warbler in Nova Scotia, I think at the 7th try over the years. This lovely bird was in Green Bay, NS consorting with a bright Prairie Warbler, two Parula and a Pine. #391 in NS. Of the hoped for western warblers, all I need now is Hermit. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
There's drab, and there's very drab. Easy to overlook in the hoards of Yellow-rumped Warblers, nah, not really! #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
There's drab, and there's very drab. Easy to overlook in the hoards of Yellow-rumped Warblers, nah, not really! #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
I don't see very many Bonaparte's Gulls around Shelburne County, NS, so it's nice when one poses. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I don't see very many Bonaparte's Gulls around Shelburne County, NS, so it's nice when one poses. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Where there's chats and vireos around there's usually more, and there was. Two Orange-crowned Warblers and a drab Pine Warbler to be exact. Now is the time when Cape Sable Island, nestled as it is in the Banana Belt of Nova Scotia, comes into it's own. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Where there's chats and vireos around there's usually more, and there was. Two Orange-crowned Warblers and a drab Pine Warbler to be exact. Now is the time when Cape Sable Island, nestled as it is in the Banana Belt of Nova Scotia, comes into it's own. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
My stop at one site on Cape Island not only had a Yellow-breasted Chat, but also two White-eyed Vireos, rare in NS. There must be more waiting to be found. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
My stop at one site on Cape Island not only had a Yellow-breasted Chat, but also two White-eyed Vireos, rare in NS. There must be more waiting to be found. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Below freezing on Cape Island this morning meaning one thing, Yellow-breasted Chat. I chattered one of my spots and got rewarded, will it stick for the winter listing season though? #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Below freezing on Cape Island this morning meaning one thing, Yellow-breasted Chat. I chattered one of my spots and got rewarded, will it stick for the winter listing season though? #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
After a quiet morning on Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, I'd just got in the house when a flock of seven Eastern Bluebirds arrived to eat the Serviceberries. Yard bird #219, and a long hoped for, if not expected, addition. Eastern Bluebird is rare in Shelburne County. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
After a quiet morning on Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, I'd just got in the house when a flock of seven Eastern Bluebirds arrived to eat the Serviceberries. Yard bird #219, and a long hoped for, if not expected, addition. Eastern Bluebird is rare in Shelburne County. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
No Cattle Egrets in Nova Scotia for me last year, two on Cape Island this. I did my island circuit this afternoon and this one was running around a yard. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
No Cattle Egrets in Nova Scotia for me last year, two on Cape Island this. I did my island circuit this afternoon and this one was running around a yard. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
If Golden-crowned Kinglets were the size of geese, we'd be in deep doo-doo. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
If Golden-crowned Kinglets were the size of geese, we'd be in deep doo-doo. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
The Bay of Fundy discovery centre in Truro, NS, is heaving with geese, mostly Canada but with one exception. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The Bay of Fundy discovery centre in Truro, NS, is heaving with geese, mostly Canada but with one exception. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Fancying a short break, Sandra and I took in a Tropical Kingbird in Wolfville, the third for NS and the only one to stay more than a few hours, we saw the first. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Fancying a short break, Sandra and I took in a Tropical Kingbird in Wolfville, the third for NS and the only one to stay more than a few hours, we saw the first. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Just a California Quail on a post along one of the best road names ever, Lonesome Polecat Road south of Reno NV. #Birdoftheday #standingonthings #Birds
November 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Just a California Quail on a post along one of the best road names ever, Lonesome Polecat Road south of Reno NV. #Birdoftheday #standingonthings #Birds
If you like being a bit miserable, but also happy at the same time, consider throwing 99c at my eBook 'Survivor'. Les Smith, a regular guy, does what's needed to make it through more or less what's happening now. Find it at Amazon under books - my name. #booksky #Novascotia #books #writingcommunity
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
If you like being a bit miserable, but also happy at the same time, consider throwing 99c at my eBook 'Survivor'. Les Smith, a regular guy, does what's needed to make it through more or less what's happening now. Find it at Amazon under books - my name. #booksky #Novascotia #books #writingcommunity
Tis the time of loon migration and the hope that one might be a Pacific, spoiler alert, not so far. 7th November I did a 50 minute watch in marginal conditions and had 32 Red-throated go past my favourite spot. Taken with a Canon R7 and 200-800mm lens, it was way out. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 8, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Tis the time of loon migration and the hope that one might be a Pacific, spoiler alert, not so far. 7th November I did a 50 minute watch in marginal conditions and had 32 Red-throated go past my favourite spot. Taken with a Canon R7 and 200-800mm lens, it was way out. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Not dissimilar to Red-flanked Bluetail, Eastern Bluebirds in Nova Scotia become very nomadic after breeding. In the south we get a few annually, some breed. This bird was one of six at Chebogue Point in Yarmouth County, the flock checked for Mountain!. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching.
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Not dissimilar to Red-flanked Bluetail, Eastern Bluebirds in Nova Scotia become very nomadic after breeding. In the south we get a few annually, some breed. This bird was one of six at Chebogue Point in Yarmouth County, the flock checked for Mountain!. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching.
At this time of year we always have to persuade eBird that we are seeing Western Palm Warblers. Three together on Cape Island, NS this morning plus a year bird Lark Sparrow, a late Eastern Phoebe and three cracking Lapland Longspurs. #Bird #Birding #Birdwatching
November 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
At this time of year we always have to persuade eBird that we are seeing Western Palm Warblers. Three together on Cape Island, NS this morning plus a year bird Lark Sparrow, a late Eastern Phoebe and three cracking Lapland Longspurs. #Bird #Birding #Birdwatching
In recent years a November arrival of Blue-grey Gnatcatchers has happened in Nova Scotia. This one was in Moose Harbour, Queens County today and, as is typical, travelling in the company of Black-capped Chickadees. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
November 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
In recent years a November arrival of Blue-grey Gnatcatchers has happened in Nova Scotia. This one was in Moose Harbour, Queens County today and, as is typical, travelling in the company of Black-capped Chickadees. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Didn't get a Nova Scotia Cattle Egret last year at all. This afternoon a message came of one in yards not far from a spot I check daily - been here two weeks he said! NS species 269 for what has been a slow year. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching.
October 29, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Didn't get a Nova Scotia Cattle Egret last year at all. This afternoon a message came of one in yards not far from a spot I check daily - been here two weeks he said! NS species 269 for what has been a slow year. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching.