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.
A provincial tick deserves a blog post, so here's one. capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2026/01/08/d...
Defying Expectations
Conventional wisdom, when applied to vagrant bird species, is often wrong as proven when something unexplainable frequently happens. Take the recent and hopefully ongoing Tufted Titmouse for exampl…
capesablebirding.wordpress.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:52 PM
A provincial tick deserves a blog post, so here's one. capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2026/01/08/d...
After waiting for the roads to be decent, it seemed that only our corner of the province was suffering, we went to New Glasgow for the first Nova Scotia Tufted Titmouse. Afternoon 1, no, frozen. Day two, no, snow, gales and -16C. Today, yes, -13C and calm. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching #NovaScotia
January 6, 2026 at 7:44 PM
After waiting for the roads to be decent, it seemed that only our corner of the province was suffering, we went to New Glasgow for the first Nova Scotia Tufted Titmouse. Afternoon 1, no, frozen. Day two, no, snow, gales and -16C. Today, yes, -13C and calm. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching #NovaScotia
When there's a provincial first Tufted Titmouse four hours away and the Banana Belt where we live won't play nice.
January 3, 2026 at 2:48 PM
When there's a provincial first Tufted Titmouse four hours away and the Banana Belt where we live won't play nice.
An end of year blog post. As predicted, junco was first on the list today and our Varied Thrush stuck too, despite the fireworks. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/n...
Nearly Light
These days I no longer stay up to see in the New Year. Once I’d stopped, the day seemed to manage to dawn ok without me, so now it’s bed at my regular time then up before first light as…
capesablebirding.wordpress.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM
An end of year blog post. As predicted, junco was first on the list today and our Varied Thrush stuck too, despite the fireworks. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2026/01/01/n...
New Year tomorrow, can't wait. Have a good one everybody. Let's hope 2026 brings all the things we hope for, even if, in a perfect world, some are things you'd never want to wish for. I ended up with 279 for the year, my average since 2015 is 283. Must try harder. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching.
December 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
New Year tomorrow, can't wait. Have a good one everybody. Let's hope 2026 brings all the things we hope for, even if, in a perfect world, some are things you'd never want to wish for. I ended up with 279 for the year, my average since 2015 is 283. Must try harder. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching.
Just when you think we're done with avian surprises in 2025, up pops a Varied Thrush in a birder friend's yard. A Shelburne County and Cape Sable Island tick, photo taken in terrible light due to freezing rain. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 29, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Just when you think we're done with avian surprises in 2025, up pops a Varied Thrush in a birder friend's yard. A Shelburne County and Cape Sable Island tick, photo taken in terrible light due to freezing rain. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
I think that's it for this year, cold and miserable outside. One last blog post. capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2025/12/24/a... #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Are we there yet?
It’s that time of year when you look at how the year went, rue missed species and revel in successes. You also wonder why some species that are normally expected, just didn’t happen. We all start o…
capesablebirding.wordpress.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I think that's it for this year, cold and miserable outside. One last blog post. capesablebirding.wordpress.com/2025/12/24/a... #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
I just like this but five songs is enough. Maybe someone will find something they like.
youtu.be/rldKhW4wA_w?...
youtu.be/rldKhW4wA_w?...
The Fable
YouTube video by Audra Mae - Topic
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I just like this but five songs is enough. Maybe someone will find something they like.
youtu.be/rldKhW4wA_w?...
youtu.be/rldKhW4wA_w?...
I found this on one of those free CDs you used to get glued to the front of music magazines.
youtu.be/R41rWL74MKA?...
youtu.be/R41rWL74MKA?...
Post Harbor "Shirakashi"
YouTube video by postharbor
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I found this on one of those free CDs you used to get glued to the front of music magazines.
youtu.be/R41rWL74MKA?...
youtu.be/R41rWL74MKA?...
I don't come across much new music these days, but I do like Samantha Fish.
youtu.be/3pCNc66t3p8?...
youtu.be/3pCNc66t3p8?...
Samantha Fish ⭐ Kill Or Be Kind ⭐Bulletproof Tangle Eye Mix Explicit⭐. ((*2019*))
YouTube video by Entre2Blues
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I don't come across much new music these days, but I do like Samantha Fish.
youtu.be/3pCNc66t3p8?...
youtu.be/3pCNc66t3p8?...
What I listen to is very varied, I discovered country late in life, only female singers though. This isn't country.
youtu.be/kSjy41Te2eU?...
youtu.be/kSjy41Te2eU?...
Steve Gunn - "Lurker" (Live at Atlantic Sound Studios) [Official Video]
YouTube video by Paradise of Bachelors
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
What I listen to is very varied, I discovered country late in life, only female singers though. This isn't country.
youtu.be/kSjy41Te2eU?...
youtu.be/kSjy41Te2eU?...
A patient Cooper's Hawk ignoring juncos and waiting for a fat Mourning Dove. Nova Scotia. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 22, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A patient Cooper's Hawk ignoring juncos and waiting for a fat Mourning Dove. Nova Scotia. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
I missed this Marbled Godwit on my island, Dec-1st, so was delighted when it showed on a CBC count at the other end of the county yesterday. Lousy light on our shortest day and at range, but #250 for Canada in winter. Heading out to look for a N. Waterthrush today. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I missed this Marbled Godwit on my island, Dec-1st, so was delighted when it showed on a CBC count at the other end of the county yesterday. Lousy light on our shortest day and at range, but #250 for Canada in winter. Heading out to look for a N. Waterthrush today. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
CBC count week is up today. The previous two days were yuk with wind and snow. Of the missing species to look for, I found three: LBBGull, Common Merganser and three Pine Warblers together. My personal count week score was 74 species, not bad considering. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
CBC count week is up today. The previous two days were yuk with wind and snow. Of the missing species to look for, I found three: LBBGull, Common Merganser and three Pine Warblers together. My personal count week score was 74 species, not bad considering. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
I got a decent first hour on CBC day, yesterday, then the weather turned and made it difficult for all concerned. My day total was 50 species, which wasn't bad. Naturally one I didn't get on the day was at my feeders this morning. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I got a decent first hour on CBC day, yesterday, then the weather turned and made it difficult for all concerned. My day total was 50 species, which wasn't bad. Naturally one I didn't get on the day was at my feeders this morning. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Christmas bird count day for me tomorrow, hoping to repeat a find I made when counting west of Montreal a good few years ago. Great Grey Owl would be a dream bird for all in NS, not holding my breath though. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 13, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Christmas bird count day for me tomorrow, hoping to repeat a find I made when counting west of Montreal a good few years ago. Great Grey Owl would be a dream bird for all in NS, not holding my breath though. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
The last twitchable Gyr in Nova Scotia, February 2017. I don't think there's been any more since, but as eBird obscures the records I can't be sure. No reason to do that in Canada, but we don't drive the thing so there you go. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The last twitchable Gyr in Nova Scotia, February 2017. I don't think there's been any more since, but as eBird obscures the records I can't be sure. No reason to do that in Canada, but we don't drive the thing so there you go. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Only my second ever Shelburne County American Coot today on Blanche Peninsular, year bird #278. My first was at Stodmarsh, back when everything was in black and white. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 6, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Only my second ever Shelburne County American Coot today on Blanche Peninsular, year bird #278. My first was at Stodmarsh, back when everything was in black and white. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
Nova Scotia's first Common Shelduck appears to be part of an arrival with a further five in Newfoundland, three shot. This bird is near Canso, Guysborough County which is one of the birdiest, and least birded, areas of NS. Prov #392 for me, a snowy back drive though. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
December 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Nova Scotia's first Common Shelduck appears to be part of an arrival with a further five in Newfoundland, three shot. This bird is near Canso, Guysborough County which is one of the birdiest, and least birded, areas of NS. Prov #392 for me, a snowy back drive though. #Birds #Birding #Birdwatching
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