Day 7 Linton Campground

We set off under much improved conditions heading further up towards the Cape Breton highlands and around an hour later came across the South Maitland Tidal Interpretive Park at Shubenacadie River. The Shudenacadie is the longest river in Nova Scotia and flows northward from Shubenacadie Lake, through central Nova Scotia, to Maitland and the Bay of Fundy.

More Cedar Waxwings - A Delight!!

This particular spot apparently is a good place to watch the tidal bore which occurs twice daily and is much like our very own Severn Bore, for those who have experienced it. The park also has a nature reserve with mudflats, reedbed and mixed wood forests, in fact it's the first bespoke reserve we've come across during our visit. A Red-tailed Hawk overhead and a family of Bald Eagle were constantly on the go during our stay, at one stage seven Eagles were on the sandbanks just prior to high tide.

Common Yellowthroat - Nothing Common About This Guy!

A Red-eyed Vireo was our first bird of note, seems these are everywhere at the moment, but being around reedbeds it wasn't long before the familiar call of Red-winged Blackbird alerted us to several, stunning birds these with a blood red wing bar mesmerising in the sunshine. A couple of Willet were feeding on the mud, a family of 'real' Canada Geese, Black Duck, Least Flycatcher and several Yellow Warblers were also seen.

Yellow Warbler 

As we progressed with our walk more American Goldfinch, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Common Yellowthroat and good numbers of Barn and Bank Swallows were also on the wing. Two more Cedar Waxwing, a bird quite regular in this area and a stunning pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeak, before a walk down to the viewing area to watch the tidal bore! Now, despite being assured that the bores here can be quite spectacular this one turned out to be, well, a bore!! Still, stunning scenery and an enthusiastic guide from the nature centre really made it worthwhile.

Gorgeous American Goldfinch - Another Little Yellow Job!

We arrived at Linwood Campground in Pictou in the early evening, quite a pleasant campground which overlooks an inlet formed from St. Georges Bay. An evening walk around a wooded trail and along the shore had Downy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, American Redstart, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Willet, Comon Tern and yet more Cedar Waxwing. A little later Dee got really excited when she spotted an Otter in the inlet from the RV window, unfortunately for me, I was in the shower at the time!