Birds at Silver Sands Beach and Park, Season by Season
Silver Sands Beach and Park, at 1179 Cow Bay Road in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia, is a good place to see birds in every season. Bald eagles are reported here year-round. Osprey and great blue herons fish from spring into fall, shorebirds pass through from July to October, and winter brings sea ducks and loons to the open water.
The beach sits inside an eBird hotspot, a public birding record run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Local birders have logged more than 160 species here since 2005, and they still add checklists most weeks. Everything below comes from that record, so it reflects what people have actually seen at Silver Sands, not a general list of Nova Scotia birds.
Which birds are people most excited to see at Silver Sands?
Bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons and migrating shorebirds. The table shows when each one is around, and how often eBird checklists from Silver Sands report it in its best month.
| Bird | When to look | Reported on, in its best month |
|---|---|---|
| Bald eagle | All year | About half of September checklists |
| Osprey | April to September | About two thirds of June checklists |
| Great blue heron | April to November | About 6 in 10 August checklists |
| Black-bellied plover | July to November | Almost 9 in 10 August checklists |
| Semipalmated plover | July to October | About 3 in 4 August checklists |
| Willet | May to September | About 3 in 4 July checklists |
| Belted kingfisher | April to September | Almost half of September checklists |
| Common eider | All year | More than 9 in 10 checklists in April and May |
Bald eagles work the headland and the shoreline in every month of the year. In September, eBird reports them here nearly six times as often as across the wider region.
Osprey are Nova Scotia's provincial bird. They arrive in April, are most often reported in June, and have left by October.
Great blue herons stand in the shallow lagoon around Moses Island and fish its edges, from April into November.
Shorebirds are the reason many birders visit. Plovers, sandpipers, yellowlegs and willets feed on the flats and at the lagoon's edge, and single late-summer checklists here have counted more than 300 Semipalmated Plovers in one visit.
What birds are at Silver Sands in spring?
Spring (March to May) is when the summer birds come back. Common eiders are on the water in big numbers, and they are reported on more than nine in ten checklists in April and May.
Osprey, great blue herons and double-crested cormorants return in April. Willets arrive in May. Song sparrows, red-winged blackbirds and American robins fill in the trees and grasses behind the shore, and bald eagles are around all season.
What birds are at Silver Sands in summer?
Summer (June and July) is the busiest season for nesting and fishing birds. Osprey are reported most often in June. Willets are the shorebird you are most likely to see, and common terns fish offshore through July.
Cormorants are reported on most summer checklists. Barn swallows, yellow warblers and Nelson's sparrows are common in the grass and scrub. By late July, the first southbound shorebirds have already started to arrive.
What birds are at Silver Sands in fall?
Fall (August to November) is shorebird season. August and September are the peak. Black-bellied plovers, semipalmated plovers, greater and lesser yellowlegs, semipalmated and least sandpipers, sanderlings and ruddy turnstones all stop here to feed before flying south.
Many have a long way to go. A semipalmated sandpiper weighs about 30 grams, can double its weight in less than two weeks during fall migration, and then often flies nonstop over the Atlantic to South America, a distance of more than 3,000 kilometres, according to Hinterland Who's Who.
Belted kingfishers and great blue herons are reported most often in late summer and September, and bald eagles are as easy to find as at any time of year. Osprey leave by October.
What birds are at Silver Sands in winter?
Winter (December to February) belongs to the sea ducks. Common eiders, long-tailed ducks, red-breasted mergansers, common goldeneyes and buffleheads gather on the open water, along with common loons.
Iceland gulls arrive from the north, and bald eagles are still reported regularly. Rarer winter records here include harlequin duck, snow bunting, razorbill and dovekie, which is why some birders make the trip in January.
How do I watch birds here without disturbing them?
- Keep your distance. If a bird stops feeding, calls, or moves away from you, back off.
- Keep dogs on a leash. This is shared habitat, and a flushed flock wastes energy it needs.
- Stay off the vegetated dune areas. One set of footprints can kill dune grass and start a blowout.
- Bring binoculars or a long lens. Let the birds come to you.
We don't publish specific nesting locations, to protect the birds that use this shore.
Can I add my own sightings?
Yes. The Wildlife & Plants page links to the eBird hotspot and to iNaturalist, which covers plants, insects and seaweed as well as birds. Your checklists and photos join the same public record that researchers use to track how this coast is changing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silver Sands Beach good for birdwatching?
Yes. Silver Sands, at 1179 Cow Bay Road in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia, sits inside an eBird hotspot with more than 160 species recorded since 2005. Bald eagles are reported year-round, osprey and great blue herons from spring into fall, and shorebirds from July to October.
Can you see bald eagles at Silver Sands?
Yes. Bald eagles are reported at Silver Sands in every month of the year, over the headland and along the shoreline. September is one of the best months to see them.
When can I see osprey at Silver Sands?
From April to September. Osprey are reported most often in June and have usually left by October.
When is the best time to see shorebirds near Halifax?
August and September. Shorebirds pass through Silver Sands from July to October on their way south, and late summer is the peak. Low tide is the easiest time to watch, because more of the feeding ground is exposed.
What birds can you see at Silver Sands in winter?
Mostly sea ducks and loons on the open water: common eiders, long-tailed ducks, red-breasted mergansers, common goldeneyes, buffleheads and common loons. Iceland gulls and bald eagles are also reported in winter.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs are welcome, and they must be kept on a leash. This is shared habitat, and there may be nesting birds and other wildlife on the ground where you can't see them.
Does it cost anything to visit?
Silver Sands Beach and Park is privately owned and open to the public to access Silver Sands Beach. There is no admission fee and no booking.
Ready to go? Bring binoculars, park in the lower lot, and set your map to 1179 Cow Bay Road. The turn, the parking and the walk down are all on Getting Here.
