Nature Moncton Nature News: February 2 2015

** Kathleen Spicer, Apple River, Nova Scotia, which is just across the water from Alma, N.B., has had a FIELDFARE [Grive litorne] coming to her yard to forage on clinging apples. Kathleen got some great photos of it on Sunday that she has shared with us. The Fieldfare is a rare bird in the Maritimes from Eurasia. When we occasionally get one it is often travelling with Robin flocks, but this one appears to be alone. It’s a very prized yard bird. It’s always indicated to watch Robin flocks for different tagalongs. The Redwing is another rare Eurasian thrush to watch for that may travel with Robins.

** Fred Dubé was able to get another photo of the suspected HOARY REDPOLL [Sizerin blanchâtre] that he has visiting his Lower Coverdale yard. This photo of the undertail area, shows the coverts as unmarked white. Combined with earlier photos this makes it more certain that it is indeed a Hoary Redpoll.

** Brian Stone is getting lots of great close-up photos of birds coming to his lone feeder.

Some photos were sent out yesterday, in the delayed Jan. 31 edition, with the photographer’s name incorrect. They are now changed to the correct photographer, Marlene Hickman, and the blogspot version has been corrected.

** The Track and Trail workshop finally got off on Sunday afternoon, after a few snow-filled yard hiccups and that it was very cold. There was a smaller turnout than we usually get but enthusiasm and audience participation were excellent, with lots of great thoughts and experiences shared.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca