Nature Moncton Nature News: April 14 2015

** Roger LeBlanc was with Richard Blacquiere at the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory on Monday to see the great number of moving sea ducks Richard will be reporting to Nature NB. Roger reports seeing his first 2 AMERICAN TREE SWALLOWS [Bruant hudsonien] of the year there, as well as 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux]. He also saw one Rusty Blackbird in Sussex en route, an interesting point to see 3 of these now uncommon blackbird kin in one day. Roger reports he heard AMERICAN WOODCOCK [Bécasse d’Amérique] on Saturday night vocalizing their ‘peent’ calls and hearing their flutter flights near his Notre-Dame residence. Great to hear this species on territory and on mission !

** Dave Christie reports some TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] arrived in Harvey area on Monday. He saw 2 feeding over the Mary’s Point Marsh and soon after there were at least 2 at the Shepody River Dam. On the river below the dam, there were also 28 RING-NECKED DUCK [Fuligule à collier], a PIED-BILLED GREBE [Grèbe à bec bigarré], and a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes]. From his house, John Inman had seen around 40 Ring-Necked Ducks on the river at high tide on Sunday. During a drive on Monday from Mary’s Point to Waterside and back to Routes 114 and 915, Dave counted 11 NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] fly up from the sides of the road. AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d’Amérique] were numerous on bare fields and roadsides, and perhaps 1,000 seen altogether.

** Linda Banks had an AMERICAN WOODCOCK [Bécasse d’Amérique] visit her Riverview driveway on Monday morning. It did not seem particularly distressed and appeared to be enjoying the sun. This species has been reported in high numbers in NS and seemingly food stressed. They just seem to be starting to be seen in NB, or at least in public areas.

** Jules Cormier comments lots of activity in the Memramcook area noting TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] at the Nature Lagoon. He heard SCOTERS [macreuse] going over after dark, TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge], NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin], and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] are swelling in number. Gilles had has a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux], two WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche], and 2 SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] all winter to his feeder yard which are still present.

** Elaine Gallant has seen lots in her Parlee Beach area with the arrival of a first FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve], 4 KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir] seen on the bluff, one lone BLACK SCOTER [Macreuse noire] in a small area of open water at the Point du Chene wharf, which no doubt will be lots more as the water opens. Elaine still has her RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux] as a regular feeder patron and is now hearing it vocalize.

** Louise and Maurice Richard saw a pair of BUFFLEHEAD [Petit Garrot] going down the Kouchibouguac River by their Acadieville cabin. That species should be filing flight plans north anytime now. They also had a loudly drumming Pileated Woodpecker, and 4 WOOD DUCK [Canard branchu] also appeared on the River.

** Louise Nichols suspects that they have a pair of MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] setting up housekeeping either in their yard or their neighbour’s yard in Sackville. She’s seen and heard them every day for about a week now, both male and female. They have made their presence known. While one is calling the other could often be heard replying in the distance.

** Brian Stone had 2 FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] arrive to his urban feeder yard on Monday afternoon, he also had the 3 RACOONS [Raton laveur] decide the bird feeder buffet was choice cuisine the night before.

** Jean Renton comments that she woke up to a very lively pleasant yard in Stilesville, with the first PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré], still lots of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune], and more...

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca