** Doreen Rossiter updates action to her Alma feeder yard. She comments lots of
BROWN HEADED COWBIRDS, both males and females started arriving on Tuesday. I get
the impression the female brown headed cowbirds seem to be following the male
brown headed cowbirds more closely in timing this season than often is the case.
Doreen had a few MOURNING DOVES arrive on Tuesday which would seem no surprise
for most however Doreen comments this past winter has been the first winter in
33 years of living in Alma she has not had mourning doves. So these are indeed
new arrivals for her. A bright WHITE-THROATED SPARROW arrived on Tuesday and she
noted a NORTHERN HARRIER circling her area. On Tuesday while in Moncton she
spotted a TURKEY VULTURE flying over the intersection of Vaughan-Harvey Blvd.
and Mountain Rd.
** Margaret Murray had five TREE SWALLOWS arrive to her Scotch Settlement
yard on Wednesday morning. Margaret has lots of nest boxes waiting to be checked
and looks like they have made their arrival with the warm few days forecast
ahead. Margaret has enjoyed the SONG SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS and ROBINS
arrival in numbers around her home for almost 2 weeks now. She also had an
Eastern Phoebe fly catching about her home on Wednesday morning. The Eastern
Phoebe is usually one of the earliest of fly catcher group to join us in the
spring.
** John and Cleavie Filliter noted a blend of COMMON and RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER on the Aboujagane river on Tuesday. The COMMON MERGANSER have a
tendency to move to freshwater with the RED-BREASTED MERGANSER staying in salt
water. These blends can occur in the estuaries in the spring. John also saw
GREAT BLUE HERONS and CANADA GEESE at Pointe du Chene.
** Marlene Hickman comments she has had NORTHERN FLICKER to her Dorchester
feeders over the years but little action this winter so was glad to have one
NORTHERN FLICKER arrive on Tuesday and went right back to the suet feeder. The
vocalization of song sparrows, fox sparrows and dark-eyed juncos are performing
their spring symphony in her yard. Six EVENING GROSBEAKS are still visiting and
one lone BOHEMIAN WAXWING still coming to apples on Tuesday and BROWN HEADED
COWBIRDS appearing with the blackbirds kin on Tuesday.
** My own bohemian waxwing group to apples lowered in numbers over the past
days to approximately 20 on Sunday, approximately a half dozen on Monday and
none on Tuesday. So appears this species may be departing New Brunswick for the
season.
** Astronomy week is April 21 to 26th and the Saint John astronomy group
have a great series of presentations on Tuesday to Thursday evening at 7-9 and
on Saturday afternoon of that week. There are very timely topics for
naturalists. The list of topics and times are attached below. Some great
sessions to consider carpooling to and maybe heading some bird spots on route.
That notice is as follows
events at Rockwood Park in Saint John.
Rockwood Park events include talks at the Interpretation Centre from
7-9 pm on Tuesday (Sun and Moon), Wednesday (Solar System) and Thursday
(Constellations), and Saturday from 1-2:30 pm (Telescopes and Binoculars).
Space is limited for these talks so please call 658-2883 or email connie.browne@saintjohn.ca to reserve a seat. Recommend age is 14+. See
the park Web site for details: http://www.rockwoodpark.ca/events.html
Also, there will be public observing Friday evening (April 24) at the
Rockwood Bark Park (Fisher Lakes entrance) from 9-11 pm (cloud date
Saturday or Sunday), and a Telescope Clinic for those who don't know how
to use their telescope at the Interpretation Centre on Saturday (April
25) from 2:45 - 5 pm.
** Unfortunately my inbox suffered a severe case of congestion on Monday
however decongestants seem to do the trick and all is back to normal. For all
those who had emails bounce back on Monday please feel free to resend.
>> Nelson Poirier,
>> Nature Moncton
