** Anna Tucker spotted and got a photo of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier
brun] in Victoria Park [Moncton] on Saturday, perusing the territory from a
large deciduous tree.
** Judy and Sterling Marsh did not have to go to St. George to see turkeys
on the move on Boxing Day; they saw a flock of a dozen just outside of
Salisbury. They also saw a GREAT BLUE HERON [Grand Héron] west of Wheeler Blvd,
towards Trinity Drive, by the marsh there.
** Brian Stone and I made an expedition to St. George and Deer Island on
Saturday to take advantage of the clear warm day before the predicted storm. The
ferry trip to and from Deer Island was bird-packed with BLACK GUILLEMOTS
[Guillemot à miroir] in winter plumage, COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet], many
gulls, including a lot of BONAPARTE'S GULLS [Mouette de Bonaparte], and several
COMMON LOONS [Plongeon huard]. The whirlpool at Deer Island was very quiet
except for some entertaining SEALS [phoques], as the gull feeding frenzy that’s
sometimes there was farther out around the smaller islands.
The berries of COMMON JUNIPER [Genévrier commun] were clinging to their
branches on Deer Island. There were several RING-BILLED GULLS [Goéland à bec
cerclé] on the shoreline. A photo of one shows the characteristic yellow legs of
this species and the winter-plumage, streaked head.
A stop at Ralph Eldridge’s feeders in St. George was a nice end to daylight
There were lots of expected birds there but the FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] was a
premium, with quick looks at a NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] and one very
plump TURKEY that strutted among the MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste],
keeping a close eye on the watchers.
The dark ride home was highlighted by the rising of the full MOON [lune], a
random METEOR [météore] not associated with any particular meteor shower. ORION
appeared in the eastern sky, flanked by BETELGEUSE and RIGEL, and later, bright
SIRIUS. It’s a great time to watch the sky on clear nights. The upcoming
astronomy presentation, sponsored by the Chignecto Naturalists’ Club, at Mount A
on January 16, should be very timely.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
COMMON JUNIPER.DEC 26, 2015.NELSON POIRIER
FOX SPARROW 01. DEC. 26, 2015. BRIAN STONE
RING-BILLED GULL (ADULT).DEC 26, 2015.NELSON POIRIER
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.DEC 26, 2015. ANNA TUCKER
TURKEY..DEC 26, 2015.NELSON POIRIER
TURKEY..DEC 26, 2015.NELSON POIRIER
