Nature Moncton Nature News: 2015-03-01

Saturday, 7 March 2015

March 7 2015

NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE - Mar. 7, 2015 (Saturday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition of the Information Line, go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by : David Christie <maryspt@mac.com>

Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor <nelson@nb.sympatico.ca>.

For more information on Nature Moncton, visit the web site at http://naturemoncton.org or contact our president John Foster at 384-7212. For membership inquiries contact Shirley Hunt <Shirleyhunt2012@gmail.com>.

** We may have more EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS [Écureuil gris] in Moncton than we realize. There’s obviously a significant number in the West End, in the Cavendish Road area. Bernie Spurr lives there and reports that he live-trapped 26 Gray Squirrels from January 28 to November 1 in 2013, and in 2014 he trapped 20 between June 3 and October 12. He quips that he put probably over 250 km on his vehicle, moving them a distance away to wooded areas. [Transcriber’s note: If moved only a few kilometres away, Gray Squirrels are likely to return to their home site. Relocation should not be done when there are apt to be young in a nest.] I recently noted, with binoculars, what looked like 3 Gray Squirrel nests in a very tall deciduous tree in that area. I dismissed it, at the time, as unlikely thinking there were only a few in the area. I had best re-think that and re-check that tree. We live near that area but only occasionally have a Gray Squirrel around our bird feeders. Maybe the piercing eyes of two dogs are sufficiently penetrating!

** Dave Christie made a run from his Mary's Point home to Riverview and back on Friday. He saw two adult BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] in the vicinity of the Riverview Cemetery nest-site that is between Hopewell Cape and Edgetts Landing. He couldn’t actually see the nest from the road due to the height of snow. As he came over Caledonia Mountain, he spotted 3 RED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé des sapins] picking grit at roadside. On Feb. 24, along the same road, he saw 3 at one site and one at another. These are the only Red Crossbill sightings he has had all winter.

In his feeder yard, Dave comments that he has had no COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] in attendance for over a week, however lots of PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins] are still present, and occasional PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune].

** Dan Hicks, with the City of Moncton, advises that the FLOWERING CRAB trees planted on the median of Vaughn Harvey Boulevard that have been so popular with BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] are a variety called PRAIRIE FIRE. There is a planting of another variety called Thunder Child in a green space at the corner of Milner Road and Alexander Street. Those trees are loaded with fruit but have not been touched by the waxwings. One would wonder if some varieties of flowering crab are favoured over others. The untouched trees appear to have the same sized fruit.

I had 30 to 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] coming to a large feeder fruit tray for several days until the resident NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] put the run to them in no uncertain terms.

** Brian Stone shares some photos from his Dartmouth visit. He was able to watch the EURASIAN KESTREL [Faucon crécerelle] put on an awesome flight show at Hartlen Point. People have come from many distant places to see this Eurasian bird. We had one in New Brunswick many years ago, near Sackville in winter [1987-88]. They are larger than the American Kestrel and are a bird we should be aware of when seeing a kestrel in New Brunswick in winter. Brian also saw two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue] in the same area. Note the large dark patches at the carpal joint and the white black belly band.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

EURASIAN KESTREL 03. MAR. 06, 2015. BRIAN STONE

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. MAR. 06, 2015. BRIAN STONE

Friday, 6 March 2015

March 6 2015

** Although more common not too far from us, the TUFTED TITMOUSE [Mésange bicolore] has been slow to move into New Brunswick; however, one is faithfully attending two feeder yards on Deer Island, NB. Carmella Melanson visited the home of Colombe Boudreau on Deer Island on Thursday to see a Tufted Titmouse that is a regular winter patron at the moment, and Carmella was very rewarded. It hangs around with the BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire]. Visitors are most welcome. The Titmouse visits two feeder yards in Cummings Cove, Deer Island: the home of Bob and Linda Bosien, civic # 1214; and the home of Colombe Boudreau, the house after civic # 1245 on the other side of the road about 4 or 5 houses farther. Carmella shares a beautiful photo.

** As mentioned earlier in the week, Brian Stone is in Dartmouth, NS for the week and has discovered Sullivan's pond capturing many photos of the variety of ducks that overwinter there that we don't see here until spring, so a bit of a primer for the period ahead of us. Brian photographed GREEN-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle d'hiver], HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné], GADWALL [Canard chapeau], AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] and EURASIAN WIGEON [Canard siffleur]. Brian also got an AMERICAN COOT [Foulque d'Amérique] there and a winter-plumaged BLACK-HEADED GULL [Mouette rieuse], a small Gull that can be seen there in modest numbers in the winter, but uncommon to appear in New Brunswick.

** This week's Sky at a Glance report will be added to today's transcript. With a run of clear skies predicted, the items mentioned should be readily identifiable.

** There have been lots of reports of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boreal] in the area this winter. I saw the largest flock I've ever witnessed on Thursday in Moncton's west end on the western side of Jones Lake. Numbers were hard to estimate, but I suspect 300+. They seemed everywhere on a feeding frenzy on crab trees in yards.

** It's last call for the annual Nature Moncton Bird Feeder Tour scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday March 7th. Gather at the northwest corner of the coliseum parking lot at 9:00 am and head out to Jean Renton's very lively feeder yard for the first stop. Rumours have it not to have any breakfast before arriving at Jean's as participants from other years know that haute cuisine often is around Jean's kitchen. From Jean's place the group will head out for other feeder yards and park areas to make whistle stops. A contact number for anyone who wishes to make contact with the group during the day will be 866-2752. No advance registration is necessary. Just meet at 9:00 am at the coliseum parking lot with binoculars, cameras and a small snack for later in the day. All are welcome.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, March 6 – 14

Venus and Mars in the western twilight have widened to be 6° apart after their conjunction two weeks ago. Look for faint Mars under Venus. Their brightness difference is great but readily visible to the naked eye on clear nights. The gap between them enlarges a little more each day.

Daylight-saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Clocks spring ahead one hour. We may lose an hour now but we will get it back in the late fall.

Jupiter this month forms a big, more-or-less equilateral triangle with Procyon and Pollux. Face southeast soon after dark, and Procyon is to Jupiter's right. Pollux is high above them.

Procyon is also part of the slightly larger Winter Triangle to the west, also equilateral. Its other stars are orange Betelgeuse and bright Sirius below.

On Friday morning, March 13th, the Moon will go into its Last-quarter Phase meaning it will rise at midnight and set at noon.

You know the season is shifting. As the stars come out, the Big Dipper standing on end in the northeast is now as high as Cassiopeia standing on end in the northwest. The Dipper is rising into spring and summer, and Cassiopeia is descending from its fall and winter showing.

On Saturday, March 7, the sun will rise at 6:46 a.m. and will set at 6:14 p.m. giving 11 hours 27 minutes of daylight. On Saturday, March 14, the sun will rise at 7:32 a.m. and set at 7:23 p.m. to give 11 hours 50 minutes of daylight hours (These values are for Moncton, New Brunswick). The odd timing this week reflects the time change on Sunday morning.

The days are getting longer!

This Week's Planet Roundup

Mercury is sinking out of sight into the glare of sunrise.

Venus (magnitude –3.9) and Mars (less than 1% as bright at magnitude +1.3) are in the west during evening twilight. Look for Mars increasingly far below brilliant Venus.

Jupiter (magnitude –2.5) is already high in the east as the stars come out. It's highest in the south around midnight.

Saturn (magnitude +0.4) rises around 2 a.m. It's highest in the south as dawn begins. Below or lower left of Saturn by 8° is orange Antares.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

TUFTED TITMOUSE.MARCH 5, 2015.CARMELLA MELANSON

AMMERICAN WIGEON. MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN WIGEON (FEMALE). MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

BLACK-HEADED GULL (WINTER PLUMAGE). MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

DOWNY WOODPECKER. MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

EURASIAN WIGEON (MALE). MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

GREEN-WINGED TEAL. MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

GADWALL PAIR,AMERICAN WIGEON PAIR, AMERICAN COOT, MALLARD DUCK. MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

EURASIAN WIGEON WITH AMERICAN WIGEONS. MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

HOODED MERGANSER (MALE). MAR. 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

Thursday, 5 March 2015

March 5 2015

Barb Jennings, in West Riverview, had a different raptor scenario occur in her yard on Wednesday morning when two MERLINS arrived and bolted in to attack a BOHEMIAN WAXWING. One Merlin took the prey and did not let the other one partake. It may not be nice to watch but it is nature at work. Barb's photos show many features of the MERLIN. Note among other things, the sharp pointed wingtip, the dark whisker mark below the eye, the vertically streaked belly, the white terminal tail band, then the black sub-terminal tail band followed by those broad black bands and narrow white bands. As one can see compared to the size of the WAXWING, the MERLIN is a smaller hawk and Dave Christie comments that the underparts are so grey it appears both are male and at this time of year he suspects both of them to be over-wintering birds.

** Sheila Spolk had a albinistic PURPLE finch appear at her St. Stephen feeders with a flock of PURPLE finches. It stayed several days during the stormy period but has not appeared in recent days. It is a female or immature male and the body appears leucistic but the tail and rump area seem totally white as in a partial albino.

** Brian Stone is in Dartmouth NS this week. There are some very interesting rarities there that include three COMMON GULLS. Brian has hooked up with Bernie Burke, a local HRM gull guru and they found two of the COMMON GULLS on late Wednesday afternoon at the infamous Sullivan's pond. He has the now famous EURASIAN KESTREL on his hit list that has been in the Hartlen Point area of Dartmouth for sometime.

Brian shares a photo of a moonrise over Sullivan's pond on Wednesday evening.

It seems like awhile since someone has found a COMMON GULL in NB. I wonder if some are here going undetected.

> Nelson Poirier,

> Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

FULL MOONRISE. MAR. 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

PURPLE FINCH.ALBINISTIC. FEB 2015,.SHEILA SPOLK

MERLIN.MARCH 4, 2015..BARB JENNINGS - Copy

MERLINS.MARCH 4, 2015..BARB JENNINGS - Copy

MERLIN.MARCH 4, 2015..BARB JENNINGS - Copy

Wednesday, 4 March 2015

March 4 2015

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca/

Brian Coyle was out on his favourite snowshoe trek in woods near Lower Mountain Road on Tuesday to again come across a ruffed grouse that flushed from a snow cave and noted three more in the vicinity in bushes. It would seem the ruffed grouse community is doing well this winter.

Also Brian watched a red squirrel nipping the buds of a tamarack tree and chewing them like we would tackle a corncob. Buds

must have a real nutritional punch for the many species that use this resource in winter.

Rick and Paula Lansdale spotted a male pileated woodpecker at the back of their yard just outside Alma at the juncture of Rte.114 and the Forty-five Rd. It was demolishing the top of an aspen tree where a limb had broken off last fall. It’s the first one

they have seen in that area.

The annual Nature Moncton birdfeeder tour is scheduled to take place this coming Saturday, March 7. Participants are asked togather at the northwest corner of the Coliseum parking lot at 9 AM on Saturday morning and head out to Jean Renton’s very lively feeder yard for the first stop. Rumours have it do not have any breakfast before arriving at Jean’s as participants from past years know what haute cuisine often is around Jean’s kitchen. From Jean’s place the group will head out for other feeder yards and park areas to make whistle stops. No advance registration is necessary. Just meet at 9 AM at the Coliseum parking lot with binoculars, cameras, and a snack for later in the day.All are welcome

Nelson Poirier

NatureMoncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

ED SQUIRREL FORAGING TAMARACK BUDS.MARCH 3, 2015.BRIAN COYLE

Monday, 2 March 2015

March 2 2015

** Dave Christie points out another indication of BOBCATS [Lynx roux] possibly having problems getting sufficient food. Steve Marshall called him on Sunday to report that in mid-afternoon a Bobcat crossed Mary's Point Road near Harvey Corner, went through his field and disappeared into some woodland at the edge of the Shepody Marsh. He was surprised to see it in broad daylight. The deep, soft snow would be giving Bobcats a mobility challenge, and also last year’s young have recently been sent on their own by their mothers, to make it even more of a challenge for them.

** The annual Nature Moncton BIRD FEEDER TOUR is set to take place next Saturday, March 7. More details will come during the week. Plans that I am aware of at the moment, are to gather at the northwest corner of the Coliseum parking lot at 9 a.m. and to head out to Jean Renton’s very lively bird feeder yard for the first stop. Rumours have it not to have any breakfast before arriving at Jean’s, as participants from other years know that what haute cuisine often awaits in Jean’s kitchen.

** In follow-up on the wooded area that Brian Coyle and I explored on Saturday, Brian return there on Sunday, going deeper into the area. He spotted a COMMON RAVEN [Grand Corbeau] carrying a stick, along with doing its barrel-roll ritual, a great sign of days ahead. He also came across lots more COYOTE [Coyote] trails, and found one relatively fresh scat that indicated a recent meal of meat. Some long hairs in it suggested WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] as prey.

He also came across a group of alders and hawthorn shrubs that had a surprising number of RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] snow holes, more than we had seen the day before. The grouse population in that area must be having a very good winter. While we there on Saturday we came across some interesting feathers that we could not identify. Dave Christie felt they were RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] scapular feathers, and had a road-killed pheasant in his freezer to show it. We were surprised that a pheasant would be in that wooded section, in such deep snow with no tracks, but the feathers were there. It did not appear to be prey as only a small number of this type of feather were present.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

COYOTE SCAT.MARCH 1, 2015.BRIAN COYLE

RING-NECKED PHEASANT SCAPULAR FEATHERS.FEB 28, 2015.NELSON POIRIER (2)

RING-NECKED PHEASANT (ROADKILL) TO SHOW SCAPULAR FEATHERS.MARCH 1, 2015.DAVE CHRISTIE_

WOODPECKER EXCAVATIONS.MARCH 1, 2015.BRIAN COYLE

Sunday, 1 March 2015

March 1 2015

** Attila Fust has had a RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux] dropping by his Saint-Marie-de-Kent feeder yard intermittently for some time now. He got documentary photos on Saturday, and from reviewing the Sibley Guide he feels it most closely resembles an adult female in winter, non-breeding plumage. There have been a few reports of Rusty Blackbirds this winter.

** Anne Marsch had a pleasant visit of 5 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] to her Lower Coverdale yard on Saturday morning. They were foraging on Winterberry [Houx verticillé] fruit and drank from the heated bird waterer. On Friday, Anne had 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant], 3 males and a female, make a brief stop.

** Nancy Haney shares a photo of a NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL [Grand Polatouche] that struck the house window with a very loud thud. It nicely shows how the patagium, the loose skin that allows the squirrel to glide, is attached to the leg just behind the paw.

Paul LeBlanc also got some nice close-up photos of flying squirrels that come to his camp, every night that he is there, for peanut butter and sunflower seeds put out especially for them. They arrive just as dusk is complete. Note the large eyes, small ears and the broad tail in Paul’s photos.

** Brian Stone leaves some photos from the past few days, including a male HOUSE SPARROW [Moineau domestique] spotted along Main Street [Moncton]. Fortunately for our native species, this sparrow is low in numbers in the area.

Brian photographed the huge snow piles near the Via Rail station in Moncton, as several others were also doing on Saturday. The ducks are still very much waiting for handouts at Mapleton Park.

Brian also shares a link to a site that is issuing an alert that a display of northern lights that may occur from this weekend up to Tuesday.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/heads-up-canada-northern-lights-will-take-over-the-skies-this-weekend/46322/.

** Brian Coyle and I spent an afternoon snowshoeing a woodlot and woodland edge off Lower Mountain Road on Saturday. There were lots of signs of activity in the soft snow. Many RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] holes in the snow showed their exit and entrance routes. We were hoping to see some making dramatic exits, as Brian had seen a few days before. Some well-travelled COYOTE [Coyote] trails were noted, also weasel [belette] trails and grouse trails, but no sign of SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d'Amérique] or WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie].

A very interesting cedar bog is in the area, that needs to be explored for orchids in June. JACK PINE [Pin gris] seeds were noted in the snow at one location. A mystery, a two and a half foot mark in the snow that was not associated with any burrow and was fairly shallow. Any comments on that photo would be appreciated.

A mature RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] was spotted, effortlessly circling high over a field on thermals. It was very cold, but the brilliant seasonal sun was awesome.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca