Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 3 2016

** Judy and Sterling Marsh demonstrate how they have recycled their Christmas tree as a bird feeder. Judy has it adorned with popcorn and cranberry garlands, dried orange slices and dried rose hips collected from summer.

** Jeanette Petrie got a photo of a WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] feasting on a yard cedar tree, pretending to be incognito, until the next photo shows it in rapid retreat, having been caught in the act.

** Georges Brun reports that someone is feeding ducks behind the Shoppers Drug Mart across from Sears, on Champlain Street. A mix of MALLARDS [Canard colvert] and AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS [Canard noir] are coming there to check out the booty. The Mallards tend to stay near there and preen before going into the river, while the Black Ducks don’t stay as near. A BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] keeps them on watch closely.

Georges has a tail-less EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL [Écureuil gris] in his Churchill Street yard; it almost looks like a very different animal, without that big bushy tail.

** The Bouctouche area was certainly 'action central' on Saturday. The SNOWY OWL [Harfang des neiges] was still present at the Caissie Cape wharf, coming and going. I was quite surprised to see a KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir] around the wharf; it didn’t stay long enough for a photo.

The TUFTED TITMOUSE [Mésange bicolore] put on another great show at the feeders at Rue 67 Desroches in Bouctouche. A WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche] is also coming to that yard.

A lot of folks made tracks to Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc’s [in Buctouche] and no one left disappointed with the WHITE-WINGED DOVE [Tourterelle à ailes blanches], PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins] and female NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] all present. The Cardinal was very coy about being photographed, but a brief moment on an outer branch of a yard spruce tree gave that opportunity. The White-winged Dove was exceedingly cooperative. Note the white terminal band on the round-tipped tail and the white crescent on the wing, compared to the MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste].

It has been a great week for uncommon visitors. Gilles Bourque reports that Alain Clavette spotted a LARK SPARROW [Bruant à joues marron] on the Taylor Village Road. A second one has been present in Sussex Corner since Dec. 6.

A photo that Brian Stone got recently of a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche] in Ontario is attached. It would be similar to the one in Bouctouche.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton