Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 26 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October 26, 2017 ( Thursday )

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

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** The Nature Moncton Information Line and Blogspot will not be issued from October 29 to November 11 as I will be away from email and wi-fi for most of that time period. All is expected to be back to normal as of November 12 or 13. All observations anyone wishes to report will be compiled and sent out then. Don't get anything too good while I am gone!

** Always nice to hear of a NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] coming to a feeder yard in the Moncton Area. Daryl Doucet has had a female arrive to his birdfeeder yard on a street just off Frampton Lane, near the Gorge Rd., on Wednesday.

** We are getting close to November, and it is great to still be hearing of a diversity of shorebirds. Louise Nichols did her shorebird survey site at Anne's Acres near Cape Tormentine on Wednesday to tally seven species to include GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier], BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER [Pluvier argenté], DUNLIN [Bécasseau variable], SANDERLING [Bécasseau sanderling], SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé], SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau semipalmé] and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à croupion blanc]. Dunlins and Sanderlings were the most numerous as expected at this time of year with only one Semipalmated Sandpiper. White-rumped Sandpipers often stay late as well, but only two were present at this site on Wednesday.

** Paul Langelaan and Bill Winsor were on the Taylor Rd. near Salisbury on Wednesday to spot a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] perched on a branch. Nice to hear of some of them coming to join us for the winter.

** David Christie checked out the Shepody area for the CRESTED CARACARA [Caracara du nord] on Wednesday to find it on the marsh road that runs off route 114 between civic number 5133 and 5141. It flew along over the cattle there and some pasture land and then returned to the area of the old sawmill. On a check of the Mary's Point beach before high tide on Wednesday David noted five SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé]. On Lars Larsen Marsh he noted four HOODED MERGANSERS [Harle couronné] that he had not noticed there in recent weeks.

** Jean Renton reports that she has found one Bear’s Head Mushroom which seems smaller than she usually finds and also that she woke up on Thursday morning to find Shaggy Mane Mushrooms that will serve as a breakfast side dish.

** Dale Gaskin reports that when driving on Pine Glen Rd. early Thursday morning there were a number frogs out on the roadway, obviously quite happy with the rain today. Dale also reports that his large Mountain Ash tree is nearly stripped of berries from a large onslaught of AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] and a few EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet].

** Jean Paul Leblanc walked the Irving Nature Trail by the Irving Arboretum and along the Black River in Bouctouche this week. He noted cavities in trees appearing to be Aspen that were grapefruit sized. In one of his photos feathers can be seen. The size suggests that a larger bird such as Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser or Pileated Woodpecker could be possibilities. He also photographed a male HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné] that was successful in catching a flounder (fish) in the Black River. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne dorée] were also along that trail.

** Brian Stone and Janet Kempster continued their mission on Wednesday to sleuth the area from Shediac to Saint Thomas. They were able to locate the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE [Oie rieuse], still with Canada Geese in Shediac near the big lobster. Another nice find was a BRANT [Bernache cravant] goose, seemingly content traveling with CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada] at Saint Thomas. Brian got some nice photos to compare these two geese side by side, on the water and in flight, to show the smaller size, shorter neck and much smaller white neck patch of the Brant.

Brian also got some photos of two different RED-THROATED LOONS [Plongeon catmarin], one that still shows strong remnants of breeding plumage and the other in basic winter plumage. This is the only Fall window we will get to see the occasional Red-throated Loon still showing some breeding plumage.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton