Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 17 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Dec. 17, 2017 (Sunday)

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

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Peter Gadd reports that our famed visitor to Miramichi, the MISTLE THRUSH [Grive draine], arrived on cue Sunday morning, to again be ready for its audience of admirers, which it did for approximately 6 hours on Saturday. It is still showing its displeasure with EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet] and is now being heard making its rattling call. It does seem quite content with its new digs on this continent. Also Dorio shares a photo that he got of it on Friday. I wonder just how many photos have been captured of this gem? It has filled a lot of files.

** A SNOWY OWL [Harfang des neiges] was present at the Caissie Cape wharf on Saturday. Gary Dupuis got an excellent photo of it in flight. The Caissie Cape wharf and area was a very popular spot for a Snowy Owl last winter.

** Georges Brun got some photos of a juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard saint-martin] hunting the marsh just below Halls Creek on Friday. That bird was also found on Saturday, the Moncton Christmas Bird Count day.

** Ray Gauvin reports that BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] seem to be in abundance in the Pointe du Chêne and greater Shediac area. He watched a group of 8 eagles on the beach by the sharp turn at the end of the Pointe du Chêne Road. One adult was foraging on what appeared to be a gull carcass, accompanied by a juvenile, with six others around them. Ray got photos of some of the activity. He also noted some COMMON EIDERS [Eider à duvet] which were to the right side of the wharf and marina area.

** Louise and Maurice Richard were able to get their faithful again this winter NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, Marven, to arrive to be counted on Saturday (Moncton Christmas Bird Count).

** Lois Budd reports some highlights from the Salisbury Christmas Bird Count that took place on Saturday. She reports that they had large numbers of some species but others were no located. The highlights were RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux], WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL [Bec-croisé bifascié], NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge], BROWN CREEPER [Grimpereau brun], WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche], GRAY JAYS [Mésangeai du Canada], and RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux].

** Several groups patrolled roads, woods, and marshes on Saturday to do the annual Moncton Christmas Bird Count, under sunny skies with a cool nip to the air. With many people out, sometimes things pop up. The count had high numbers of CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada], of MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks, and BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche]. Gulls that got counted seemed down overall, except ICELAND GULLS [Goéland arctique], whose numbers were strong. A small group of three WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié] saved the day for that species to get recorded. A COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] was one of the first of that species to be counted in the Moncton count circle. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS [], one, possibly two, DICKCISSELS [], one NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [] and possibly more to come, as feeder reports come in. AMERICAN ROBINS spotted were refreshing, as was the excellent chicken fricot from president Susan’s kitchen, that was waiting for cold birders at end of the day.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton