Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 27 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, December 27, 2017 (Wednesday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
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**It was a great day for tracks in the snow on Boxing Day in areas where wind was not filling them in. Brian Coyle was snowshoeing in fields near his Lower Mountain Rd home and came up behind a doe and a fawn White-tailed Deer within 30 ft. due to a wind direction before they bounded away making lots of fresh tracks and their bedding area.

Brian also noted highbush cranberry still clinging to their vines waiting for winter fruit connoisseurs to carry their seeds elsewhere.

**Georges Brun leaves some observations from December 24 noting four male COMMON MERGANSERS at the mouth of Hall's Creek at the Petitcodiac River. This is the tomcod spawning time, I wonder if that was the attraction.

Georges also photographed the immature NORTHERN HARRIER hovering as it searched for a meal. The long tail and white rump of this species shows nicely. A MALLARD and BLACK DUCK group were waiting in anticipation for handouts behind the Mary Brown location near Champlain Place. A man was there sharing what appears to be black-oil sunflower seed, much to their liking.

**Aldo Dorio photographed COMMON GOLDENEYE at Burnt Church Tuesday. They appear in first year plumage.

**Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park at the Gorge Rd entrance on Tuesday. The large flocks of ducks predominately MALLARDS are back around the bridge to the right now that much of the stream has frozen over. Brian noted at least four hybrid mallard ducks most likely BLACK DUCK X MALLARD DUCK crosses. As the black x mallard hybrid is able to reproduce, plumages can very considerably.

**Pat and I stopped by the Falconer Rd near where it joins with the MacDougall Settlement Rd where Brian and Janet Kemptser had seen several RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. They are very much still there. Some appeared very dark, appearing as a male would in summer breeding plumage. There were several rusty blackbirds there showing a variety of winter plumage. An adult female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was also there. It was a surprise to see so many rusty blackbirds at one feeder location. Other neighbouring houses had feeders but only noted the blackbird troop at one feeder. Also nice to see SNOW BUNTINGS bouncing around the weeds of the snow.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton