NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Dec. 31, 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)
** Gary Dupuis visited the Tantramar Marsh on Saturday to again see
SHORT-EARED OWLS [Hibou des marais], as Caroline Arsenault and Joel Daigle did
on Friday. Gary saw them at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. He got a nice flight photo.
It is interesting to note that these owls are being seen during the day. Is it
that the food supply is lower than normal to make them hunt during the day? Does
it have something to do with the very cold nights, or some other reason? Is it
more normal for Short-eared Owls to day-hunt in winter? There is lots of
darkness for them at this time of year. Possibly only the owls know the real
reason.
** Fred and Lynn Dubé also had an excellent day on the Tantramar Marsh on
Saturday. They were successful in locating the GOLDEN EAGLE [Aigle royal],
getting very close views of it perched on one of the metal poles near the former
CBC buildings. They also saw 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue], one RED-TAILED
HAWK [Buse à queue rousse], an adult and an immature BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête
blanche], four quite large flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges],
good numbers of HORNED LARKS [Alouette hausse-col], and at least one LAPLAND
LONGSPUR [Plectrophane lapon].
The expected large numbers of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de
Colchide] were seen and Fred comments that there seem to be more of the
dark-plumaged birds than they usually see.
On Friday they were up on the Shediac to Cocagne coast to see the
LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi], COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet], BARROW’S
[Garrot d'Islande] and COMMON GOLDENEYES [Garrot à oeil d'or] that are
concentrating in the decreased open water areas, and also saw a PURPLE SANDPIPER
[Bécasseau violet] that Stu Tingley had reported. I’m not sure of the location
of that bird. [Transcriber’s note: Stuart had reported it at Caissie Cape wharf
on Dec. 29.]
** The vast majority of our SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] are enjoying
the warm south but a few always decide to stay for the winter. Mac Wilmot
photographed one at his feeder area in Lower Coverdale on Saturday, seemingly a
bit unamused with the freezing temperatures.
** John Foster’s FIELD SPARROW [Bruant des champs] is continuing to be a
faithful patron. He was able to get a photo out of the window on Saturday that
nicely shows the signature pink bill, eye-ring and two wing bars, plus the clean
unspotted and unstreaked breast.
** Audrey Goguen had a male NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] land briefly
on a dusk-to-dawn light that they have on their deck on North Street. It didn’t
stay long, but we know there’s one in the area during these cold days.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
FIELD SPARROW. DEC 30, 2017.JOHN FOSTER
SHORT-EARED OWL.DEC 30, 2017.GARY DUPUIS
SONG SPARROW. DEC 30, 2017.MAC WILMOT
SONG SPARROW. DEC 30, 2017.MAC WILMOT
