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Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Saturday, 18 February 2017

Feb 18 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – February 18, 2017 (Saturday)
 

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

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Catherine Clements
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca


**Marlene Hickman had a nice surprise to her Dorchester feeder yard on Friday with the appearance of a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à epaulettes]. This was assumed to be an overwintering bird, as it would be very early for a new southern arrival. But this time next month could be possible for the advance guard of usually adult male Red-winged Blackbirds to start arriving. Marlene’s NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] that had not visited for several days made a return visit, as did a dark-variant RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide]. Marlene captured photos.

**Brian Stone paid a visit to the area near the Gorge Road entrance of Mapleton Park on Friday to check out ahead for a visit for the feeder tour today. Unfortunately, it was not ploughed out yet, so a wade through the snow produced some scenarios of rather hungry Ducks: a BLACK x MALLARD DUCK hybrid [hybride Canard noir x Canard colvert], the leucistic female Mallard that has been overwintering there, and an overwintering female NORTHERN PINTAIL [Canard pilet]. He also got a nice shot of a MUSKRAT [Rat musqué], nicely showing that vertically-flattened whip tail, so effective as a rudder. Note the smaller size of the Northern Pintail Duck compared to the Mallard Ducks around it.

Brian also photographed a POLAR BEAR [Ours polaire] rubbing against a tree in the park; I’ll leave the readership to decide the validity of this report, after viewing the photo!!



Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
DUCKS. FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE

MALLARD DUCK ( LEUCISTIC FEMALE ). FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE

MALLARD-BLACK DUCK HYBRID . FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE

MUSKRAT. FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN PINTAIL (FRONT BIRD). FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE

POLAR BEAR. FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE).FEB 17, 2017.MARLENE HICKMAN

RING-NECKED PHEASANT (DARK VARIANT) AND NORTHERN FLICKER.FEB 17, 2017.MARLENE HICKMAN

Friday, 17 February 2017

Feb 17, 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 17, 2017 (Friday)
 
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca   Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.
 
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com
 
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
 
 
**  Mother Nature has surely been thoughtful to make for a pleasant day to be outside tomorrow for Saturday’s Nature Moncton FEEDER TOUR. The day will start with a country style breakfast, courtesy of Jean and Billy Renton, and end in the afternoon with more tidbits at Pat Poirier’s. The itinerary and contact numbers are attached. Be prepared for lots of photos in Sunday’s edition.
 
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017.
The time for Nature Moncton’s Winter Bird Feeder Tour is fast approaching.
This now annual winter outing has been organised by the Nature Moncton Activities Committee members and we hope to see a good turnout this year.

I want to thank the members who have allowed us to come to view the birds visiting their feeders.
Special thanks to two members who will be welcoming us into their homes as well. The first stop on the tour will be at the Renton’s home as they have once again graciously invited us to watch the variety of birds visiting their many feeders while enjoying some warm breakfast refreshments. The tour will end at Pat & Nelson Poirier’s where we will be able to see first hand Nelson’s great ideas for bird feeding stations.
Remember: Come prepared with a supply of water, your binoculars, camera etc. You will need to wear warm layers of clothing and boots as we will be out most of the morning.

General schedule:
  1. 8:45 am: Meet at Coliseum parking lot to organise car pooling.
  2. 9:00 am: Leave promptly to drive to the Renton's on 1460 Gorge Rd., Stilesville
  3. 11:00 Mapleton Park: Gorge Rd entrance
  4. 11:30 pm: Bob Blake who lives in Second North River
  5. 12:30 pm:  Connie Colpitt’s 23 Highland Dr. Salisbury.
  6. 1:30 pm: Nelson & Pat Poirier on 85 Mount Royal Ave., Moncton

A printout of the final itinerary with directions will be available when we meet at the Coliseum parking lot.
The contact cell phone numbers are: 506-381-3284 or 506-866-2752.

 **  Many members of Nature Moncton’s community are suddenly having to adapt to a great depth of snow. Matt Wilmot watched a pair of MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks trying to put their webbed feet to work as snowshoes in his Lower Coverdale yard on Thursday. They got their snack but their feet did not seem to work as snowshoes as well as they had appeared to hope.
 
**  “Sky at a Glance” is added to this edition courtesy of Curt Nason. This week with more clear skies predicted for “Naturalists of the Night” to check out Curt’s commentary.
 
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 18 – February 25

Sometimes inspiration just doesn’t show up when I am trying to write. Rather than just copy and paste something from last winter I will relate some astronomical memories from my youth, when the stars were much closer and the snow was radioactive.

Orion and I became friends when I was about nine. I was reading astronomy books from the library at the time and constellation pictures from old star maps really captured my imagination. They remain imprinted, especially one of Orion threatening Taurus the Bull with his upraised club. Orion accompanied me on the mile-long walk home (yes, only about a mile, and uphill only near the end) from the outdoor rink, my overshoes squeaking and scrunching over the hard-packed snow of the sidewalk as I steered a hockey stick ahead of me. And I am sure he cheered each time I drilled a sponge ball past the invisible goalie tending the snowbank, leading the Leafs to yet another Stanley Cup. Perhaps it’s my fault they have faltered since I outgrew that.

The bedroom which I shared with two older brothers had a northwest-facing window, and on early winter evenings a bright star sparkled through the ice that formed on the glass inside. That must have been the star Vega. I recall attempting to melt the ice on another window with my thumb to catch sight of a lunar eclipse. I remember another lunar eclipse; of the setting Moon through the kitchen window before heading off to school. One winter, walking home from school in early twilight, Venus was in full bloom as the evening star. Occasionally the northern lights would dance, but only in black and white like our television. I never saw them in colour until much later in life.

Inspiration did come, from long ago.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:17 am and sunset will occur at 5:50 pm, giving 10 hours, 33 minutes of daylight (7:20 am and 5:56 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:05 am and set at 6:00 pm, giving 10 hours, 55 minutes of daylight (7:09 am and 6:06 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is at third quarter on Saturday, rising at 1 am and setting at 11 am. Venus continues its brilliance in the early evening sky as it edges westward from orange Mars, setting half an hour sooner late in the week. Jupiter rises around 10 pm but is still well placed for morning observing. Saturn crosses the constellation border from Ophiuchus into Sagittarius this week. You still have a week to catch the dim pyramid of zodiacal light along the western ecliptic an hour after sunset. You will need a clear sky with no light pollution to see sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust.

The Saint John Naturalists’ Club meeting has been weather-bombed to this Monday, February 20, at 7 pm at the NB Museum in Market Square. It includes a presentation on the comet / asteroid impact that eventually wiped out the dinosaurs and most other forms of life, and the search for the crater it left as a souvenir. All are welcome and free to attend.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at
nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
 
 
 
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton
MALLARD DUCKS SNOWSHOEING.FEB 16, 2017.MAC WILMOT

My Friend Orion

Thursday, 16 February 2017

Feb 16 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 16, 2017 ( Thursday )
 

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca . Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

 For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at
www.naturemoncton.com .
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

 
** Brian Coyle made a snowshoe trek across an open field area off Upper Mountain Road on Wednesday to find lots of evidence of a COYOTE [Coyote] action where he had seen one a few days earlier but was now in much deeper snow. He noted it was urine marking to create scent posts approximately every fifty feet. The Coyotes are in mating mode at the moment and this is presumably a male. He also noted where it was digging down to the ground for prey.
Brian also comments that the SNOWSHOE HARES [Lièvre d’Amérique] appear to be very much enjoying the high snow levels, being able to reach lots of birch tree twigs to forage on. Brian also heard a RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] vocalize which is the second time he has heard it do so as it flew from the top of a tree.
** Jules Cormier leaves a report from his Memramcook feeder yard and area. He comments that this winter so far has been slow at his feeder area but things changed after the storm. Tuesday brought three new first timers for this winter being SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges], an AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux]. The Red-bellied Woodpecker did not seem to stay long, but this now makes eight out of eleven winters that a Red-bellied Woodpecker has visited Jules’ feeder yard.
Jules also has a regular WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche], twenty to twenty five AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien], five overwintering SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] and lots of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune]. Jules comments that Blue Jays have been very scarce this winter. An adult BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] makes a daily pass by his home approximately three quarters of an hour before sunset heading to a wooded area.

 Jules had a surprise encounter with a
PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] chasing a flock of Starlings in Jolicure recently when the target Starling flew underneath his car to make good its escape!
** Marlene Hickman has had a RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] around her Dorchester feeder yard several times. It was perched atop a bush pile next to the birdfeeder tree approximately fifty feet from her window on Wednesday to cooperate for a nice photo.
** Anna Tucker shares a few photos she took on February 12th, 2016 at the Sackville Waterfowl Park to show that there was lots of snow there then, but suspect that there is a lot more there this year with recent storms.
 
 
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
COYOTE FORAGING.FEB 15, 2017.BRIAN COYLE

COYOTE TRAIL URINE MARKING.FEB 15, 2017.BRIAN COYLE

COYOTE TRAIL.FEB 15, 2017.BRIAN COYLE

RED-TAILED HAWK.FEB 15, 2017.MARLENE HICKMAN
SACKVILLE WATERFOWL PARK.FEB 12, 2016.ANNA TUCKER 

SACKVILLE WATERFOWL PARK.FEB 12, 2016.ANNA TUCKER 

SNOWSHOE HARE EVIDENCE OF FORAGING ON TWIGS.FEB 15, 2017.BRIAN COYLE

Wednesday, 15 February 2017

Feb 15 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 15, 2017 ( Wednesday )
 
To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca
 
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca . Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

 For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at
www.naturemoncton.com .

 
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

 
** Jamie Burris had a nice, plump AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] come by his Riverview yard for a Valentines day treat on Tuesday. I also had one coming by the last few days to get drinks of water but it is ignoring the fruit trays of Mountain Ash berries and apples.

Also Audrey Goguen on Northview St. in Moncton had two
AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] join the flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal]that has started coming to harvest a yard flowering crab tree's clinging fruit. The Bohemian Waxwing flock is now up to sixty. That makes for three feeder yards now reporting Robins on Tuesday. Maybe it is an early trend of overwintering flocks moving to new food sources.

** Kevin Renton left a list of almost every winter bird species that arrived to their Stilesville feeder yard on Tuesday after the storm that included a FIELD SPARROW [Bruant des champs] that has been a regular patron for some time. This is all welcome news for the Nature Moncton Birdfeeder Tour scheduled for this coming Saturday ( Feb. 18 ) that is conveniently going to start with a visit to the Renton's. The write up is added below.
 
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017.
The time for Nature Moncton’s Winter Bird Feeder Tour is fast approaching.
This now annual winter outing has been organised by the Nature Moncton Activities Committee members and we hope to see a good turnout this year.

I want to thank the members who have allowed us to come to view the birds visiting their feeders.
Special thanks to two members who will be welcoming us into their homes as well. The first stop on the tour will be at the Renton’s home as they have once again graciously invited us to watch the variety of birds visiting their many feeders while enjoying some warm breakfast refreshments. The tour will end at Pat & Nelson Poirier’s where we will be able to see first hand Nelson’s great ideas for bird feeding stations.
Remember: Come prepared with a supply of water, your binoculars, camera etc. You will need to wear warm layers of clothing and boots as we will be out most of the morning.

General schedule:
  1. 8:45 am: Meet at Coliseum parking lot to organise car pooling.
  2. 9:00 am: Leave promptly to drive to the Renton's on 1460 Gorge Rd., Stilesville
  3. 11:00 Mapleton Park: Gorge Rd entrance
  4. 11:30 pm: Bob Blake who lives in Second North River
  5. 12:30 pm:  Connie Colpitt’s 23 Highland Dr. Salisbury.
  6. 1:30 pm: Nelson & Pat Poirier on 85 Mount Royal Ave., Moncton

A printout of the final itinerary with directions will be available when we meet at the Coliseum parking lot.
The contact cell phone numbers are: 506-381-3284 or 506-866-2752.

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
AMERICAN ROBIN FEB 14 2014. JAMIE BURRIS

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Feb 14 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - February 14, 2017 (Tuesday)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com
Edited by : Nelson Poirier  nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by : Louise Richard richlou@nbnet.nb.ca
Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
A very pleasant Valentines Day photo has anonymously appeared to make a smile for the day!
** David and Elizabeth Eagles had a RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] visit them in their urban yard in Centennial Park sub-division on Monday during the storm.  They have never seen one there before but probably it paid a visit from the forested area of Centennial Park, and enjoyed snacking on the buds of the shrub beside it in their photo.
** Marlene Hickman had a lone SNOW BUNTING [Bruant des neiges] come by their yard in the storm for what it could find.  With Monday’s snow cover, there may be lots of Snow Buntings very happy to find well-stocked feeder yards.  Today could be an interesting day at feeder yards !
** Janet Kempster found a male KING EIDER [Eider à tête grise] among a flock of COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] when crossing the Deer Island ferry on Saturday.  Janet said she simply took photos of the flocks from the ferry as it was travelling, and sure enough, a male King Eider popped up in a documentary photo when she looked back at the photos on the computer.  A cropped and uncropped version is attached. Three of us tried this tactic a week ago, but it didn’t work for us, but it did for Janet :)
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

KING EIDER (MALE) ON RIGHT.FEB 11, 2017.JANET KEMPSTER

KING EIDER (MALE) WITH COMMON EIDER.FEB 11, 2017.JANET KEMPSTER

RUFFED GROUSE.FEB 13, 2017.DAVID AND ELIZABETH  EAGLES

Monday, 13 February 2017

Feb 13 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 13, 2017 (Monday)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca   Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.
 
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com
 
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
 
 
**  Louise Nichols visited the Tantramar Marsh on Saturday and was fortunate again to see and photograph the GOLDEN EAGLE [Aigle royal] on a power structure on the north side of the High Marsh Road. Louise also got some interesting photos of RED-TAILED HAWKS [Buse à queue rousse]. Note one photo shows lightening of the banded tail which also has a reddish blush that suggests it may be a juvenile with moult in progress to adult plumage, yet the eye is still yellow. In another photo, one of the two Red-tailed Hawks  appears to be mantling, as one would do protecting prey. No prey is evident but may be hidden in the dead grass. This open wing image also beautifully shows the patagial line, that dark band on the front border of the wing, near the body, specific to the Red-tailed Hawk. As well, the more modest carpal wrist patch in comparison to the larger, hockey-puck style patch on a Rough-legged Hawk.
 
**  Marlene Hickman was surprised to spot an AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] ground-feeding under her Dorchester feeders on Sunday morning. She put out cranberries and hawthorn berries for it. Robins in winter enjoy blueberries, globe grapes, and apples as well. There seem to be more Robins reported the past days. Some may have been in the area all winter but some be moving in from other areas they have cleaned of winter fruit. It certainly seems too early for migrants.
 
**  Brian Stone and I visited the Tantramar Marsh on Sunday afternoon, along with lots of others enjoying the raptor action there. RED-TAILED HAWKS [Buse à queue rousse] and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue] were lively, as many saw. Three SNOWY OWLS [Harfang des neiges] were spotted late in the day, all at some distance, as drifting drifting snow had blocked part of the Coles Island Road. I expect that the current storm will close it.
 
As Brian often does, he photographed a solar halo from the marsh. A quartet of WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] were spotted eating apples beside a farmhouse in Belliveau Village.
 
**  One correction to yesterday’s edition. The Nature Moncton bird feeder tour this coming Saturday will also include a stop at Connie and Pearl Colpitts feeder yard in Salisbury. The complete itinerary will be aired later in the week.
 
 
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton
GOLDEN EAGLE. LOUISE NICHOLS. FEB. 11, 2017

RED-TAILED HAWK (JUVENILE). FEB. 12, 2017. BRIAN STONE

RED-TAILED HAWK.  LOUISE NICHOLS. FEB. 11, 2017

RED-TAILED HAWKS.  LOUISE NICHOLS. FEB. 11, 2017

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. LOUISE NICHOLS. FEB. 11, 2017


ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. FEB. 12, 2017. BRIAN STONE

SNOWY OWL . FEB. 12, 2017. BRIAN STONE

SNOWY OWL . FEB. 12, 2017. BRIAN STONE

SOLAR HALO (22 DEGREE). FEB. 12, 2017. BRIAN STONE

WHITE-TAILED DEER. FEB. 12, 2017. BRIAN STONE

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Feb 12 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 12, 2017 (Sunday)


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

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at
www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

 ** Jamie Burris reports that things seem to be unexpectedly quiet around his Riverview feeder yard, but was pleased to have a BOHEMIAN WAXWING [Jaseur boréal] come by on Saturday morning to check out the Mountain Ash shrub.  Hopefully, it was just a scout that will bring back the rest of its kin for a visit – and a second one did arrive later in the day.

** As a heads-up, the Nature Moncton bird feeder tour is scheduled for next Saturday, February 18th , with the now becoming traditional start at Billy and Jean Renton’s with a country breakfast waiting to fuel the start of the day of shorter stops to end up at Pat Poirier’s in the afternoon for additional fuel.  The write-up is added, but itinerary in between the first and last stops may change.  Note contact phone numbers to join the group at any time.

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017.
The time for Nature Moncton’s Winter Bird Feeder Tour is fast approaching.
This now annual winter outing has been organised by the Nature Moncton Activities Committee members and we hope to see a good turnout this year.

I want to thank the members who have allowed us to come to view the birds visiting their feeders.
Special thanks to two members who will be welcoming us into their homes as well. The first stop on the tour will be at the Renton’s home as they have once again graciously invited us to watch the variety of birds visiting their many feeders while enjoying some warm breakfast refreshments. The tour will end at Pat & Nelson Poirier’s where we will be able to see first hand Nelson’s great ideas for bird feeding stations.
Remember: Come prepared with a supply of water, your binoculars, camera etc. You will need to wear warm layers of clothing and boots as we will be out most of the morning.

General schedule:
  1. 8:45 am: Meet at Coliseum parking lot to organise car pooling.
  2. 9:00 am: Leave promptly to drive to the Renton's on 1460 Gorge Rd., Stilesville
  3. 11:00 Mapleton Park: Gorge Rd entrance
  4. 11:30 pm: Bob Blake who lives in Second North River

  5. 1:30 pm: Nelson & Pat Poirier on 85 Mount Royal Blvd., Moncton

A printout of the final itinerary with directions will be available when we meet at the Coliseum parking lot.
The contact cell phone numbers are: 506-381-3284 or 506-866-2752.

  
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton
BOHEMIAN WAXWING FEB 11 2017 JAMIE BURRIS

BOHEMIAN WAXWING FEB 11 2017 JAMIE BURRIS