Nature Moncton Nature News

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 09, 2018 ( 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 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)

** Alain Clavette leaves a message to watch closely for a potential Golden Eagle in the area between Daniel's Flats and Gray's Island in Albert County. On the Hillsborough/Memramcook Christmas Bird Count on December 27, Rick Elliot and Barb Curlew were suspicious that they had seen a Golden Eagle in the Daniel's Flats area but were hesitant to call it for certain. Alain Clavette was on the other side of the river and saw a bird from that vantage point, across from Gray's Island, that seemed to have features consistent with a Golden Eagle but was at a great distance and Alain was also hesitant to call it for certain. It is in light of these observations that Alain suggests that birders should monitor this area closely with a potential Golden Eagle in that area. This area has hosted Golden Eagles in the past.

** Doreen Rossiter leaves an account of activity around her Alma yard for the past while. No rare birds, but lots of birds. Regular are four WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche], two SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur], many, many DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien]. She comments that there are more than usual. Also the regular BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire], RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse], BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu], DOWNY WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] and HAIRY WOODPECKERS [Pic chevelu] are well represented. A PILEATED WOODPECKER [Grand pic] arrived to glean a high bush cranberry shrub just before Christmas.

Surprisingly, with that selection, there were only a few AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and two MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste]. A resident AMERICAN CROW [Corneille d'Amérique] has become so tame that it will sit on the deck in the morning and even circulate the lower perimeter windows to see where Doreen is and will vocalize for her to get going. When food is put out it calls and three other Crows come in to feed. The WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] are upsetting feeders, and a COYOTE [Coyote] roams right into the yard. There was a SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d’Amérique] that raised a family in the yard this past summer, so Doreen assumes that they, and the White-tailed Deer, may be what is getting the Coyote's interest.

** Danny Sullivan was in the Irishtown Nature Park on Monday looking at a flock of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] when he noticed a lone WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL [Bec-croisé bifascié] among them. We have lots of cones in the treetop cafe this year, but the White-winged Crossbills seem to be scarce so far this winter.

** Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park on Monday to find the bridge area to the right of the Gorge Rd. parking lot very alive with ducks that are very predominantly MALLARDS [Canard colvert], however noting that the Mallard/Black Duck hybrids seen last week are still there. One of the apparent hybrids I left labelled as duck hybrid only and am wondering if this may be a hybrid with some other species such as potentially American Wigeon. Comments would be appreciated.

Brian also got photos of the FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] that is a regular patron at Daryl Doucette's Briardale Court feeder yard that uses a bush at the back of his house that can be seen with optics from the side trail at Mapleton Park. Note the splayed fox-red splayed tail in one photo.Brian also took photos of a few GRAY SQUIRRELS [Ecureuil gris] that have Daryl very well trained.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton