Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 10 2018

Nature Moncton Information Line…….. February 10 (Saturday)

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

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Friday was a very interesting day at CLAY-COLORED SPARROW [Bruant des plaines] headquarters in Memramcook. Yolande LeBlanc got several photographs from different angles of a Clay-colored Sparrow that was visiting her feeder yard. A group of birders was in the area, and after seeing it at Yolande’s 251 Central Street location, they went immediately to Jules Cormier’s location a short bird-flight away, across from 595 Central Street, to find a second one there. To be sure, they went back to Yolande’s to find the other bird still there, to prove there are indeed two Clay-colored Sparrows in Memramcook. From the photos of the two birds, it would appear the one at Yolande’s on Friday is a bit darker overall, to note a slight difference in the two birds. I don’t recall having two Clay-colored Sparrows so close to one another in winter in New Brunswick before, but stand to be corrected. They have been seen in the fall with more than one travelling together, but this winter scenario is much more uncommon. It is suspected that these birds have been present for some time, going undetected due to their similarity to the winter CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier]. It could be suspected that they will be present in Memramcook for most of the winter, unless preyed upon.

Ghislain and Jules Cormier advise the Clay-colored Sparrow there is often on the house side of the Hydrangea bush. They have noted that when it leaves its favourite location it often goes to the JAPANESE KNOTWEED [Renouée du Japon] that is behind the pond easily seen from the boardwalk at the turn in the boardwalk. There has also been a flock of a dozen-plus CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique]. All the Sparrows seem to hide out in the Knotweed stand behind the pond when not in the yard. The Cormiers are located in Memramcook right across from 595 Central Street. The boardwalk is easily accessed from the Irving station or the carwash parking lot.

**Danny Sullivan spotted a FOX [Renard] both snoozing and travelling in the same area where Foxes have been observed last year, at the back of the Royal Oaks subdivision. In one photo it looks like it has one eye open to keep a close eye on the photographer. It may have watched us last Saturday as we explored a Fox trail across the road during the tracks workshop! Danny also photographed a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] on a utility pole at the juncture of Elmwood Drive and the Trans-Canada Highway, as it watched all the construction going on there.

**Don Hayston, Brian Stone’s neighbour, found a Butterfly flying about his home on Friday. It turned out to be a CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY [Piéride du chou]. An unexpected time to see a Cabbage White Butterfly flying about, but I suspect this one came into the home on some plant and went into its pupal stage, to emerge early as an adult in the nice springtime temperatures of a home environment. This is probably the first Butterfly report of 2018, even though not under normal outdoor conditions.

**Brian Stone spotted a RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] flying over his Mountain Road home on Friday, to get a very rapid distant photo. Even though it’s a documentary photo, the patagial bar, that dark bar next to the body of the leading edge of the underwing, tends to clinch an identification of Red-tailed Hawk, mature or immature. Of course, while outside, Brian could not miss a SOLAR HALO [Halo solaire].

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier