Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 26 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 26, 2018 (Monday)

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Editor: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

Joel Daigle and Caroline Arsenault did a late day run up to the Tantramar Marsh on Sunday but still got a few good sightings. Some critters were roaming in the fields: two RACCOONS were seen crossing Folkins Drive heading out in a corn stubble field; it turned out to be three of them! Then a skunk was scurrying about in a field in behind the red Prescott barn. There was a small flock of HORNED LARKS by a manure pile off the Anderson Marsh Road and RING-NECKED PHEASANTS here and there. But the highlight of their visit was spotting a SNOWY OWL flying and landing in a birch tree, on the Anderson Marsh Road. They lost sight of it while getting the car turned around but were lucky in relocating it on a telephone pole on Folkins Drive, to get a few photos of the owl in the quickly fading light.

Late day visits may go by all too fast but it seems to be when wildlife readies for the night shift.

On Saturday morning- about 10 am – David Myles was at Mcdonald’s in Nashwaaksis and there are trees and shrubs behind the restaurant. He spotted a bird that looked like an odd robin in the bushes eating fruit. He went out and discovered a Fieldfare feeding on the fruit and it was very approachable as it flitted around the various trees and bushes. As he watched it was joined by a Cedar Waxwing also feeding on the fruit. Dave comments it has been sometime since he has seen a Fieldfare.

It can sure pay off to scrutinize every bird in a group in a berry/fruit tree or shrub!

Great to hear about more redpolls. COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] Elaine Gallant spotted a flockof 50+ near her Parlee Beach home. They did not come to her feeder yard but the welcoming buffet is set. She is also seeing a GREAT BLUE HERON [Grand Héron] which is hanging around as the ice closes in. It seems to fish under the walking bridge at South Cove.

A second reported CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] has found the “fall of the sparrow”. Barb Curlew reports they have a CHIPPING SPARROW joining their well-rounded sparrow troop on Sunday. The winter Chipping Sparrow is one that is easily overlooked.

Shawn Cormier got some nice photos of a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] in Moncton on Sunday in the Jones Lake area, which may be the same bird that has been around the home of Louise and Maurice Richard bordering the north side of Jones Lake. A few years ago there seemed to be several in the West End area. The number seems to have decreased in recent years.

Brian Coyle got some excellent video footage of a WEASEL [belette] that is outside his Lower Mountain Road home window. Brian got it with a fresh mouse catch and a second video with a RED SQUIRREL [Écureuil rouge] playing a very dangerous game with the weasel.

Note the dark brown line along the weasel’s back, a remnant of summer pelage which presumably will disappear very soon. Take a look at the attached links:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/03hwe05ru90z7w3/DSCN3664.MP4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qrp5xv6abw95jc6/DSCN3663.MP4?dl=0

It was our turn for EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] on Monday morning with six of these beautiful birds arriving, so it looks like they will indeed come to completely urban feeder yards. Like so many others are experiencing, what a treat. Expect they will tell their friends to look forward to regular patrons and a happy landlord.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton