Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 7 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 7, 2019 (Monday)

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Editor: Nelson Poirier

Transcript by: David Christie

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

** Jamie Burris had a hawk appear in his Riverview feeder yard on Sunday. At first, he thought it was the SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] that has been around but this one seemed obviously larger, which made him realize that it was a COOPER’S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper]. A Cooper’s Hawk at first glance can be easily confused with a large female Sharp-shinned Hawk. Jamie’s good photos show the heavier set legs, the rounded tail apex with the middle tail feathers longer than the side ones, a flat head and a pale nape (between the crown and the neck area), all Cooper’s Hawk features. It would seem that we may have more Cooper’s Hawks in the area than we realize. These hawks are hard to get to cooperate for good photos, to be sure of identity. Gilles Belliveau also points out that the eye is orange and not yet the red of an adult, that can take a few years to become completely red. The horizontal breast striping does indicate an adult bird.

** Georges Brun has been observing buds of deciduous trees and is noting that some are changing their colour over the past weeks. Some of the willows [saules] have been breaking through the bud scales to show the white insulation layer over the central area. This is not blooming but the thoughts of what’s ahead are there.

The AMERICAN CROW [Corneille d’Amérique] activity on the Riverview Marsh continues, and Georges did get a photo of a Crow harassing a raptor. It’s difficult to be certain on the raptor’s identification; size and wingspan may suggest a SHORT-EARED OWL [Hibou des marais], but a RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] or ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK [Buse pattue] cannot be ruled out.

** Jean-Paul LeBlanc got a nice photo of a HAIRY WOODPECKER [Pic chevelu] and a DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur] for an excellent side by side comparison to show the size differential. Think of the Hairy Woodpecker as the Harley and the Downy as a scooter.

** Daryl Doucet had a visit from a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] in his Moncton yard on Sunday. It seemed to be most interested in his BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE [Mésange à tête noire] patrons.

** Suzanne Rousseau shares photos of a quite majestic buck WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] that is coming to their Sussex yard for the past few days. Its antlers are still very much intact, but should be dropping off very soon.

** The texture of the snow on Sunday had the potential to form what are referred to as snow rollers. Brian Stone noted what appeared to be a potential snow-roller forming at Mapleton Park. He also noted a large nest, comparing it to volleyball size and wondering what would make a grass nest that large would be. Any suggestions are welcome.

The MALLARD [Canard colvert] troupe is becoming quite impatient when anyone arrives to visit them without a food handout. Brian had them coming up, trying to nibble at his fingers.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton