Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Tuesday 12 November 2019

Nov 12 2019


NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE,  November 12, 2019 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: david.cannon@rogers.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)


**  The 2 FIELD SPARROWS [Bruant des champs]  John Inman had drop by his 225 Mary’s Point Road feeder yard on Sunday, returned on Monday, so hopefully they will find it comfortable enough to tarry there for a time. John’s photo nicely shows the pink bill, pink legs, white eye ring and the two white wing bars of this sparrow species. John also had AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] join his yard troupe three days ago.

** Hay Island brought another special day to Peter and Deana Gadd. Present among the shorebirds was a PURPLE SANDPIPER [Bécasseau violet]. This is often not an easy sandpiper to get to see, even though it stays with us all winter. This is actually their second encounter with Purple Sandpipers this year, also seeing some at Escuminac Point earlier. Peter got a great photo of the Purple Sandpiper, and as well he got a special photo with some DUNLIN [Bécasseau variable] and SANDERLINGS [Bécasseau sanderling] beside the Purple Sandpiper.  Peter and Deana went around the northern tip of the island, which is a recommended route when visiting the island. The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE [Oie rieuse] was not seen, so we assume it has moved on.

**   There has been a lot of comment about the lack of sparrows and other bird species this fall. In contrast, Louse Nichols reports that things seem to be normal around her Etter Ridge home. Louise comments “For what it’s worth, she had a noticeable movement of sparrows, especially WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] on her property a month ago, in mid-October. Occasionally she could hear the juveniles trying out their songs. She hasn’t seen any DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] yet, while last year she remembered there were quite a few around her yard in the early fall. She has been seeing lots of AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] on almost a daily basis; a flock of about 40 were around Sunday morning. A couple of mornings ago, (she) saw a mixed flock of Robins, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes] and COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé] in the front yard.”

   At my own feeder yard, all are coming that are to be expected at this time of year, except sparrows, which usually are present.

**   Brian Stone dropped by Mapleton Park on Saturday. He reports it was fairly quiet, but his camera still found lots of interesting subjects. The ponds had a skim of ice, but the MALLARD DUCKS [Canard colvert] were busy ice-breaking. Oddly enough, a night crawler (earthworm) was seen on the surface, which is not usual except as a result of rain. Icicles were forming and the MOUNTAIN ASH clusters had a white cap, looking like dessert. He had a 100+ EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet] foraging on his lawn. A lot of these snow scenes will likely be a memory after the 11C temperatures, rain and wind in the Moncton area today. 

** Pat and I dropped by Gray Brook Marsh Pond Monday; there was a group of approximately 40 AMERICAN WIGEONS [Canard d'Amérique] actively feeding on the far side of the pond. The male EURASIAN WIGEON [Canard siffleur], that Gordon Rattray had spotted there several days ago, continues to be with the group. A lone female HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné] was near the group, but again on the far side of the pond.


Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton






FIELD SPARROWS.NOV 10, 2019. JOHN INMAN

PURPLE SANDPIPER. NOV 11, 2019. PETER GADD

PURPLE SANDPIPER, DUNLINS, AND SANDERLINGS. NOV 11, 2019. PETER GADD

SANDERLINGS. NOV 11, 2019. PETER GADD

DUNLIN. NOV 11, 2019. PETER GADD

EURASIAN WIGEON (MALE) WITH AMERICAN WIGEON. NOV 11, 2019. NELSON POIRIER

HOODED MERGANSER (FEMALE). NOV 11, 2019. NELSON POIRIER

MOUNTAIN ASH BERRIES. NOV. 09, 2019.. BRIAN STONE

MAPLETON PARK POND. NOV. 09, 2019. BRIAN STONE

ICICLE. NOV. 09, 2019. BRIAN STONE

MALLARD DUCK ICE BREAKING. NOV. 09, 2019. BRIAN STONE

NIGHTCRAWLER. NOV. 09, 2019. BRIAN STONE

EUROPEAN STARLINGS. NOV. 11, 2019. BRIAN STONE