NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 12,
2019 (Tuesday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.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