Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 23 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 23 November 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Louise Nichols chanced upon a SPRUCE GROUSE [Tétras du Canada] on Friday on the trails behind her Aulac home. In keeping with Spruce Grouse character, it did not flush when she approached, to cooperate for photos. It appears to be a young male, as the red eye patch is not fully developed. Louise also has been seeing and hearing small flocks of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié] in the woods there, but they’re always constantly moving and high in the trees. Louise comments they seem to be around quite a bit in that area lately. It surely is a good year for them in the treetop café of cones. Louise also came across a flock of approximately 60 Waxwings [Jaseur] in trees along Crossman Road in Sackville on Friday. She scanned the flock, and all appeared to be CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique].

**Victoria Park, with its large deciduous trees, has treated us well over the years with good birds. Dave Christie was in that area midday on Thursday afternoon to note a raptor moving about, which he followed as he could, to end up on Pine Street, where he was able to confirm it as a juvenile COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper], a species that seems to be expanding its range nicely northward. Dave’s photos had to be documentary due to the dark day, light rain falling, and distance but some nice features show to help us all note identification features this raptor species. Note the round tipped boldly banded tail and the whitish patch at the back of the crown when the bird was looking away versus the buffy brown markings on the face when it looked towards the camera. The apparent longish legs are another clue.

**Wayne Corcoran, who has a normally very active feeder yard near Quarryville, reports it has been a quiet fall so far this season but a start of some activity on Friday with 10 Evening Grosbeaks and a lone Purple Finch dropping by. The last few years, Wayne has had large numbers of Evening Grosbeaks as regulars reminiscent of the 1980’s.

He also photographed a print of a Black Bear that was in the wooded area behind his home. This is potentially a male bear or a female without cubs as suspect most others may have made winter plans.

**Roger LeBlanc found a roost of CROWS [Corneille] in a park with lots of mature trees at the end of Henry Street in Moncton on Friday. Roger reminds us it is important to know where these roosts are, to be able to accurately assess the presence of this species on Christmas Bird Count Day coming up on December 14th.

**It will not be long before ice starts covering our open water areas, to concentrate winter waterfowl. Aldo Dorio sends some photos of a female COMMON MERGANSER [Grand Harle] from Hay Island that we will soon be seeing more of. Note the thick bill base of the female Common Merganser versus the slimmer bill of the female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER [Harle huppé], as well as the throat and chest, not the blended complete white of the Red-breasted Merganser. To me, there’s a suggestion this female is just taking on breeding plumage, with the neck band not quite complete in one view.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton