NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 21 March
2020 (Saturday)
To view the photos mentioned in this
edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca
To respond by email, please address your
message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Please advise the editor
at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
Note that corrections, deletions, or delayed additions may not always
appear on the info line and email transcript but will always appear on the
BlogSpot. For this reason, it is recommended that those wishing to look at
historical records use the BlogSpot rather than the email transcript. The
BlogSpot can always be accessed from the website.
For more information on Nature Moncton,
check the website at www.naturemoncton.com
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Catherine Clements
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**A BLACK VULTURE [Urubu noir] is
appearing with TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête rouge] at the Hampton lagoon. It
is suspected it may be the same bird that spent time at this site last year,
with reports of it being around the lagoon the past few days. Richard
Blacquiere got a photo of it on Friday, under challenging photographic
conditions. It was perched between two Turkey Vultures. Richard’s photo shows
the more intense black plumage of the Black Vulture versus the more brown tones
of the Turkey Vulture, and also the grey head of the Black Vulture. The Black
Vulture is quite distinctive in flight, showing large white patches at the base
of the wing primary feathers, with a shorter tail than the Turkey Vulture, and
a flight that includes rapid flapping and short glides. There were reports of a
Black Vulture in the general area earlier in the season. I feel fairly certain
I saw a Black Vulture in flight over the highway in the area of Cardwell Farms composting site on February
20th. The white primaries and flight pattern were consistent with Black
Vulture, but it went over and disappeared too quickly for a photo.
**Roger LeBlanc leaves some observations
after Louise Nichols’ comments yesterday on seeing
fledgling WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié]. Roger and Alain
Clavette were in the Joggins area of Nova Scotia on Thursday, to see many
White-winged Crossbills, watching them closely for nesting possibilities.
There’s a big wooded area of Spruce [Épinette] trees laden with cones in that
area. Roger felt he did see adults appear to be carrying seeds and not eating
them, so assumed that they may be to supply food to nestlings. With the
abundant food supply for nesting, it’s a great time to be on the watch;
however, nests and fledglings may be very high in trees.
**Yvette Richard shares a few more awesome
photos of the NORTHERN HAWK OWL [Chouette épervière] tarrying in the Minudie area of Nova Scotia. Yvette comments it
came in so close to her she could have almost touched it, as she remained very
quiet. Even the facial hairs could be counted on Yvette’s photos!
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
BLACK VULTURE. MARCH 20, 2020.RICHARD BLACQUIERE
NORTHERN HAWK OWL, MAR 18 2020, YVETTE RICHARD
NORTHERN HAWK OWL, MAR 18 2020, YVETTE RICHARD
