Nature Moncton Nature News: April 12 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 12, 2020 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Mac Wilmot still has his freshly arrived EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] around his Lower Coverdale pond. However, it’s getting competition on Saturday from 6 CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] that have decided to pass up fruit remnants for hawking flying insects over the pond, now that fare is becoming available.

** Linda and Ron Steeves went for a round of the Petitcodiac area on a bit of a TUNDRA SWAN [Cygne siffleur] hunt. That quarry was not found. However, they did spot 18 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland brun] in company with RING-BILLED GULLS [Goéland à bec cerclé] in the cornfields near the large hog farm west of Salisbury. Lesser Black-backed Gulls seem to be showing up in New Brunswick each spring in very significant numbers. I think there’s a lot more to be known about the life and times of this gull species.

Ron and Linda also spotted a pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS [Crécerelle d’Amérique] which would be on the early side for that species, but not unexpected, as well as a group of 18 WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] foraging in an intervale. Ron did resist the temptation to report four free-ranging Rhode Island Red hens, to Ebird!!

Georges Brun got an interesting photo of 2 mergansers fishing in calm water conditions

 of the Petitcodiac River at the bend recently. One bird is nicely showing off its catch.

 The fish seems long and slim but in consultation with Edmund Redfield, he points out

 with the number and location of fins, he feels confident calling it a TOMCOD. Size and

 time of year fit that species as well.

Another Northern Saw-whet owl nest partially filled with material by an unknown

 source (to this point). Dan Sullivan checked a next box he has placed in woods of the

 Communication Road to find it filled to the opening with dried leaves. It was left as is in case it is being used by something and not necessarily a winter nest.

Dan also had a pair of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS arrive to his yard on Saturday. He

 got out of window photos that show the bland plumage of the female of this species,

very different from the female. The photos of the male are not attached as window

 glass distorted colour. PURPLE FINCH are also moving in nicely.

Dave Christie made a run in the Lower Albert Co. area on Saturday. The Calhoun DU

 marsh is now mostly ice free and lots of waterfowl

present. There were 100+ RING-NECKED DUCKS present as well as lesser numbers of
BLACK DUCKS, CANADA GEESE, MALLARD DUCKS, and a pair of BUFFLEHEAD. As he
passed the Lars Larsen marsh area in later afternoon, an impressive fly-over of
30+ GREAT BLUE HERONS seemingly en route to the Shepody River. Dave also saw an
Eastern Phoebe hawking insects in the Lars Larsen marsh commenting he has seen
this species in late Marsh in some years so not early.

** Another follow-up comment to winter YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS [Pic maculé]. Joanne Savage reports that she knows of 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers seen on Campobello Island this winter, and she and Karen Miller saw one in the St. Martins area on February 1st. With these observations and those reported by Ralph Eldridge, it would seem that it’s much more common than in past years to see Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers over-wintering in New Brunswick.

** Jane LeBlanc had some branches break off from her St. Martins yard cherry tree some time ago, so put them in water in her home to be treated to blooming cherry blossoms in April.

** Jean Renton comments that their Stilesville feeder yard continues to be very, very active. She seems to list just about every species that could be expected at the moment, and they’re all outside her deck window. Jean comments that they make a special Easter.

** Gail Mills photographed an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] at their Moncton feeder yard on Saturday. We will soon not be seeing many of this sparrow for another six months, as I expect that they’re fueling up and preparing to file flight plans north to their summer breeding-ground. I still have several as regular feeder patrons, but expect that will be short-lived.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton