NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October 01, 2020 (Thursday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Jane Wood and a friend visited the
Sackville Waterfowl Park on Tuesday and were very much enjoying the park until
a late day rain cut it short. Jane comments that there were lots of ducks with GADWALL
[Canard chipeau] numbers especially significant along with the expected MALLARD
DUCKS [Canard colvert]. Gadwalls sure do enjoy the Sackville Waterfowl Park as
numbers of that species are often prominent there. The white speculum of this
species shows nicely in Jane’s photos as well as the black undertail coverts of
the males to help identify this species. The even line of orange on the side of
the bill of the female also shows nicely in one photo.
** Jack Perry in west Saint John
reports that he had a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] to his
hummer feeder on Wednesday afternoon along with the wind and rain. It must have
been a welcome spot to refuel in the foul weather! They saw it visit the feeder
3 times. In 2019 he saw his last hummingbird on October 02. Jack comments that
previous to Wednesday’s visit he had not seen a hummingbird in almost a month
and also comments that it has not been a good year for hummingbird numbers to
his feeder.
**Yvette Richard got a striking photo
of the moon as it set this morning, Thursday over Cocagne Bay and will be
looking forward to photographing the HARVEST MOON as it rises this evening at
the same location.
** I suspect that many of us who put
out water for the birds in winter have it in mind to get things set up now
however there are many that supply water all year as water baths can be a
magnet for birds in the summer as well. Debbie Batog had a DOWNY WOODPECKER
[Pic mineur] drop by her water vessel that she puts out.
** I mentioned about the seeming
onslaught of sparrows to my urban yard when some feeders went back up. On
Wednesday a juvenile CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] joined the numerous WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] and few SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur]. The
black bar extending ahead of the eye is a good clue to its identity. I am
suspecting juvenile as both mandibles are pale and there appears to be still
some juvenile breast streaking.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
