Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 14 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 14 November 2020 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Frank Branch had a flock of approximately 30 EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] visit his Paquetville feeder yard on Friday; however, one had very unexpected plumage. It would seem to be albinism of some type, yet the black pigment is very exhibited in some areas. It will be an easy bird to follow about, if it appears in other areas. It surely is different and distinctive. There also appears to be a growth lesion on the beak that may not be related. Avian Pox [Variole aviaire] would have to be a rule-out for that beak lesion.

**Stella and Jean-Paul LeBlanc had their first ever RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux] visit their Bouctouche yard on Friday. Stella got some nice photos that show the prominent pale supercilium and rusty crown, to suggest a female. The reports of Rusty Blackbirds at winter feeders last winter and so far this season hopefully are significant, as this species has been decreasing in numbers. The LeBlancs had EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] to their feeder yard on Thursday for the first time this season as well.

**SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges] seem to enjoy the coastline this time of year. Verica LeBlanc got some pleasant photos of some in two quite large groups that were enjoying the weedy seeds along the shoreline in Escuminac on Thursday. It’s looking like we will have a significant number of Snow Buntings joining us this winter.

**Yet another NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge]. Daryl Doucette had a male drop by his Moncton feeder yard at dusk on Friday, to get a documentary photo. Hoping it knows where the restaurant is located tomorrow.

**Lynda Leclerc also had her first ever visit from a female Northern Cardinal on Friday, to make three first-ever yard visits for Moncton folk in two days.

**These Northern Cardinal reports are great to hear, but it seems Paula Lansdale and Doreen Rossiter have the Alma market on them. Paula and Doreen were speaking on the phone on Thursday as Doreen had four in her yard and Paula had two in her nearby yard at the same time. Hoping these reports just go on and on.

**Elaine Gallant is seeing an immature HARLEQUIN DUCK [Arlequin plongeur] in the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf area in the water in the marina area, where the sailboats moor. It is sometimes hard to locate if it gets behind some of the moorings.

**Brian Stone was up early at 6 a.m. on Friday morning to photograph the interesting astronomical grouping of the Moon, Venus, and Mercury. Also, the bright star Spica of the constellation Virgo was included in the grouping. There was a band of cloud obscuring Mercury, which barely managed to poke through at times, but it did.

Brian’s photo of the WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG [Punaise occidentale des cônes] that we should all be familiar with at this point was missed on yesterday’s edition. It is added today.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton