NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 7 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)
**Louise Nichols stopped by the Tantramar
Marsh area on Friday, to see a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK [Buse pattue] in the distance,
but got some nice documentary photos that show the “hockey puck” markings on the
wing of the light phase, and the dark tail band with no narrow bands above it,
to suggest a female or immature male. An immature NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard
Saint-Martin] gave a much closer clear photo on the Eddy Road.
In their
yard pond, Louise spotted a GREEN FROG [Grenouille verte] out taking advantage
of the warmer day, as well as a Predaceous Diving Beetle [Dytique] preying on
another insect. This beetle varies in its markings, as Louise’s photo shows. A
white indented band at the rear and the linear markings on the head area is
something we don’t see very often. There are small specks on the pond, which
are Snow Fleas [Puce des neiges] which are very very numerous.
**Sue and
Steve Berube were able to watch a BARRED OWL at dusk on Nov. 6 near the Main
entrance to Mill Creek Park. They were able to share a short video of the owl,
which is always special to accidentally come upon. Take a look at the attached link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tfq75bydo7av62b/20201106_164958.mp4?dl=0
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**More good RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux] news. Doreen Rossiter had **More good RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux] news. Doreen Rossiter had one arrive to her Alma feeder yard on October 31st, and it really enjoys the birdbath. A second one arrived, which was at first not welcomed by the first bird, but now they are travelling and feeding together. Great to hear the early reports of Rusty Blackbirds at feeder yards.
**Marguerite
and Bill Winsor comment they have not had WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à
poitrine blanche] to their Salisbury feeder yard in 15 years, so are pleased to
have a pair, noting the solid black crown of the male and the more grey crown
of the female. This is a good point to watch for, to know if you indeed have a
pair, when two become yard patrons.
**The
EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] just keep on appearing at feeder yards.
Clarence Cormier had a flock of 30 arrive to his Grande-Digue feeder site and
got a nice close-up photo of both genders.
**We made a
run to Hay Island and Neguac on Friday. Hay Island seemed surprisingly quiet
while we were there, but there was lots of action in Neguac, in town and around
the wharf. Most notable was a flock of approximately a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS
[Gros-bec errant] very actively feeding on the seed portion of the samaras of MANITOBA MAPLE. The samaras of this female Manitoba Maple tree cling nicely
in winter, as a photo shows. There was a great supply on the tree photographed,
and the samaras are photographed close-up. Immediately across the street from
the Evening Grosbeaks was a flock of approximately 10 PINE GROSBEAKS [Durbec
des sapins] enjoying the fruit seeds of a FLOWERING CRAB tree [Pommetier]. I am
enclosing several photos to show the variance in plumage colour noted. There
were no adult males present. In the same tree, a young of the year CEDAR
WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique] was foraging on the fruit. Note the remnant
streaking on the chest, to suggest immaturity. Near the main wharf, several
DUNLIN [Bécasseau variable] were actively foraging in the muddy shoreline. I
wondered about the white supercilium being so obvious in two of them, but
Gilles Belliveau points out that some will show that, depending on the stage of
their moult cycle, and the way the light hits it can make it stand out more.
Some piles
of tailings (molehills) of the STAR-NOSED MOLE [Condylure étoilé] were noted on
a lawn. The molehill results from the mole bulldozing its tunnel underground
for the winter and pushing the excavated earth back out. The Star-nosed Mole
will be active all winter underground. The molehills in the photo have been
rained on, so appear smoother. Being so nocturnal, it would be very rare to see
a mole digging its burrows during the day.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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