Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Saturday, 12 December 2020

Dec 12 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 12 December 2020 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

 

 **On Friday afternoon Yves Poussart visited the marsh between Moncton and Riverview, hoping to see the SHORT-EARED OWLS [Hibou des marais] that have been reported in that area. Not knowing at first where they may come, he decided to go to the Hawthorne Drive area, which is along the marsh on the Riverview side, via Point Park Drive. Being at the site at 3:30 PM, Yves saw two Owls arriving together at 3:55 PM, and they were observed flying over the marsh for the next eight minutes. They flew back and forth over the first 100 metres along the border of the marsh on the Riverview side. They finally flew westward and were not spotted afterwards. Yves was able to get some fantastic photos of two of them, showing their field marks with crystal clarity in up and down wing position. This species was a lifer for Yves.

 

**Peter Gadd was able to capture a photo of 8 of his ‘flock’ of 9 NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge] feeding on the ground at the same time at his Miramichi feeder yard. I suspect this may be a difficult feat to match. Do the count – there really are eight in that photo!

 

**AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] seem to be building up at feeders, as the weather cools and we get some snow. Aldo Dorio got a pleasant photo of one enjoying a feeder visit.

 

**Jane LeBlanc caught a photo of the WANING CRESCENT MOON from her St. Martins home at 7:23 AM this morning, Saturday. The planet VENUS is pecking through the bushes below (arrowed).

Jane also has both genders of her NORTERN CARDINAL duo present as regular patrons.

 

**The photo of the strange mammal on the Riverview Marsh got quite a reaction. Some are not suitable for family viewing, but Mr. Stone’s comment is too good not to be shared. It is quoted below, as the editor cannot pronounce the scientific name suggested!

I looked up the strange mammal from today's blog .. it appears that it may be the rare and misunderstood " Nelseeingus tri-owlinflightus". 

 

Not a first for N.B., it is seen frequently searching for its favorite prey .. owls. Often in remarkably strange plumage, especially in cold and winter months, it is a sight that often gives naturalists pause as they struggle to classify this strange creature.”

 

 The photo is re-posted today in case there may be more enlightened guesses. The editor also mentioned Daryl Doucet’s nice AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] photo yesterday, but did not include it. It is attached today.

 

**I do not see CANADA JAYS [Mésangeai du Canada] all that often, so Friday was a special day. I was driving along the route between Quarryville and Barnaby, and noted 2 or 3 Canada Jays, to get binocular views but no photos. Approximately five kilometres further down the road, I spotted a Canada Jay on a tree in a person’s yard and stopped to get a look and photo from the road. The homeowner, Romeo Doucette, noted me and invited me to come in. To my surprise, he had 8 Canada Jays coming to a feeder box that contained the “sawdust” that drops from meat cutting at a local butcher shop. It seemed like two would stay together and make vocalizations to each other that I had not heard before. Mr. Doucet said the birds come to his hand and shoulder, and notes that some do not get along, so assume he has pairs coming. Canada Jays would be defending a territory now/soon, so that may be the reason. I thought I got some fantastic photos, but when I got home, I found only one turned out, due to a camera misfunction or else a photographer malfunction!

 

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton

SHORT-EARED OWL. DEC. 10, 2020.  YVES POUSSART

SHORT-EARED OWL. DEC. 10, 2020.  YVES POUSSART

NORTHERN CARDINALS (8) WITH FRIENDS. DEC 10, 2020. PETER GADD

CANADA JAY. DEC 11, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. DEC 10, 2020. DARYL DOUCET

NAME THE MAMMAL. DEC. 10. 2020. GEORGES BRUN

 
MOON (WANING CRESCENT) AND VENUS. DEC. 12, 2020. JANE LEBLANC