NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, December
13, 2020 (Sunday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Jamie Burris comments he had not
seen many BOHEMIAN
WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] of
late. That all changed on Friday when he
saw 150+ Bohemian Waxwings in Riverview in Flowering Crab apple trees. He laments leaving his camera at home as they
were completely surrounded by feeding birds.
** Looking forward to enjoying the
Saturday morning sun, Suzanne and Yves Poussart drove along the coast from
Shediac to Cocagne. The first part of
the drive in the vicinity of Shediac was especially rewarding with several
interesting photos. The first highlight
was at Pointe-du-Chêne wharf where Yves spotted a group of HARLEQUIN DUCKS [Arlequin
plongeur] in the
marina area. Initially facing the sun,
Yves was able to slowly move around to get a better light of these small ducks
which tend to stay close to each other.
This species was a lifer for Yves.
Note the blend of genders and the stage of maturity in Yves’
photos. It was also possible to get nice
photos of a RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER [Harle huppé], flocks
of COMMON
EIDERS [Eider à duvet] in flight
and a DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes]. At the
Cormierville wharf and Saint Thomas wharf, BLACK SCOTERS [Macreuse noire] were present in good numbers, but
generally quite far out. Yves comments
that it was a very satisfying day out.
** Wayne Corcoran was in the woods just
behind his Chelmsford home in Miramichi and came across 5 CANADA JAYS [Mésangeai du
Canada] at
once. It’s the most that he has seen in
a while. The feeders in his yard are
very quiet with EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] predominating.
He did have PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins] and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
[Chardonneret jaune] but they
all left last week. As he started into
the woods, he came across a flock of COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] foraging on birch catkins. There were 50+ in the flock, but he hasn’t
seen them since. This happens to be
several kms from where I saw 8 to 10 Canada Jays on Friday, so things are sure
looking good for Canada Jays in that area.
Louise Nichols also mentions she is
seeing more CANADA JAYS in the wooded area near their Aulac home than usual.
** Doreen Rossiter reports that it has
been a month since she has had NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge] to her Alma yard when one appeared on
Saturday. It was very different plumage
to the others that she has had this season, showing a bright red head with
black, but the rest of it was brownish grey with bits of red in the head and
wings. I rather wonder if this maybe is
a first-season male bird just moulting.
Doreen suspects this to be cardinal # 11 to have dropped by, but most do
not stay more than a day. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
[Bruant hudsonien] numbers
have swollen, but still no DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] which Doreen is quite surprised at.
** Gordon Rattray leaves a feeder
report from his Weldon feeder yard. Generally,
numbers are low for most birds with AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret
jaune] at about
10, but they had been as high as 50 a few weeks ago. MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle
triste] are fairly
constant at 14 early morning. Three RING-NECKED PHEASANTS
[Faisan de Colchide] appear on
a regular basis. He has several RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
[Sittelle à poitrine rousse] every day
and 2 WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche] most days. PINE SISKINS [Tarin des
pins] are about
12, but irregular, and EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] are at 12, but again irregular. Gordon had a COMMON REDPOLL [Sizerin flammé] for the first time this year on
Saturday. This could be the start of an
onslaught. Gordon has had no woodpeckers
in the last 2 weeks. He comments that
the Pine Siskins and American Goldfinch fed together on Saturday. The Common Redpoll was with the Pine Siskins.
** Jean Renton commented a few days ago
how fascinated they were watching a pair of crows frolicking with each other in
the snow. They now realize they are
actually a pair of COMMON RAVENS [Grand Corbeau], and they tend to show up between 9:00 and 10:00
AM. They roll in the snow and grab each
other’s legs as in play. As Jean
comments, this probably is common with Ravens, but it is very special being
able to watch the show from the window.
** Brian Stone was in the coastal area
of Caissie Cape on Saturday. He also got
the HARLEQUIN
DUCKS [Arlequin plongeur] at the
Pointe-du-Chêne marina area. Brian also
got nice photos of an adult RING-BILLED GULL [Goéland à bec cerclé] and HERRING GULL [Goéland argenté], both showing the streaked heads of
winter plumage. Brian also got a photo
of the waning crescent moon in company with the planet Venus early on Saturday
morning.
** With the dusting of snow starting, it
is a great time to watch for wildlife tracks and scat. Louise Richard comments on noting tracks
around their Acadieville cabin. Some
almost necessary information to have with track photos is the width or length
of the track which sure can change if not fresh, the distance between the
tracks from side to side (straddle), and the distance between the tracks from
tip to tip (stride). The perfect
measuring tape to take these measurements is the light inexpensive cloth
tape. A photo of one is attached. They are available at Fabricville in Moncton
and easy to carry at all times. The same
applies to scat as to diameter and length.
**Brian Coyle was out checking his
trail cameras when he came across some fresh BOBCAT tracks and sends some
photos with measurements.
He also came upon some SKUNK tracks
that measured1/2 “ wide and ¾ “ long.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
