Nature Moncton Nature News: 2020-11-22

Saturday, 28 November 2020

Nov 28 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 28 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)

**Jim Saunders was in the right place at the right time on Friday to see a SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d'Amérique], which I suspect thought Jim did not see it. Jim took the photo in Redmondville, just outside of Miramichi, where there was a light snowfall. What perfect winter camouflage from its summer brown pelage! Actually, only the tips of the hairs turn white, but it sure does the job.

**We stopped by Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf on Friday, amidst mild showers. Not the greatest for photography observations, but I’m attaching some. The immature GREAT CORMORANT [Grand Cormoran] that Elaine Gallant reported earlier in the week was still there, and was drying its extended wings, which seemed odd during a shower. Note the white patch behind the yellowish throat pouch, as clues to a Great Cormorant. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS [Cormoran à aigrettes] are still present there, but few in number. Three LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi] were in the dock area, one male and two females. One female was still showing very prominent remnant breeding plumage. I am assuming this to be a female, as there was no evidence of 1) pink on the bill or 2) extended tail feathers. A visit to the Shediac Bay Yacht Club marina got rained out, but it was interesting to see a HARBOUR SEAL [Phoque commun] poking up between the moorings, as well as some waterfowl that were hard to be sure of.

** The links on yesterday's edition to Brian Donovan's Fisher videos were not readily accessed. Am adding new links to check out below in case some missed them.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/z86ltsp0lqmjqow/DSCF0014.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/22u1ayzce5q33ps/DSCF0016.AVI?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/54ikqz3fiv9yk5d/DSCF0022.AVI?dl=0

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

GREAT CORMORANT (IMMATURE). NOV 27, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

LONG-TAILED DUCK (FEMALES). NOV 27, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

LONG-TAILED DUCK (FEMALE). NOV 27, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

LONG-TAILED DUCK (MALE). NOV 27, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

SNOWSHOE HARE. NOV 26, 2020. JIM SAUNDERS

Friday, 27 November 2020

Nov 27 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 27, 2020 (Friday)

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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)

** An AMERICAN COOT [Foulque d'Amérique] has dropped by Jones Lake in Moncton. Paul Langalaan was able to get a photo of it, commenting that it liked to swim close to the reeds as it swam down the lake.

** The Martin and the Fisher are two New Brunswick native mammals we seldom ever have a chance to have an audience with, especially for any length of time to make photos a real premium. They are much more common in the northern half of New Brunswick, but still encounters are uncommon due to their secretive and nocturnal behaviour. Phil Riebel recently photographed a FISHER [Pékan] barely 100 feet from his home in Miramichi with a camera set-up he has designed himself. We shared Phil’s photo on the Nov. 22^nd edition of the BlogSpot, labelling it a MARTIN [Marte]. Scott Makepeace replied and he said he thought it may be a Fisher, not a Martin. Brian Donovan also confirmed the identity. In a wild encounter, the Fisher is significantly larger (especially the male) than a Martin, and much easier to identify. The pelage is more consistently dark brown all over in the Fisher with the pelage more patchy light and dark in the Martin. The Martin would have a yellowish/butterscotch obvious patch on the throat. Phil also got a photo with his trail camera at the same time, and both photos are attached today.

** Brian Donovan shares 3 great videos of a FISHER [Pékan] to familiarize ourselves with this mammal to be ready when the lucky moment may come to have an audience. Remember the Fisher and the Martin are both arboreal, so don’t be surprised to see them in trees. Brian Donovan has some of his excellent videos on YouTube and can be found with the search term ‘Miramichi Wildlife’. Take a look at some of Brian’s videos of a Fisher, Mink, Marten, and Lynx at the attached links:

https://www.facebook.com/572228588/videos/10157729972723589/

https://www.facebook.com/572228588/videos/10157729972788589/

https://www.facebook.com/572228588/videos/10157729973843589/

** Aldo Dorio continues to enjoy the PINE GROSBEAKS [Durbec des sapins] chowing down on apples to get at the seed booty. He tends to see them mostly in crab trees near the Neguac wharf.

** I’m attaching a few more waterfowl photos Brian Stone took a few days ago that, after reviewing both Sibley and National Geographic, suggest the RED-BREASTED MERGANSER [Harle huppé] to be a juvenile as well as a suspected 1st winter SURF SCOTER [Macreuse à front blanc] that he photographed.

** It’s Friday and time to review what will appear in the night sky for the coming week, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason, hoping a few evenings do actually clear up. And yes, it is taking us into the first week of December!!

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 November 28 – December 5
I like to observe the sky at least once every day that I can, even if it is just for a few minutes. At night, if I don’t feel like taking out a telescope, I grab binoculars to tour the brighter star clusters. The winter constellations, which are prominent now in late evening, are home to many star clusters within easy reach of binoculars.

I usually start with the best open cluster, the Pleiades (M45), in the shoulder of Taurus the Bull, and focus the binos on its stars. The large V-shaped Hyades cluster, catalogued as Melotte 25, is nearby forming the face of the bull. It is anchored by orange Aldebaran at one corner, but that star is not really part of the cluster because it is less than half the distance to the others. The brightest star in nearby Perseus, Mirfak, is part of a group of stars called Melotte 20 that resembles a miniature version of the constellation Draco in binoculars. Perseus also holds the star cluster M34, which appears as a fuzzy patch in binos due to its distance. Between Perseus and Cassiopeia is a scenic close pair of clusters, NGC 869 and NGC 884, aptly called the Double Cluster.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:37 am and sunset will occur at 4:36 pm, giving 8 hours, 59 minutes of daylight (7:40 am and 4:44 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:45 am and set at 4:33 pm, giving 8 hours, 48 minutes of daylight (7:48 am and 4:41 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is full on Monday morning, when keen-eyed observers might catch the subtle gray shading of a penumbral eclipse as the Moon passes just below Earth’s shadow. The best time to observe it is between 5:30 and 6 am. Jupiter continues its approach to Saturn, setting at 8 pm midweek followed by the ringed planet about 10 minutes later. Around that time Mars is near its highest position in the south, where it offers its best views. Mercury rises an hour before sunrise this weekend but that decreases to 40 minutes by next weekend. Venus crosses the constellation border into Libra on Saturday and next weekend it passes between the celestial Pillars of Hercules. Comet C/2020 S3 Erasmus might be visible with binoculars between 6 and 6:30 am, about a fist-width to the right of Venus and a tad lower this weekend. Over the week it moves a little closer to Venus and lower. The International Space Station is making bright early evening passes all week. Check the Heavens Above website for times and locations, and also for locations of Comet Erasmus. Be aware that the comet maps are north up and will need to be tilted to the left for proper orientation in the eastern sky.

With astronomy meetings and outreach activities on hold, you can watch the local Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm, and view archived shows, on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEHfOWyL-kNH7dBVHK8spg

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

AMERICAN COOT. NOV 26, 2020. PAUL LANGELAAN

SURF SCOTER. (IMMATURE 1ST WINTER SUSPECTED) NOV. 25, 2020. BRIAN STONE

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (JUVENILE SUSPECTED) NOV. 25, 2020. BRIAN STONE

PINE GROSBEAK. NOV 26, 2020. ALDO DORIO

FISHER. NOV. 2020. PHIL RIEBEL

Winter clusters 2020

Thursday, 26 November 2020

Nov 26 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 26, 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)

** Louise Nichols took a drive out to Johnson’s Mills and then back around the loop along route 935 to Sackville on Wednesday. It was pretty quiet (and gray) overall but she had a couple of close sightings. A RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] was perched in a tree on route 935 and she had a close encounter with a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] on the Westcock Marsh. Louise comments that she has had few good sightings of shrikes but this is the second shrike she has seen within a week. The first was last Friday in the Hillsborough area. Louise got excellent photos of a young-of-the-year shrike being in the right place at the right time for a photo op. Note the barring and the brown tones of immaturity.

**Elaine Gallant got a photo of immature GREAT CORMORANT drying its wings at the Pointe-du-Chene wharf on Wednesday. Note the white patch behind the yellowish throat and the complete dark neck comparing to the Double-crested Cormorant.

** Clarence Cormier had a young of the year WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] drop by his Grande Digue site on Wednesday. Note the dark brown band on the head vs. the fluorescent white of the adult plumage.

** Even with the difficulty differentiating female Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks it is suggested from captured photos that are coming in that there is an increased number of Cooper’s Hawks around birdfeeders. Daryl Doucet had a raptor arrive that appeared larger and went for a Red Squirrel. The gray nape with the crest and black capped crown are COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper] field marks. Gilles Belliveau also points out the small eye in relation to the size of the head and the bill looking somewhat substantial also suggests a Cooper’s Hawk. The body photo also shows the rounded tail with central rectrices longer than outer rectrices to give it a rounded look and the sharp white tail apex band.

** Wayne Corcoran from the Chelmsford area who often hosts significant numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] really had them arrive in numbers on Wednesday with 100 to 120. Wayne comments that they seemed to be everywhere and also the high winds of Tuesday had the feeder area quiet as others have noted. Wayne also noted that his high BLUE JAY [Geai bleu] numbers were reduced by 50%.

** Brian Stone got a photo of a soccer ball sized nest approximately 20 feet up in a tree in Mapleton Park on Monday. Scott Makepeace looked at the photos and felt that it was a drey, a new word to many of us I expect, which is a term for a squirrel’s nest. Scott comments that it would appear to be a drey due its position (height and location in the tree), spherical shape, and not appearing to be woven together. The nest could either be that of a Red or a Flying Squirrel.

Brian went for a drive ending up in the Cocagne and Pointe-du-Chene areas on Wednesday and also got some mergansers at the Cormierville Wharf. At the Pointe-du-Chene Wharf there were some LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi] in the boat docking marina area and also a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] was in its favorite tree beside Rue Acadie (a section of route 134) in Bouctouche near the Visitor Information Center. Some of Brian’s waterfowl pictures will need more study before putting them out as we are in that awkward stage of young-of-the-year birds and first winter birds.

** Tuesday was Bob Blake’s turn for a NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] visit. It was checking out the feeders and it came back later to the birdbath. Bob comments that it was more of a deep orange colour than a strong red. I am wondering if this could potentially be a young of the year male.

** Wednesday was finally my day to spot NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge] in my own yard. A pair arrived and came and went all day seemingly comfortable with the layout so they may have been here earlier and not been detected. I noted the female first and she was instantly dived by 2 BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] but she soon returned with a male. Wednesday was also a different day for sparrows at the feeder area. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] suddenly went to 6+ from 1 occasional one earlier and 2 plus DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] came with them.

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Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

NORTHERN SHRIKE. NOV. 25, 2020. LOUISE NICHOLS

RED-TAILED HAWK. NOV. 25, 2020. LOUISE NICHOLS

GREAT CORMORANT (IMMATURE). NOV 25, 2020. ELAINE GALLANT

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (IMMATURE). NOV 25, 2020 CLARENCE CORMIER

COOPER'S HAWK . NOV. 25, 2020. .DARYL DOUCET

LONG-TAILED DUCK (MALE). NOV. 25, 2020.. BRIAN STONE

LONG-TAILED DUCK (PAIR). NOV. 25, 2020.. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN CARDINAL (MALE). NOV 25, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

NORTHERN CARDINAL (FEMALE). NOV 25, 2020. NELSON POIRIER

SQUIRREL NEST (DREY). NOV.24, 2020. BRIAN STONE

Tuesday, 24 November 2020

Nov 24 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Nov. 24, 2020 (Tuesday)

Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com

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

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**Marguerite and Bill Winsor have had a pair of NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] coming to their Salisbury feeder yard since October 22^nd. They usually see them at dawn and dusk as so many others have commented but they do show up at other times as well but are very secretive. Amidst the rain and cloud on Monday a second female arrived with 2 females present at the same time with no sign of the male. Northern Cardinals seem everywhere in the province. With the numbers showing up Miramichi and north, one would wonder if they are not coming from Quebec where they have become quite common according to FeederWatch data.

**It’s that time of year. Brian Farrell photographed a nest from the past season in the St. Andrew’s area. It was approximately 5 feet off the ground in a Chokecherry tree and the nest diameter approximately 6 inches. There was no mud casing to suggest AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique]. Scott Makepeace has a lot of experience examining nests and comments the nest is sure not a slam dunk ID. He suggested it could well be a CEDAR WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique] given the 6-inch diameter height and lack of sticks or twigs in the body of the nest. Usually Cedar Waxwings have a significant Old Man's Beard lichen component blended in, but this nest lacks that.

**I heard Great Horned Owls hooting in the Waterside area of Albert County at dusk on Sunday. This time there was more than one. It is the second time this past week I have heard Great Horned Owls vocalizing at dusk.

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Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

NORTHERN CARDINAL (MALE). NOV 23, 2020. MARGUERITE WINSOR

NORTHERN CARDINALS (PAIR). NOV 23, 2020. MARGUERITE WINSOR

NEST (POSSIBLY CEDAR WAXWING). NOV 2020. BRIAN FARRELL

Monday, 23 November 2020

Nov 23 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Nov. 23, 2020 (Monday)

Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com

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

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** Louise Nichols took a drive along the High Marsh Road on the Tantramar on Sunday stopping once in a while to scan with a scope. She came up with 6 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK [Buse pattue] and 1 NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] and 4 soaring Hawks at a distance that were too distant for her to identify, and 2 BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] (perhaps a pair as they were on the same hydro pole next to a nest). No photos as nothing was close. It was a beautiful calm day to be out there on Sunday which does not happen very often. It is starting to look good for the Tantramar Marsh raptor community.

**Yolande Leblanc in Memramcook has gotten all feeders back up for 3 days and a great response. Three NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] have appeared that were sporadic at first but a pair arrived late afternoon on Sunday and seemed to be getting comfortable around the feeders. Yolande finds they tend to come in early morning and near dusk. Yolande also has 28+ EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] as well as a PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins] and a SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] in the mix. A great bird feeding start!

**Brian Coyle. after clattering across an old rock pile Sunday afternoon in a field across from his Upper Mountain Road home, was greeted by a WEASEL that popped out of the rocks and was quite curious about him. It posed for some great photos to show off its pure white winter pelage ready for the snow to arrive for that perfect camouflage. It does not show in the photos, but the tail tip would be black.

** John Inman had 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS join his patrons at his 225 Mary’s Point Road (Harvey) feeder yard on Sunday. The head pattern distinctive with rusty crown and prominent pale supercilium suggest them both to be female. As mentioned before, the significant number of Rusty Blackbirds appearing at feeder yards already is hopefully an optimistic sign for this species that has been decreasing in number.

**Verica LeBlanc stopped at the Miramichi Marsh yesterday. They had seen MUSKRAT in the past but always in the water. This time as the ponds were frozen they were lucky to see it a little ways ahead of us on the trail enjoying a fresh green snack and get photographed. Note the powerful vertical rudder tail of the Muskrat.

I’m sure those of us in the northeastern part of New Brunswick will never tire of Northern Cardinal photos at the moment.

**Jane Leblanc has 3 in her St. Martin’s yard, an all-time record for her. There were 2 females and 1 male. Note the blooming Witch Hazel shrub they seem to favour perching in. The Witch Hazel is expected to be in bloom this time of year, a real exception in the plant world.

**Evening Grosbeaks, both male, showed up for Susan Richards on Sunday morning at her Taylor Village yard to start the day off brightly. Susan has 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] very much enjoying suet blend and a nice variety of the expected regulars. Susan got a nice photo of a handsome posing male Evening Grosbeak.

**Debbie Batog, like many others, is commenting on the high number of BLUE JAY [Geai bleu] at feeders at the moment. A significant portion of the Blue Jay portion do migrate southerly, so the number may well diminish somewhat as winter comes on.

**Kevin Renton reports their Stilesville feeder yard getting very active as it often does. They have 12 PINE GROSBEAK [Durbec des sapins] Evening Grosbeaks and a swelling number of regulars; also RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide]
have returned.

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Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. NOV 22, 2020. JOHN INMAN

NORTHERN CARDINAL (MALE). NOV. 22, 2020. JANE LEBLANC

NORTHERN CARDINAL (FEMALE). NOV. 22, 2020. JANE LEBLANC

EVENING GROSBEAK (MALE). NOV 22, 2020. SUSAN RICHARDS

MUSKRAT. NOV 22, 2020. VERICA LeBLANC

WEASEL. NOV 22, 2020. BRIAN COYLE

Sunday, 22 November 2020

Nov 22 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 22, 2020 (Sunday)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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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)

** More RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux] reports from feeder yards which is so great to hear this early in the season. Frank Branch has had one to his feeder yard in Paquetville for 2 days now, and as an added bonus, one of his 2 male NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge] is still present. The Rusty Blackbird appears to be a male from the plumage. Take note of the rounded club-shaped tail compared to a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes].

** Louise Nichols raises an interesting comment I have not heard mentioned about the EURASIAN WIGEON [Canard siffleur] at the Hampton lagoon. Louise points out that the Sibley guide mentions a narrow black border at the gape of the AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] which the female Eurasian Wigeon does not have. The Sibley guide shows that thin black line lacking in both the adult and immature Eurasian female, but present in the American Wigeon adult and non-breeding female. This may be an additional clue to look for in building a case for a female Eurasian Wigeon. Brian Stone’s photo of the American and Eurasian female wigeons side by side shows that feature nicely. I am attaching those photos again today for perusal with an arrow directed to the black line on the female American Wigeon.

** Mitch and Irene Doucet paid a visit to the Hampton Lagoon as well and got a nice photo of the female Eurasian Wigeon.

** Phil Riebel has a camera set trap that he has designed himself that has netted him some surprises near his Miramichi home. Last week he got a FISHER investigating the area. There are woods behind his home suitable for a Fisher, but he was surprised to see one so near neighbourhood houses. He has reset two camera traps in hopes of getting more photos of the special mammal we so seldom see due to its secretive nocturnal behaviour.

** Doreen Rossiter had two bright fresh WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] arrive to her Alma feeder yard early Saturday morning. On Saturday, she had 3 NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge], 2 female and 1 male. The male was definitely different from other males she has had this year. She noted it to have a bluish-mauve blush in the mantle area, not red as her others had. Doreen comments still no sign of DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] which are usually present now.

** The New Brunswick Environmental Network is hosting a free webinar with Heather Loomer speaking on the province’s effort to double the amount of protected natural areas and getting nominations for potential protected sites. This will take place on Dec. 2^nd from 6:30 to 7:30 PM and more details and registration information is attached at the link below. I will keep watch on these webinars coming up to alert on subjects that would interest the group listening right from home.

Webinar: Getting Involved in New Brunswick's Nature Legacy
Speaker: Heather Loomer (Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development)
Date: December 2, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Heather will be speaking about the province’s Pathway to 10% initiative – an initiative aimed at doubling the amount of protected areas in the province – and will also be giving a tutorial on how to use the province’s new public website to nominate potential protected sites.
Click here for more information and to register.

Or https://nben.ca/en/nb-wildlife-webinar-series

** Brian Stone’s Saturday started off with a visit from two CANADA JAYS [Mésangeai du Canada] to a suet block while he was visiting in Upham. He got several nice photos of one of them feasting on the suet and nicely showing the white tips of the spread tail as it fed heartily on the high energy diet.

** David Lilly like many in New Brunswick continues to enjoy the EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] visits to his Oromocto feeder yard. He took the time to get some male and female portraits on Saturday.

** Pat and I made a run to the Tantramar Marsh area on Saturday, covering both sides of the marsh. The corn stubble fields on the west side did not show any of the BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER [Pluvier argenté], AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER [Pluvier bronzé] and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée] that were seen there earlier in the season, so they may have moved out. Over the round, two light-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue] were seen and two NORTHERN HARRIERS [Busard Saint-Martin], but no RED-TAILED HAWKS [Buse à queue rousse]. Only 4 raptors over the huge area we covered would make one wonder about the vole population there this season.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton