NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, March
21, 2021 (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.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Grant Ramsay and Magda Kuhn
photographed a very sharply-dressed AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] in Sussex on Saturday, very likely with
thoughts of scouting a mate and territory for the coming season. A very appropriate entry for the second day
of official spring.
** Brian Stone went on a mission to Hampton/Upham area on Saturday. One hoped-for audience was the BOBCAT [Lynx roux] that has been coming to his sister’s yard, Carol Shea, in Upham. It came alright but showed up just after he left for the day.
Brian got some excellent consolation prize bonuses at the Hampton lagoon
area. A RUDDY DUCK [Érismature rousse] was special, as well as an adult LESSER SCAUP [Petit
Fuligule]. The TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête
rouge] put on a
spectacular arial show around one of their favourite lagoons, and Brian’s
flight photos do full justice to their arial grace. Brian saw lots of WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de
Virginie] in a local
cemetery foraging on bare ground areas as well as on exposed hillsides on the
highway on route. A NORTHERN SHRIKE
[Pie-grièche grise] appeared
distantly to give a documentary photo.
We should be attentive to the vocalization of the male of this species
in the near future for that short time window of opportunity we may hear it
before they file flight plans north.
** Gordon Rattray and I did a day-long
run from Bouctouche to Shediac on Saturday to enjoy the beautiful strong
sunshine, but cool offshore wind and lots of migratory bird diversity to sleuth
to make for a very special day. The
Bouctouche lagoon had many MALLARD [Canard colvert] and AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS [Canard noir], mostly in the small pond beside the lagoon where
they appreciate food offerings. A
special bonus on the lagoon were 2 LESSER SCAUP [Petit Fuligule] and one female RING-NECKED DUCK.
Saint Thomas was alive with activity
with BLACK SCOTERS [Macreuse noire], many very distant and vocal, but it was
interesting to be able to pick out some 1st-winter male birds. They do have the yellow-orange on the bill,
but not as bright as the adults, and the brown vs. black plumage made them
easier to locate even if the number was low.
One of them chose a razor clam as prey, and it was amazing to watch as
it wrestled its large prey to its destination.
Hard to believe a tummy ache did not result, but I suspect it was quite
able to handle it. BARROW'S GOLDENEYE [Garrot
d'Islande] and COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à
oeil d'or] were
present at some locations as well as COMMON MERGANSERS [Grand Harle] and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER [Harle
huppé], but we
were not able to get close enough to see if 1st-winter birds were
among them.
The Pointe-du-chêne wharf provided
our first adult male SURF SCOTERS [Macreuse à front blanc] of the season
and we were able spot more 1st-winter male BLACK SCOTERS [Macreuse
noire] among the much more numerous vocal adults. A huge congregation of gulls was noted on a
very distant ice promontory off Parlee Beach that was too distant to identify individuals
but wondered if maybe LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland brun] may be there as
they have appeared early at that site in other years. Not one LONG-TAILED DUCK [Harelde
kakawi] was seen
at any location during the day. Only a
small number of COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] were seen but provided for some excellent portraits
of some adults birds.
Excitement heightened to see a seal on
the ice at Cocagne, but it turned out to be an imposter in the form of a
perfectly shaped black garbage bag enjoying the sun! Even perfect days do have downers. The gulls that we were able to see showed
only one ICELAND
GULL [Goéland arctique] to suggest
that that gull species may be considering a movement north.
**Louise Nichols comments on a similar
run on March 17 that she did see some LONG-TAILED DUCKS and one distant
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER with photo attached.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
