NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Mar. 29, 2021 (Monday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**Luc Leblanc got a photo of a HARBOUR PORPOISE [Marsouin commun] in the Petitcodiac River on Saturday morning. The Harbour Porpoise can be hard to get a
photo of as it surfaces so briefly for air.
There has to be food there to attract the porpoise. It is assumedly the start of the spring Smelt
run that had its interest.
**Georges Brun photographed a gull with what appears
to be a Smelt on Saturday morning. The
Smelt Run should be under way soon which should attract fish connoisseur
attention.
**A female NORTHERN
HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] has been
flying over the Riverview Marsh the last few days. Also, another flock of COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet], (42) flew over the bend of the Petitcodiac River on
Saturday afternoon.
**Suzanne
and Yves Poussart visited Pointe-du-Chêne on Sunday afternoon. At first, the
different species which were present were seen far out. The most abundant
species was BLACK SCOTERS (Macreuse à bec jaune).
Small numbers of COMMON GOLDENEYES (Garrot à oeil d'or), BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (Garrot d'islande) and GREATER SCAUP (Fuligule milouinan) were also seen.
As they were almost ready to leave the site, a flock of about 20
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, mostly males, landed at a reasonable distance from the
wharf. Yves was then able to take photos before they flew away some
five minutes later. Overall, this group was very active as most of the males
displayed their typical courtship behaviour which is recognized as the male
stretches neck forward and upward, suddenly dips neck and forepart of body
underwater with head angled up out of water and bill wide open. This is referred
as a ''curtsey'' display for females. Some of the attached photos
show this activity. Yves comments
“It really was an exciting behaviour to watch and photograph.” (Editor’s note:
Yves’ photos are just like being there!)
**Andrew Darcy participated in part two of the Nature
Moncton’s Barrow's Goldeneye survey Sunday. His route included the Cocagne
peninsula, starting at Caissie Cape wharf and finishing at the northerly point
where it ices over. He did not see any Barrow's Goldeneye on his route but did
encounter some Common Goldeneye.
He tallied 15 species of waterfowl Sunday at various locations including
all three merganser species: Common, Red-breasted, and even a couple of male
Hooded Merganser, Black Scoter, Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck, a female
Bufflehead, Mallard, American Black Duck, Greater Scaup, American Wigeon, and
Gadwall. The Black Scoter were most abundant, followed by Red-breasted
merganser (some spots had 30 + individuals). The highlight of the day was a
EURASIAN WIGEON (note rufous head, buffy forehead patch, and grey body) that
was hanging around with some American Wigeon and a large group of American
Black Duck just south of Caissie Cape wharf along the shoreline. Andrew did not
even realize that he got that bird until later in the day when he checked his
photos thoroughly. Andrew was quite pleased as that species was a lifer for him.
After his route he made a quick
run up to St. Thomas Wharf to see what he could see but the wharf area was quiet,
as the ice had enveloped the surrounding waters. On the way back down the coast
he noticed 5 Bald Eagles on the ice (4 juveniles and 1 adult). A juvenile
struggled to pluck a dead black scoter out of the water and after a tussle with
an adult, the adult was victorious and to the victor went the spoils.
Cocagne Bridge was very active
and had a large congregation of American Black Duck, Red-breasted Merganser,
Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, and a few Barrow's Goldeneye.
Pointe-du-Chene wharf had several
Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, and Long-tailed Duck on the east side and
American Black Duck, Greater Scaup, and Common Goldeneye on the west side of
wharf.
**On Saturday Marquerite and Bill Winsor had their first FOX SPARROW
in their yard for this spring. Marguerite was unable to get a photo because of the weather condition. It reappeared Sunday morning and she was able to get a nice photo. Both days, it only stayed for a few minutes.
**I had a visit from a juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on Sunday that surely showed its immaturity and need to sharpen hunting skills. It quietly flew in, readily scatted a large flock of diners and waited for them to return. To no one’s surprise but his, they did not return until it took itsleave after several minutes!
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
