NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April
01, 2021 (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)
** Jamie Burris noted a COMMON REDPOLL
[Sizerin flammé] in his Riverview yard on Wednesday with a notable orange poll
on the crown. Jamie sends photos of both the orange oddity and the expected
plumage. This is the second case of this that has been reported this season.
The literature says that this is an uncommon variation of the normal plumage
with no indication of a problem, more so just a genetic quirk.
** In the small pond behind her home in
Aulac, Louise Nichols was surprised to find a LEOPARD FROG [Rana pipiens] in
the recently thawed water on Wednesday. She wasn’t sure it was alive but when
she poked it she found it was moving, although very lethargically. This would
seem to be super early for a Leopard Frog as usually the Wood Frogs and Spring
Peepers are the first to emerge. Other things are coming to life in that pond
in the form of a few water bugs. She could see some BACKSWIMMERS but was not
able to get photos. Louise saw a number of PREDACEOUS DIVING BEETLES and was
able to get photos of one.
** Gordon Rattray was able to get some
distant photos of the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER [Pic à tête rouge] at Duane
Biggar’s yard in Edgett’s Landing. This bird has gradually molted to its
striking breeding plumage over the winter to be at its spring prime breeding
plumage soon.
** Daryl Doucet reports that he saw a GREAT
BLUE HERON [Grand Héron] in the distance at Cape Enrage on Thursday. These
should be arriving back big time soon with all the open water now available.
** Brian Stone’s adventures on
Wednesday started with a SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] singing on his back
deck to provide a photo op. He then checked out the trail at the Gorge Rd. off
ramp at the spot where Coltsfoot blooms in a large patch but none were showing
there yet. He then went over to Wilson Marsh and checked it out. The trail was
clear but the wind was so strong it was hard to make any observations. Most of
the water was open and there were geese and ducks but not in large numbers.
Visible were CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada], MALLARD DUCKS [Canard colvert], AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS
[Canard noir], SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] and a few RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS
[Carouge à épaulettes]. He caught a brief glimpse of a distant GREEN-WINGED
TEAL [Sarcelle d'hiver].
In the bushes at the top of the trail there
were some HOUSE FINCHES [Roselin familier], about 6, and more SONG SPARROWS
[Bruant chanteur]. Also one FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] came close and checked
him out. The Fox Sparrow and finches were hiding in the branches to make nicely
artistic images but not good nature photos as Brian comments. He made a 3 image
panorama of the marsh to show the open water. The wind was so strong that some
of the birch trees were on the verge of tipping over and a video clip shows the
action. People should be careful there on windy days he comments. He also sent
a dim video of a Song Sparrow singing. Check the action at the links below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ia7st3x68jk9cj4/SONG%20SPARROW%20SINGING%20..%20BRIAN%20STONE.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/h8b2s1mcnas07y1/BIRCH%20TREES%20IN%20WIND%20..%20BRIAN%20STONE.MOV?dl=0
While Brian was shooting his
Wilson Marsh panorama, he noticed a disturbance in the water and decided to try
some critter calls to see if I could entice whatever it was to show itself.
Nothing seemed to work until I got to the Plesiosaur call. That brought him
right up! (Editor’s note: Today is April 1!!!!!!)
** Aldo Dorio sends a COMMON GRACKLE [Quiscale bronzé] photo showing more bronzing on the back than I have ever taken note of. Gilles Belliveau points out that Common Grackles do show varying amounts of bronzing on the back and wings suggesting that the way it seems limited to the back in this photo may be just the photo angle or another rule out could be a young bird or female.
** Pat and I visited the Cassie Cape
wharf on Wednesday. It was too windy for the birds, but not for some
para-sailors. There were several there enjoying the wind. They sure know how to
handle their equipment and they must have been dressed very warmly. The air may
have been warm but the water, and just over it, must have been very cold. Take
a look at their dramatic skill at the link below:
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
