Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 16 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 16, 2022

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**A very big thank you to Kendra Driscoll for taking the time to prepare an excellent presentation to open up the world of lichens for an intent group of participants at the Nature Moncton meeting on Tuesday night. Kendra enthusiastically introduced the group to 10 common lichens we will easily encounter and be able to call them by their first name from her well illustrated directions. An excellent starter to gain an appreciation for the lichen community.

Kendra started off by simply explaining exactly what a lichen is and their amazing modus operandi.

Many virtual participants joined the presentation but for an unknown reason several who attempted to join could not make the link open. The session was recorded and those unable to join will be able to join that recorded link when it is available in a few days and will be published in Nature News

**As a heads-up, the Nature Moncton field trip to Port Elgin and Cape Jourimain is now scheduled for this coming Saturday, November 19.

The Chignecto Naturalists Club is having a similar outing the same day but will be starting from the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre at 9:00 AM travelling in the opposite direction to Nature Moncton and will be keeping in contact via cell phone to share any significant finds.

The details on the Nature Moncton field trip are attached at the end of today’s edition.

**Many people have asked about the availability of the videotaped proceedings of Petitcodiac River Appreciation Day. This is being worked on at the moment and will be available as a link on the Nature Moncton website. (Editor’s note: the editor for one is awaiting its availability to relisten to everyone, notebook in hand, to all the wonderful information each presenter so enthusiastically shared)

Several have asked about the underwater video Tim Robinson shared of Atlantic salmon. This will be shared on that major link but a sneak preview is available today courtesy of Tim. Check it out below at the attached link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sl58kr8oost2c3z/Salmon.MOV?dl=0

**Louise Nichols is yet another to be happy to join the Northern Cardinal club!

Louise put bird feeders out on Monday and, when she looked out the window at lunch on Tuesday, she saw a bright male Northern Cardinal on the front yard tree -- a new yard bird for them. She was only able to get a documentary photo, but she's hoping he stays around.

**It’s hard to believe but Red-bellied Woodpeckers seem to be competing with Northern Cardinal numbers in some parts of the province.

Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins had a female Red Bellied Woodpecker appear in her yard on Tuesday. This is a new yard bird for her. The only other time she has seen them is when they lived in Ontario. (Editor’s note: one would wonder if the bird in Jane’s photo could be a young-of-the-year bird due to the pale red patch on the head).

**We continue to have some lingering shorebirds tarrying late into the season as we often do.

Aldo Dorio photographed a lone Dunlin in winter plumage at Hay Island on Monday.

**In follow-up Yves Poussart’s successful weekend coastal visit, on Monday Nelson Poirier and Brian Stone drove along the coast from Shediac to Cap Lumiere in the sometimes harsh weather searching for any interesting storm visitors to find some of the more special regulars of the season.

At Cap Lumiere a pair of Harlequin Ducks were taking a break from feeding to rest on the side of the boat ramp and seemed to be amenable to getting their pictures taken. A Bonaparte's Gull tried to remain unobserved as it blended in with the rough water at the edge of the wharf.

In the same relatively calm, sheltered enclosed area a Red-throated Loon dove for food and stayed under water for surprising lengths of time. Outside of the enclosed area the waves were so strong that no waterfowl were observable. Some Rainbow segments were visible under clouds along the horizon at times as heavy showers passed and moved off into the distance.

Back along the coast at several wharfs and other bird friendly spots a few more birds were photographed including a female Common Merganser, one of several Black Ducks seen, a distant Surf Scoter, Lesser Scaup at the Bouctouche lagoons, a male Ring-necked Pheasant foraging on a lawn, and a group of Canada Geese resting beside a pond at Saint-Edouard-de-Kent.

At Pointe-du-Chene, 3 male and 1 female Long-tailed Ducks were sheltering in the enclosed marina area. The trip was a rewarding and refreshing outing.

**NATURE MONCTON FIELD TRIP – NORTHUMBERLAND COAST OUTING: PORT ELGIN TO CAPE JOURIMAIN

Date: Saturday, November 19^th

Time: 8:15 AM (or 9:00 AM) to late afternoon (or as long as folks want to stay)

Meeting Place: a) Behind Burger King at Champlain Mall (8:15 AM)

b) Shell gas station, Port Elgin (9:00 AM)

Guide: Roger Leblanc

When you think of great birding, what comes to mind first is the migration periods of May and September. But although those are times when birds are moving in big numbers with such breathtaking phenomena as the return of warblers in spring and the passage of shorebirds in fall, did you know that statistically the best month for mega-rarities is actually November? But at any time, location, location, location is the magic word. And one of the best places to go looking around here in November is the most south-easterly part of the province along the Northumberland coast from Port Elgin to Cape Jourimain National Wildlife area. And so that is where Nature Moncton is proposing a full day outing.

What to expect and where

At this time of year, variety will be lower than it would be in spring, but lots of species are on winter territory or still on the move, in particular water-loving birds like ducks and gulls that can be in huge numbers at specific spots. For that reason, our first stop will be the Port Elgin water treatment lagoon where high numbers of sea ducks and Bonaparte’s Gulls could be present with whatever else might have followed them there. From there we will follow the coast, stopping at many well-known spots (and some maybe not so well known) on the shore but also inland. There we will look again for water birds but also upland species. We will continue our adventure with a stop at Cape Tormentine where the village and the infrastructure of the closed down ferry terminal as well as the still active wharf have proven time and again to be attractive at that time of year to many interesting species. We will then finish our day with a stop at the Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area where the many ponds and trails on the peninsula have also been magnets in the past for some very good birds in late fall. So all in all, we should be in for a good number of species and who knows what “rare one” might be present at some of those spots that have proven over the years to be very productive in November.

Where to meet and when

Those in the Moncton area who wish to carpool to Port Elgin can meet Roger Leblanc at 8:15 AM behind the Burger King in the Champlain Mall parking lot. Others can meet at 9:00 AM in the parking lot of the Shell gas station on Hwy 16 at the Port Elgin roundabout where Roger will meet them to begin the outing.

Bring a lunch. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton