Nature Moncton Nature News: November 28 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 28, 2024

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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 and proofreader Louise Nichols at Nicholsl@eastlink.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Aldo Dorio photographed a Great Blue Heron still present at Hay Island on Wednesday.

The black upper mandible and the predominantly black crown suggest this to be a young-of-the-year bird.

**Brian Stone and Nelson Poirier joined the Chignecto Naturalists Club on a field trip to Cape Jourimain and Cape Tormentine on Tuesday in sometimes damp and sometimes sunny weather. Bald Eagles, a Peregrine Falcon, a Merlin, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk performed flyovers, and the Merlin perched on a treetop at a great distance. Some of the plentiful birds seen and photographed were Common Eider, Common Raven, Downy woodpeckers, Herring gulls, Iceland gulls, Great-black-backed gulls, Long-tailed ducks, Northern Pintails, Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-throated Loons, Surf Scoters, and Yellow-rumped warblers.

(Editor’s note: the lone male Common Eider photographed left participants wondering if some of the plumage in the breast and back (arrowed) may have been oiled. It seemed to act in an untypical manner yet was foraging on assumed shellfish attached to the wharf.)

Large flocks of American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and American Robins flew around the field trip participants often, but did not stay perched at any reasonable distance. Many varieties of berry bushes were lining the trails, and brilliant Maritime Starburst Lichen on the coastline rocks was evident in several areas. A small group of Canada Geese made an appearance, the loudest of the birds seen. Interesting scenery was also a large part of the outing, especially during the sunny breaks.

Brian took many more photos over the day, and these can be viewed at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jnag5dewrtua2vc6wlibb/AGdzPvV6T9GdWiI9VslsBEQ?rlkey=8rcrmtpylx392yio6pp4fw1y7&st=o89f45m1&dl=0

(Editor’s note: all appreciation goes to Andrew MacFarlane for leading this trip and sharing his knowledge of this very special area of New Brunswick. The bird vocalization recognition skills of Kiirsti Owen and Roland Chiasson were very valued.

The outstanding crop of Winterberry Holly could potentially lead some fruit connoisseur bird species to overwinter. Bayberry shrubs were loaded with fruit, rosehips were abundant, as was Chokeberry. The brilliant red winter buds of Chokeberry were striking.)

Kiiristi Owen kept an ebird list which can be viewed at the link below:

https://ebird.org/tripreport/295871?welcome=true

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton