Nature Moncton Nature News: March 31 2015

** Penny Clark checked out the BALD EAGLE's [Pygargue à tête blanche] nest on the Buctouche River adjacent Camp Wildwood on Sunday. She noted one sitting on the nest and another in a nearby tree. So it looks like that nest will be active this year. Penny has a great view of this nest to monitor action.

** Catherine Clements cautions some may have interpreted her message of yesterday to say she saw 3 PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] on Sunday. She did indeed see only 2, and any implication of 3 was an error in my wording of her comments.

** Georges Brun spotted 18 CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada] at the bend of the Petitcodiac River on Monday evening, along with one lone male RING-NECKED DUCK [Fuligule à collier] with them. A PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] was hiding in the lower right inside corner of the big A logo.

** Susan Richards photographed some Pine Cone Galls on Willow that overwintered by her Taylor Village home. These galls are produced by an insect and appear to be specific to Willow.

** John Foster and Jane had their first male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes} arrive on Sunday March 29, to their urban Moncton feeder yard. For the past several years, March 29th has been the exact same date the Red-Winged Blackbird arrived, with the exception of 2014 when it was delayed 4 days by a snow storm.

** I passed by Jemseg on Monday and found the GREAT HORNED OWL [Grand-duc d’Amérique] that had taken over an Osprey nest that was recently reported there. I got a photo from inside the truck, however, when stepped out of the side of the truck to try for one just a bit closer, the owl dropped down into the nest out of sight. It was late in the day and overcast and at maximum zoom, but the piercing eyes are quite visible.

** An amusing photo I neglected to take note of yesterday — one of the photos Georges Brun got of the Hooded Merganser pair on Sunday was in the shadow of the TIDAL BORE coming in.

** Barb Curlew had her first FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] of the spring to her waterside feeder on Monday. We see these colourful rust-red striped sparrows for a brief time window in the spring as they move forward to nest to the north of us, or at least the majority do.

** Monday must have been official EASTERN CHIPMUNK [Suisse] day, Anne Marsch had 2 Chipmunks filling their pouches on Monday. Her first AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d’Amérique] arrived and her solitary BOHEMIAN WAXWING [Jaseur boréal] is still a regular patron as well as a female NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge].

** Brian Stone got photos of a EASTERN CHIPMUNK [Suisse] emerging from the deep snow as well as a duo of male MALLARDS [Canard colvert] in full spring finery, with a female considering the prospects.

** Bob Blake as well had their first EASTERN CHIPMUNK [Suisse] appear at their Second North River yard deck on Monday, and also noted a road killed SKUNK [Moufette] in Wheaten Settlement on Sunday commenting on how it appeared very white on the head and tail taking note of the variability in plumage of the Skunk.

** The Rentons' RED FOXES [Renard roux] are looking very well fed and comfortable, little wonder, it appears in one photo they can get their cake and eat it too!

** Doreen Rossiter had more RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes] arrive on Monday along with the first COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé]. She also had the first SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur], 3 arrived, and the DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé] group swelled from 25 to 50.

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca