Nature Moncton Nature News: March 9 2015

** The VESPER SPARROW [Bruant vespéral] in Roger LeBlanc’s feeder yard at Notre-Dame surely has been a faithful patron this winter. Roger advises that it is still a regular and easily seen. Many folks have enjoyed this special sparrow during its winter stay on New Brunswick.

** Brian Stone is back in town, but before leaving Dartmouth he tried for better photos of the EURASIAN KESTREL [Faucon crécerelle] overwintering there. It did not cooperate but Brian got awesome photos of an immature BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK [Buse pattue]. The Rough-legged Hawk’s spread undertail shows nicely that no upper bands are detectable, to indicate that it was either a female or an immature male. Brian also did the same with a BOHEMIAN WAXWING [Jaseur boréal] to show its many field marks in one photo. Note the cinnamon undertail coverts, more white on the wing than on a Cedar Waxwing, the lack of yellow blush on the breast and the lack of a white band above the black facial mask, which the Cedar Waxwing has. Brian also photographed another SOLAR HALO from the train en route back to Moncton.

** I’m noting that our resident male RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] is showing some spring attitudes. We used to only hear it when it was alarmed by our dogs or something else but now it flies on top of the bird enclosure, opens its wings and crows loudly as if to announce its presence on territory.

** Greg Osowski, outdoor educator for the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, will give a session about snow shacks and animal tracks, on Sunday, March 15. The poster for this event, with registration details, is attached. This event is sponsored by the Atlantic Wildlife Institute.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca