Nature Moncton Nature News: March 22 2016

** A tip of the hat to Carmella Melanson who made an early morning run on Monday to the Tantramar Marsh before the snow started to get serious to be rewarded with seeing the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE [Oie rieuse] Hank Scarth and Paul Mansz had found on Sunday afternoon. Carmella got a nice photo for the poor light that she had to work with. The photo shows the smaller size of the Greater White-Fronted Goose in comparison to the CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada] it is accompanying.

** Louise Nichols comments her Sackville yard picked up with the storm from the usual 8 to 9 species to 13. A RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] was in a yard Birch tree, her first SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] arrived, but special was a FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] that stayed all day. We’ve had a lot of nice pictures of Waxwings but 2 that Louise got on Sunday are too good not to share. She noted a flock of approximately 100 to 150 Waxwings laced with AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d’Amérique] in Sackville on Sunday.

** John Langelaan reports a very significant swell in the number of expected patrons at their feeder yard facing Mill Creek at the edge of the Riverview town limits the past few days. They have been watching the BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tote blanche] nest there on Mill Creek that they see easily from their home. They have seen adults go and come from the nest but wondering if they are spending enough time at the nest to be initiating real occupation. John notes the nest failed the past 2 years and hoping for more positive results this year.

** Bev Schneider shares a nice photo of a HORNED GREBE taken at the Dipper Harbour Wharf on Saturday. It was a special moment to have this species come so close to the wharf to cooperate for a photo.

** The snow storm did not bother a few cock RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide] from getting into serious spring dueling on Monday in Susan Richards’ yard in Memramcook. They have 5 males and 4 females as regulars but the 2 in Susan’s photos are just not agreeing on who’s the “Cock of the Walk”.

** Some changes for the Owl Prowl and short workshop that had been planned for this coming Thursday evening. Guide Roger LeBlanc does not think we should do the owl prowl on Thursday because of the cold temperatures this week; he’s tested his route, and has not been able to locate any owls at all at the moment. We can look forward to our alternative date of Monday, March 28, as a possibility. But even with that date, we’ll have to watch for conditions, so stay tuned.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton