Nature Moncton Nature News: March 5 2016

**Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc confirm the TUFTED TITMOUSE [Mésange bicolore] continues to be a patron at 67 Desroches Street in Bouctouche, at the Chisholms’ feeder yard. It has been there as a regular since last fall, and has had an appreciated audience by many birders.

**Dave Christie made a check of a few BALD EAGLES’ [Pygargue à tête blanche] nests as he drove Route 114 at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The two nests between Hopewell Cape and Edgetts Landing were empty; however, on return at 5:00 p.m., he noted a female on the rim of the Riverview Cemetery nest and a male perched on a branch nearby. There was no sign of activity around the Demoiselle Creek nest. I suspect that these sites will soon have their owners checking them for spring updating. Dave comments his Mary’s Point feeder yard at the moment is dominated by AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste].

**Anna Tucker visited Sackville Waterfowl Park on Friday to note lots more open water and green patches of grass in different places along the boardwalks. MALLARDS [Canard colvert] were moving about. It looks like the Sackville Waterfowl Park will become alive with wildlife soon, if weather continues to be mild.

**Brian Stone and I made a run to Saint John on Friday to take advantage of the beautiful sunny day. The Cardwell Farms site at Penobsquis had incredible BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] activity. No-one was available to take us right into the site but the activity on the site must have been awesome. The target bird of the TUFTED DUCK [Fuligule morillon] was not located but Indiantown Beach area gave a surprising number of very lively BUFFLEHEAD [Petit Garrot] with SCAUP [Fuligule], some of which were LESSER SCAUP [Petit Fuligule] for sure when the open wing could be seen in some of the photographs to note white on the secondaries only. A very large flock of Scaup were spotted moving in tight formation in the cove. The Tufted Duck was very likely among them and got us on its list; however, they stayed out of close optic observations. Several male RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier] popped in, which may be new arrivals. MERGANSER [Harle] and EIDER [Eider] were seen off Tin Can Beach, but the low tide prevented much being seen off Hanover Street and Marsh Creek. A group of approximately 15 WHITE-TAILED DEER [Chevreuil] were noted out in a snow-free field at dusk in the Salisbury area.

We did spot an unusual white solitary critter in Penobsquis. Maybe conferring with Don MacAlpine at the NB Museum will verify its identity!!!!!!

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton