Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 6 2016

** Gordon Rattray visited the area of a carrot farm field on the Perry Rd on Wednesday in the Ste-Anne-de-Kent area to see the immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE [Oie rieuse] there located earlier by Rose-Alma Mallet and Stewart Tingley. The fields are 2 kms down the Perry Rd. Gordon comments there were approximately 2,000 Geese present and may be a bit of a challenge to isolate the goose. Gordon also saw approximately 100 HORNED LARKS [Alouette hausse-col] in the area as well to get a few nice photos.

** Brian Stone was in the Shepody/ Fundy National Park area on Wednesday to spot a distant SPOTTED SANDPIPER [Chevalier grivelé] in basic plumage to get a documentary photo. The majority of Spotted Sandpipers seem to have migrated by now but this one seemed quite content to be still at Point Wolfe. Brian also comments on TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tote rouge] seeing 3 at the Lars Larsen Marsh area and 10 in the area near Riverside Albert.

** Aldo Dorio got 2 photos of a sparrow on Tuesday that needs close looks to identify it, as a SAVANNAH SPARROW [Bruant des prés] and not a Song Sparrow. Dave MacLeod points out from the photo of the back of the bird shows 2 sets of prominent light feather tracks on the back or mantle that resemble a pair of braces. This feature is typical for the Savannah Sparrow but lacking in the Song Sparrow, or at least does not stand out as prominently. A nice little identification tool. Also the chest striping seems a bit fine compared to a Song Sparrow and the breast spot not as obvious. It’s not unusual for bird photos to be challenging even for common expected species.

** We are all enjoying a very beautiful fall day in NB today, but Jill Greening who follows the Nature Moncton blog spot from Edam, Saskatchewan, reminds us what will no doubt be happening in NB, hopefully later, as her daughter bundled up to enjoy the freshly fallen snow there !

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton