Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 12 2016

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – November 12, 2016 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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**John Massey got a few great photos of an immature RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] on the Tantramar Marsh. He was able to drive very near the Hawk, as it was intent on a small rodent on the ground. John also got a photo of an adult Red-tailed Hawk – the photo had to be lightened somewhat to show the rust adult tail. As well, he got two photos of a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK [Buse pattue]. The photos are at a distance and documentary, but note the longer primary projection of the end wingtips past the tail, which is not the case for the Red-tailed Hawk, and the feathering of the legs of the Rough-legged Hawk to the tarsal area, which is not the case for a Red-tailed Hawk. Some nice learning ID features. John also found a nest in his Dieppe yard that would appear to be a possible VIREO [Viréo] nest, due to the Vireo habit of suspending their nests in the crotch of a branch, and often ornamenting the exterior with bits of bark or lichen.

**Gordon Rattray got some excellent flight photos of some birds at the Tucker Street Ducks Unlimited impoundment on Wednesday. The GREEN-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle d'hiver] nicely shows the black patch adjacent to its green speculum, while the MALLARD [Canard colvert] flight photo nicely shows the white rump area and the blue speculum bordered in white. Gordon also photographed a GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] and a lone SANDPIPER [Bécasseau] that he commented was very difficult to get to cooperate for a photo, but is very suggestive of a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à croupion blanc] as indicated by the evident white superciliary line and long primary projection. A photo of a Duck strongly suggests the possibility of a MALLARD x NORTHERN PINTAIL hybrid [hybride Canard colvert x Canard pilet], seeming to show characteristics of both species. It is my understanding this bird could not reproduce viable offspring, as the male BLACK DUCK x MALLARD hybrid is able to do. Gordon reports there were approximately 200 GREEN-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle d'hiver], 50 MALLARD Ducks [Canard colvert], and 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] with the suspected WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à croupion blanc], as well as an immature EAGLE [Aigle] that soared overhead.

**Stella LeBlanc noted a different-appearing bird in their Bouctouche yard earlier in the week, but was only able to get a photo of it Friday, to show it to be a welcome BROWN THRASHER [Moqueur roux]. This is the first Brown Thrasher to their Bouctouche yard, and it stayed longer on Friday than it has been. The Brown Thrasher is notoriously shy in feeder yards. A sharply-dressed RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] also showed up to visit their feeder yard.

**A photo of berries in the Sackville Waterfowl Park that Anna Tucker recently submitted raised questions. On consultation with Sean Blaney, he advises that he has seen some of these in the Sackville Waterfowl Park in the area behind the Tourist Bureau, as well as near his King Street home in Sackville. He suspects them to be a hybrid between MOUNTAIN-ASH and CHOKE CHERRY [hybride entre le Sorbier des oiseaux et le Cerisier à grappes]. These hybrids occur occasionally when the parent genera are in close proximity. Sean adds that if this is not what it is, it could be some kind of unusual barely-established ornamental in the Rose family.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton