Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 15 2016

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - November 15, 2016 (Tuesday)

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

Transcript by : Louise Richard richlou@nbnet.nb.ca

Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** The Nature Moncton meeting is on tonight, Tuesday, starting at 7 pm at Mapleton Rotary Lodge across from Cabela’s, with special guest Stephen Clayden with write up added at the end of this message. A reminder: Mike Dickinson will be arriving at the parking lot of the yard at 5:30 pm with 100+ bags of NB grown black oil sunflower seed, so folks who ordered seed are asked to arrive early to get their order to avoid congestion in the lot. As well, bring any photos or videos to share in the 2nd segment of the meeting after the break.

** As reported yesterday, the HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle de Hammond] that Jim and Jean Wilson found at Fundy National Park on Saturday was seen twice on Sunday, the last at approximately 12:30 noon in the same location it was originally found, but not located on Monday, although conditions were favourable. Jim shares 2 photos of the bird that he got when he first discovered it and advises the points to look at in the first image are these: slightly ‘crested’ head, small beak, grey head and nape, contrasting with the olive green back and crown and the quite long primary projection. When viewed from underneath, in photo 2 note the mostly dark lower mandible and the ‘vested’ greyish sides of the chest with clear pale yellow in the centre of the chest and belly as well as the relatively narrow beak. Jim advises he and a few others are assuming the bird is a Hammond’s Flycatcher at this point, final decision on the identification will rest with the eventual vote by the Birds’ Records Committee. Thank you Jim for sharing these photos of the first known visit of this suspected Flycatcher to New Brunswick !

** Jamie and Karen Burris visited the Hillsborough Wetlands Park and Grey Brook Marsh on Monday to leave some interesting observations: on route there, a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tote blanche] was on its lookout at Stoney Creek, at the wetlands park one NORTHERN PINTAIL [Canard pilet] in particular was kicking up a dramatic splash, 8 other Pintails with it were not getting in on the act. As they went near the river, they could see mice scrambling up the shore due to the very high full moon tide, which is going to get even higher over the next few days. They also saw their first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] with a great photo to nicely show the signature bi-coloured bill.

** Doreen Rossiter comments she’s getting very lively response from a wide range of the expected species to her Alma feeder yard. On Saturday, a FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] came by. Doreen comments this species usually does not stay long at this time of year, however this individual is still present on Tuesday morning very actively foraging. Also a CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] arrived for a one day visit on Saturday.

** Roger LeBlanc leaves a heads up on the Nature Moncton Christmas Bird Count coming up on Saturday December 17th. He has the names of all past participants and will be making contact, and anyone who is interested in joining this year’s count can indicate their interest at tonight’s Nature Moncton meeting to Roger or contact Roger by phone at 852-0863 for more information or to sign up.

** Looks like the COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] are coming. Aldo Dorio spotted a flock of approximately 50 near the Neguac wharf at their favourite forage source of BIRCH CATKINS. He also saw a flock of 70 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] that were foraging on what appears to be flowering CRAB FRUIT. This was all after a beautiful sunrise to bring on the beautiful day of Monday. I am also attaching a photo of a few days ago, Aldo got a SANDERLING [Bécasseau sanderling] that is quite suggestive of a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à croup ion blanc] behind it, as suggested by the strong white superciliary line and lengthened primary projection of the primary wing feathers nicely past the tail.

** Brian Stone got a photo of the so-called SUPER MOON [Super Lune] in Monday evening’s twighlight as it appeared. Brian’s P900 camera is in the camera hospital, so the attached photo is not the quality he usually shares. All best wishes for a full camera recovery are extended:)

** The BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] continues to visit our yard grapevine on a daily basis, however, its visits are very irregular and tending to be relatively short. I’m getting the impression the bird is becoming brighter since it was first seen several days ago. It surely fuels up when it does arrive.

NATURE MONCTON NOVEMBER MEETING
Tuesday, November 15 at 7:00 PM

Guest speaker: Stephen Clayden
Place: MAPLETON PARK ROTARY LODGE (across from Cabela’s)
Title: The Acadian Forest

We live in a very special part of the world in New Brunswick.
The Maritime Provinces encompass the transition between temperate deciduous (“hardwood”) and boreal evergreen (“softwood”) forests in northeastern North America. Red spruce is a signature species of this region, but many other conifers and hardwoods are present, forming a mosaic of forest communities that reflect both environmental and historical influences. This diverse and distinctive assemblage was first termed the Acadian Forest by William E. D. Halliday in 1937 in his pioneering classification of the forest regions of Canada. Since then, the name has gained widespread use by ecologists, foresters, and conservationists. It has also entered the popular imagination, conjuring up the special character of the woods of the Maritimes. In this talk, Stephen Clayden will provide an overview of the Acadian Forest: how it came to be recognized by that name; its variation across the region and modification by human pressures; and the challenges involved in conserving its rich biodiversity, known and unknown.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton