Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 8, 2016

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca. Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by : Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com
Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**More BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS moving about the area. Marlene Hickman had a flock of approximately 20 cleaning up the fruit remnants of a Mountain Ash tree at her Dorchester home in the beautiful sun of Monday. There was little to interfere with their lively vocal celebration.

**Gabriel Gallant experienced an interesting scenario with another of our arrivals from the north on Saturday. He was sitting at his dining room table while watching his feeders,the usual patrons of BLUE JAYS, MOURNING DOVES, CHICKADEES and a few AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were present. An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE suddenly appeared to give chase to two Blue Jays, who were able to easily avoid the aggressor. The SHRIKE then perched on a tree for a few minutes when it noticed a HAIRY woodpecker, who was on top a hydro pole. The woodpecker went down to the side of the pole with only its head visible from where Gabriel was sitting. The Northern Shrike went on the attack and swooped down towards the woodpecker several times. The woodpecker simply ducked its head each time the shrike flew near the top of his hydro pole. Gabriel tried to capture some photos from inside the house but it was all happening too quickly. It seems odd the SHRIKE never bothered any of the smaller birds, some of which were in the lilac tree. After 15 minutes chasing birds around, the shrike left.

**Brian Stone and Don Hayston paid a visit to the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Monday to get some nice photo images of activity there to include GADWALL, RING-NECKED ducks, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, BUFFLEHEAD with some to show the striking gender differences so distinctly when not in eclipse or immature stages. The BLACK DUCK being the exception to that rule.

They also got an AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK dragonfly, the only dragonfly expected to have some still on the wing at this time, but the warm temperatures could give some surprises.

A FISHING SPIDER also joined the photo lineup.

**We don't expect to see many warblers in November but it was a pleasant surprise to have one join me in deep woods in the Prosser Brook area on Monday. The BLACK-and-WHITE WARBLER is one that does not make significant fall plumage changes. The photos of this fast moving little character on a mission, the photos that it allowed, suggested it to be an immature or female bird. The butt view is one we may often see but seldom get in a stand alone photo.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton