Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 3 2016

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – December 3, 2016 (Saturday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

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**Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc share some interesting photo action in Bouctouche. They found two BOREAL CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête brune] on the trail adjacent to Chemin Des Roches. They were constantly on the move and hard to capture in a photo. Jean-Paul also photographed a KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur] at the Bouctouche lagoon on Friday. One has overwintered there for the past few winters, to make one wonder if it isn’t the same individual. They also noted what appeared to be MOOSE [Orignal] tracks. If you look closely at them, I can see dewclaws registering behind the hoofprint. Dewclaws in the WHITE-TAILED DEER [Chevreuil] are much higher and would seldom register in snow.

**Kevin Renton reports their EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] flock coming to their Stilesville feeder has gone from three to thirty now, with a nice selection of expected regulars. They found a BLUE JAY [Geai bleu] perched in a tree outside on Friday morning with tail and wing feathers frozen. They caught it and brought it in the house, with it soon loudly protesting. With feathers thawed, and it was released.

**Dave Christie reports that the DICKCISSEL [Dickcissel d'Amérique] remained a content tenant on Friday, to give much better observations. Dave suspects it to be an immature male. On a walk to the beach area at Mary’s Point, Dave was surprised to spot eleven RED-THROATED LOONS [Plongeon catmarin] as he had been noting only one to three there in the past month. A NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] went over his home again; not sure if it was one of the duo he saw a few days ago still around, or another on the move. Dave comments the heavier woods is surprisingly free of snow after the heavy snow melted from the trees, yet the open areas still have heavy snow cover.

**Doris Hatt on Main Street in Alma has a female NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] that tends to show up in early mornings. This may be the one being shared with Doreen Rossiter, who lives nearby. There is also a reliable report of a male Cardinal in Riverview that we may be able to get more on soon.

**Brian Stone got a nice shot of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus after dusk on Friday night in the western sky right behind the setting sun. If the sky is clear tonight, we will see the Moon significantly farther above Venus. Brian points out that the Moon moves a lot in one day compared to Venus, compounded by the distance of the two from us. Brian also got a nice photo of BEECH [Hêtre] leaves still clinging to the tree, as they often do for most of the winter. Also a photo of a GROUND aka COMMON JUNIPER [Genévrier commun] with ripe berries. Note the needle-like leaves of Ground Juniper, whereas CREEPING JUNIPER [Savinier] has flat, scale-like, Cedar-like leaves. Also a photo of WHITE-TAILED DEER [Chevreuil] scat that is often in loose pellets, where this sample is more packed together. And also a cooperative DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur].

**Mac Wilmot’s EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY [Fraisier remontant] patch near a foundation wall is living up to its name, producing berries and flowers, even though banked by snow.

**With December here, it’s time to start thinking of Christmas Bird Counts. The Moncton Christmas Bird Count will be on December 17th. The Memramcook area is always an interesting one. Yolande LeBlanc is the coordinator, and the Memramcook count will take place on December 26th, with a snow date of December 27th. Yolande is looking for folks to join in. Contact Yolande at 758-9583. She wants to know as soon as possible ahead of time, to arrange teams, and for a luncheon tally at her 251 Centrale Street home afterwards.

**Our BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] continues its visit, but has made a menu change. There are still lots of grapes available (and grape jelly), but it has started to take sunflower chips more frequently now, seeming to get along well with the AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier]. The bird-feeding guides say this species does like sunflower chips, but this is the first time I’ve had one at this time of year to see if it’s the case. I was surprised early Friday morning to have a male EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] quickly check out our in-town feeder yard – hope he was a scout and brings his kin.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton