Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 8 2016

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - December 8, 2016 (Thursday)

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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)

** With the recent surge and numbers of raptors on the Tantramar Marsh, Louise Nichols and Roger LeBlanc have arranged for a very interesting survey to take place on Sunday morning. This is an excellent chance for folks who want to hone up their raptor identification skills to be paired up with an experienced birder; as well as those familiar with raptors, but continue to enjoy every one they see. There’s always the possibility of a Golden Eagle and Snowy Owls. The write up for the event is attached below.

Raptor Count on the Tantramar

As a follow-up to Roger Leblanc's recent report on the large number of raptors he saw on the Tantramar Marsh, we would like to organize a count of raptors this weekend on the Tantramar. We will meet in the parking lot of the Sackville Macdonald's (just after the 1st Sackville exit off the Trans Canada Hwy coming from Moncton) at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning (Dec. 11). From there, we will drive up to High Marsh Rd. and divide into teams in order to survey as much of the marsh as possible for a period of about one hour. Roger Leblanc will be there to supervise the activity. No need to be an expert at raptor ID because Roger will place beginners with more experienced birders. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca. Everyone is welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

** It is well documented that Woodpeckers sometimes use nest boxes as night shelters, but one sure has to be in the right place at the right time to see that quick entry. Maurice Richard has now twice seen a DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur] go into a Tree Swallow nest box in front of their home on the shoreline on Jones Lake, and one entered the box at approximately 4:30 pm on Wednesday.

** Brian Stone was finding something was cleaning up his bird seed and peanut butter put on trees during the night. He caught the culprit with a photo taken out a side door window. Also, Brian had a handsome male PILEATED WOODPECKER [Grand pic] stop hammering long enough for a photo. Brian also photographed an interesting spider inside an older home, and identified it as a LONG BODIED CELLAR SPIDER with guidance from BugGuide. The bigger ones have a 2.5 inch leg span.

** Aldo Dorio got a photo of a SEAL checking things out around the Neguac Wharf on Wednesday morning. On checking with Laurie Murrison, it is a tricky one to call for certain from what is shown in the photo. There is a dip in the snout to suggest Harbour Seal, but the nostrils look like a Grey Seal. Laurie comments a slight turn of the head to the camera would have clenched it!

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton