Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 11 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 11, 2017 (Wednesday)

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

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

Transcript by: Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com

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

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**Jamie and Karen Burris paid a visit to Mapleton Park to see the WOOD DUCKS there on Monday. The wood ducks were not there at first so Jamie took some nice photos of MALLARD DUCKS in flight. Note the characteristic white tail and brown chest of the male in flight and the clear white banded speculum in the female mallard photo. Also note the wing marks in the snow as a bird took flight. They returned later and the wood duck was there to get a nice photo of it beside the much larger MALLARD and all was well until a person arrived with corn and the frenzy that resulted was a bit disturbing to watch as the smaller wood duck got pummelled severely by the aggressive MALLARD behaviour. They walked all over him and even shook him strongly. Jamie took some of the corn and tossed it into the water which seemed to divert the mallards attention. I suspect this could be averted somewhat if the corn was spread widely, especially into the water. The ducks could easily dabble for it as well as PIGEONS not being attracted.

Jamie also got a surprise bonus at Mapleton Park when a male NORTHERN PINTAIL in handsome breeding plumage appeared. Note the full wing speculum of Jamie's flight shot. This is a duck, just like the wood duck, we don't tend to see in NB in winter.

The female MERLIN that has Jamie’s yard as part of its territory is making regular visits. Jamie suspects her main interest is MOURNING DOVES.

**On Tuesday afternoon Jean Renton took a walk in the sugar woods at Stilesville to see a BROWN CREEPER and a PILEATED WOODPECKER. The deep crevices of the furrows of mature sugar maple trees must be excellent foraging for a brown creeper.

The FIELD sparrow continues to be a patron at the Renton's Stilesville feeder yard.

**Danny Sullivan took a photo of the adult BALD eagle ignoring Tuesdays snowfall as it perched on a utility structure near the Irishtown Rd and the Trans Canada Highway intersection.

**Kerry Lee Morris Cormier advises a very interesting shorebird presentation will take place at Mount Allison University at 2pm on Thursday afternoon at Bennett room #G03. Sarah Neima who Kerry Lee describes as an amazing shorebird biologist, will be defending her masters thesis, which is open to the public and everyone is welcome. The PDF is attached to the membership mail out but cannot be attached to the BlogSpot. The title of the presentation is Stopover Ecology of SEMI PALMATED SANDPIPERS During the Fall Migration Through the Bay of Fundy.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton