NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – February 18, 2017
(Saturday)
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advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
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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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**Marlene
Hickman had a nice surprise to her Dorchester feeder yard on Friday with the
appearance of a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à epaulettes]. This was
assumed to be an overwintering bird, as it would be very early for a new
southern arrival. But this time next month could be possible for the advance
guard of usually adult male Red-winged Blackbirds to start arriving. Marlene’s
NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] that had not visited for several days made a
return visit, as did a dark-variant RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide].
Marlene captured photos.
**Brian
Stone paid a visit to the area near the Gorge Road entrance of Mapleton Park on
Friday to check out ahead for a visit for the feeder tour today. Unfortunately,
it was not ploughed out yet, so a wade through the snow produced some scenarios
of rather hungry Ducks: a BLACK x MALLARD DUCK hybrid [hybride Canard noir x
Canard colvert], the leucistic female Mallard that has been overwintering there,
and an overwintering female NORTHERN PINTAIL [Canard pilet]. He also got a nice
shot of a MUSKRAT [Rat musqué], nicely showing that vertically-flattened whip
tail, so effective as a rudder. Note the smaller size of the Northern Pintail
Duck compared to the Mallard Ducks around it.
Brian
also photographed a POLAR BEAR [Ours polaire] rubbing against a tree in the
park; I’ll leave the readership to decide the validity of this report, after
viewing the photo!!
Nelson
Poirier
Nature
Moncton
DUCKS. FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE
MALLARD DUCK ( LEUCISTIC FEMALE ). FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE
MALLARD-BLACK DUCK HYBRID . FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE
MUSKRAT. FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE
NORTHERN PINTAIL (FRONT BIRD). FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE
POLAR BEAR. FEB. 17, 2017 BRIAN STONE
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE).FEB 17, 2017.MARLENE HICKMAN
RING-NECKED PHEASANT (DARK VARIANT) AND NORTHERN FLICKER.FEB 17, 2017.MARLENE HICKMAN
