Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 19 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 19, 2017 (Sunday)

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

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Georges Brun has maintained a small urban forest on a lot next to his Churchill Street home that seems to get lots of surprise drop-by’s. He spotted a yellow bird among a group of DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé], BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu], and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire] and got a photo to show it to be a fairly bright PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins]. He has woodpeckers working in his urban forest regularly.

** Gary Capson has been hearing a thump in the night, more after the recent storms, as a NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL [Grand Polatouche] visits his suet feeder. Gary has made a new suet feeder in the meantime and the squirrel has had no trouble adapting to it. Gary says that it’s the first time in 28 years that he has been able to get a chance to capture a photo of a flying squirrel at his feeder, using a house night-light and cranking up his camera to a high ISO, to catch movement.

** The WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] are finding Susan Richard’s’ Taylor Village yard a popular spot. Susan sends a photo of 7 very healthy-looking deer for the time of year, checking out the menu, and 5 more were en route. She got a photo of one with ears appearing to be split. It is so symmetrical that it could be a birth defect and not necessarily an injury.

** Marie Rees, on the Salisbury Road, found a hawk on a snow drift by her home. It turned out to be a juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] and has been collected for the New Brunswick Museum collection. Some photos are attached to show some of its features that we don’t often have the opportunity to see up close. It was 10 inches in length.

** Lois Budd comments on a new RED SQUIRREL [Écureuil roux] proof bird feeder that so far has been working, with all her small birds having figured it out, including a BLUE JAY [Geai bleu], but so far, the squirrels are still baffled.

** The Nature Moncton BIRD FEEDER TOUR took place on Saturday under perfect weather conditions. The awesome breakfast start to the day, courtesy of Jean and Billy Renton, was very appreciated. A great selection of birds came for their dining start to the day as well, with BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal], PINE GROSBEAKS [Durbec des sapins], including some very colourful adult males, EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant], several DOWNY [Pic mineur] and HAIRY WOODPECKERS [Pic chevelu], AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien], and their star visitor this winter, a FIELD SPARROW [Bruant des champs], was special. The two sparrows nicely show their field marks in the pictures. The pink legs and bill, white eye-ring and wingbars show well on the Field Sparrow and the sharply bicoloured bill and breast spot on the Tree Sparrow.

A second stop at Mapleton Park, where the smaller female WOOD DUCK [Canard branchu] had no problem holding her own among the many MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks and some AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS [Canard noir]. The leucistic female Mallard is still present. The more shy NORTHERN PINTAIL [Canard pilet] remained on the periphery of the group but gave some great observations. Note the long "periscope-style” neck of the Pintail in Danny’s pictures.

Various feeder-style ideas were noted on the third stop, at Bob Blake’s. A BROWN CREEPER [Grimpereau brun] put on a performance for the first arrivals at Connie and Pearl Colpitts’ and was caught on film by Mitch Doucet. A few participants got on the wrong street in Salisbury and had very close observations of a MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] that in true style showed its bold manner.

The last stop at Pat Poirier’s provided lots more choice human tidbits, and lots of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien], and some SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur]. Note Mitch Doucet’s Song Sparrow photo that shows the much heavier dark banding on the breast and the dark bill. Its larger size would show if it were beside the other sparrows.

It was a great day of social contact and lots of bird variety. All thanks to president Susan for making the arrangements.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton