Nature Moncton Nature News: March 28 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE March 28, 2017 (Tuesday)

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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)

** Another BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tote blanche] nest reporting in. Mac Wilmot noted an adult deep in the bowl of the Mud Creek Bald Eagle Nest that has been used some years and some not. The nest is in a White Pine Tree as most are, at the junction of Mud Creek and the Petitcodiac River in Lower Coverdale on the Bissett property.

** Elaine Gallant spotted a flock of approximately 30 COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] in the swamp area near Parlee Beach on Monday. She suspects it’s the same group that she has seen in the area periodically over the winter but not coming to her feeder yard, but some nice bonus birds at Elaine’s feeder yard are a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant], both a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poi trine blanche] and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poi trine rousse], as well as a BROWN CREEPER [Grimpereau brun] that is making periodic visits.

** Jean-Paul LeBlanc photographed a first winter ICELAND GULL [Goéland arctique] at the Bouctouche lagoon on Monday. Note the base of the bill is paling to suggest it is moulting out of that plumage, but the eye is still dark.

** Danny Sullivan became very serious about building some Swallow Boxes after the Nature Moncton Nest Box workshop on March 18th. The photo says it all !

** All 51 nest boxes reserved at the workshop are now assigned to folks with the number of boxes assigned to landlords who will be reporting on results.

** I made a late day visit to the Tantramar Marsh on Monday afternoon. Skies were getting very dark and snow starting but there was lots of action. I went around the Anderson Marsh Rd down the High Marsh Rd and out the Coles Island Rd. The Anderson Marsh Rd had a few innocent drift spots, the High Marsh Rd was excellent, and the Coles Island Rd was very good at the start but rough towards the former CBC towers. The ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue] and RED-TAILED HAWKS [Buse à queue rousse] seemed about the same number as were there in the winter. I expected to see more NORTHERN HARRIERS [Busard Saint-Martin], but did not. These best items of interest were on the Coles Island Rd. Two Eagles were on a double high pylon sizing each other up, it turned out to be the GOLDEN EAGLE [Aigle royal] and an adult BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tote blanche] exchanging thoughts; sure wish I could have been aware of their discussion as they starred each other down. About half way along the Coles Island Rd is a new RAVEN’s nest [Grand corbeau] near the summit of one of the large pylons. A group of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide] were around the farm at the end of the Anderson Marsh Rd that all seemed to be dark brown variants. For a fast impromptu visit, it was very rewarding to see that darn Golden Eagle after so many visits this winter ! Note the golden nape and legs appearing feathered to the digits; I was wishing it would have been a brighter day and no snow for better photos, but maybe that’s why everyone was out. No Snowy Owls or Short-eared Owls were seen.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton