Nature Moncton Nature News: March 6 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, March 6, 2017 (Monday)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com

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

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Dave Christie was out and about the Mary's Point area on Sunday. He noted that the CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] flock on the dykelands of the Shepody Marsh near the dam was up to 83 birds, with possibly more out of view in ditches. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes] and COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé] were roaming about, and he spotted a RED-THROATED LOON [Plongeon catmarin] off Mary's Point beach, the first one he has seen there since mid-December. This species is frequently seen off Fundy National Park during the winter.

** Jean-Paul LeBlanc reports that they had four CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] visit their Bouctouche yard on Sunday to check some winter-clinging berries.

** Brian and Annette Stone, and Danny Sullivan, made a trek on the Université de Moncton trail, off Crowley Farm Road on Sunday. They saw four AM. PORCUPINES [Porc-épic d'Amérique] working in that area, mainly on some very large, old EASTERN HEMLOCK [Pruche de l'Est] trees, which is probably not good for the hemlocks. They noted lots of Porcupine scat on the ground, some trails and tracks, a GRAY BIRCH [Bouleau gris] that had chew marks that also appeared to be Porcupine work, from the size of the incisor teeth. Brian got some photos to show the leader of the Hemlock trees, that is always off to one side, which helps identify this species at a distance. A close-up of LUNG LICHEN [Lobaria pulmonaire] is also shown.

** WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] are sure enjoying the snow-free fields. Matt and I saw 11 together in a large field off the Homestead Road on Friday afternoon. They were at the same location when we passed on Sunday afternoon.

** An error to correct from yesterday. I commented that I had not seen groups of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] picking roadside gravel before. The “not” accidentally got left out of the transcript, to very much change the comment. I have often seen crossbills doing this before but not nuthatches, as they were this weekend.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton