Nature Moncton Nature News: April 11 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - April 11, 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)

** Dave Miller joined Ron Steeves to spend 7.5 hours at Cape Enrage on Monday monitoring migration there. The highlight of the day was a pair of adult Northern Gannets. Ron doesn’t remember ever seeing this species off the Cape before. They had their first Turkey Vulture, an American Kestrel off the Cape Enrage Rd near the Beck Farm. The summary tally on Monday was 2,368 Eiders, mostly in small flocks on Monday, so looks like the supply didn’t run out; 676 Black Scoters, 51 Surf Scoters, 23 White-Winged Scoters. Other birds seen in no significant numbers were Brant, Long-Tailed Duck, Great Blue Heron, Red-Breasted Merganser, Canada Goose, Black Duck, Great Cormorant, Gulls and a pair of local Peregrine Falcons.

** Pam Novak from the Atlantic Wildlife Institute shares some recent photo activity. Reid Lake which is in front of their property and part of the Tantramar River is opening with a nice selection of Ring-Necked Ducks, Merganser, and Canada Geese quickly arriving on Monday. Pam was also hearing a Common Loon that chose not to show itself. Hundreds of spring Robins are in the field around her home to join the Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Crackles and some Dark-Eyed Juncos. She saw her first male Northern Harrier on the marsh off Route 940 but is aware of some reports of some over-wintering but it’s definitely time for arriving Harriers. A Red-Throated Loon was picked up off Highway 15 over the weekend, but with no serious injuries, was happily released back into open water by AWI and gave an excellent photo as it went. Note this species is not showing signs of breeding plumage yet which is to be expected with this species. An oiled Black Duck was brought to them from Moncton and from the photo was quite content to be released with oil removed. Pam noted an American Woodcock in their driveway on April 4.

** Gordon Rattray reports there are still Hooded Mergansers, Northern Shovelers, Ring-Necked Ducks and Black Ducks in the Hillsborough area. Gordon took a photo of 3 Great Black-Backed Gulls on Monday. The immature bird in the rear appears to be maybe a 2nd winter bird moulting.

** Jean Renton had some Fox Sparrows arrive to her Stilesville feeder yard on Monday. Always a treat to see Fox Sparrows for that brief window, when they stop to refuel on their route to breed north of us. Jean comments her winter guest a Field Sparrow is still present as well as Evening Grosbeaks. Jean also reports she spotted 2 Snow Geese fly over on Sunday.

** Brian, Annette Stone and Danny and Nicole Sullivan cruised the shore area on Monday to include Kouchibouguac National Park, Bouctouche, St-Thomas, and Pointe du Chene, to see lots of waterfowl activity in the now abundant opening water areas. Great Blue Herons have arrived in number, Long-tailed Ducks are still present, Black Scoter, and Surf Scoter were present. A notable number of Hooded Merganser in smaller stream areas, and they spotted their first American Kestrel of the season.

** I drove down Route 11 on Monday afternoon and spotted 2 Turkey Vultures in the Richibuctou area; it was the first time that I noted that species in that area.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton