Nature Moncton Nature News: April 22 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – April 22, 2017 (Saturday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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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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**Elaine Gallant came across a flock of 10 COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] on a trail that crosses the swampy area on the Parlee Beach Road on Friday. It is starting to get late to be seeing Common Redpolls in New Brunswick, as they no doubt have a northward migration in mind. A nice observation at any time this winter, as there have been very few of this species noted around feeders, yet occasional flocks have been observed.

**On Friday afternoon, Li Hou and Shirley Xue did some birding in Salisbury Highland Park to see 10 species that included GADWALL [Canard chipeau], AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique], RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier], NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet], lots of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS [Vacher à tête brune], a BELTED KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique], and an OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur], some of which they got photos of. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] was in their yard on Friday morning. Li and Shirley are new to New Brunswick from Beijing, and most of the bird species are new to them.

**Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc’s yard seems to be attracting raptors. Jean-Paul got a photo of a MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] that dropped by but left without lunch.

**Brian Stone spent time in Mapleton Park on Friday, taking photos of what he saw. A big growth of CHAGA [Chaga] mushroom was on its most frequent host tree of YELLOW BIRCH [Bouleau jaune]. A CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] posed for a photo. MUSKRATS [Rat musqué] were moving about. A cloud formation caught his eye, and a pair of WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] put on a nice show. Brian also got a video of an EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] vocalizing. You may want to turn up the volume for this one, and hear it saying its name. It’s not bobbing its tail as much as Phoebes often do. Brian shares his video at

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sh5mhkw013ulcz0/Eastern%20Phoebe%20.MOV?dl=0

**Aldo Dorio had a BROWN CREEPER [Grimpereau brun] visit his Neguac yard on Friday. He got a few documentary photos.

**Nature Moncton membership coordinator Lynda Leclerc is off-duty in Fort Myers, Florida at the moment, and forwards a few photos of the birds she and her friend from Saint John Kathy McAllister are enjoying. They share some photos of an ANHINGA and a ROSEATE SPOONBILL. I suspect these may never get on our New Brunswick list, but “never say never, and never say always.”

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton