Nature Moncton Nature News: April 8 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – April 8, 2017 (Saturday)

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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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**Dave Christie reports the first FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve] of the season appeared for John Inman to his Harvey yard on Tuesday morning, and the first one appeared in Dave’s feeder area on Wednesday, and has been there ever since. Dave also reports that Shannon Inman in Riverside-Albert saw an EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] on Wednesday.

**Doreen Rossiter reports she spotted 7 TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête rouge] circling over Alma on Friday morning. A GROUNDHOG [Marmotte commune] put in an appearance on March 31st; however, last year the first she saw around her Alma yard was on March 12th. However, no CHIPMUNKS [Suisse] yet, as of Friday, for Doreen.

**Georges Brun noted a migratory flock of Ducks moving up the Petitcodiac River in the Bend area on Friday; it was 6:42 p.m. These are likely to be EIDER [Eider] or SCOTERS [Macreuse] that are hard to tell from the photo, but the silhouettes may suggest Eider.

**Clarence Cormier comments the first week of April is normally his busiest week of new arrivals at his Grande Digue site, from his diary records, and the same seemed to get underway this past week with the arrival of COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé], BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu], PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré], and ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique], to make for a lively site. A juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes] was seen on April 1st and April 5th. On April 5th, that one landed on his patio, possibly with the many RED SQUIRRELS [Écureuil roux] in mind. The most populous bird still in the Clarence’s area is the BOHEMIAN WAXWING [Jaseur boréal], not noting any CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] among them. The flocks the past week have varied in number from a low of 10 to a high of approximately 200 on Friday. The Waxwings seem to be concentrating on the abundant ROSE HIPS [Baie de l'églantier] present at Clarence’s site.

**Danny Sullivan found five HOODED MERGANSERS [Harle couronné] enjoying some open water at the Irishtown Nature Park on Friday.They were seen from the reservoir bridge on the main trail. It does seem like we’re seeing a lot of Hooded Merganser this season, or maybe just getting more photos.

**Lois Budd dropped by a BEAVER-dammed [Castor] pond along Route 880, where the ice is just melting off. A pair of CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada] was present, as well as a pair of HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné].

**A GREY SQUIRREL [Écureuil gris] decided to join two cock PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide] feeding in Mac Wilmot’s feeder yard in Lower Coverdale recently. Their reactions were very different. One departed the scene pronto, while the other one ignored the Squirrel and continued on with its foraging, seemingly willing to share the booty unconcerned.

**Aldo Dorio sends photos of a female COMMON MERGANSER [Grand Harle] standing out on the ice, handsome RED-BREASTED MERGANSER [Harle huppé] males in the water at Hay Island on Saturday morning. He also photographed a Common Merganser pair on Thursday.

**CHIPMUNKS [Suisse] are definitely starting to move out of winter siesta. Kevin Renton reports that they had their first one out foraging on Friday.

**Brian Stone was bestowed a gift from a relative who had purchased two “fish” that were male and female. Brian is now the keeper of approximately 400 AXOLOTL eggs. If they are fertile, Brian’s new pet family may expand quite suddenly. He may no doubt soon be looking for foster parents. The Axolotl is also known as the MEXICAN SALAMANDER or MEXICAN WALKING FISH, a neotenic Salamander closely related to the TIGER SALAMANDER [Salamandre tigrée]. It’s not a fish but an amphibian. We’ll be waiting for Brian’s birth announcements. A photo from the net of the adult is attached.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton