Nature Moncton Nature News: March 11 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Mar. 11, 2018 (Sunday)

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)

** Georges Brun captured a photo of a PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] perched on the nest box atop Assumption Place on Saturday. There were few reports of Peregrine activity round this city so far this winter so it’s interesting to see one perched at the nest site already.

** Dave Christie comments that the snowfall has made his feeders look very welcome to many birds that were obviously foraging on wild fare that got covered. Dave also comments on a walk to the Mary’s Point beach on Friday. A flock of approximately 70 SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges] were foraging on the uppermost part of the mudflats, which probably provided more food from water-tossed seeds than the snow-covered marsh, fields and beach.

The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes] and COMMON GRACKLE [Quiscale bronzé] numbers have swollen noticeably at John Inman’s 225 Mary’s Point Rd. yard, where he’s seen up to 60 one day, and where Dave noted 40 Red-wings and 10 Grackles in the trees above John’s feeder yard on Saturday.

** Brian Stone spotted a flock of 80+ CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] flying in the area of Gorge Road, near Mountain Road, in the snow on Saturday. There were 4 AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] travelling with them. These would probably be over-wintering waxwings as Cedar Waxwings that migrate don’t tend to return this early.

** Aldo Dorio has created a slide show of birds that he has photographed at Hay Island, in the Néguac area and at Tabusintac. The birds are unidentified so it’s a bit of an identification practice run. It runs approximately one and a quarter minutes. Check it out at the attached link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cmiagontln1nq2z/AABoc-KrEgf_c-tbqQusTq8Aa?dl=0

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton