NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 11 November, 2018
(Sunday)
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** Dave Christie made a hike on Mary’s Point on
Saturday, to find lots of activity. He started about an hour before high tide,
going out the south side. He came across a flock of about 70 SANDERLINGS
[Bécasseau sanderling] at the water’s edge, as Sanderlings do. A single
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé] was in the same area but higher up the
beach, separate from the Sanderlings. Farther along the beach was a flock of
about 40 SNOW BUNTINGS [Plectrophane des neiges], the most that Dave has seen
this fall. They were high on the beach, farther from the water.
Past the end of the second island, Dave crossed to
the north side, facing Shepody Bay, to encounter two more flocks of Snow
Buntings, of approximately 25 and 30. Assuming some may have been part of the
first flock seen, suggests that about 65 Snow Bunting might have been in the
area.
As Dave came back along the back side of Fox
Island, he encountered a group of AMERICAN CROWS [Corneille d'Amérique] making
a loud, protesting ruckus and soon saw the cause when a PEREGRINE FALCON
[Faucon pèlerin] sailed out to survey the marsh. He only observed one GREATER
YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] feeding at the water’s edge.
Dave comments on his feeder yard being very similar
to many others about which comments were made the past few days, that PURPLE
FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] and sparrows [bruants] had dropped off, to be
replaced by AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] and DARK-EYED JUNCOS
[Junco ardoisé].
** At my own feeder yard, the male RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux] continues regular visits. The male NORTHERN
CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] is still being seen but the female was not seen on
Saturday, but it has been more coy than the male. The feeders are dominated by
approximately 50 American Goldfinch, several HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier], a
few PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins], a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à
poitrine rousse], a few SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur]. PURPLE FINCH [Roselin
pourpré] have departed. There are still several COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale
bronzé] and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes] plus the regular
woodpeckers [pics] and the expected BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête
noire], but still no sign of the first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant
hudsonien].
** There has been a flood of first-time visits of
NORTHERN CARDINALS [Cardinal rouge] to feeder yards the past four days. Carol
Shea in Upham was very pleased to have her first cardinal visit her yard, a
female, on Saturday. This is less of a general surprise because Upham is
not too far from Hampton, where cardinal observations are common.
Aldo Dorio spotted three Pine Grosbeaks along a
road at Hay Island on Sunday all in female/juvenile plumage. It is shaping up
to be a great season ahead for northern/vagrant visitors.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
NORTHERN CARDINAL (FEMALE). NOV. 10, 2018. CAROL SHEA
PINE GROSBEAK. NOV 11, 2018. ALDO DORIO
