Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 25 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, November 25, 2018 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: bjpstone@gmail.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**Nice to hear of COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] starting to come to feeder yards. Bill and Marguerite Winsor had eight Redpolls arrive to their Salisbury feeder yard a few days ago and got a photo. They have not returned since, but they must have that feeder area in their territory.

Marguerite also reports that she and Bill saw a GOLDEN EAGLE [Aigle royal] on November 07 in the Daniel’s Flats area while returning from Riverside-Albert. Golden Eagles have been seen at that site in the past. My first Golden Eagle for New Brunswick was at that site many years ago after a long but rewarding wait and a lot of horns from drivers not impressed with me being parked there. A Golden Eagle was spotted on the Tantramar Marsh on November 12. One has to wonder if it could possibly be the same bird.

** Louise and Maurice Richard have had a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] around their home, bordering on the north side of Jones Lake, for two weeks now. They have had a Mockingbird around their home for the past few years so it could well be the same individual. It drank water from the top of their solarium on Saturday morning.

** It’s always nice to hear the lineup at Doreen Rossiter’s Alma feeder yard, and what a lineup it is. DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] were at forty to fifty, SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] were at twelve to fifteen, eight WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche], three AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien], five FOX SPARROWS [Bruant fauve] … wow! Doreen even feels that these numbers are conservative.

PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] are at three, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] are at four and the PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] group has swollen from three to twenty. Also one female NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge], three BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal], two PINE GROSBEAKS [Durbec des sapins] and one RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes].

Doreen put out apples two weeks ago that brought in three AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] that have now swollen their numbers to fifteen. Doreen has seen no kinglets in her yard which is a species that she usually sees by now. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] has been noting all the activity to join in. On Saturday some new additions were six to eight EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] and the first NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] for Doreen of the season. Now is that an active feeder yard or what!

** Jane Leblanc has had a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] visiting her St. Martins feeder yard over the past few days to check out her patrons which include a pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant], a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] and several DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé]. The hawk would appear to be a juvenile due to the yellow eye.

** Georges Brun and Mitch Doucet were monitoring some Hawk action over the Riverview Marsh, viewing from the parking lot of the Chateau Moncton on Saturday to get distant photos of an immature RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] being harassed by what appears to be a COMMON RAVEN. Note in one photo the distinct, dark patagial bars on the frontal area of the wing next to the body which is only present in the Red-tailed Hawk at all stages. Also the dark belly band and the light scapulars on the dark mantle area as well as the narrowly barred tail that suggests an immature bird.

** Jamie Burris’s feeder yard is yet another to host a FOX SPARROW [Bruant fauve]. The number of Fox Sparrows to feeder yards would seem to be unprecedented this year and they seem to be lingering much longer than usual as well as being numerous. Jamie still has a CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] as well as the flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant]

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton