Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 16 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, for December 16, 2018 (Sunday)

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Editor: Nelson Poirier

Transcript by: David Christie

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

** The Moncton Christmas Bird Count went off on Saturday. The moderating temperatures seemed to slow activity around bird feeders, and some groups found it more quiet than usual, while other found it okay. Some highlights were a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux], being recorded for the 5th time, thus gaining a place on our local count form. 3 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS [Moqueur polyglotte] were seen, 2 around Jones Lake, and a bird out on the Dover Marsh. Two BROWN CREEPERS [Grimpereau brun] were recorded, a surprising number of 4 MARSH WRENS [Troglodyte des marais], 1 COOPER’S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper], 2 lingering GREAT BLUE HERONS [Grand Héron], and no doubt more will be added, as feeder reports come in.

** Jules and Ghislain Cormier leave a follow-up comment on the post that Connie Colpitts made recently about a DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé] with an obvious white eye-ring. The Cormiers have over a dozen Juncos and have also noticed one with a distinct white eye-ring that has been a regular for over a month. They have noted that it is also paler overall and happens to be the only junco that frequents the hanging feeders. They were also trying to find out about this feature in guides and on the Web. It is mentioned as being seen rarely by other observers but there seems to be no explanation that I’ve seen so far, other than it is variation. Ghislain got some nice photos of the bird. Any other comments would be appreciated.

** A correction of an error in yesterday’s edition: Curt Nason points out that it is the Moon and Mars that appeared near each other on Thursday night, not Venus. Venus is in the morning sky now. This was my error, not Brian’s, and is correct on the Blogspot.

** Yolande LeBlanc reminds folks that she’ll be coordinating the Memramcook-Hillsborough Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 29. If anyone would like to do a sector or do a sector with someone else, in either the Memramcook or Hillsborough area, contact Yolande at 758-9583, and she will make the arrangements.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton