Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 2 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 2 February 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Jamie Burris came across a flock of approximately 30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] feeding on CRABAPPLES [Pommetier] on the Pine Glen Road. They would feed a while on the fruit, then go down to the road edge to appear to drink the salty water, then go up to a pair of SPRUCE TREES [Épinette]. They repeated the scenario four times before he drove on down the road. Those crabapples must be very hard these frigid days. The cinnamon undertail coverts, a Bohemian Waxwing signature feature, show up nicely in Jamie’s photos.

Jim Carroll shares some great raptor activity he has photographed in the Marsh Creek area in Saint John recently. That area obviously has a good supply of rodent prey. He got an American Kestrel quite out of season as well as an overwintering Northern Harrier. Note the characteristic harrier dihedral wing position in one photo capturing as well as the long tail and white rump patch. The Rough-legged Hawk nicely shows the carpel joint ‘hockey pucks’. Jim photographed 4 raptor species in 45 minute at the Marsh Creek site.

Jim is a major contributor to ebird and his effort can be seen at the attached link.

https://ebird.org/canada/view/checklist/S52277087

**Brian Stone came across a very large group of GULLS [Goéland] between the Trans-Canada Highway and the Charles Lutes Road on Friday. There appears to be a predominance of adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland marin]. Note the clean white unstreaked head of the adult Great Black-backed Gull in winter, while our other winter adult Gulls would have a dark streaked head in winter. Looking closely at the group, one can pick out a few immature birds and some adult HERRING GULLS [Goéland argenté]. It would be a great grouping to try to look at each one to pick out different immature species. It happens to be a great time of year to do that, before they start their moult to their next stage in approximately a month. Alain Clavette will be leading a Nature Moncton Gull field outing on February 16th, which should be great timing to pick out the immature and mature stages, which will be consistent this time of year before they moult. Brian also shares a video of the Gull group he saw, at the attached link.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0twj7bkkpremuwq/AAAzpP0UFjOHH7VReCcH6Enqa?dl=0

**It seems like it’s been an up and down season at bird feeders. At my own bird feeder the COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] are now the most numerous patrons by far at 30+, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] seem to have notably decreased, with SPARROWS [Bruant] staying consistent. The Redpolls have firmly decided that mid-size cut sunflower chips are haute cuisine, ignoring other offerings. I am noting some of the males are becoming quite bright. The orange mesh covered ‘Bird Pie’ in the photo is becoming very popular with chickadees and a Northern Flicker in particular.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton