NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January
20, 2021 (Wednesday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Yvette Richard got some great photos
of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] from 2 angles to nicely show some
identification features as it looked at Yvette in one photo and turned aside to
address some screaming BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] in another. The tail shows a
central notch to show that the central rectrices are not longer than the side
rectrices as would be the case in the getting more common, similar, Cooper’s
Hawk that shows a rounded apex to the tail. The head also shows that hooded
look with a uniform colour from the crown down the nape whereas a Cooper’s Hawk
would have a dark crown and lighter coloured nape to give a capped appearance.
** Fred Richards saw ducks on the
Memramcook River on Tuesday by his Taylor Village home so he went to get a
closer look and photo. There were some AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS [Canard noir] and MALLARD
DUCKS [Canard colvert] but a group of Mergansers were just at the spot where
the current (the tide was coming in) was creating a disturbance. There is
almost no ice in the river yet Fred comments. The ducks appear to be COMMON
MERGANSERS [Grand Harle] no doubt attracted to the advantage of the turbulence
to feed.
**Brian Stone stopped at the Chateau Moncton briefly Tuesday to
check the marsh across the river. No owls sighted but got the NORTHERN HARRIER
again and an ICELAND GULL (1st winter) cruising up the river on a
piece of ice shunted along by the incoming tide. Note the complete dark bill,
black eye, and notable primary wing extension to suggest 1st winter
Iceland Gull.
** All appreciation to Fred Richards for keeping gremlins at bay (mostly) to let 5 short presentations proceed for Member’s Night on Tuesday evening to let a group assemble in their homes to enjoy it virtually. It surely did take some Fred assisted coordination, but the challenge was met!
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
