Nature Moncton Nature News: April 11 2021

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 11, 2021 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

** There are reports of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] already arriving and checking the real estate. It is definitely time to get all those last year’s occupied nest boxes cleaned out and ready for them to be checked out. Susan Richards sends a photo of our chief carpenter Fred Richards getting his cleaned out on Saturday. Fred has built approximately 400 nest boxes that have fledged many successful clutches of mostly Tree Swallows, but also Chickadees, Eastern Bluebirds and some Flying Squirrels.

** Ron Steeves again made a pilgrimage to Cape Enrage on Saturday. Very little sea duck movement at Cape Enrage on Saturday morning until about 10:00. Only 12 LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi], one flock of 90 EIDER [Eider] and 11 SCOTERS [Macreuse]. Ron comments he couldn’t take the slow pace any longer, so went up to the New Horton Church until 3:30 PM where there was just enough action to keep one’s interest although at a low level. Birds thought to be migrating were 5 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS [Épervier brun], 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS [Buse à queue rousse], 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS [Busard Saint-Martin], 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS [Crécerelle d'Amérique], 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes] and 3 unidentified raptors, one of which he suspected was an OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur]. Other raptors seen that were presumed not to be migrating were 9 TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête rouge], one pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS [Busard Saint-Martin], an AMERICAN KESTREL [Crécerelle d'Amérique] pair and several BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche]. There was a large migration of gulls again on Saturday, estimating 200+. A large movement of songbirds early, largely sparrows, DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique]. He counted 88 robins on the church lawn and yard. They and the SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] were feasting on the thousands of Cluster Flies that seemed to inhabit the attic of the church. The warm weather yesterday activated the proper conditions for this feast. Also sitting up to the table was an EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] along with a pair of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore].

** Andrew Olive shares a few photos from the last few days, taken around Restigouche county. The SURF SCOTERS [Macreuse à front blanc] were photographed at Eel River Bar on Friday. The males were in full display not far offshore. The female seemed to be overwhelmed and made several dives to rid herself of the aggressive males for a bit of a break, but every time she would dive, the males would follow suit. The SNOW GEESE [Oie des neiges] just arrived to the shores of the Restigouche. Andrew zoomed in from a long distance from the Altholville water tower, looking over to the booms on the Quebec side of the Restigouche. Photos of the COLTSFOOT and MOURNING CLOAK BUTTERFLY [Morio] were also taken Saturday morning by the Altholville Water Tower, more locally known as the “butte sugar” which translates as “sugar mound.” A HOARY REDPOLL [Sizerin blanchâtre] was one of two photographed in Andrew’s backyard on Friday.

** Grant Ramsay and Magda Kuhn were riding through Irishtown Park Saturday afternoon, and from the bridge, they were surprised to spot several LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi], a few SCOTERS [Macreuse], a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS [Harle couronné] and a male COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] – an interesting collection for this time of year for the Irishtown Nature Park. Interesting how all these species are showing up at lagoons and smaller bodies of water at the moment, presumably making resting/refueling stops.

** Paula Lansdale in Alma reports that she had two NORTHERN FLICKERS [Pic flamboyant] challenging each other over her suet feeder. The nice surprise of the day was the arrival of a TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] that immediately started to check out a nest box that was erected on Friday. Paula also reports her brother in Alma has had a pair of Northern Cardinals at his feeder for the past few months, surely looking good for those house-keeping possibilities.

** Doreen Rossiter in Alma has had one or two NORTHERN FLICKERS [Pic flamboyant] pop by each day recently. However, Saturday was a near fallout. Doreen comments they seemed to be every where and she couldn’t hazard a guess at the real number. Doreen also had two female and two male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS [Vacher à tête brune] arrive on Saturday as well as a male NORTHERN CARDINAL and an EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi].

** Bob and Sharon Blake had their resident EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] return to their Second North River yard on Saturday. This is normally the first flycatcher to arrive. Their flicking tail habit is a quick clue to potential identification as well as the males vocalizing their name.

** A few PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] do overwinter with us; most move south but not far. They usually return in mass at this time of year. Susan Richards had her first male arrive to her Taylor Village feeders on Sunday morning.

** Jim Johnson reports seeing his first AMERICAN KESTREL [Crécerelle d'Amérique] of the year on Saturday morning in a field behind his Scotch Settlement home. He has put up a kestrel nest box to see if the real estate will interest them. Jim has lots of boxes up for TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] and is expecting the early scouts soon.

**Georges Brun spotted a HARBOUR PORPOISE from the Bend of the Petitcodiac to the Moncton Public Wharf Saturday morning. It came upriver 15 minutes after bore arrival. It swam in a circle so would assume must have been on a school of fish, probably smelts.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a NORTERN SHRIKE at Hay Island on Sunday morning with this species on its favoured perch, atop a conifer tree, scouting the area. This is the short time window we can expect to hear this species vocalize before their journey back north to breed. Take a moment to refamiliarize yourself with its calls to recognize it which will happen often before you see it.

** Fred and Lynn Dube have had a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] coming to their Lower Coverdale feeder yard for a time. It has a very long bill anomaly termed Avian Keratin Disorder. There is a group that does research on this anomaly in birds and this will be forwarded to them. Fred got some photos that seem to suggest it is doing fine.

** Brian Stone visited his sister in Upham on Saturday and got some photos of the DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] feeding in her yard and also one leftover COMMON REDPOLL [Sizerin flammé]. At the edge of her deck, the COLTSFOOT were blooming in small numbers. On his way home, he stopped in at the Hampton lagoons and got photos of several recent arrivals. There were two dozen NORTHERN SHOVELERS [Canard souchet], several pairs of BUFFLEHEADS [Petit Garrot] and SCAUP [Fuligule], many MALLARDS [Canard colvert] and approximately 6 WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] and one male RUDDY DUCK [Érismature rousse]. A few COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à oeil d'or] were too far out for good photos. The now thawed lagoons and small bodies of water are surely coming alive with life.

** I have been watching an INFANT MOTH moving around our camp for a few days now and have been frustrated it would not settle down for a momentary look with binoculars or even a photo. Saturday morning it did stop very briefly for that photo op, then it was off on its fast erratic flight.

** Thinking of how nature can inspire us in many ways, the fossil cliffs at Joggins have brought about beautiful musical pieces and Janet Hammock has made them available in a broadcast today at 1:00 PM. I am going to attach Janet Hammock’s message below where it can be heard as well as be live-streamed:

From: Janet Hammock <jhammock@mta.ca>
Subject: Fly me this Sunday

Jeff Martin is my guest today Sunday, April 11th, on Fly Me To The Moon. A fine composer, Jeff collected some of his most exciting sounds at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs while he was composer-in- residence there a few years ago and used them as the sound materials in one of his beautiful compositions, part of which you’ll hear on the show. Jeff, his wife, Creek, and their baby Edwin make their home in Sackville, and I am always thrilled to celebrate the creative work of a local artist! This was originally broadcast in 2017 and this Sunday is featured as one of “...the best of...” series. There is a short new introduction featuring the delightful voices of two newcomers to the world of music...you will not want to miss it! 1:00 Atlantic time on 107.9fm Tantramar Community Radio and live streamed on cftafm.com