Saturday, 17 April 2021

April 17 2021



NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 17 April 2021 (Saturday)

 

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

 

**Andrew Darcy went for an audience with the adult male HARLEQUIN DUCK in the Scoudouc River near Shediac on Thursday evening. The bird was distant when he arrived but after waiting for two hours it slowly drifted towards the bridge and Darcy managed to get some great views of this bird. It was a lifer for him so was pleased to admire it commenting “such a gorgeous sea duck”. Darcy also spotted GREATER SCAUP, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, RING-BILLED GULL, ICELAND GULL, HERRING GULL, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and got his first of year GREAT BLUE HERON flying over. Another highlight was watching an OSPREY hover and dive bomb into the water as it fished along the shoreline. This got the HARLEQUIN DUCK quite agitated, and it is visible on photo edge as this was occurring. The OSPREY actually made a plunge right beside Darcy and came up with a very appreciated sized AMERICAN PLAICE (flatfish).

 

**Aldo Dorio was out early on Saturday morning in the foul weather to photograph a pair of BUFFLEHEAD and an adult male SURF SCOTER off Hay Island. We will soon not see these species until next winter as they are in process of migrating north for summer breeding grounds.

 

** Today is Bat Appreciation Day and the presenter, Karen Vanderwolf, for the May Nature Moncton monthly meeting has forwarded some interesting information and the Canadian Bat Box Project Newsletter Spring 2021 which all can be accessed at the links below. A great informational update on Bats!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ryg3ps497dtqwsl/Canadian%20Bat%20Box%20Project%20Newsletter%20Spring%202021.pdf?dl=0

 

 **John Massey erected a Ducks Unlimited duck box three years ago right next to the water on private property, with a little stream view, and just a couple of RIVER OTTERS [Loutre de rivière] for company. That year some WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] and HOODED MERGANSERS [Harle couronné] were swimming by, and all ignored the waterfront real estate. Last year, John moved the box back a bit, and a Wood Duck actually sat on top of the box, then completely ignored it. On Thursday, a COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à oeil d'or] took up residence. John did not take any photos in case of disturbing their choice but did get a nice photo of a pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS [Canard souchet] passing by.

 

**Jamie Burris reports he is still having flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] and EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] in flocks of 20+ visiting his Riverview feeder yard. Many others are reporting redpoll numbers are dropping, as they move north. The same is happening, although less dramatic, with the grosbeaks, as they are starting to pair off to form private nesting territories, to return to flock formation next season. This is predicted to happen again in the winter of 2022, due to the SPRUCE BUDWORM [Tordeuse des bourgeons de l'épinette] outbreaks in Quebec.

 

 

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

 

HARLEQUIN DUCK (MALE). APRIL 15, 2021.  ANDREW DARCY

HARLEQUIN DUCK (MALE). APRIL 15, 2021.  ANDREW DARCY

HARLEQUIN DUCK (MALE). APRIL 15, 2021.  ANDREW DARCY

OSPREY WITH AMERICAN PLAICE (FLATFISH). APRIL 15, 2021. ANDREW DARCY.


NORTHERN SHOVELER (PAIR). APRIL 16, 2021. JOHN MASSEY

BUFFLEHEAD (PAIR). ALRIL17, 2021. ALDO DORIO

SURF SCOTER (MALE). ALRIL17, 2021. ALDO DORIO

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (MALE AND FEMALE). APRIL 15, 2021. ANDREW DARCY.

COMMON REDPOLL. APR 16, 2021. JAMIE BURRIS

EVENING GROSBEAK (MALE). APR 16, 2021. JAMIE BURRIS

 

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