NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May
04, 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)
** Aldo Dorio spotted the GARGANEY
[Sarcelle d’été] on Tuesday morning at Hay Island in the same spot that it was
on Monday, buddying up with GREEN-WINGED TEALS [Sarcelle d'hiver], however it
did not stay as cooperative for admirers later in the day but then did come
close later.
** Brian Stone made it up to see the GARGANEY
[Sarcelle d’été] on Tuesday. He spent 4 hours there and finally got to see it
as more than a speck in other birder’s scopes with his binoculars when it came closer
to the parking lot area. Even though it appeared well in the binoculars it was
not close enough for a decent photo (Editor's note: according to photo fussy Brian!) then, but about half an hour after he left
one of the birding lines reported that it was cruising the coastline close to
the parking lot and giving great views. Brian comments … “Oh well, at least I
got him”. That’s birding, and at least we know it was still remaining on
Tuesday.
** Jane Leblanc got a hastily
photographed AMERICAN BITTERN [Butor d'Amérique] in flight near a wet boggy
area in St. Martins on Monday. The American Bittern is a common heron that is
very elusive and not often seen. Its “old water pump” vocalization is unique
and distinctive. Jane also photographed a RED-THROATED LOON [Plongeon catmarin]
seen Monday morning on the very calm day at St. Martins. It was not feeding but
she was fortunate to hear it vocalize as it drifted with the tide.
** Andrew Darcy got some documentary
photos of a MOOSE [Orignal] on the way back from going to see the Garganey on Monday
night. Many Moose this time of year have a lot of their fur rubbed off from
scratching from winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus). They can have a very
pale looking pelage, or what’s left of it. This is a regular occurrence. The
ticks drop off at this time of year and the Moose’s beautiful pelage returns.
The ticks are huge grape-sized creatures that are almost strictly found on
Moose. They go through their life cycle during the summer and will get aboard a
Moose again next winter. They are harmless to humans and other animals as they
are so host specific. Pat and I saw 2 like this on Monday as well but we were
in too much of a panic to get to the Garganey to stop for photos. This spring
Moose sometimes gets the name “Ghost Moose” due to their lack of colour due to
the denuded patches.
** Gordon Rattray had a COMMON EASTERN
BUMBLEBEE drop by some freshly emerged Dandelions at his home on Tuesday. This
is our largest native Bumblebee.
** Clarence Cormier had a
leucistic/partial albino WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] drop
by his Grande-Digue yard on Tuesday and was able to get a photo. Clarence
comments the expected birds have arrived to his property, however 2 COMMON
REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] and a surprising 10 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant
hudsonien] still remain.
**Yvette Richard was in the Penobsquis
area on April 28 to find the GLODSSY IBIS still present and was able to get a striking
photo of 2 of them in flight as a silhouette. It surely does show some species
can be strongly suspected by recognizing their flight pattern.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
