Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Thursday, 23 December 2021

Dec 23 2021

NATURE MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE

 Dec 23, 2021 (Thursday)

 

 

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

**John Inman had a Rough-legged Hawk drop by is Mary’s point Road property on Wednesday. It was very promptly escorted away by John’s resident Red-tailed Hawk who was not impressed with the interloper. John was able to get a few documentary photos as the hawk decided it best to vacate the territory.

 

 

**"Louise Nichols and Jason Gallant covered the Dorchester part of the Memramcook CBC on Tuesday.  The zone begins at the Johnson's Mill's Interpretive Centre where Louise and Jason spotted flocks of White-winged Crossbills as soon as they got out of the car.  A few minutes later, a Ruffed Grouse flushed beside them.  They had a good day overall with 22 species, including one Song Sparrow, a distant dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk and a large flock of American Robins that were hanging out on a cranberry farm.  The best bird of the day was a Hermit Thrush that cooperatively sat for some photos.  A pleasant day overall -- a bit windy but lots of sunlight.

 

 

**On Wednesday Brian Stone went for a short walk in Dartmouth, NS at Albro Lake and visited Sullivan's Pond. At Albro Lake he noticed a MALLARD DUCK HYBRID swimming/sliding on thin water covered ice near the shore. An adult BALD EAGLE glided over the lake, possibly looking for a pre-Christmas dinner. At Sullivan's Pond he photographed the DOMESTIC DUCK that has been chumming up with the regulars in the pond.

 

**I don’t mean to belabour the point on the differences between Black Huckleberry and Privet berries in winter but did a bit of sleuthing Wednesday to satisfy my own curiosity. There is a lone Privet shrub/tree on the lakeshore of Jones Lake. Close examination made it easy to differentiate the two. Black Huckleberry berries have a distinct retained calyx (see photo) at the apex (bottom) of the berry that Privet does not. The branching/buds are opposite in Privet and alternate with Black Huckleberry. Black Huckleberry has several small seeds while Privet only has 2 or 3 larger ones. Black Huckleberry remains a shrub whereas Privet develops into a tree if not trimmed.

Probably more information than most really want to know!

 

 

 

 nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton



HERMIT THRUSH..DEC. 21, 2021. LOUISE NICHOLS

HERMIT THRUSH..DEC. 21, 2021. LOUISE NICHOLS

JOHNSON'S MILLS (MEMRAMCOOK CBC). DEC. 21, 2021. LOUISE NICHOLS

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. DEC 22, 2021.  JOHN INMAN

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. DEC 22, 2021.  JOHN INMAN

BALD EAGLE. DEC. 22, 2021. BRIAN STONE

BALD EAGLE. DEC. 22, 2021. BRIAN STONE

MALLARD DUCK HYBRID. DEC. 22, 2021. BRIAN STONE


DOMESTIC DUCK. DEC. 22, 2021.. BRIAN STONE

DOMESTIC DUCK. DEC. 22, 2021.. BRIAN STONE

BLACK HUCKLEBERRY  (BERRIES AND WINTER BUDS). DEC 18, 2021. NELSON POIRIER