NATURE MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE
Dec 29, 2021 (Wednesday)
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Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
** The Eastern Bluebird showed up Monday morning to the suet feeder of Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc in Bouctouche just in time to be counted for the Bouctouche Christmas bird count. Coordinator Attila Fust believes it’s the first sighting for this species in the Bouctouche count. The bird was absent for the past 5-6 days and they thought it had moved away.
The
LeBlancs also have a male Northern Cardinal that comes on a regular basis,
and it showed up for the count as well. Stella shares a
photo she got of it last week enjoying their menu.
**It's
always nice to add more Northern Cardinals to the photo lineup. Brian
Stone got a photo of a pair mentioned yesterday with a nice photos of both
genders included today.
**
Louise Nichols went out to High Marsh Rd. on the Tantramar Marsh on Sackville Tuesday
morning. She saw 4 Rough-legged Hawks, all from a distance, scope
views only.
But the big
surprise was the number of Bald Eagles present which numbered around 22,
all different ages and plumage. Several of them had prey, so there was
lots of activity. One immature eagle sat on the top of a hydro pole
feasting on what looks to be possibly an eider duck (suggestions
welcome). Later, she caught sight of a chase with an adult Bald Eagle and
a number of crows. The eagle was flying with prey in its talons.
Louise tried to get some action photos from a distance and in one photo, the
head of a duck can be seen drooping down below the eagle as a crow approaches
from behind. Another photo shows an immature eagle with prey, again
chased by crows. Many eagles were perched on top of hydro towers or
poles. In one case, a pair of adult eagles looked as though they were
sentinels overlooking the marsh.
Louise
comments “It was a lot of fun passing through there Tuesday morning!
There must
be prey available to have so many eagles. Some of the utility wires in the area
have had attachments placed on them so they can be seen by flocking birds,
especially eiders which in the past have hit the wires to result in disabling
injuries or death. Louise wonders if this may be a factor in the scenario. It
has to be a pertinent rule out as one photo does show the head of an eider as
prey.
Louise adds it was interesting to see so many different Bald Eagle
plumages.
** Lynn & Fred Dube were walking their dogs on Tuesday afternoon and came across a suspected owl pellet. They have heard a Great Horned Owl vocalizing in their yard area recently. They estimated the size at approximately 3 in. long and an inch in diameter.
Some raptors, especially owls,
will swallow their prey whole. They will digest the edible parts then
regurgitate the nonedible parts as what is known as a pellet. Close looks at
these pellets will often reveal what food items are on the menu.
Don
McAlpine looked at this photo and feels the skull and body parts may be that of
a Short-tailed Shrew which is active all year and abundant.
Also, a very busy assumed Red Squirrel's
winter stash of Spruce cones was noted.
**More domestic ducks being noted in wild habitat; Aldo Dorio noted 3 ducks of domestic origin in open water under a bridge over the Tabusintac River on Tuesday.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
