NATURE MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE
Dec 30, 2021 (Thursday)
To respond
by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .
Please
advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
For more information information on Nature Moncton, check the
website at www.naturemoncton.com .
Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Louise Nichols visited the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Wednesday to follow up on the report of a female Wood Duck. The duck was present, just around the new little bridge by the Trans Canada highway. The duck was alone when Louise saw her, but she is often in the company of two Mallard Ducks. On the way home, Louise took the High Marsh Rd. across the Tantramar Marsh from Sackville to Aulac. She drove across fairly quickly, without stopping to scan with a scope, but was still able to spot 6 Bald Eagles, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Rough-legged Hawks (Editors note: note the signature ‘hockey puck’ patch at the carpel joint (wrist) in Louise’s flight photo) and 1
Northern
Harrier. The Northern Harrier was a male, and it was in a chase with one
of the Rough-legged Hawks. The other raptors were perched on hydro towers
or poles.
Louise
comments “It seems to be fairly active on the marsh these days" Great to hear!
**Many
folks will remember the fantastic presentation Greg Stroud gave to a Nature
Moncton meeting in April. It was great to get a message from Greg from Sable
Island.
Greg is on
Sable Island now and it is crazy. They have up to a quarter of a million Grey
Seals there now pupping and breeding and shares a photo. It was his turn to
stay on the island for the holidays and he will be there for another 5 weeks.
Greg found
a Northern Lapwing when he arrived on the island 3 weeks ago and shares
a photo of it.
** Brian Stone
toured the road/trail behind Irishtown Park on Tuesday and was rewarded with
some good bird sightings. As he left the small parking area at the end of the Caledonia
Rd., he was immediately surrounded by 3 groups of birds foraging in the treetops
right there. He first noticed a large group of about 20 PURPLE FINCHES,
most of which were in female plumage. After taking many photos of that group he
noticed that there were some different birds in the tree next to them and found
some WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS feeding on cone seeds of Balsam Fir to add to
the photo session. In a third tree next to them was a group of 6 AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES also feeding blissfully on White Birch catkin seeds, not seeming to
mind the other two species right next door.
Further
along the trail Brian came across a flock of 15 or more CEDAR WAXWINGS
perched and resting in 2 trees. (Editors note: Cedar Waxwings appear to be
becoming more commonly seen remaining in the area over winter in recent years).
Deeper into the woods a group of a dozen
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were foraging along with several RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES that avoided the camera and at least one GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET that was caught hopping between branches to display its slender
feet.
Brian also
photographed the trail with the Sun streaming through the clouds and made a 7-image
panorama of the frozen reservoir which was solid enough to support the weight
of hikers, at least in the areas that Brian tried. Some trees were showing
chewed bark that would appear be the work of Porcupines. On the way home
from Irishtown Brian stopped in for a second visit to the female WESTERN
TANAGER which has been remaining at her platform feeder reliably.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
