NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
Feb 8, 2022 (Tuesday)
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Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
What a pleasant day to enjoy robins and Snow Buntings.
**Everyone is sure enjoying the American Robin blitz! Jamie and Karen Burris wanted to add to the American Robin numbers recently reported. With the sun shining on Monday, Karen and Jamie went to visit one of their daughters who lives on Randall St. in Riverview. From Sussex Avenue to Randall Street, Karen and Jamie counted 78 American Robins feeding on Crabapples and Mountain Ash berries. (Editors note: when developer Byron Dobson turned a pasture into a housing development in Riverview many years ago, he gave a Flowering Crabapple tree to each new home purchaser. I wonder if he ever realized what a gift he also gave to bird berry connoisseurs) Although we are in the middle of winter it sounded like spring was in full gear with all the robins singing!
**Anna Tucker
and her brother were turning off Gordon St. in Moncton on Monday and right away in front
of a large apartment building was a fairly young tree and what a surprise!
It was full
of Cedar Waxwings.
They passed around
Jones Lake on the way home. As they passed the gazebo where ducks hang out, none were present, but as they passed the lawn of Hillcrest School there were American
Robins feasting on the berries.
A European Starling
was noted on a Flowering Crabapple tree also feasting on the berries and fruit.
(Editors note: note the bill of the starling is starting to turn yellow in
preparation for breeding plumage).
Anna also
comments the Blue Jays and woodpeckers very much enjoy searching through a tree
outside her window laden with lichens.
**Aldo
Dorio also photographed yet another American Robin enjoying the plentiful
supply of gleaning winter fruit in Neguac.
**Wayne Corcoran in Chelmsford had a first visit of the season from Snow Buntings to his feeder yard feeding on the ground on mixed bird seed. Snow Buntings to your feeder yard are always welcome patrons. (Editors note: with the sudden depth of snow that is covering weed seeds, feeder yard and farmyard seed availability must be very welcome)
As it seems to be normal for Wayne’s yard, he is getting lots of Evening Grosbeaks -- 75-80 in number and lots of American Goldfinch but has not seen a Pine Siskin visiting yet.
Last
week he was pleased to see 5 Canada Jays in the woods by his home. Birds of this species
no doubt have housekeeping on their minds at the moment.
**Brian Stone drove to the farm on the Scott Rd. at the
corner of the Wheaton Settlement Rd. on Monday to hopefully get some photos
of the flock of Snow Buntings that had been reported yesterday. The
birds did not disappoint as there was a very large group of several hundred of
the buntings flying and foraging in several areas around the farm. As farm
workers came and went through the area populated by the buntings the birds
would fly up and land in nearby trees and on top of the silos and then come
back to their feeding spot. A very impressive sight. Also present at the farm
was a large flock of European Starlings numbering easily as many as the
buntings. (Editors note: as in Anna Tucker’s photo, the white spots are wearing
off to black and they are now showing the yellow bill of breeding plumage) At least a dozen American
Tree Sparrows were also enjoying the farm's offerings.
Four
White-tailed Deer also took time to peer through the bushes to get Brian on
their day list!
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
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