Nature Moncton Nature News: April 3 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

April 3, 2022 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**John Inman in Harvey, Albert County reports the female Rusty Blackbird that spent the winter with them left about 2 weeks ago. On Saturday, a breeding plumage male Rusty Blackbird arrived to pose for a photo.

The rusty tipped feathers of winter plumage have worn off to exhibit the breeding plumage.

The Rusty Blackbird has experienced a severe decline in numbers so every specimen is valued, especially as over 80% of the existing population breed in Canada.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a small mixed flock of Common Mergansers and Red-breasted Mergansers enjoying the ever-expanding open water at Hay Island.

The Red-breasted Mergansers will be content to stay near the salt water whereas the Common Mergansers will be heading to freshwater habitat as the ice in those areas recedes.

**Brian Stone sends a few more pictures from his outing on Friday to Cape Tormentine. Along the way he spotted a nest, similar to the one he had photographed on Thursday, that was interestingly woven with blue plastic strips. (Editors note: comments as to last summer’s occupant requested)

Not far from that he saw a Ruffed Grouse foraging along a grassy side road.

At the cape the skies cleared, and sunlight helped him get decent photographs of a small group of Black Scoters and 3 male Long-tailed Ducks.

A Song Sparrow or two were hopping along the rock barrier.

He also made a panorama of the Confederation Bridge in the distance. (Editors note: another keeper!)

On the way back Brian stopped at Chapman's Corner to photograph some of the 60 plus Common Mergansers that were populating the inlet there.

In a local field 2 White-tailed Deer were curious and watched Brian as he photographed them.

Near Shemogue, along highway 15, he noticed a massive Beaver Dam and Lodge. Quite a construction project!

**The supply of free Nature Moncton nest boxes has diminished from the original minted 60 to10. These 10 are still available to go to new homes. For anyone who would like one or more, leave your name and number wanted with the editor. They need to be erected and ready for arriving patrons in the near future.

Fred Dube and Roger LeBlanc will be assisting City of Moncton staff to erect 10 in Mapleton Park on Monday.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton