Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 5 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Jan 5, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading thanks to Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Brian Stone and Nelson Poirier did a sector of the Bouctouche Christmas Bird Count on Tuesday, Jan. 03.

Brian Stone shares some of the photos including Downy Woodpecker, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Common Eider, Golden-crowned kinglets, Mourning Doves, and some Gulls.

(Editor’s note: the diving ducks take two or more years to reach maturity whereas the dabbling ducks are mature in the second year of life. The Black Scoter in Brian’s photos is a first winter bird appearing quite similar to the female with the exception of an orange yellow area at the base the bill, which is arrowed, to indicate it is still in its first year.

The same applies to one of the Long-tailed Ducks that showed a faint pinkish area on the bill and slightly different head markings, which are arrowed, to indicate it also is a first winter bird.

Some of the immature Herring Gulls in Brian’s photos show the white panel of the hind rows of the primary feathers which is a good ID feature for immature Herring Gulls and is arrowed.

Also noted were the large flocks of Canada Geese still present in some open water near the Bouctouche Dune).

Brian also sends a photo of the sunrise on Tuesday that was soon blotted out by the pervasive cloud cover.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton