Nature Moncton Nature News: March 27 2023

March 27, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** Dale Pugh continues to spot a Hooded Merganser pair at Mapleton Park. She’s had no luck spotting the resident Beaver yet but continues to see the Muskrats who cohabitate in the Beaver Lodge (editor’s note: we all learned a lot with this cohabitation scenario).
On Saturday, she spotted two male Red-Breasted Mergansers at Pointe-du-Chene, a flock of Common Mergansers near Little Shemogue, and some well-camouflaged American Woodcocks doing their 'shuffle strut' also near Little Shemogue.
Dale has also seen a lot of twitterpation … err … “action” … amongst our local Mallard Ducks!

**Brian Coyle shares two very interesting videos from his trail camera setups.

Two Coyotes are scent marking at a Beaver pond. The difference in their colour of pelage is stunning. He has caught the ‘Blonde’ individual a few times on his cameras but has never had it show up beside a darker individual for comparison. Brian suspects that the blonde Coyote is a female and the darker one is a male. Although the dark individual seems to be squatting to scent mark, it is also lifting its right hind leg slightly and is significantly larger in size. Be patient in watching the video as the male comes back into view. (Editor’s note: this blonde coyote is a real catch. Jonathan Cormier, wildlife biologist with DNR, mentioned this pelage in a presentation to Nature Moncton).

The Ruffed Grouse video is amusing. It seems like it was all tough and was going to do battle with the camera. (Editor’s note: most wildlife tend not to notice trail cameras. However, this grouse says ‘not so quick’).

Take a look at the action below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yhr7a9w2a6qrdx6/STC_0003%20-%20Copy%20%2810%29_x264.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a1l4biq5co1phtx/STC_0035%20-%20Copy_x264.mp4?dl=0

**John Inman shares a photo of a Rusty Blackbird that stayed with him through the winter in Harvey. (Editor’s note: one may wonder how the Rusty Blackbird feels about the black invasion as they normally don’t tend to flock with their kin).
John also photographed the first arrival of a male Brown-headed Cowbird in blowing snow. (Editor’s note: the blackbirds are arriving in the sequence expected, with the male Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles arriving first, closely followed by the male Brown-headed Cowbirds. The ladies will follow over the next weeks).
John photographed a portion, being only a third, of his large blackbird contingent that appear very pleased to have found a well-stocked restaurant.

**Fred and Lynn Dube had yet another unexpected visitor to their Coverdale driveway cracked corn when a Red Fox arrived during the day on Sunday to partake.

Fred also spotted the Northern Goshawk swooping in for one of the ducks attracted to the cracked corn. This is the third time in a week that he has spotted it.

**On Sunday afternoon Brian Stone braved the miserable weather at Hampton and visited the lagoon for a few more photos of the pond birds. The selection of ducks and other birds varies with the time of day, and among the regular visitors present that afternoon, Brian photographed resting Turkey Vultures, some of the 12 male and female Wood Ducks, one of the 3 male Bufflehead Ducks, (editor’s note: very bright breeding plumage) a Ring-billed Gull, and the lonely male Ruddy Duck once more (editor’s note: blue starting to appear on the bill so brilliant breeding plumage can be expected to progress promptly).

Across from the lagoon in the pond at the Rotary Nature Park, Brian photographed a distant group of male and female Hooded Mergansers enjoying the cold waters.

Back at Upham, Brian took one more photo of a Common Grackle at the suet feeder in the yard and an image of a male Downy Woodpecker, one of the many woodpeckers vigorously drumming on trees in the area.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton