Nature Moncton Nature News: April 8 2023

April 8, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins was thrilled to have a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker enjoy her maple tree on Good Friday. He stayed long enough for a couple of other local birders to come and enjoy him as well.

Jane has had one or a pair of them for the last several years.

(Editor’s note: as very few Yellow-bellied Sapsucker overwinter in New Brunswick, it can be assumed this to be a recent arrival. The bird in Jane’s photo is doing what it is named for, drilling holes to lap up the sweet sap of the tree).

** John Inman had his first female Brown-headed Cowbird arrive on Friday, and it took about 5 seconds for a male to notice her, but she was just interested in something to eat. Also, he had a White-breasted Nuthatch drop in.

Last week Shannon Inman saw one Double-crested Cormorant, but Friday, there were 3 across the Shepody River.

**Verica LeBlanc comments Thursday. was the Pink Moon (The full Moon in April is widely known as the Pink Moon). She did not view it at its peak brilliance. However, when she looked outside Friday morning it was just starting to go down, covered first by a band of clouds and then it disappeared. Verica saw a glimpse of light and waited. It reappeared with an image to the likeness of a Man in the Moon to your right as you watch the screen. Also, it looked pretty surrounded by pink clouds.

** John Hamer comments that after hurricane Fiona he knew there had been damage to the sand dunes at Parlee Beach, but it wasn't until Sunday that he realized the damage was so profound. Someone had attached sticks to the bases of the marram grass fence placed at the leading edge of the dune as it was before Fiona. A full 33ft of depth, a good 1000ft, and 10ft height of sand has gone....what an ecological (natural) disaster.

**Aldo Dorio sends a photo of the brilliant morning sun rising at the entrance to Hay Island on Friday morning.

Aldo also sends a photo of a Great Blue Heron looking a bit mystified by the significant snowpack at Hay Island.

**Nelson Poirier and Brian Stone visited Wilson Marsh on Salisbury Rd. and Highland Park in Salisbury on Friday to enjoy the high winds and chilling temperatures that the day offered. They also searched for birds and other nature subjects to observe and photograph. At Wilson Marsh, some Canada Geese were complaining loudly that the wetlands were still frozen, and a few American Goldfinch perched high up in trees and stared down at the intrepid nature investigators. A female Purple Finch came in close but fled the area quickly as the camera tried in vain to get a sharp photo. Pussy Willow buds were showing their famous fuzziness well in a few isolated spots.

At the Government Rd. lagoon in Salisbury, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks. Common Goldeneye and one male Northern Shoveler Duck were observed before Nelson and Brian headed on to Highland Park. At the park, an adult Bald Eagle was harassed and pursued by a cranky Raven until it left the area, and an American Coot did a flyover vocalizing. A male Northern Harrier was seen gliding over a field further on, and a fast American Woodcock flew from its leafy habitat so quickly that it was just barely identified.

Along Salisbury Rd. on the way home, 2 American Kestrels were seen flying between wire, tree, and rooftop perches to the ground back and forth.

**Brian Stone shares several photos he took at various sites over the past week.

The immature Bald Eagles were taken at two different sites, but both appear to be first-year birds as very little yellow is appearing on the bill.

The White-tailed Deer are among the many that are appearing in fields and marsh areas in Memramcook/Beaumont. Their pelage is still the hollow grey-brown of winter hair which will soon be replaced by their summer chestnut brown.

One Muskrat is showing the laterally flattened rudder tail.

Iceland Gulls were present at the Arthur St., Memramcook lagoon but will soon be leaving us for their summer northern nesting grounds. Brian also photographed a Herring Gull that appears to be molting out of its third winter plumage to adult plumage.

The early blooming Coltsfoot is at its prime and will soon be developing its seed head.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton