Nature Moncton Nature News: November 23 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 23, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Jane LeBlanc had a White-throated Sparrow for a few days in her St. Martins yard this week. Her Northern Cardinal pair come daily but are not inclined to pose for good photos.

**Aldo Dorio continues seeing shorebirds at Hay Island on Wednesday.

He photographed Red Knot (aside snow) and Black-bellied Plover. Common Goldeneye are also appearing offshore.

(Editor's note: note that the yellow legs on the Black-bellied Plover are actually conveniently placed foliage blades!)

**Brian Stone joined Nelson Poirier on a trip to St. George and the surrounding area on Wednesday in the stormy, wet, windy, rainy, and flurry-filled day. In a small cove at the Green's Point Lighthouse area, they noticed a female Red-breasted Merganser Duck trying its best to swallow a Flounder fish but she was thwarted by a thieving Gull that stole the catch before it could be eaten. A male Red-breasted Merganser and male and female Bufflehead Ducks were also present at that spot.

Further along at Beaver Harbour Nelson and Brian found several male Surf Scoters diving for food, a large group of Gulls resting on the gravel beach, and a curious Harbour Seal poking its head above the water and finding it not much drier than down below. Along the side of the road in the Maces Bay area, on the way to the next stop, a darkly coloured Bald Eagle perched unconcernedly at the top of a small dead tree and watched calmly as Brian performed automotive acrobatics to line up his driver's side window in order to get a photograph without stepping out into the inclement weather.

At the Dipper Harbour wharf, during their lunch break, Brian got his last photos of the day of a Common Loon that caught a crab and violently shook it in the water, apparently to remove its shell to make it an easier treat to swallow.

After that, it was just more scenic snow, wind, and rain all the way back home, which made for a wonderfully relaxing drive; at least, that's how Brian prefers to remember it.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton