Nature Moncton Nature News: October 30 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

October 30 2024

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Peter and Deana Gadd recently configured their bird feeders in their Miramichi garden, ready for winter. There has been some feeder activity, so they were not greatly surprised when a Sharp-shinned Hawk came looking for breakfast on Monday morning.

After skipping from tree to tree for a few moments, it centered its attention on a hawthorn tree, next to the house. Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees were sheltering there and of course, for a few moments, there was a little game of hide and seek with a smaller bird. The chickadee seemed to win as the hawk flew off ‘empty- taloned’.

**John Inman had a Grey squirrel stop by his Harvey yard for a visit. John comments they come every year or two for a brief stay and then move on to a permanent home.

(Editor’s note: Grey squirrels seem to have become predominantly urban dwellers. The urban dwelling editor would be pleased to share a dozen with John!!)

Approximately 20 Common Grackles dropped down for a quick feed after the Sharp-shinned Hawk left and interesting to note John’s female Northern Cardinal was enjoying Mountain Ash berries.

**Aldo Dorio was again able to capture photos of a late lingering shorebird, an American Golden-plover, at Hay Island on Tuesday.

We usually see the American Golden-plover in fields and open places, but not so much on the coastline which makes this a special photo. Note the more petite bill and bright white supercilium to help differentiate it from the Black-bellied Plover which would be much more expected at that site. It does not show the golden tones in the plumage that would be expected, but Gilles Belliveau commented this may be due to the white balance in the photo.

**Yolande LeBlanc checked out the bushes at the McManus reserve in Memramcook (across from the Esso location). She was pleased to see the wild Privet loaded with berries waiting for bird fruit-eating connoisseurs.

At Yolande’s home yard, a flock of Cedar Waxwings are cleaning up her Privet and Mountain Ash berries. There are also lots of American Robins and what appeared to be a Blue-headed Vireo!

(Editor’s note: Privet is a shrub cultivar that would appear to have been popular around homes in the past but seems rarely planted today. Some of those plantings have gone into the wild but don’t seem to have done that commonly. I assume that to be the case as leaves and berries of privet are considered toxic to humans and most animals. Obviously, that is not the case for birds.)

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton