Nature Moncton Nature News: December 22 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Dec 22, 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

**After the first heavy snowfall of the year overnight, Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins stood at her window, cozy and warm, and watched the birds arrive at her feeder. All the usuals were there, including White-throated Sparrow, American Goldfinch (photographed days earlier before the snow), White-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Northern Cardinal, and American Tree Sparrow. Also present, but not photographed, were many Evening Grosbeaks but surprisingly, no Blue Jays (yet).

Jane sends a photo of her feeder setup. The 'artist' easel was built by hubby Eddie. In summer, it is filled with flowerpots. In winter, Jane sets it up right in front of the dining room window, covers the edges with boughs -pine cones with peanut butter on them, a suet feeder hangs from the center, and later, Jane will put the frozen Mountain Ash berries from her freezer in around the frame.

**Peter and Deana Gadd had a lot of activity at their feeders on Saturday, influenced by the snowy conditions. Perhaps the guest of honour was a Rusty Blackbird that has been visiting almost daily for the last 10 days. It had no trouble rummaging in a couple of inches of snow to find something to eat. Seven or eight Dark-eyed Juncos also seemed to do well finding their buried treasure in the snow but have been adapting to dining at feeders too. The Northern Cardinal did not go without. Fourteen Mourning Doves wisely had breakfast early before much snow accumulated. The busy feeders were occupied throughout the day by Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, a couple of American Tree Sparrows, and some American Goldfinches. Blue Jays, of course, made their presence felt. European Starlings were not to be left out, and so too were a couple of scrounging Rock Pigeons. Quite a lot of ‘natural’ entertainment for a day spent mostly indoors!

(Editor’s note: it’s always great to get reports of Rusty Blackbirds. The literature suggests this species has decreased in numbers by up to 90%. A few feeder reports over the past few years have had small flocks, which is very rewarding but is a very small sample. As with all dwindling wildlife species, the female component is crucial. Peter and Deana’s patron is clearly a female, as Peter’s photo shows the distinctive female head pattern of the rusty crown and prominent pale supercilium (arrowed). The male has this feature as well but very muted.)

**The Common Gull (Larus canus) is a European (British Isles mainly) that visits the eastern coast of North America, mostly in the winter months. It is seen in St. John's, Newfoundland, and Labrador in winter most years and in Nova Scotia less commonly but regularly. It has visited New Brunswick and is definitely one to watch for to give birders a gull rush.

Bernard Burke shares some documentary photos of a Common Gull he stumbled upon with a group of gulls in a parking lot in Dartmouth, NS, that show some identification features to be on the watch for. Note the yellow/green bill with a faint dark band at the tip, the dark eye, the patch of white inner flight feathers (feathers that will form part of the bright white trailing edge), which is arrowed in the photo, and the pale yellow-green legs. This is also a small gull at 16 in. that will stand out in a group.

Just as we checked goose flocks in the fall, check gull groups in the winter for surprise tagalongs!

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton