Nature Moncton Information Line

April 23 2020

Posted: 23 Apr 2020 05:38 AM PDT

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 23, 2020 (Thursday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Daryl Doucet and Gail Mills came across a very interesting scenario near the Pointe-du-Chene wharf on Wednesday. There were obviously schools of fish in the area as a feeding frenzy was in progress. Several seals were very active. The photos that Daryl got were all GRAY SEALS [Phoque gris]. Approximately 10 NORTHERN GANNETS [Fou de Bassan] suddenly appeared doing their spectacular dives. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS [Cormoran à aigrettes] were diving for fish and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland marin], HERRING GULLS [Goéland argenté] and RING-BILLED GULLS [Goéland à bec cerclé] were dipping and making shallow dives. It made for a very lively scene.

A warden in the area said that they were after Atlantic Herring that were spawning. The Blueback Herring and Alewife (collectively called Gaspereau) head up the rivers to spawn later in the season. The wind and temperatures at the wharf made for an equally wild terrestrial scene and Daryl was fortunate to get the good photos that he did.

** Jamie and Karen Burris went out near Turtle Creek marsh on Wednesday. They spotted a PALM WARBLER [Paruline à couronne rousse] and watched as it preened itself. You can see that the bottoms of their feet are yellow but the top of the feet are black. After scratching itself it flew to a nearby tree and captured a fly which it consumed with gusto. They also saw a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne rubis]. It was in the shade, but the photos still turned out nicely to show that telltale shape of the white eye ring. On the way out of the woods they encountered a large GROUNDHOG [Marmotte commune] that was keeping an eye on them, probably on one of his first spring outings from the deep hibernation that the Groundhog does.

** Rhonda Langelaan got some nice photos of a bright PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins] that dropped by her Second North River feeder this week. The occasional Pine Warbler does overwinter with us but chances are that this is a returning migrant. It's great to see the warbler photos coming in!

** Last spring Nature Moncton did a field trip up the Cocagne River later than this date. Roger Leblanc retraced that field trip on Wednesday and was amazed at the difference between the years. Last year there were large ice blocks along the river but this year there was not a sign of remaining ice blocks and the river was flowing smoothly. There were no plants showing yet but Roger suspects that will be soon. At a point where the Northwest Brook dumps into the Cocagne River there was a feeding frenzy of 60 + RING-BILLED GULLS [Goéland à bec cerclé], assumedly after the Smelt run. A bit higher up the river, where there is some white water, 8 BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] were intently watching the river but he did not see them going after anything.

Roger points out how advanced the season is in that area compared to last year. The Cocagne River is an excellent river to do a canoe run on, and one can put in where it crosses McLaughlin Rd. The time window of good canoeing water till when it is too low to canoe is short and that time is right now, for those who may be interested. I have done it and it is a gem. The attached link shows a video that Roger took of the river at the moment.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zw333qunyocvij3/Roger%20Leblanc%20IMG_0750.MOV?dl=0

Roger is also hearing 2 pairs of PILEATED WOODPECKERS [Grand pic] that appear to be in active courting mode at the moment.

** Magda Kuhn sends a photo of a family of EASTERN PHOEBES [Moucherolle phébi] that nested at their Richibucto River cottage in 2015 and is seeing them return at the moment. In 2015 the pair settled on a box under the roof in a direct sight line with their porch. That year they had no insects eating her little garden and no spider webs. They come back every year but did not occupy the same spot although they did give it a good cleaning. Magda is going to erect a few Nature Moncton Phoebe boxes to test their interest.

Note the significant moss component of a typical Eastern Phoebe nest in Magna's photo.

We are all used the Tree Swallow/Eastern Bluebird nests boxes but just realize we have never shown a sample of the Eastern Phoebe nest boxes Nature Moncton is doing a trial project with this year so am attaching a photo of one installed under a roof eave of a building in hope of an occupant. The American Robin will use this box as well and interested to see who else may show interest.

** Jane Leblanc got another photo of a SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d'Amérique] and no doubt about it this time the changeover to summer garb was much more complete, ready to do its effective camouflage when indicated.

** Aldo Dorio got photos of AMERICAN WIGEONS [Canard d'Amérique] and NORTHERN PINTAILS [Canard pilet] at Hay Island on Wednesday. That area gets both fresh water and salt water species as both are available.

** Brian Stone experienced a TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge] scenario that he has not seen before around Moncton. At least 4 Turkey Vultures were circling very low, just over the tree line at his home. There may have been more but he did see at least 4 in the air at one time but they were circling a wide area. Two juvenile BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] were with them, but flying higher. It would appear that there is carrion somewhere in the area to attract that many birds.

Brian also noted the snowflakes in his area came down as a form of hail. Wikipedia describes true hail as "a form of solid precipitation. It is distinct from ice pellets, though the two are often confused. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is called a hailstone. Ice pellets fall generally in cold weather while hail growth is greatly inhibited during cold surface temperatures." So leave it to be decided what the correct terminology with Brian's photo truly should be termed.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton