Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from New Brunswick > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Monday, February 8 at 02:12 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Araripe Manakin,©BirdQuest

8 Feb Bird blind [yolandeLeBlanc ] 8 Feb NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – February 8, 2010 (Monday) [Bill Winsor ] 7 Feb FW: Gagetown - A Celebration of Birds - Information Evenings [Bonnie Hamilton Bogart ] 7 Feb Recent Birds [Jim Wilson ] 7 Feb Charlo Hawk-owl [Mike ] 7 Feb return of the Barred Owl [Joanne savage ] 7 Feb New subscriber [marianne janowicz ] 7 Feb NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 07 Feb 2010 (Sunday) [David Christie ] 6 Feb Waxwings [Halli Macdonald ] 6 Feb Greetings from Grande Digue [Stella Raymonde Johnson ] 6 Feb MALE HOUSE SPARROW [Margaret Doyle ] 6 Feb Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES [Ken MacIntosh ] 6 Feb Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES [Todd Watts ] 6 Feb NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 06 Feb 2010 (Saturday) [David Christie ] 6 Feb Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert, Jan 30-Feb 5, 2010 [David Christie ] 5 Feb NB Winter List update [Gilles Belliveau ] 5 Feb Ingalls & White Heads birds [Roger Burrows ] 5 Feb NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – February 5, 2010 (Friday) [Bill Winsor ] 5 Feb Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES [Roger Burrows ] 5 Feb No Subject [Merv Cormier ] 5 Feb BOREAL CHICKADEES [Merv Cormier ] 4 Feb Re: MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT ["Frederick W. Schueler" ] 4 Feb MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT [Ralph Eldridge ] 4 Feb todays sightings Baxters Corner to St Martins and back [Joanne savage ] 4 Feb Upcoming Workshop Feb 25-27: "Working together for Species at Risk Recovery in Atlantic Canada" ["Potter,Karen [Dartmouth]" ] 4 Feb Fwd: Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan [Roger Burrows ] 4 Feb NATUREMONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE February 4, 2010. (Thursday) [Alma White ] 3 Feb NATUREMONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE february 3, 2010. (Wednesday) [Alma White ] 2 Feb The last few days sightings [Merv Cormier ] 2 Feb Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan [Roger Burrows ] 2 Feb Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan [Paul Mortimer ] 2 Feb NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 02, 2010 (Tuesady) [RICHARD MCCABE ] 2 Feb MORE ON WALKING OWLS [Gina ] 1 Feb Prochaine éunion de les ami(e) de la nature du sud-est du N.B. inc. [Gilles Bourque ] 1 Feb Hawks vs Pigeons [Roy & Charlotte LaPointe ] 1 Feb Grand Manan birds [Roger Burrows ] 1 Feb grimpereau brun//brown creeper [Mike Plourde ] 1 Feb NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – February 1, 2010 (Monday) [Bill Winsor ] 31 Jan Harfang des neiges ( Snowy Owl) [Roger Dumaresq ] 31 Jan Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan [Brian Dalzell ] 31 Jan DO OWLS WALK MUCH? [Gina ] 31 Jan Re: Boreal Chickadees [Roger Burrows ] 31 Jan Re: Boreal Chickadees [David Christie ] 31 Jan Boreal Chickadees [James Clifford ] 31 Jan NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 31 Jan 2010 (Sunday) [David Christie ] 30 Jan Ingalls & White Heads birds [Roger Burrows ] 30 Jan Common GRACKLE [Margaret Doyle ] 30 Jan NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 30 Jan 2010 (Saturday) [David Christie ] 29 Jan Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert, Jan 23-29, 2010 [David Christie ] 29 Jan Cool Cardinal Continues to Croon [Jim Wilson ] 29 Jan Turkey Vulture at Grand Bay Near Saint John [Jim Wilson ] 29 Jan A Dust of Snow [Popma ] 29 Jan NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – January 29, 2010 (Friday) [Bill Winsor ] 29 Jan Snowy morning for the birds [David Christie ] 28 Jan Probable Short-eared Owl, Gagetown [K Gigeroff ] 28 Jan another Barred Owl [Joanne savage ] 28 Jan Nature Moncton's Information Line January 28, 2010 (Thursday) [Alma White ] 27 Jan Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees ["Lait, Linda" ] 27 Jan birds today Quispamsis to Sheffield [Joanne savage ] 27 Jan Grand Manan & White Head (ferry) birds, inc. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL & THICK-BILLED MURRE [Roger Burrows ] 27 Jan Nature Moncton's Information Line January 27, 2010,( Wednesday) [Alma White ] 26 Jan Great Blue Heron at Douglastown [Don Gibson ] 25 Jan Gray Jays, Boreal Chickadees, woodpeckers and sapsuckers ["Lait, Linda" ] 25 Jan Hawk Owl, Cooper's Hawk [Roy & Charlotte LaPointe ] 25 Jan Re: PISHING AN OWL [Roy & Charlotte LaPointe ] 25 Jan NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – January 25, 2010 (Monday) [Bill Winsor ] 24 Jan Northern Hawk Owl Sheffield [Joyce Robinson ] 24 Jan Re: PISHING AN OWL [Jim Brown ] 24 Jan Barred Owl [Jane ] 24 Jan Ingalls & White Heads birds, inc. possible KING EIDER, THICK-BILLED MURRE [Roger Burrows ] 24 Jan PISHING AN OWL [Gina ] 24 Jan NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 24 Jan 2010 (Sunday) [David Christie ] 23 Jan Northern Hawk Owl, St.Leonard [Roy & Charlotte LaPointe ] 23 Jan NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 23 Jan 2010 (Saturday) [David Christie ] 22 Jan Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert, Jan. 16-22, 2010 [David Christie ] 22 Jan yard birds [joan pearce ] Subject: Bird blind From: yolandeLeBlanc <yolandeleb AT rogers.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 16:09:09 -0400 I am looking for bird viewing blinds, have checked the net & seen a few. I'm looking for something easy & cheap to make, maybe with a roof... Any suggestions for a plan?? You can reply to me directly. Thanks, I can always count on birdwatchers for help. Yolande LeBlanc 251 Central Street Memramcook, NB E4K 3P8 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – February 8, 2010 (Monday) From: Bill Winsor <bwinsor44 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 05:43:20 -0800 NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE   Edited by: Nelson Poirier Transcribed by: Bill Winsor Info Line #: 384-NEWS (6397)   To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor.   For more information on the Nature Moncton, contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197 or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org.   Monday morning, February 8, 2010 *** HOUSE SPARROWS [Moineau domestique] have become a much less common bird in the New Brunswick area in recent years, no doubt to the advantage of some other species such as TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est].  Georges Brun recalls that he use to see them in flocks in several downtown locations in the Moncton area several years ago and had not noted them recently until noting a flock of approximately 40 on Sunday, foraging at the Gorber Property on Steadman Street near Queen Street in Moncton.  When observing a group of house sparrows, a close look for any tagalong DICKCISSEL [Dickcissel d'Amérique] is always indicated.   *** A waxwing surprise for Julie Pellerin on Sunday morning on the Cap Brûlé Road.  She encountered the largest flock of waxwings she has ever seen.  They were perched in two deciduous trees across the Cap Brûlé Road from each other.  Julie comments one tree seemed to have every branch loaded while the one on the other side of the road was approximately half full.  She estimated the number of waxwings to be approximately 500 and although with that number it would be hard to be certain, she did not see any CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] among them, all seeming to be BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal]; which is quite different from recent waxwing reports.   Nelson Poirier Nature Moncton   Please, consider the environment before printing this e-mail                                                                                                                              __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: FW: Gagetown - A Celebration of Birds - Information Evenings From: Bonnie Hamilton Bogart <bonniehb AT NB.SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:27:32 -0400 Hello, nature lovers, This is to welcome you to another line-up of Information Evenings for the year 2010. When our group started up in 1997, little did we imagine how these Evenings would become such a part of our Gagetown winters. Hot tea, shortbreads and other home-made treats, sharing sightings and stories and . . . . ahhh, just sitting back and being transported to another season, sometimes another country . . . and drinking in the beautiful sights and sounds of nature. Not a bad way to spend a cold Wednesday evening in winter. Keith MacKenzie will launch this year's season with an incredible video titled "My Favourite Birding Places: White Wings and Music." A magical video. You decide if the music really takes wing. Other presenters this season include Drs Tony Diamond and Graham Forbes, both of UNB. We are hoping for a total of 4 or 5 presenters between now and early April. We will also be sharing with you the plans for our new spring festival, Wings Over Queens County. Stay tuned! Here are the details for our first Information Evening: "My Favourite Birding Places: White Wings and Music." Presented by: Keith MacKenzie, videographer Anglican Church Guild Hall (corner of Front Street and Courthouse Road) Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Come a few minutes early to enjoy some tea and home-made treats. See you on Wednesday! Bonnie Hamilton Bogart and Roberta MacKenzie, Co-chairs No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2671 - Release Date: 02/06/10 07:35:00 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Recent Birds From: Jim Wilson <jgw AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 23:08:49 -0400 My friend Evan Smith of Grand Bay emailed to say he saw a TURKEY VULTURE again over his house late this afternoon. He reported one there a couple of weeks ago. Today's vulture came from the southwest, from the direction of the Saint John the landfill site which is about two miles down the road. The bird flew north over the Grand Bay sewer pumping station and out over the Kennebecasis River towards the Kingston Peninsula. Evan feels the landfill might be a good place to have a look for this bird and will do so tomorrow. For most of the winter we've been enjoying a pair of increasingly confiding CARDINALS at our feeders. The female has been faithful many times each day and spends long periods perched quietly in a forsythia bush near the top of our driveway or on the feeders. Unfortunately, we've also been hosts to a persistent SHARP-SHINNED HAWK that has been picking off the numerous MOURNING DOVES for the past month or so. The hawk usually comes very early in the morning and usually the only evidence is a few dove feathers or a spot or two of blood when I fill the feeders after getting up. On Friday I found fresh blood but no feathers and wondered what had been taken. Sadly, Thursday was the last day we've seen the female Cardinal. I can only hope the hawk caught something else and the Cardinals got a bad scare that put them off, but I suspect that's just wishful thinking. Only time will tell. Jim Wilson NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Charlo Hawk-owl From: Mike <mhlca AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:47:40 -0400 Hello, Everyone I found the Charlo Northern Hawk-owl again this afternoon, five weeks to the day from when I first found it. It is in the same area and seems to be using most of the large block bordered by the Craig Road on the west, the Charlo Airport road on the north, a street which name escapes me on the east (but it is the only one that cuts east from the Airport Road) and Mountain Brook Road on the south. This afternoon, in light snow, it was sitting about two-thirds of the way from the top of an aspen, in the middle of one of the gravel pits off the Craig Road. Mike Lushington NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: return of the Barred Owl From: Joanne savage <davidsavage AT ROGERS.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:51:53 -0400 My neighbor [ across the street ] alerted me to a " bird that looked like an Owl " in a Birch next to the street . A quick look revealed a BARRED OWL [ I even got a decent photo ] and called a birding buddy who'd never seen one before . She lives approx 20 min away . Even after the Owl left it's original perch for a Maple tree beside the back of my house then flying away just as she arrived we relocated it after a 2-3 min scan of the street behind me . I'm happy to have seen it again and but more so that my friend gained a " life bird " . Joanne Savage Roby's Rd Quuispamsis NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: New subscriber From: marianne janowicz <mjanowicz AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:13:36 -0400 Hello; I am returning to list after a space of almost two years when I moved to PEI. Life here has now settled down so I am birding again. There does not seem to be a comparable service in PEI, which is really too bad. Today while travelling the Argyle Shore Road, I found a Sharp Shinned Hawk sitting on the wires in the snowstorm. He appeared to be in no rush to leave as I stopped nearby to take a look. The Red Tailed Hawk population on the island appears fairly healthy. I see one regularly on my skis in the Breadalbane woods and while driving the roads to Charlottetown. I believe I saw a Northern Goshawk the other day while skiing also. This neighborhood (Breadalbane-Stanchel) is full of eagles in the winter. There are usually all year classes around. Last winter what I assume was a multi generation family perched on the same tree every day. The population seems to be down this year compared to last. Blue Jays are abundant and one calls like a hawk. I look forward to reading the postings. Marianne Janowicz _________________________________________________________________ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 07 Feb 2010 (Sunday) From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 10:23:49 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : David Christie Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton [Moncton Naturalists' Club since 1962], contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin, at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Sunday morning, February 7, 2010 ** Dave Christie reported three different BARRED OWLS [Chouette rayée], out somewhat earlier [4:15 to 5:15 p.m.] than would be expected, on Saturday afternoon. Mary and Dave drove to the Cape Enrage lighthouse, the road to which was recently plowed, and along the way in spotted a Barred Owl perched in a tree-top. [Transcriber's note: Two people from Saint-Louis-de-Kent had seen it catch and consume a mouse shortly before we arrived, and Barb Curlew and Rick Elliott saw it after we left. It was seen on trees and wires for about 1 km along Cape Enrage Road, from where a hay field is on the left and salt marsh on the right, to where the Tingley Lake Road turns off to the right.] On return home through New Horton they spotted another Barred Owl perched on a tree-top in a brushy field [about 400 metres west of 1134 Route 915] and called a neighbour, Rick Morcom, who surprisingly said that he was watching one that very moment [on a tree by his house at 575 Route 915 in Harvey; thi! s is the bird that has been seen frequently along Mary's Point Road.]. Barred Owls seem to foraging early in the day recently, to suggest that food may be a bit more of a challenge to find at the moment. ** The mountain-ash fruit crop along Westmount Boulevard by Jones Lake in Moncton is still very abundant this year but there have been few birds feeding on it till recently. On Saturday afternoon, Brian Dalzell spotted an acrobatic flock of 40 to 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] opposite 40 Westmount Blvd. He suspects that ther numbers will now start to swell, as the berries get used. Brian offers a theory on the sudden appearance of Cedar Waxwings in the area. He feels that in most winters they are found mostly in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, where berry-bearing shrubs are more prevalent. In a Bohemian Waxwing winter the Cedar Waxwings seem to be be driven before the hordes of Bohemians and end up in southwestern Nova Scotia by winter's end. With no Bohemian Waxwings to contain them they may be moving north with little competition. An interesting thought that I had never noted. ** My grandson and I paid a visit to see the ducks at the small bridge over the creek that is on the trail immediately to the right at the Gorge Road entrance to Mapleton Park. I was surprised to find a surprising amount of open water there, with approximately 60 MALLARDS [Canard colvert] and their one male AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] pal, who got named "Mister Wigeon." Matt was watching a very large number of gulls circling in the Mountain Road area and said they were flying like they were in a tornado cloud, which struck me as a rather striking parallel form a 6-year-old. ** There have been at least three confirmed sightings of PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] in the city up to Jan. 23, more so in the area between the Federal Building and Heritage Court. This would seem like a logical area for a Peregrine to base its operations, with the high flat-topped buildings and pigeon supply. Any raptor observations in that area should be observed as closely as possible. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Waxwings From: Halli Macdonald <squakinmchalli AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 21:57:22 -0400 Although, sadly, this winter has been severely lacking in birds, I did see a flock of a couple hundred Bohemian Waxwings feeding on a fruit-bearing tree down the street. Aside from this we have had the occasional visit of 2 to 4 Goldfinches, a Red-breasted Nuthatch and the usual Black-capped Chickadees at our feeders. Hopefully my time in Florida over the March Break will be more productive! Halli Macdonald, Fredericton _________________________________________________________________ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Greetings from Grande Digue From: Stella Raymonde Johnson <botanicals AT WILDWOODPLANET.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:40:09 -0400 Hi everyone ~ I'm new on this list as of today, so I thought I would introduce myself. I live in Grande-Digue, on the Chemin Des Lapins Road with my husband, Colin. I'm originally from St. Maurice, NB and he is an Australian, born in the south in the state of Victoria. We both love observing nature and especially the birds around our new home. Since I've put out the birdfeeder last fall we've had the usual squirrel, chipmunks and fall sparrows, but also migrating robins and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which was a pleasant surprise. Right now I have my share of Mourning Doves, Black-Capped Chickadees, Nuthatches, Blue Jays, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and three Common Crows which visit my sister's feeders as well. She lives only two houses up the road from us and she told me that she saw a large flock of Waxwings last week. They checked out her crabapple tree and left soon thereafter. Which are the most common, the Cedar or Bohemian, at this time of year? Just as I was getting ready to go to work yesterday morning, an unusual visitor showed up and had me grabbing the nearest camera: a Pileated Woodpecker hanging on and pecking away at the small wooden suet holder. I work in Cocagne so we cross over to the TransCanada to go to the other side of the still-closed bridge every morning and evening. Tonight we went past at around 5:15 and we saw two American Bald Eagles soaring above the water. It's the first time I see Bald Eagles in Cocagne. I've also seen about a dozen American Robins on the Cocagne Cross Road last week where I work. The owner of the property had a garden behind the house last summer and several Ring-Necked Pheasants come to forage on the remaining weed seedheads above the snowline. I saw a male yesterday by himself having a meal, and that's also where the Robins had alighted last week to check out some snowless patches. I've studied birds for a long time but I know there is so much more to learn. I'm hoping that being on this list will rekindle my love of Nature here in New Brunswick and that I can learn from members of this group. Stella Johnson Chemin Des Lapins Grande-Digue, NB NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Hi everyone ~ I’m new on this list as of today, so I thought I would introduce myself. I live in Grande-Digue, on the Chemin Des Lapins Road with my husband, Colin. I’m originally from St. Maurice, NB and he is an Australian, born in the south in the state of Victoria. We both love observing nature and especially the birds around our new home. Since I’ve put out the birdfeeder last fall we’ve had the usual squirrel, chipmunks and fall sparrows, but also migrating robins and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which was a pleasant surprise. Right now I have my share of Mourning Doves, Black-Capped Chickadees, Nuthatches, Blue Jays, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and three Common Crows which visit my sister’s feeders as well. She lives only two houses up the road from us and she told me that she saw a large flock of Waxwings last week. They checked out her crabapple tree and left soon thereafter. Which are the most common, the Cedar or Bohemian, at this time of year? Just as I was getting ready to go to work yesterday morning, an unusual visitor showed up and had me grabbing the nearest camera: a Pileated Woodpecker hanging on and pecking away at the small wooden suet holder. I work in Cocagne so we cross over to the TransCanada to go to the other side of the still-closed bridge every morning and evening. Tonight we went past at around 5:15 and we saw two American Bald Eagles soaring above the water. It’s the first time I see Bald Eagles in Cocagne. I’ve also seen about a dozen American Robins on the Cocagne Cross Road last week where I work. The owner of the property had a garden behind the house last summer and several Ring-Necked Pheasants come to forage on the remaining weed seedheads above the snowline. I saw a male yesterday by himself having a meal, and that’s also where the Robins had alighted last week to check out some snowless patches. I’ve studied birds for a long time but I know there is so much more to learn. I’m hoping that being on this list will rekindle my love of Nature here in New Brunswick and that I can learn from members of this group. Stella Johnson Chemin Des Lapins Grande-Digue, NB NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: MALE HOUSE SPARROW From: Margaret Doyle <judo AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:44:17 -0400 Hello I just got from a Marina Mills and she said she as a male HOUSE SPARROW at her feeders now since about 2 weeks since a few years we dont even have one on the CBC A report from the North Margaret Doyle Campbellton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES From: Ken MacIntosh <coopers AT NB.AIBN.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 13:11:07 -0400 In response to Todd's request for Charlotte County commentary, in seven years living in Black's Harbour, I encountered Boreal Chickadees regularly, but not frequently. I could count on them visiting my yard at least once or twice each winter, and would see them wherever I would walk regularly (to the Wallace Cove lighthouse or the Beaver Harbour lighthouse). I also found them regularly in the woods near Fiander Road, Oven Head, Seeley's Cove, New River, Lepreau, and more recently in my atlas square near Musquash, almost always in ones and twos. I did not often see them north of Route 1. I don't think they are numerous, and if you really wanted to find one they might not show, but over time you can rely on seeing them in the dense softwoods near the coast. The only place in New Brunswick where I have found them to outnumber Black-capped Chickadees is in the valley of the Northwest Miramichi River. Ken MacIntosh, Saint John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Todd Watts" To: Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 11:59 AM Subject: Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES > Merv's post prompted me to look for some Boreal Chickadees near my home > on Kerr's Ridge in Charlotte County. A drive along the Ridge Road with my > window down scanning and listening for birds, along with a half a dozen > stops, some shorts walks and lots of pishing did not produce a single > Boreal. > > Birds seen during my morning attempt to find Boreal Chickadees were > Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Dark- eyed > Junco, Black-capped Chickadee and White-winged Crossbill. > > My experiences to date suggest that this species is not at all common in > coastal Charlotte County. It would be interesting to hear other Charlotte > County reports on the presence of this species. > > > Todd Watts > Kerr's Ridge > Bocabec, NB > > > > > > On 5-Feb-10, at 8:11 AM, Merv Cormier wrote: > >> From Merv in Saint John:It's been interesting to read about the decline >> in BOCH everywhere? but I on the other hand see and or hear them >> EVERYWHERE, last week on our way to Sheffield we stopped three times >> along the road and saw BOREAL CHICKADEES at ALL 3 stops, Yesterday on a >> round trip from Saint John, to Norton up to St Martin's, to the Fundy >> trail gate and back to Saint John, we stopped eight times hoping for Red >> Crossbills, no luck there but we saw BOCA at each stop, probably twenty >> in all, and finally in my survey square 19GL10 which covers the Black >> Beach area including all of the SOUTH MUSQUASH Rd I can see Boreal >> CHickadees almost everywhere I stop at anytime of the year, of course >> you have to stop in the appropriate area, besides a open field would >> not work, but by a nice spruce tree'd patch with lots of cones they are >> there. >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Check your Hotmail from your phone. >> http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708121 >> NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html >> Foire aux questions de NatureNB >> http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES From: Todd Watts <fishbird AT NB.SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:59:34 -0400 Merv's post prompted me to look for some Boreal Chickadees near my home on Kerr's Ridge in Charlotte County. A drive along the Ridge Road with my window down scanning and listening for birds, along with a half a dozen stops, some shorts walks and lots of pishing did not produce a single Boreal. Birds seen during my morning attempt to find Boreal Chickadees were Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Dark- eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee and White-winged Crossbill. My experiences to date suggest that this species is not at all common in coastal Charlotte County. It would be interesting to hear other Charlotte County reports on the presence of this species. Todd Watts Kerr's Ridge Bocabec, NB On 5-Feb-10, at 8:11 AM, Merv Cormier wrote: > From Merv in Saint John:It's been interesting to read about the > decline in BOCH everywhere? but I on the other hand see and or hear > them EVERYWHERE, last week on our way to Sheffield we stopped three > times along the road and saw BOREAL CHICKADEES at ALL 3 stops, > Yesterday on a round trip from Saint John, to Norton up to St > Martin's, to the Fundy trail gate and back to Saint John, we stopped > eight times hoping for Red Crossbills, no luck there but we saw BOCA > at each stop, probably twenty in all, and finally in my survey > square 19GL10 which covers the Black Beach area including all of > the SOUTH MUSQUASH Rd I can see Boreal CHickadees almost everywhere > I stop at anytime of the year, of course you have to stop in the > appropriate area, besides a open field would not work, but by a nice > spruce tree'd patch with lots of cones they are there. > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Check your Hotmail from your phone. > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708121 > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 06 Feb 2010 (Saturday) From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 10:01:34 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : David Christie Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton [Moncton Naturalists' Club since 1962], contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin, at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Saturday morning, February 6, 2010 ** Dave Christie watched an interesting crow - hawk encounter at Mary's Point beach on Friday. As he approached the beach, four AMERICAN CROWS [Corneille d'Amérique] burst from some spruce trees, followed about 50 feet behind by an immature accipiter. The hawk singled out one of the crows and chased it out over the ice-covered mud flat in a spirited attempt to hit the crow, swooping at it six times before turning away. As it did, the crow turned and made one dive back at the hawk in return. Dave's impression was that the hawk about the same length as the crow but a bit smaller in bulk, a near match in size. That suggested a male COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper] but observations were simply too fast for a positive identification. The CEDAR WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique] group visited the grape vine in their Mary's Point yard again on Thursday and Friday. Dave was able to get a cleaner look at the group on Thursday, when they lifted to a nearby maple tree, and he could count ten, all Cedar Waxwings. ** Nature Moncton has a busy mid February with some significant events lined up. One week from today, Saturday Feb. 13, there will be the ORCHID WORKSHOP with Jim Goltz. This is filling up nicely, so interested folks are asked to register ASAP with Catherine Johnson, by e-mail or by phone at 432-6478. The Nature Moncton monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, Feb. 16, will have an excellent presentation on NEW BRUNSWICK OWLS by Scott Makepeace. On Saturday, Feb. 20, there will be a photography workshop with Clarence Nowlan. This is planned as a basic introductory workshop. It is also starting to fill, so early registration is advised, also with Catherine. More details of these events can be found on the club website under programs and field trips. ** This Week's "Sky at a glance": Last night the MOON [Lune] went into its last quarter phase, rising at midnight and setting at noon. Next Saturday, Feb. 13, the moon will go into its new phase, rising and setting with the sun, so expect darkness at night to be complete. With the moon gone from the early evening sky, this is a good week to look for the ZODIACAL LIGHT. Look west just as twilight is ending. If you have good clear air above the fading twilight glow there will be a vague but huge, tall, tilted pyramid of pearly light. It aligns with the constellations of the zodiac. What you are seeing is sunlit interplanetary dust in the plane, which originated from asteroids and short-period comets. This week's Planet Round-up: MERCURY [Mercure], at magnitude -0.2, is sinking low into the sunrise. Look for it just above the ESE horizon about 30 minutes before sunrise. Binoculars will help. VENUS [Vénus] is hidden in the sunset. MARS is fiery bright, at magnitude -1.1, and shines low in the ENE in twilight and higher in the east later in the evening. JUPITER, at magnitude -2.0, is descending into the sunset glow, low in the WSW at twilight and sets around twilight's end. SATURN [Saturne], at magnitude +0.7, rises in the east around 10 p.m. and stands highest in the south around 3 a.m. In a scope, Saturn's rings are tilted 4.5 degrees from edge on to us, and will narrow further during the coming months. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert, Jan 30-Feb 5, 2010 From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 09:18:17 -0400 From Maine Birds here are parts of Eric Hyne's transcript of the Maine Audubon Bird Alert. The entire transcript can be accessed at , and . -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert Reporting Period: January 30 - February 5, 2010 Area: State of Maine Compilers: Eric Hynes, Stella Walsh Of Special Note Top birds this week are: KING EIDER, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, SNOWY OWL, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, and PAINTED BUNTING. Other noteworthy species include: SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, BLACK-HEADED GULL, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, RED CROSSBILL, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. Recent additions to the RBA slideshow include more images of the Thayer's Gull, a Northern Shrike, an Iceland Gull, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a Merlin. Check them out at: http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/birdalert_gallery.php [western areas omitted] Penobscot Bay Two BLACK-HEADED GULLS and several ICELAND GULLS persist around the lobster pound in Owls Head Harbor. A few WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are being seen on the east side of the basin on Vinalhaven Island. A female GREATER SCAUP remains near the Monhegan Boat that is moored in Rockland Harbor. A NORTHERN FLICKER was seen at Beech Hill in Rockport. Downeast A PAINTED BUNTING continues through at least the 4th at a private feeder in Blue Hill. Sightings on Mount Desert Island this week included: COMMON REDPOLLS on Gilbert Farm Road in Town Hill, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK caught in somebody's coop, and four RED CROSSBILLS in Somesville. Two ICELAND GULLS and two GLAUCOUS GULLS were in Prospect Harbor on the 29th. Reported first in December, an immature drake and a hen KING EIDER continue at Clark Ledge in Eastport. Other wintering ducks in the Eastport area include a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS and 24 GREATER SCAUP. Northern Maine A NORTHERN HAWK OWL continues on Pierce Road near the intersection with Old Houlton Road in Blaine. Small flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were spotted in Mars Hill and Presque Isle on January 30. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NB Winter List update From: Gilles Belliveau <gilles.belliveau AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 21:26:21 -0400 It's been a while since I've posted a message about the winter list but there really hasn't been much to report. My last message was on Dec 24 and my last update to the NB Winter List website was on Jan 12 . There have been 8 species added since my last message bringing our total this winter to 149 species. The complete list can be seen at http://nbwinter.gbnature.com and a list of the species added since Dec 24 can be seen by clicking on the "Last updated ..." link at the top of the page. It's starting to look like we are going to end up with our lowest winter list total since we started maintaining a winter list back in the winter of 1996/1997. The lowest total we've had was 152 species in the winter of 1997/1998 so we still need 3 additional species just to tie that year. I just ckecked the NS Winter List website and it's looking like they may get their lowest total ever as well. As of their last update (Jan 19) they were at 177 species and their previous lowest total was 181 species in the winter of 1998/1999. One species that has yet to be reported this winter that should be findable is Northern Saw-whet Owl so I'm planning to go out a few times over the next few weeks in the hopes of finding one before the end of February. Gilles Belliveau Noonan (Fredericton area) NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Ingalls & White Heads birds From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:19:56 -0400 February 5 Ingalls Head Feeders 19:15-10:45 10 Mourning Doves, 2 American Tree Sparrows White Head Ferry 13:30-14:00 Common Loon, 4 Red-necked Grebes, 40 Common Eiders, male Surf & 3 White-winged Scoters, 43 Long-tailed Ducks, male Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Black Guillemots White Head: Village & Long Point Road 14:00-14:45 7 American Black Ducks, 3 Mallards, 6 Common Eiders, 7 Black Scoters, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Black Guillemots, 3 Mourning Doves, 6 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches White Head Ferry 15:00-15:30 2 Common Loons, 3 Red-necked Grebes, adult Great Cormorant, 18 Common Eiders, 5 Surf & 2 White-winged Scoters, 33 Long-tailed Ducks, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Black Guillemots Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – February 5, 2010 (Friday) From: Bill Winsor <bwinsor44 AT YAHOO.CA> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 06:28:27 -0800 NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE   Edited by: Nelson Poirier Transcribed by: Bill Winsor Info Line #: 384-NEWS (6397)   To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor.   For more information on the Nature Moncton, contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197 or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org.   Friday morning, February 5, 2010   *** Bertie McCabe was in the Cameron Street area of Moncton on Thursday and came across a winter AMERICAN CROW [Corneille d'Amérique] roost in the area between Gordon Street and St. George Street in a tight group.  Bertie comments that she has never seen anything like this before and it created an almost eerie atmosphere.  She estimated there were easily 1,000 plus crows in number.  This roost is obviously moving around; I had a similar report last week of a similar encounter after dusk in the Burlington Street area of Moncton’s West End and a few weeks earlier there was a similar scenario in the Steadman Street area for a few nights.   *** Shirley Hunt had a visit from 45 CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] to her Downey Avenue yard in Riverview on Monday.  They had stopped to forage on remnant MOUNTAIN ASH berries and Shirley comments that they were as content to take the dried up darker berries, as quickly as, the more fresh orange ones.  The number of reports of cedar waxwings this past week has been rather unexpected.   *** Bill and Marguerite Winsor comment on having nice observations of a soaring RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] just after crossing the Pollett River Bridge along Parkindale Road on Thursday, making good use of thermals on a sunny day.  Just after that they watched a pair of COMMON RAVENS [Grand Corbeau] doing some impressive soaring, it’s that time of year to watch for ravens doing impressive acrobatics and barrel rolls as they cement pair bonds.    Also in that same area, a surprising number of WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] seemed to be wandering about peoples’ yards and going back and forth across roads in the area.   Nelson Poirier Nature Moncton Please, consider the environment before printing this e-mail __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: BOREAL CHICKADEES From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:18:34 -0400 I never intended to suggest Boreal Chickadees were declining in mainland NB, only on Grand Manan, where I suspect it is a local problem caused by overcrowding and Black-capped Chickadee expansion. Boreals seem to have plenty of available, uncontested habitat on the mainland. Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan On Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 8:11 AM, Merv Cormier wrote: > From Merv in Saint John:It's been interesting to read about the decline in > BOCH everywhere? but I on the other hand see and or hear them EVERYWHERE, > last week on our way to Sheffield we stopped three times along the road and > saw BOREAL CHICKADEES at ALL 3 stops, Yesterday on a round trip from Saint > John, to Norton up to St Martin's, to the Fundy trail gate and back to Saint > John, we stopped eight times hoping for Red Crossbills, no luck there but we > saw BOCA at each stop, probably twenty in all, and finally in my survey > square 19GL10 which covers the Black Beach area including all of the SOUTH > MUSQUASH Rd I can see Boreal CHickadees almost everywhere I stop at anytime > of the year, of course you have to stop in the appropriate area, besides a > open field would not work, but by a nice spruce tree'd patch with lots of > cones they are there. > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Check your Hotmail from your phone. > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708121 > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: No Subject From: Merv Cormier <mervcormier AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 08:22:45 -0400 From Merv in Saint John:On Tuesday on a trip with Richard Perron and LM Cormier to find the TUFTED TITMOUSE we came accross about 20 CEDAR WAXWINGS IN SAINT GEORGE close to but below RALPH ELDRIDGES HOUSE, since they do not eat seeds they must have been attracted to Ralph's feeder area by the songs of other birds partaking in RALPH's all you can eat BUFFET, anyone who has not seen RALPH's feeder station is missing in on something special. If you are ever in Saint George area take Clinch St. off Main St. and go to the end you can't miss it. The WAXWINGS were eating very small rose hips from the SCOTTISH ROSE which are plentiful over by the Boat Lauch ramp on the river. _________________________________________________________________ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: BOREAL CHICKADEES From: Merv Cormier <mervcormier AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 08:11:56 -0400 From Merv in Saint John:It's been interesting to read about the decline in BOCH everywhere? but I on the other hand see and or hear them EVERYWHERE, last week on our way to Sheffield we stopped three times along the road and saw BOREAL CHICKADEES at ALL 3 stops, Yesterday on a round trip from Saint John, to Norton up to St Martin's, to the Fundy trail gate and back to Saint John, we stopped eight times hoping for Red Crossbills, no luck there but we saw BOCA at each stop, probably twenty in all, and finally in my survey square 19GL10 which covers the Black Beach area including all of the SOUTH MUSQUASH Rd I can see Boreal CHickadees almost everywhere I stop at anytime of the year, of course you have to stop in the appropriate area, besides a open field would not work, but by a nice spruce tree'd patch with lots of cones they are there. _________________________________________________________________ Check your Hotmail from your phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708121 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT From: "Frederick W. Schueler" <bckcdb AT ISTAR.CA> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 23:16:11 -0500 Ralph Eldridge wrote: > I returned to MSI... * does this mean it's spring? fred. ------------------------------------------------------------ Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad Bishops Mills Natural History Centre - http://pinicola.ca/bmnhc.htm Thirty Years Later Expedition - http://pinicola.ca/thirty/ Longterm ecological monitoring - http://fragileinheritance.ca/ Portraits of light - http://www.aletakarstad.com/ Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills - http://pinicola.ca/mudpup1.htm RR#2 Bishops Mills, Ontario, Canada K0G 1T0 on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44* 52'N 75* 42'W (613)258-3107 http://pinicola.ca/ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND REPORT From: Ralph Eldridge <r.eldridge AT XPLORNET.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 22:28:04 -0400 I returned to MSI on Wednesday, the 3rd, with heavy snow squalls and flurries. Accumulation substantially increased as we moved down from Saint John and flurries continued until early this morning. With winds to 50 kph, blowing snow and "cool" temperatures, the incentive to go birding has been somewhat lacking today. Nonetheless, the expected species were evident throughout the day. KITTIWAKES are prominent, with small numbers of HERRING, BLACK BACKED, ICELAND & BONAPARTE GULLS. HARLEQUIN DUCKS appear to be well up towards last year's high population although it will take a few days of good weather to get an accurate count. Anything in the 20-30 range could indicate that last year's doubled population is a trend, not just a spike. Some COMMON EIDERS and a handful of MERGANSERS were seen, as well as occassional LONG TAILS. A couple of small flocks of PURPLE SANDPIPERS have been moving between MSI and Gull Rock but the winter population number is still uncertain. The most abundant species, as expected, were the ALCIDS and almost all of those that could be identified were RAZORBILLS. By conservative estimate, there was close to 20,000 passing by today. The movement was, as usual, unidirectional throughout the day with the flow eastward, towards Grand Manan. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: todays sightings Baxters Corner to St Martins and back From: Joanne savage <davidsavage AT rogers.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:44:20 -0400 Merv Cormier , Susan petrie , Carol Ball and I took advantage of a milder day to take a loop to St Martins and back to Rothesay . B-C CHICKADEES were numerous . Also seen were W-B and R-B NUTHATCH , PURPLE and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH , G-C KINGLET , DOWNEY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS , AMER TREE SPARROW , BLUE and CANADA JAYS . COMMON RAVEN , A CROW [ naturally ] , 1 B EAGLE , HERRING and RING-BILLED GULLS . Birds of note were : BOREAL C'DEES at just about every spot we stopped in thickly wooded areas and a N SHRIKE [ very close as we were going up the hill toward the caves after the covered bridge in St Martins and on the return trip through the bridge , much further from us in a tree by the first house as you go up the hill into the village ] . Joanne Savage Quispamsis NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Upcoming Workshop Feb 25-27: "Working together for Species at Risk Recovery in Atlantic Canada" From: "Potter,Karen [Dartmouth]" <Karen.Potter AT EC.GC.CA> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:01:23 -0400 Please forward Upcoming Workshop: "Working together for Species at Risk Recovery in Atlantic Canada" February 25th - 27th, 2010 Wolfville, Nova Scotia This workshop will provide an opportunity for learning and information sharing between all those interested in the recovery of species at risk in Atlantic Canada. Please visit http://www.coastalaction.org/index_home.html for details on the workshop. The updated website provides information on presentations, workshop sessions, and has a link for registration. You may be eligible for funding to cover accommodations and some travel costs. For more information please contact Nicolle Davis, Conference Coordinator, by phone: (902) 624-9888 or email: nicolle AT coastalaction.org . Register today! NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Fwd: Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:51:18 -0400 The decline in Boreal Chickadees experienced on Grand Manan is apparently happening in coastal Maine, too. Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: barry southard Date: Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 12:36 AM Subject: Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees AT Grand Manan To: rtburrows AT gmail.com Hello Roger, I hope this email finds you well. I don't know if you remember me but, I emailed you about coming over when you found the stint 2 falls ago (?). It disappeared and I didn't come over. I live in Machias, ME and check the NB page on a daily basis, I have been following this thread about Boreal chickadees with interest. I have lived in this area for a little over 10 yrs now. In that time span, I would be willing to go out on a limb and say: something similar is going on in this part of the coast as well. I remember doing some bird banding on the Naval Base in Cutler. ME, on Sprague's Neck (a wooded section that has some very nice Coastal Boreal forest. I first banded there in the summer of 2000 and we banded a pair of BOCH, if I am recalling correctly. I was involved with it again in 2004 and we banded a single bird. The Christmas count of that yr we had a single bird in that location. While I have not spent a lot of time in this area since that time, I have been on with great frequency this year, throughout the year. I would regularly stop off in that particular area and spend some time looking, I have been unable to refind a BOCH on Sprague's Neck and was able to cover more ground and see more habitat than ever before. I believe, though I don't have direct proof, that places such as: Roque Island, Jonesboro, ME, West Quoddyhead, Lubec, ME, Westernhead, Cutler, ME and others, have experienced declines similar to what you on the NB page have been pointing out. I have seen BOCH in these places, but cant remember seeing them lately. I am sure that you can still find them if you really hunted them out and spent a lot of time there but, they appear to recorded with less and less frequency. I hope people out there can prove me wrong, but I don't think so. The obvious question comes to mind, if in-fact there is a decline, why are they declining in these areas? What about the habitat doesn't suit them anymore? Or are they being out competed by BCCHs? Are they more retiring than the BCCHs and just being detected with less frequency? It is a very interesting "dilemma", I say dilemma because I love BOCHs and would love to see them with more frequency! I hope someone can study this in more depth...anyone looking for a Masters Degree? Just figure I would chime in case no one else from this area does. If you think this is "post worthy", feel free. Take Care and Good Birding, Barry Southard Machias, ME ------------------------------ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATUREMONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE February 4, 2010. (Thursday) From: Alma White <almaw AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 09:27:52 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : Alma White Info Line # : 384-NEWS (6397) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton -- the Moncton Naturalists' Club, contact our president, Hank Scarth, at 861-0992, or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org . Thursday morning, February 4, 2010. ** Jules Cormier leaves a feeder report from his Memramcook feeder yard, and observations in the area. He is getting a good turnout in diversity of species with many of the expected patrons that includes one lone SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur], one lone PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins], and 3 DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé]. Jules comments on some recent gull frenzy behaviour around the Memramcook River causeway that has been quite dramatic. The TOM COD spawning run is on right now at this time of year and at the right tide level they are more exposed, to the delight of a group of GULLS, as the spawning fish gather around the causeway. Also Jules comments that the RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux], reported much earlier in the season, is still coming to feeders at 87 Royal Road which is approximately 300 metres east of the Home Hardware store and on the left hand side of the road. One can go into the driveway there to watch the feeders. There are actually 3 houses in the vicinity that feed birds but Jules notes that he has always seen the WOODPECKER at civic # 87. ** Dave Christie spotted an obviously contented RED FOX [Renard roux] running across the Mary's Point marsh on Wednesday carrying an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK [Canard noir] in its mouth. It seemed to be heading to appropriately named Fox Island which is the innermost island at highest tide levels on the point. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton / Moncton Naturalists' Club NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATUREMONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE february 3, 2010. (Wednesday) From: Alma White <almaw AT nbnet.nb.ca> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 11:31:19 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : Alma White Info Line # : 384-NEWS (6397) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton -- the Moncton Naturalists' Club, contact our president, Hank Scarth, at 861-0992, or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org . Wednesday morning, February 3, 2010. **Mary Majka and David Christie had two predator encounters on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning the immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes] that had made a pass the day before returned to clear the yard of clients quickly. It perched in a yard maple tree for a time, enough to be photographed. Dave noted later a fresh accumulation of MOURNING DOVE [Tourterelle triste] feathers in a nearby path so assumed that the GOSHAWK'S hunt was successful. Later in the day Dave and Mary came across a female SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] foraging on a cock RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] near the Shepody River dam. The SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was dwarfed by the much larger PHEASANT. It was assumed that the PHEASANT may have been hit by a car or else preyed upon earlier by a NORTHERN GOSHAWK or RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] that had been in the area. ** My own chance to report CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] this time. On Tuesday morning I had 7 arrive to a yard deciduous tree and surveyed the yard for approximately 15 minutes. Last winter I had a few AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] continually at a fruit tray but no one has come by this winter so far to partake so had not dug it out after the last storm. A new fruit tray was promptly put out but may not get the second chance to interest patrons. ** To add to that, Dave Christie comments CEDAR WAXWINGS that they had spotted a few days earlier in their Mary's Point yard were back to the grape vine remnants seeing at least 2 and suspecting more as he was hearing some vocalizing. ** There has been some ideal snow conditions so far this winter to take note of the very obvious evidence of the tracks, trails and scats of our wildlife community as they go about their daily affairs. In many cases it is not difficult to decide just who has been there and who “dunit” and take the opportunity to follow trails to sleuth out more of the animals' behaviour. There are lots of other items to note in winter from animal homes, vacant birds' nests and more. Nelson Poirier will give a presentation in English tonight, Wednesday, February 3^rd to Les Amis de la Nature at the Louis J Robichaud School in Shediac at 7pm. All are welcome to join us to learn a bit more on Mother Nature's winter world in the warmth of the inside on a cold winter evening even though the presentation is in English. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton / Moncton Naturalists' Club NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: The last few days sightings From: Merv Cormier <mervcormier AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:06:42 -0400 From Merv in Saint John: Today Richard Perron, and L.M. Cormier saw the Tufted Titmouse at McCarthy's Point at 10:00AM and around 2PM, coming back from St Andrews where we did not find the Titmice, Yesterday I saw a Marsh Hawk around Little River by the Rothesay Paper Mill off Bayside Drive, Today we saw a Red -tailed Hawk near Lepreau above route #1. On the Weekend at Sheffield Mills I saw many Eagles but the festival is not very well organized. I was there 2 years ago and it was the same. Big plans but noone knows when the feeding will be and the Eagles have a mind of their own, and the signs are not accurate at most places. _________________________________________________________________ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 17:33:36 -0400 I haven't had any Boreal Chickadees on my last three visits along Red Point Trail and there are certainly more Blackcaps there now. We used to find Boreal Chickadees along Bagley Trail on every summer visit, but now we hardly ever see them there. Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 4:16 PM, Paul Mortimer wrote: > During my late summer visits (but I didn't make it this year) I have always > found Boreal Chickadees along the Red Point Trail, and not close to the > highway but coastal, along trail up the back of the island from Southwest > Head towards Big Head. > > regards > Paul Mortimer > Saint John > > > ---- Brian Dalzell wrote: > > This retreat of 1863080-1003 into the interior woods of Grand Manan and > away from the coastal strip has been going on for at least a decade. In > June of 1999, Nat Wheelwright noted that Boreal Chickadees were "essentially > extinct" on Kent Island, after many decades of being the only chickadee > nesting on the island. I used to get 2-3 at my feeders at Bancroft Point in > winter during the early 1990s, but none after 1995. My last sighting of > Boreal Chickadee there occurred in 2002. None since. > > > > ================================= > > > > ---- Roger Burrows wrote: > > > Here on Grand Manan, Boreal Chickadees are almost an endangered > species! > > > Black-capped Chickadees have expanded from birch and mixed woods into > > > mature and secondgrowth conifers. previously occupied by Boreal > Chickadees. > > > There may still be scores of Boreal Chickadees in the interior, > especially > > > south of Seal Cove, but finding them close to the highway elsewhere is > > > getting to be a real chore. Having said that, there were quite a few > family > > > groups for a month or so in late summer along Ox Head Road, so perhaps > they > > > just stay inland when resident and migrant Black-capped Chickadees move > to > > > the coastal strip where feeders provide a backup supply of seeds when > > > natural supplies are hard to find. > > > > > > Roger Burrows > > > Ingalls Head > > > Grand Manan > > > > > > On Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 1:05 PM, James Clifford >wrote: > > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > I am curious as to what appears to be a substantial increase in > Boreal > > > > Chickadees in this area(Restigouche County). > > > > In this fall's wanderings I have seen as many as 30 Boreal > Chickadees > > > > in 1 day.. much more than I would usually see in a "Good" month. > > > > The Dalhousie Christmas bird count this year tallied 7 Boreals(0 > last > > > > year..What percent increase is that?) > > > > The Campbellton bird count tallied 15( usually 1 0r 2 in previous > years). > > > > Is this assumed increase more widespread than Northern New Brunswick? > > > > Any other observations? > > > > Jim Clifford > > > > > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > > > > Foire aux questions de NatureNB > http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > > > > > > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > > > Foire aux questions de NatureNB > http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > > Foire aux questions de NatureNB > http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan From: Paul Mortimer <mortpm AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:16:20 -0400 During my late summer visits (but I didn't make it this year) I have always found Boreal Chickadees along the Red Point Trail, and not close to the highway but coastal, along trail up the back of the island from Southwest Head towards Big Head. regards Paul Mortimer Saint John ---- Brian Dalzell wrote: > This retreat of 1863080-1003 into the interior woods of Grand Manan and away from the coastal strip has been going on for at least a decade. In June of 1999, Nat Wheelwright noted that Boreal Chickadees were "essentially extinct" on Kent Island, after many decades of being the only chickadee nesting on the island. I used to get 2-3 at my feeders at Bancroft Point in winter during the early 1990s, but none after 1995. My last sighting of Boreal Chickadee there occurred in 2002. None since. > > ================================= > > ---- Roger Burrows wrote: > > Here on Grand Manan, Boreal Chickadees are almost an endangered species! > > Black-capped Chickadees have expanded from birch and mixed woods into > > mature and secondgrowth conifers. previously occupied by Boreal Chickadees. > > There may still be scores of Boreal Chickadees in the interior, especially > > south of Seal Cove, but finding them close to the highway elsewhere is > > getting to be a real chore. Having said that, there were quite a few family > > groups for a month or so in late summer along Ox Head Road, so perhaps they > > just stay inland when resident and migrant Black-capped Chickadees move to > > the coastal strip where feeders provide a backup supply of seeds when > > natural supplies are hard to find. > > > > Roger Burrows > > Ingalls Head > > Grand Manan > > > > On Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 1:05 PM, James Clifford wrote: > > > > > Hi all, > > > I am curious as to what appears to be a substantial increase in Boreal > > > Chickadees in this area(Restigouche County). > > > In this fall's wanderings I have seen as many as 30 Boreal Chickadees > > > in 1 day.. much more than I would usually see in a "Good" month. > > > The Dalhousie Christmas bird count this year tallied 7 Boreals(0 last > > > year..What percent increase is that?) > > > The Campbellton bird count tallied 15( usually 1 0r 2 in previous years). > > > Is this assumed increase more widespread than Northern New Brunswick? > > > Any other observations? > > > Jim Clifford > > > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > > > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > > > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 02, 2010 (Tuesady) From: RICHARD MCCABE <ROMCCABE AT nb.sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 14:47:50 -0400 Tuesday morning, February 02, 20010 ** I think it would be quite safe to assume that no NB groundhogs were out checking the weather conditions on their day today, however if they did they would have no doubt have easily seen their shadow to predict as folklore has it, that only six more weeks of winter remain. **Yet more CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] showing up. Doreen Rossiter had already commented on spotting a lone Cedar Waxwing in her Alma yard on Saturday, however on Sunday she spotted several foraging on grapevine remnants in her yard. ** On Monday afternoon Dave Christie and Mary Majka took a drive up Forestdale Rd in Riverside Albert to the entrance of the Crooked Creek Lookout Park. Just as they were turning around they spotted a pair of RED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé des sapins]. Dave comments; that although as he has been seeing many WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL [Bec-croisé bifascié] this is the first Red Crossbills he has seen. Norm and Gisele Belliveau also reported seeing a few Crossbills in the Hebron area near Alma about three weeks ago. On route home Dave and Mary spotted the BARRED OWL [Chouette rayée] that had seen in the Mary's Point area quite regularly. It was perched in a tree in the middle of a field in the Lars Larsen Marsh area at approximately 4 :15 in the afternoon. Nelson Poirier Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: MORE ON WALKING OWLS From: Gina <lyons AT nbnet.nb.ca> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:19:59 -0400 Many thanks to those who replied to my question about the bird footprints I saw in the snow a few days ago. The bird was walking around investigating hummocks of snow-covered grass.I was so fixated on a Barred Owl I had seen the day before that the obvious solution flew right past me. I know that crows are great pedestrians; there are few ravens where I saw the tracks, so this was very probably a crow. In fact one was calling in the distance as I looked at the tracks. Another triumph of hope over common sense. Harvey McLeod Hampton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Prochaine éunion de les ami(e) de la nature du sud-est du N.B. inc. From: Gilles Bourque <laverda AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 21:55:14 -0400 Bonsoir La prochaine réunion des ami(e)s de la nature du sud-est Inc. sera le 3 février 2010 á la polyvalente Louis J. Robichaud á Shédiac, N.B. Le début de la réunion est á 19 :00. Notre invité pour la soirée sera Nelson Poirier. La présentation sera donné en anglais. Son sujet sera : Qui est venu et qui l’a fait. Les pistes, traces et excréments laissé dans la neige peuvent nous dévoiler plein d’information sur qui est venu et aussi pour quelle raison. Chercher pour les pistes, traces et excréments pourrait ajouter une autre dimension l’hors de sortie en ski de fond ou la raquette. En plus ses indices pourraient aider a défricher qui visita votre cours la nuit précédente. Venez passer une soirée avec Nelson Poirier tout en regardant les traces et les pattes qui ont fait les pistes et mettre le tout ensemble pour découvrir la piste laisser par le comportement cet animal. WHO’S BEEN THERE AND WHO DONE IT! The tracks, trails, and scats left behind in winter snow can tell us lots about who’s been there and maybe what they’ve been up to. Looking for animal tracks, trails, and scats can add a whole new dimension to a winter cross country ski or snowshoe sortie. Also, just who may have visited your yard last night! Let’s spend an indoor session with Nelson Poirier looking at tracks, the paws that made them, and put the two together to know how the behaviour of the animal may decide the particular trail left. And yes, those telltale scats too! Donc vous êtes invités á nous joindre ce mercredi soir. Gilles Bourque pour les ami(e)s de la nature du sud-est Inc. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Hawks vs Pigeons From: Roy & Charlotte LaPointe <birdyard AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:12:14 -0400 Early this morning there were very few birds at the feeders, a good sign a raptor must be nearby. Around 10 am the culprit appeared It was a COOPER'S HAWK standing on what seemed to be a frozen pigeon. At minus 24 one might expect things to be frozen but his particular pigeon was probably the wounded bird that has been hanging around the feeders of late. The hawk took off with its frozen dinner shortly after. Around 4 pm another pigeon bit the dust. This on in the talons of a female SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. SCORE: Hawks 2, Pigeons 0....three cheers for the good guys! Roy LaPointe St.Leonard, Madawaska Co., NB (506) 423-1900 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Grand Manan birds From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 15:37:00 -0400 February 1 A very pleasant walk along the Red Point Trail produced a variety of waterfowl, but NO PASSERINES! Ingalls Head Feeders 10:00-11:00 subadult Bald Eagle, adult female Sharp-shinned Hawk (unsuccessful swoop at an American Tree Sparrow), 19 Mourning Doves, 7 Blue Jays, Song & 2 American Tree Sparrows Red Point Trail 13:00-14:15 7 Red-necked Grebes, 13 Common Eiders, 5 male+ 6female Black Scoters, 2 male+ 4female Buffleheads, 7 male+9 female Common Goldeneyes, 18 male+6 female Red-breasted Mergansers (one group were displaying), pair of Bald Eagles, 2+ Iceland Gulls Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: grimpereau brun//brown creeper From: Mike Plourde <mushman AT NB.SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 11:32:34 -0400 i have at a suet feeder close to my window in moncton martin st a brown creeper (grimperau brun),,this is the 1 rst time i see one here and not shy.... NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – February 1, 2010 (Monday) From: Bill Winsor <bwinsor44 AT YAHOO.CA> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 06:24:55 -0800 NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE   Edited by: Nelson Poirier Transcribed by: Bill Winsor Info Line #: 384-NEWS (6397)   To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor.   For more information on the Nature Moncton, contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197 or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org.   Monday morning, February 1, 2010 *** Al Renton in the former Bridgedale Area of Riverview took photos on Sunday afternoon of several CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] and an AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] foraging MOUNTAIN ASH berries in the same tree.  There would seem to be a number of recent reports of cedar waxwings, all be it, not in large numbers.   *** Norm and Gisèle Belliveau and Rose-Alma Mallet made a birding run toward Cape Tourmentine and around by Cape spear on Sunday.  The Rue Niles wharf area was quite ice packed, however they did see some SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges] at that site.   At Cap Bimêt, they spotted a GLAUCOUS GULL [Goéland bourgmestre] along with the GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS [Goéland marin] and HERRING GULLS [Goéland argenté].  AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS [Canard noir], MALLARDS [Canard colvert], COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à oeil d'or] and COMMON MERGANSERS [Grand Harle] were at Barachois.   They noticed WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié] BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire] and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne dorée] at several locations en route.   The Cape Tourmentine area had a lot of open water making the many seaducks quite distant but they did note COMMON EIDERS [Eider à duvet] and LONG-TAILED DUCKS (formerly Oldsquaw) [Harelde kakawi] but not the hoped for KING EIDER [Eider à tête grise].   On the Cape Spear Road as light was fading a clump on top of a dead snag turned out to be a GREAT HORNED OWL [Grand-duc d'Amérique] that put on a nice show by taking flight and going over their vehicle for all to have a look at one another; then back to its dead snag perch.  They also spotted a RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] gleaning BIRCH catkins in late day.   At their Scoudouc feeder yard, Norm reports they have no sparrows at the moment but do have three DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] that constantly feasting on peanut butter.  There are a variety of the expected birds in attendance; however there have been no EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] this year, a species they usually have in good numbers.   I was interested to hear Norms comments on the dark-eyed juncos to peanut butter, as I’m seeing a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] regularly snacking on peanut butter smeared on a tree; a behaviour I’ve not seen before..  I’ve noticed my one SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] is going to hanging feeder to take sunflower chips which I have not seen that species do before.  Itvhas lots of opportunity to take ground feed which it usually does but it seems to be broadening its menu choices this year.   *** Bob Blake leaves some weather comparisons between January of 2009 and January of 2010.  Bob records the temperature each morning from his Second North River home, as well as daily high temperatures and snowfall.  There is an inconsistency with this month’s comparison as Bob spent an unwanted six day vacation in a Saint John Hospital.  However the records made, show how much cooler January 2009 was then our relatively mild January 2010, even though the last few days may not have been suggesting that.  For January 2010 there were 22 mornings recorded above -10 C and seven of those were nicely above zero C, up to +7 C. In January 2009, only seven mornings were recorded above –10 C and only two of those were at zero C.  Bobs records show just how mild January of 2010 was; as all the birds coming to bird feeders seemed to note as well.  Snowfall was quite similar for both months, at 76 cm for January 2010 and 77 cm for 2009.   *** Roger Leblanc NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] is getting more regular.  Roger has a suet block out in a suet box designed to thwart EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet].  However the mockingbird has learned to hover below it and feed on the suet.  Roger comments that it makes for a great show of the white wing patches; something he hopes to get a video clip of.  And yes, Roger took note of Noreen Spence’s buffet menu and plans to stop by the produce section.  However he has tried raisins which did not impress his mockingbird.   *** Dale Gaskin comments that his feeder yard is not as active as he would like to have it but he is getting DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and lots of WOODPECKERS [Pic], noting seven DOWNY WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] and HAIRY WOODPECKERS [Pic chevelu] at one point on Sunday.  Dale comments on the very pleasant winter sunshine on Sunday that was so pleasant.   Nelson Poirier Nature Moncton   Please, consider the environment before printing this e-mail                                                                                                                              __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Harfang des neiges ( Snowy Owl) From: Roger Dumaresq <duma AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:05:25 -0400 Bonsoir à tous : Cet après-midi, j'ai vu deux HARFANGS DES NEIGES sur l'île de Miscou. L'un perché sur un arbre et l'autre, installé sur le toit d'une maison abandonnée à Wilson's Point. Le plumage du premier était tout moucheté de brun, tandis que le second était pratiquement blanc. Hi to all : This afternoon, I went to Miscou Island with SNOWY OWL in mind. I was lucky enough to see two of them. First one on a tree, second one on a roof top in Wilson's Point. They had different plumage, first one being somewhat darker than the other. Roger Dumaresq Haut-Paquetville NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees @ Grand Manan From: Brian Dalzell <aythya AT NB.SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:35:47 -0400 This retreat of Boreal Chickadees into the interior woods of Grand Manan and away from the coastal strip has been going on for at least a decade. In June of 1999, Nat Wheelwright noted that Boreal Chickadees were "essentially extinct" on Kent Island, after many decades of being the only chickadee nesting on the island. I used to get 2-3 at my feeders at Bancroft Point in winter during the early 1990s, but none after 1995. My last sighting of Boreal Chickadee there occurred in 2002. None since. ================================= ---- Roger Burrows wrote: > Here on Grand Manan, Boreal Chickadees are almost an endangered species! > Black-capped Chickadees have expanded from birch and mixed woods into > mature and secondgrowth conifers. previously occupied by Boreal Chickadees. > There may still be scores of Boreal Chickadees in the interior, especially > south of Seal Cove, but finding them close to the highway elsewhere is > getting to be a real chore. Having said that, there were quite a few family > groups for a month or so in late summer along Ox Head Road, so perhaps they > just stay inland when resident and migrant Black-capped Chickadees move to > the coastal strip where feeders provide a backup supply of seeds when > natural supplies are hard to find. > > Roger Burrows > Ingalls Head > Grand Manan > > On Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 1:05 PM, James Clifford wrote: > > > Hi all, > > I am curious as to what appears to be a substantial increase in Boreal > > Chickadees in this area(Restigouche County). > > In this fall's wanderings I have seen as many as 30 Boreal Chickadees > > in 1 day.. much more than I would usually see in a "Good" month. > > The Dalhousie Christmas bird count this year tallied 7 Boreals(0 last > > year..What percent increase is that?) > > The Campbellton bird count tallied 15( usually 1 0r 2 in previous years). > > Is this assumed increase more widespread than Northern New Brunswick? > > Any other observations? > > Jim Clifford > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: DO OWLS WALK MUCH? From: Gina <lyons AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:52:07 -0400 I found some tracks in the snow this afternoon that prompt me to ask whether owls walk much. I ask this because I was in a field this afternoon where last week on one of those warm days I had gone to see what turned out to be a Red-tailed Hawk, but I also found a Barred Owl ( the second in a week). The owl sat about ten feet off the ground in an alder and didn't care at all when I walked to the base of the tree. So there we were about four feet apart, close enough that I could easily see its inch or more-long talons. Which brings me to this afternoon. I was back in the field to see whether the owl or the hawk was still around. In the new snow, I came upon some tracks that were completely unfamiliar - about an inch or so long and three or four inches apart, with long grooves between each one. The tracks started in the middle of fresh snow, trekked across the field for about fifteen feet and stopped. Clearly it was a bird because only something from the sky could arrive and depart in fresh snow that way. The tracks meandered from grassy tussock to grassy tussock as the bird investigated rodent dens or trails. I assumed that the grooves between the footprints were where its talons dragged. Those feet are not made for walking. I've often seen marks in the snow where owls have taken their prey - the hollow of disturbed snow, the marks of the wings, and even sometimes a few drops of frozen blood, but I've never noticed that an owl will walk to look for food. Of course, this may not have been an owl at all; it may have been the hawk. Can anyone suggest what was going on? Also last week in the warm weather, I found a blackish-brown furry caterpillar about 3/4 of an inch long gum-booting across a sidewalk, and another that had tried to make it across a road and hadn't. This one was grey and naked. Caterpillars in January - pretty unusual. Harvey McLeod Hampton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:59:33 -0400 Here on Grand Manan, Boreal Chickadees are almost an endangered species! Black-capped Chickadees have expanded from birch and mixed woods into mature and secondgrowth conifers. previously occupied by Boreal Chickadees. There may still be scores of Boreal Chickadees in the interior, especially south of Seal Cove, but finding them close to the highway elsewhere is getting to be a real chore. Having said that, there were quite a few family groups for a month or so in late summer along Ox Head Road, so perhaps they just stay inland when resident and migrant Black-capped Chickadees move to the coastal strip where feeders provide a backup supply of seeds when natural supplies are hard to find. Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan On Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 1:05 PM, James Clifford wrote: > Hi all, > I am curious as to what appears to be a substantial increase in Boreal > Chickadees in this area(Restigouche County). > In this fall's wanderings I have seen as many as 30 Boreal Chickadees > in 1 day.. much more than I would usually see in a "Good" month. > The Dalhousie Christmas bird count this year tallied 7 Boreals(0 last > year..What percent increase is that?) > The Campbellton bird count tallied 15( usually 1 0r 2 in previous years). > Is this assumed increase more widespread than Northern New Brunswick? > Any other observations? > Jim Clifford > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: Boreal Chickadees From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:35:13 -0400 At 1:05 PM -0400 1/31/10, James Clifford wrote: > I am curious as to what appears to be a substantial increase in Boreal >Chickadees in this area(Restigouche County). > In this fall's wanderings I have seen as many as 30 Boreal Chickadees >in 1 day.. much more than I would usually see in a "Good" month. >The Dalhousie Christmas bird count this year tallied 7 Boreals(0 last year..What percent increase is that?) >The Campbellton bird count tallied 15( usually 1 0r 2 in previous years). >Is this assumed increase more widespread than Northern New Brunswick? Christmas Bird Count observations in northern New Brunswick this winter were up to about 20 per 100 hours of effort, a jump from last winter's figure of 7 but below the 25 to 35 in several past years. (All these numbers are a lot less than seeing 30 a day, but the CBC effort covers a lot of habitat that's not suitable for BOREAL CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête brune].) Besides the counts Jim mentioned, totals in the north included 35 at Southeast Upsalquitch, 27 at Edmundston, 8 at Lamèque, 6 (in brutal weather) at Mount Carleton, and 5 at St-Léonard. In the south, only Fundy Park (20), Riverside-Albert (16) and St. Martins (6) -- all along the upper shore of the Bay of Fundy -- had 5 or more of this species. In the south (with 3 reports not yet included), it looks like about 5 observed per hundred hours, up from 2.4 a year earlier. David -- David Christie Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Boreal Chickadees From: James Clifford <clifford AT nbnet.nb.ca> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:05:00 -0400 Hi all, I am curious as to what appears to be a substantial increase in Boreal Chickadees in this area(Restigouche County). In this fall's wanderings I have seen as many as 30 Boreal Chickadees in 1 day.. much more than I would usually see in a "Good" month. The Dalhousie Christmas bird count this year tallied 7 Boreals(0 last year..What percent increase is that?) The Campbellton bird count tallied 15( usually 1 0r 2 in previous years). Is this assumed increase more widespread than Northern New Brunswick? Any other observations? Jim Clifford NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 31 Jan 2010 (Sunday) From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:45:50 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : David Christie Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton [Moncton Naturalists' Club since 1962], contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin, at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Sunday morning, January 31, 2010 ** Noreen Spence at 314 Route 970 in Baie Verte has a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] that has adopted her feeder yard as its territory. It arrived in mid November, acting shy at first but now is driving away every bird that tries to come into the yard, and maybe for good reason, as the buffet provided sounds rather good. It is fruit cocktail, raisins, pomegranate seeds,sunflower chips, orange pulp and squash seeds. The bird turns its nose up at grapes and cranberries -- little reason to wonder why. It arrives each morning and seems to stick close to the yard. Noreen says it makes a "cheep" sound that it will repeat, if she makes that call to it. She finds it interesting to have the mocker but does miss the other birds that it immediately chases away. That makes for three Mockingbirds that have been reported in the local area. I hope that Roger LeBlanc is listening and will make a trip to the fruit market. ** Doreen Rossiter comments on a mammal visitor that has surprised them lately in their Alma neighbourhood. They recently noted a mammal in the yard about 9:30 one evening. Wondering at first if it was a raccoon but thinking that it was quite cool for one to be out, they suddenly realized it was a BOBCAT [Lynx roux] in the middle of their driveway. Another time, Doreen's husband, Willis, noted a Bobcat about 3:30 one afternoon by a nearby vacant residence on Foster Road. Neighbours have also noticed a Bobcat taking refuge under their verandah. It is assumed to be the same animal and very likely a juvenile recently turfed out by its mother and finding foraging by itself a bit of a challenge. I've received several very interesting photos of Bobcats recently taken out the windows of urban homes. It's that time of year. Doreen also mentioned spotting a lone CEDAR WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique] feeding on berries of a Highbush Cranberry in her Alma yard. ** Bob Blake comments on the sudden change of activity in their Second North River yard since the storm. Last weekend, when they did their Project FeederWatch count, only three species were tallied, a DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur], a HAIRY WOODPECKER [Pic chevelu] and one lone BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE [Mésange à tête noire]. This weekend all the regulars seem to have returned, including the first DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé] that they have had visit since last summer. ** Dave Christie says that their Mary's Point feeder yard continued to be busy on Saturday. An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes] came by on two occasions. It left the yard very quiet after both visits. Five CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] also came by. They first went to a grape vine that has clinging fruit, but Dave suspects that they did not get much as the larger fruit were frozen very hard. Later they went to a crabapple tree that bears much smaller, bite-sized fruit. Dave noted them swallowing the fruit whole. It's interesting to hear reports of Cedar Waxwings at a time of year when we are more used to Bohemian Waxwings. ** A report on Saturday's field trip to Saint John. Members from Nature Moncton and the Kennebecasis and Saint John naturalists' clubs enjoyed a great winter's day of birding in and around Saint John and along the coast. They tallied 28 species while visiting many interesting birding locations, including Pocologan, New River Beach, Lepreau Falls, Chance Harbour, Marsh Creek and other bird-rich areas. BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] were noted at several locations, along with WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS [Macreuse brune] and SURF SCOTERS [Macreuse à front blanc]. BOREAL CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête brune] put on a nice show in the Lepreau area, along with COMMON EIDERS [Eider à duvet], BLACK GUILLEMOTS [Guillemot à miroir], RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS [Harle huppé] and one HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné] at various coastal locations. The TUFTED TITMOUSE [Mésange bicolore] was a no-show, but seeing so many other species more than made up anyone feeling disappointed about it. A very ! special thank-you to Joanne Savage for sharing her hot spots. Because of her enthusiasm and keen skill the group were all able to enjoy the unique locations and pleasant scenery of the Saint John area. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Ingalls & White Heads birds From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:53:02 -0400 January 30 Ingalls Head 10:30-11:30 7 American Black Ducks, 3 Mallards, 10 Black Scoters, Bufflehead, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Black Guillemots White Head Ferry 11:40-12:10 2 Common Loons, 3 Great Cormorants, 22 Common Eiders, male Black & 11 White-winged Scoters, 33 Long-tailed Ducks, 16 Red-breasted Mergansers, subadult Bald Eagle, Black-legged Kittiwake, 3 Black Guillemots White Head: Village & Long Point Road 12:10-13:00 3 Brants, 32 American Black Ducks, 5 Mallards, 3 Surf Scoters, male Common Goldeneye, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Black Guillemots White Head Ferry 13:00-13:30 Double-crsted Cormorant, 35 American Black Ducks, 5 Common Eiders, 14 White-winged & 10 Black Scoters, 46 Long-tailed Ducks, male Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Black Guillemots Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Common GRACKLE From: Margaret Doyle <judo AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:10:45 -0400 Hello I was home for dinner yesterday and what do I see at my feeders a COMMON GRACKLE we did not have one on our CBC but on January 29 he was here now is it a grackle that was around or with the Spring temperature he arrived to early ??????? That Grackle has a growth (lump to the bear skin under his beak) in the throat. He found a good feeder and he is allways on the feeder. A report from the North Margaret Doyle Campbellton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 30 Jan 2010 (Saturday) From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 10:02:05 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : David Christie Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton [Moncton Naturalists' Club since 1962], contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin, at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Saturday morning, January 30, 2010 ** Julie Pellerin reports on birds in her Cap-Brûlé feeder yard [east of Shediac]. It was pleasant on Friday to stay at home during the storm and just watch the activity. She noticed 14 species come to her yard over the day. A NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] came by three times. A DARK-EYED JUNCO [Junco ardoisé] showed up early in the day to be joined by two more later. Three RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse], 14 MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste] and 11 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide]. Julie says that a neighbour had 21 pheasants visit on Thursday. Julie watched a COMMON RAVEN [Grand Corbeau] that became very possessive of ground-feeding areas, putting the run to EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet], both in front of and behind her home. She was surprised to have no AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] come by on Friday and BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] were scarce. ** Dave Christie also reports that the Thursday night through Friday morning snowfall swelled attendance at their Mary's Point yard. 100+ AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] came by [Transcriber's note: The "16" mentioned in Tuesday's transcript were actually 60.], with at least one PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] travelling with them. The sparrow contingent increased as well. The one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] that had been around for a month but not seen the past week was prominently back, along with the first SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] of the winter season. The group of 3 or 4 DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] swelled to 8, along with 7 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien]. The snow cover over wild food sources brought them all quickly to the feeder yard. ** This Week's "Sky at a glance": The MOON [Lune] phase at the moment is full, with the moon at perigee (closest to the earth) making this, by a little bit, the largest and brightest full moon of the year. On Friday, Feb. 5, it goes into its last quarter phase, rising at midnight and setting at noon. This week's Planet Round-up: MERCURY [Mercure], at magnitude -0.2, remains visible low in the dawn. Look for it just above the ESE horizon about 45 minutes before sunrise. Binoculars will help. Don't confuse it with the star ANTARES, far to the upper right, or ALTAIR far to the upper left. VENUS [Vénus] is hidden behind the glare of the sun. MARS is fiery bright, at magnitude -1.3, and it shines low in the ENE in twilight and higher in the east later in the evening. JUPITER, at magnitude -2.0, shines low in the WSW at twilight and sets around twilight's end. SATURN [Saturne], at magnitude +0.7, rises in the east around 10 p.m. and stands highest in the south around 4 a.m. In a scope, Saturn's rings are tilted 4.7 degrees from edge on to us, and will narrow during the coming months. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert, Jan 23-29, 2010 From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:56:25 -0400 From Maine Birds here are parts of Eric Hyne's transcript of the Maine Audubon Bird Alert. The entire transcript can be accessed at , and . -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert Reporting Period: January 23 - 29, 2010 Area: State of Maine Compilers: Eric Hynes, Stella Walsh Of Special Note Top birds this week are: KING EIDER, THAYER'S GULL [1st-winter bird (identification open to debate) at Hatch Hill Landfill, Augusta, intermittently since Jan. 21], DOVEKIE, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, and PAINTED BUNTING. Some of the other standouts in the report this week are: SNOW GOOSE, BRANT, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, KILLDEER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, THICK-BILLED MURRE, RAZORBILL, BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, GRAY JAY, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Photographs of the Black-headed Gulls, "Thayer's" Gull, the Northern Hawk Owl, and a host of other rarities can be viewed at: http://www.maineaudubon.org/nature/birdalert_gallery.php [western areas omitted] Penobscot Bay An adult and an immature BLACK-HEADED GULL, as well as several ICELAND GULLS, continue in Owls Head Harbor through at least the 24th. At least twelve BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were in Belfast Harbor on January 23. Approximately 100 RUDDY DUCKS are being seen in Stockton Harbor from the Sear's Island Causeway and Cape Jellison, with another dozen reported in Fort Point Cove from Cape Jellison on January 27. On January 28th, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen near Deer Isle High School. Central Maine A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Herman on January 23. Two NORTHERN SHRIKES were in Bangor on January 23. On January 26, a WINTER WREN was discovered on the banks of the Kenduskeag Stream where Valley Avenue and Kenduskeag Stream come together in Bangor. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and three GRAY JAYS were spotted on Stud Mill Road in Orrington on January 23. Downeast A male PAINTED BUNTING is still visiting a private feeder in Blue Hill. An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was in Southwest Harbor on January 24. Up to 50 BALD EAGLES were congregated at Quoddy Head on January 24. Two female BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were in the East Machias River on January 24. Northern Maine The Blaine NORTHERN HAWK OWL continues, seen on January 26 on Pierce Road near the intersection with the Old Houlton Road. Bill Sheehan's excellent summary of bird activity in Aroostook County can be found at www.northernmainebirds.blogspot.com. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Cool Cardinal Continues to Croon From: Jim Wilson <jgw AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:54:27 -0400 Back on January 6th I reported "our" male CARDINAL singing lustily from a wire in front of our house here at Hammond River in Quispamsis. He was at it again on the 16th and at least once this past week. Both the male and an adult female have been visiting our feeders regularly this month and yesterday I watched as he chased her around the yard in an obvious "spring" ritual. This was not a simple squabble over seed at a feeder, he was seriously vying for her attention. Interesting how early these established birds start spring-like activities, likely associated with being well fed and nourished and recent mild conditions. For the first time we have a continuing WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH visiting at intervals. In the recent past we've had one or two in October or November that remained faithful for a week or two, then moved elsewhere. The same thing happened this past fall but the bird has remained through December and January. Our local Hammond River-Hampton Christmas Count reflected this trend, with a total of 17 on January 4th. A decade ago we would have been lucky to have tallied one or two, and not every year. A report from "spring-like" Hammond River in Quispamsis, Jim Wilson NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Turkey Vulture at Grand Bay Near Saint John From: Jim Wilson <jgw AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:37:11 -0400 On Monday, January 25th Evan Smith of Grand Bay spotted a familiar flying object passing low over his house - a TURKEY VULTURE. It's the first he's seen here in January. The bird was headed in a direction that would take it over Saint's Rest Marsh and the Irving Nature Park, so local Saint John naturalists should keep an eye open for this straggler. Like Evan, I have never seen a TV here in NB in January - or February either. But I've been looking up more this week after hearing about this one and another (?) seen by Harvey McLeod in Hampton at about the same time. Jim Wilson NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: A Dust of Snow From: Popma <popma AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:14:20 -0400 I would like to share that after 40 years of waiting for Robert Frost's poem to come true, this morning when all the Sackville trees were full of branches heavily laden with snow, a crow finally did shake down a dust of snow on me from a Hemlock tree (although I had to position myself properly). I laughed out loud too, probably just like Frost did. for those who may have forgotten their Frost, the poem goes: the day a crow shook down on me a dust of snow from a hemlock tree, gave my heart a change of mood and saved a part of a day I had rued. Kathy P in snowy Sackville NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – January 29, 2010 (Friday) From: Bill Winsor <bwinsor44 AT YAHOO.CA> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:37:46 -0800 NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE   Edited by: Nelson Poirier Transcribed by: Bill Winsor Info Line #: 384-NEWS (6397)   To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor.   For more information on the Nature Moncton, contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197 or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org.   Friday morning, January 29, 2010   *** John Hamer sent some very interesting photos that he took recently in the area.  John photographed a clear image of an adult HARP SEAL on Sunday, January 10th off the Point-du-Chêne Wharf area on the ice.  Also John got an excellent image of a WEASEL on December 26th 2009, just off St. George Street in Centennial Park in Moncton.  This should be a SHORT-TAILED WEASEL [Belette à courte queue] by default, however the tail seems very long so I’m going to consult with others in case it could be an unexpected LONG-TAILED WEASEL.   *** Alban Haché also sent some interesting photos of a FOX that he took on January 10th from his living room window.  He lives on the south side of Cocagne Bay, St. Marcel close to Lovers’ Lane.  The pelage of the fox has a lot of black in it, suggestive of a typical RED FOX [Renard roux] with some remnant genes from an escapee SILVER FOX of ranch origin.  I assume there is also a possibility of a melanistic red fox, however would expect the former.   *** Last call for tomorrows Nature Moncton Field Trip that Field trip coordinator Catherine Johnson has arranged to enjoy a day of birding in and around the Saint John area with local birder Joanne Savage, tomorrow Saturday January 30th. Join us to sleuth out winter birds of the Pocologan, Marsh Creek, New River Beach, and other bird rich areas. Bring a lunch and dress appropriately for the season. Meet at the NW parking area at the Moncton Coliseum 337 Killam Drive at 7:50 AM to arrange car-pooling for a prompt 8:00 AM departure. Expect to return to Moncton at approximately 6 PM. Pre-registration is a must to ensure no one is left behind and to be advised of updates.. To pre-register, contact Catherine Johnson via E-mail at johnson2 AT xplornet.com or phone Catherine at 432-6478. As always, all are welcome.    Joanne Savage often reports to Nature New Brunswick on bird activity in the Saint John Area and it will be rewarding spending a day with her sharing favourite spots and know where to find them when visiting that area on our own.   Nelson Poirier Nature Moncton   Please, consider the environment before printing this e-mail                                                                                                                              __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Snowy morning for the birds From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:53:38 -0400 When I looked out at 7:20 this morning, the AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] were hard at work with shovels (beaks & feet) and brooms (wings) trying to clean perches, feeder ports and platforms so they could get access to the seeds they hungered for. The 17 cm of fluffy, yet sticky, snow on the ground was beyond their ability to clear. I went right out to help, and now they and others (BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire], BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] and MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste]) are enjoying a good feed. From green grass on the lawn yesterday morning, we have returned to a winter wonderland. Everything is white, each branch and twig, except where birds have landed. David -- David Christie Mary's Point, Harvey, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Probable Short-eared Owl, Gagetown From: K Gigeroff <kgigeroff AT YAHOO.CA> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:25:09 -0800 I had a more-than likely Short-Eared Owl today near my house in Gagetown. I didn't have my binoculars so I'm not 100% sure, however it was certainly an owl, hunting in the daytime in the manner Short-Eared Owls do, and it certainly wasn't the Snowy I found before. So that does narrow it down.... I suspect it will be difficult to re-locate as they can cover a fair bit of ground. It was seen around the large pasture and apple orchard before my house at #222 Tilley Road. I'm going to head out to the fields and do my best to find it tomorrow. Feel free to email or call (488-1930) for more info. Cheers -- Kier Kier Shackleton Gigeroff __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: another Barred Owl From: Joanne savage <davidsavage AT ROGERS.COM> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:19:39 -0400 I stepped out on my back deck about 20 min and noted a " lump " in my driveway that was an easy ID . A BARRED OWL sat there patiently watching the snowbank at the edge of the driveway . It spent at least 20 min in the same spot . Joanne Savage Quispamsis NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Nature Moncton's Information Line January 28, 2010 (Thursday) From: Alma White <almaw AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:07:41 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : Alma White Info Line # : 384-NEWS (6397) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton -- the Moncton Naturalists' Club, contact our Vice- President, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Thursday morning, January 28, 2010. **Newsletter editor Gilles Bourque reminds everyone that tomorrow, Friday January 29^th is deadline day for submissions for the February Nature Moncton Newsletter. Send any submissions, photos,or other to Gilles> via E-mail at > or phone Gilles direct at 387-8372. ** A correction to yesterday's transcript. The E-mail contact to register for Saturday's Nature Moncton's field trip and upcoming workshop is >. The field trip details are on the website at under field trips along with the upcoming workshops. The field trip details will be repeated in full on tomorrow's line. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton / Moncton Naturalists' Club NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees From: "Lait, Linda" <linda.lait AT ULETH.CA> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:53:47 -0700 Many thanks to all who replied to my original post. I will be looking at locations in detail, and will get back to all who offered help or feeders. If anyone has any more information, it would be appreciated. Thanks, Linda MSc Student Burg Lab, Biological Sciences University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB Email: linda.lait AT uleth.ca Ph: 403.332.5213 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: birds today Quispamsis to Sheffield From: Joanne savage <davidsavage AT ROGERS.COM> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:09:04 -0400 Today Merv Cormier , Susan Petrie and I drove through the Stewarton woods and across the bridge at Cambridge Narrows then on to Sheffield . We were skunked again as to N Hawk-owl even though we gave it a really good chance to show up [ looked and looked and looked for 3 -4 hrs ] . We did have close looks at a light morph R-LEGGED HAWK as well as a darker R-L HAWK and 3 BALD EAGLES that offered good views further from us . A handful of SNOW BUNTINGS put in an appearance . On our way through the Stewarton woods I was rewarded by a new species : WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [ 2 males ] [ just before the large culvret ] and somewhere about 2-3 kms before that [ sorry folks , there are no civic #s there ] we found BOREAL CHICKADEES as well as BLACK- CAPPED , RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES , numerous PURPLE FINCH , a CANADA JAY , GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and the lone PINE GROSBEAK [ male ] that I've seen this winter . In the Narrows there were a couple of GRACKLES . On the way home we had a glimpse of a SHRIKE . Joanne Savage Quuispamsis NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Grand Manan & White Head (ferry) birds, inc. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL & THICK-BILLED MURRE From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:33:10 -0400 January 27 Ingalls Head Feeders 08:15-06:30 25 Mourning Doves Ingalls & Ox Heads 08:35-10:00 Red-necked Grebe, 58 American Black Ducks, 2 Mallards, female GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 White-winged Scoters, 10 Buffleheads, 2 Ring-billed & 2 Iceland Gulls, Black Guillemot, 41 Mourning Doves White Head Ferry (round-trip) 10:00-11:00 4 Common Loons, 5 Great Cormorants (inc. one with white thigh patch already in place), 3 Brants, 28 Common Eiders, male Black, 6 Surf & 11 White-winged Scoters, 52 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, THICK-BILLED MURRE, 26 Black Guillemots Long Eddy Point 12:10-12:25 30 Black-legged Kittiwakes, 3 Bonaparte's & 3 Iceland Gulls, 2 1st-winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 19 larger alcids, 10+ Dovekies, 156 Atlantic Puffins (inc. several on the water), 36 Black Guillemots Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Nature Moncton's Information Line January 27, 2010,( Wednesday) From: Alma White <almaw AT nbnet.nb.ca> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:48:26 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : Alma White Info Line # : 384-NEWS (6397) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton -- the Moncton Naturalists' Club, contact our Vice- President, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org Wednesday morning, January 27, 2010. **Gorges Brun notes the warm temperature has the resident RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] in his Churchill Street urban forest in a vocal mood, hearing it calling for the first time on Tuesday morning. Gorges also comments the Halls Creek marsh flooded over on the NE side close to Crawley Farm Road on Monday and the water rose in Rabbit Brook by about 20 inches but it seemed to drop back quite quickly. ** Dave Christie comments they had one lone SNOW BUNTING [Bruant des neiges] come by their feeder yard on Monday during the freezing rain and ice pellets that must have put an ice coating on wild food. Dave expected more to come by as he had been seeing a flock of approximately 40 in the marsh area. The storm on Wednesday of last week also brought in 75 to 100 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] quite suddenly up from the 20 to 30 that had been coming regularly before, then tumbled to about 15 on Sunday and back to approximately 16 on Monday. Dave comments the sudden temperature increase and rain has dropped the snow that was present considerably in the Mary's Point area but leaving lots of ice cakes. ** It was windy and rainy in Halifax on Tuesday morning but it surely did not effect the flight of a stork to drop off a very lively little girl to the Poirier family. ** Field trip coordinator Catherine Johnson has arranged to enjoy a day of birding in and around the Saint John area with local birder Joanne Savage, this coming Saturday January 30^th . Join us to sleuth out winter birds of the Pocologan, Marsh Creek, New River Beach, and other bird rich areas. There has been a report of a TUFTED TITMOUSE [Mésange bicolore] in the Pocologan area. Bring a lunch and dress appropriately for the season. Meet at the NW parking area at the Moncton Colosseum 337 Killam Drive at 7.50am to arrange car-pooling for a prompt 8am departure. Expect to return to Moncton at approximately 6pm. Pre-registration is a must to ensure no one is left behind and to be advised of updates. To pre-register contact Catherine Johnson via E-mail at > or phone Catherine at 432 6478.As always, all are welcome. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton / Moncton Naturalists' Club NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Great Blue Heron at Douglastown From: Don Gibson <gibsondg AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:14:25 -0400 Rod Currie tells me that his brother reported seeing a GREAT BLUE HERON (Grand Héron) flying over Douglastown on Jan. 25, 2010. Don Gibson 50 Golf Club Road Fredericton NB E3B 5M4 506-454-3261 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Gray Jays, Boreal Chickadees, woodpeckers and sapsuckers From: "Lait, Linda" <linda.lait AT ULETH.CA> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:54:21 -0700 Hello! I'm a graduate student from the University of Lethbridge working in the Burg lab (http://people.uleth.ca/~theresa.burg/research.htm), studying the evolution and dispersal of high latitude birds. I'll be in New Brunswick in late May, hoping to band and take small blood samples from Gray Jays, Boreal Chickadees, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. I've looked online at eBird.org for sightings, but know that not everyone reports there. I'm currently applying for permits and need to decide what areas to sample in the next week or so. My question for you fine folks, if you'd like to share, is where the best spots are to look for these species in southern/eastern New Brunswick? A fellow grad student and I will be flying into Halifax and then spending 2 weeks or so around Fundy NP, Moncton, Sackville area and into northern Nova Scotia. Many of the eBird sightings suggest that we'll find most of our target species in this area. Is this a good place to look for these species? Or are there better places to find them? We can catch these birds at feeders, so urban areas are certainly an option; we're not looking into habitat requirements. Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated! If you have any questions, you can reach me at linda.lait AT uleth.ca or via phone at 403.332.5213. Many thanks, Linda MSc Student Burg Lab, Biological Sciences University of Lethbridge Lethbridge, AB Email: linda.lait AT uleth.ca Ph: 403.332.5213 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Hawk Owl, Cooper's Hawk From: Roy & Charlotte LaPointe <birdyard AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:41:09 -0400 Led Grant and Joyce Milroy from Hartland to the NORTHERN HAWK OWL site on Hwy 17 yesterday afternoon. The bird is being very cooperative, perching atop the transmission line pylons or in trees on the opposite side of the road. I managed to take good digiscope pics of the perched bird as well as a good photo of the bird flying towards me. The COOPER'S HAWK made a brief appearance at our feeders this morning. It comes by infrequently and only stays for a few seconds before moving on unless it makes a kill and sticks around to feed. We have seen it about 6 times since Dec 10 but suspect it passes through more often. Roy & Charlotte LaPointe St.Leonard, Madawaska Co., NB (506) 423-1900 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: PISHING AN OWL From: Roy & Charlotte LaPointe <birdyard AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:00:57 -0400 While pishing in the Sisson Reservoir area north of Plaster Rock in 2008, I turned around to find a bobcat creeping up behind me. It was a mere 4 metres away and pulled a fast u-turn on discovering I might be too big a challenge. Roy LaPointe St.Leonard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Brown" To: Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 7:01 PM Subject: Re: PISHING AN OWL >I once had a Goshawk fly towards me as I was pishing, on two seperate >occassions I had Coyote come out of the woods as a result of pishing.I'm >sure they believe it to be potential prey. I do try not to imitate a >blueberry for fear of attracting a bear!! > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gina" > To: > Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:58 PM > Subject: [NATURENB] PISHING AN OWL > > > Gina and I were in the woods today in Hampton to feed the chickadees. They > come readily to your hands. > > We had fed several groups at various locations and had just moved to a > new place in the deeper woods. We pished to let them know we were there, > and within a few seconds a Barred Owl swooped out of the woods and landed > on a branch about ten metres away. It showed no interest in leaving until > it heard some other people coming along the trail and it swept off > silently through the trees. > > We had a good five minutes with it, and Gina, who gets more pleasure from > an unusual sighting than anyone I know, was enchanted. > > Harvey McLeod > Hampton > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2642 - Release Date: 01/24/10 > 07:33:00 > > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html > Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html > NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE – January 25, 2010 (Monday) From: Bill Winsor <bwinsor44 AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:03:10 -0800 NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE   Edited by: Nelson Poirier Transcribed by: Bill Winsor Info Line #: 384-NEWS (6397)   To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor.   For more information on the Nature Moncton, contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin at 734-2197 or visit our web site at http://www.naturemoncton.org.   Monday morning, January 25, 2010 *** An interesting full day for Roger LeBlanc and Brian Dalzell, on Saturday they did a perusal of the four county corners area, being Kent, Queens, Sunbury and Northumberland counties, looking for a NORTHERN HAWK OWL [Chouette épervière] to call their own.  They were unsuccessful in that quest but did see fair number of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié] in groups of two to six birds gathering grit from the road.  The birds are pairing off and they were able to confirm probable breeding in ten plus atlas squares.  One dead female, picked up on the Salmon River Road after having been hit by a car in front of them had evidence of a brood patch indicating that nest building has already begin.  Between Harcourt, Castaway Doaktown, Blackville and Rogersville, they estimated approximately 100 white-winged crossbills and little else except a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-grièche grise] in Rosaireville.    All species of SPRUCE TREES are loaded with cones, so the next couple of weeks before the females disappear incubating would seems to be the best time to record paired crossbills.  It indeed amazing the way this species sets up housekeeping at seemly the toughest time of the year; yet the food supply for them is at its best.   *** Emile and Paulette Cormier spotted a male AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] with a group of approximately 100 MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks in an area of open running water in Mapleton Park.  The site is easily reached by taking the Gorge Road Entrance to the Park and then taking the first trail immediately to the right and the bridge is only steps away crossing the flowing creek.  They feed the birds there around 9 AM each morning.  I stopped by on Sunday morning and it surly is a feeding frenzy with the wigeon contesting for space to feed as well.    They also commented on seeing a large TURTLE sunbathing on a rock in the park several time this summer.  The description sounded very much like a SNAPPING TURTLE.   *** I’m not getting much response on action at feeder yards, however, Kevin Renton has responded.  They seem to have a nice selection at their Stilesville feeder yard that includes approximately 30 BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu], approximately 15 DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé], which seem to be lacking at a lot of feeder yards this year, 30 to 40 AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune], EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet], up to sixteen MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste], a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien], up to ten DOWNY WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] and HAIRY WOODPECKERS [Pic chevelu], five RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide] and Kevin comments on hearing the vocalization of a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche]on Sunday morning.   *** Charlotte LeBlanc comments on spotting a very small mouse like animal munching on bits of cat food outside her Riverview home on Sunday night.  From her description and how small it seemed to be compared to other mice she has seen, it rather sounds like it may be one of the small SHREW [Musaraigne] species. Nelson Poirier Nature Moncton Please, consider the environment before printing this e-mail                                                                                                                              __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Northern Hawk Owl Sheffield From: Joyce Robinson <robnsonj AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:08:19 -0500 After two previous attempts, I finally had success locating the NORTHERN HAWK OWL in Sheffield this afternoon at 4:45pm. It was sitting at the top of a tree beside civic # 2219. I was able to observe for five minutes before it flew to the top of another tree behind the house, then on to the wooded area beyond. What a lovely little bird ! NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Re: PISHING AN OWL From: Jim Brown <vwmw AT NB.AIBN.COM> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:01:48 -0400 I once had a Goshawk fly towards me as I was pishing, on two seperate occassions I had Coyote come out of the woods as a result of pishing.I'm sure they believe it to be potential prey. I do try not to imitate a blueberry for fear of attracting a bear!! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gina" To: Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:58 PM Subject: [NATURENB] PISHING AN OWL Gina and I were in the woods today in Hampton to feed the chickadees. They come readily to your hands. We had fed several groups at various locations and had just moved to a new place in the deeper woods. We pished to let them know we were there, and within a few seconds a Barred Owl swooped out of the woods and landed on a branch about ten metres away. It showed no interest in leaving until it heard some other people coming along the trail and it swept off silently through the trees. We had a good five minutes with it, and Gina, who gets more pleasure from an unusual sighting than anyone I know, was enchanted. Harvey McLeod Hampton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2642 - Release Date: 01/24/10 07:33:00 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Barred Owl From: Jane <perkyleb AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:15:45 -0400 Hello from St. Martins. This afternoon, when Ted and Nancy Sears were here telling us stories of their recent trip to Australia, a barred owl flew across the yard, and landed where I could get some nice shots, and everyone got to see it. I didn't even have to pish, Harvey!! Jane LeBlanc St. Martins, N.B. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Ingalls & White Heads birds, inc. possible KING EIDER, THICK-BILLED MURRE From: Roger Burrows <rtburrows AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:12:00 -0400 January 24 Ingalls Head 10:30-11:30 Common Loon, immature Double-crested Cormorant, 2 female Buffleheads, 8 Common Goldeneyes, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, Sharp-shinned Hawk, THICK-BILLED MURRE (photos taken), Black Guillemot White Head Ferry 11:40-12:10 Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, 3 Double-crested & 4 Great Cormorants, 125 American Black Ducks, immature male eider (probably KING EIDER), 31 Common eiders, immature male Black, 5 Surf & 8 White-winged Scoters, 48 Long-tailed Ducks, 12 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Black Guillemots White Head: Village area 12:10-12:55 35 Brants, 25 American Black Ducks, male Mallard, 4 Common Eiders,. 3 Black Guillemots White Head Ferry 13:00-13:30 3 Common Loons, 3 Great Cormorants, 125 American Black Ducks, 26 Common Eiders, male Surf & 8 White-winged Scoters, 37 Long-tailed Ducks, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, immature Bald Eagle, 8 Black Guillemots Roger Burrows Ingalls Head Grand Manan NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: PISHING AN OWL From: Gina <lyons AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:58:04 -0400 Gina and I were in the woods today in Hampton to feed the chickadees. They come readily to your hands. We had fed several groups at various locations and had just moved to a new place in the deeper woods. We pished to let them know we were there, and within a few seconds a Barred Owl swooped out of the woods and landed on a branch about ten metres away. It showed no interest in leaving until it heard some other people coming along the trail and it swept off silently through the trees. We had a good five minutes with it, and Gina, who gets more pleasure from an unusual sighting than anyone I know, was enchanted. Harvey McLeod Hampton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 24 Jan 2010 (Sunday) From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:50:02 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : David Christie Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton [Moncton Naturalists' Club since 1962], contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin, at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Sunday morning, January 24, 2010 ** Bob Grant reports having great observations of a BOBCAT [Lynx roux] just outside Cape Spear, on Route 960 near Cape Tormentine, at roadside near civic number 320 on Saturday. He watched it slowly go down into the ditch and into the woods, when it stopped to look back at him briefly. It is that time of year, when female wildcats are coming into oestrus and sending the young of the year on their way. It's often the juveniles that we see more at this time of year. Being more hungry without mother's foraging assistance, they sometimes appear near human habitation. Randy Tayler had a Bobcat around his Dieppe yard on several occasions earlier this month. ** I hope some folks were able to get views of bright reddish MARS in the ENE just at twilight Saturday evening and even brighter JUPITER in the WSW, also at twilight, in a nice clear sky before the stars appeared. Maybe that will be repeated tonight. ** There have not been many feeder yard reports recently. There has been some mention of low feeder turnouts this year, yet some seem to have been getting a good number of patrons. I'd like to get a few update reports. In my own yard, the only species in very noticeable numbers are AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune, MOURNING DOVE [Tourterelle triste], HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier] and several reliable BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire]. There's a low, yet diverse number of sparrows, with one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche], one CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier], one SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur], and several AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] but no DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] at all. There is one PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins] for sure and I still expect that there are two due to different amounts of yellow breast plumage, but I've still never spotted two at the same time. WOODPECKERS [pics] are irregular. In my case, the ! yard appears not as busy in numbers as last year , when there were hordes of COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé], but diversity is up. ** For anyone interested, the EAGLE WATCH WEEKENDS that are held annually at Sheffield Mills in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, are on this weekend and next weekend and I think have been extended to a third weekend. [For details, see the website http://www.eaglens.ca/index.php . Reports on what is being seen, may appear on NatureNS at http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NTNS.html . Jim Wolford reported that at 11 a.m. yesterday, there were approximately 150 BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] at one site, and lots of feeding activity (flying, swooping, landing and displacing other eagles, stealing food, etc.)] Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Northern Hawk Owl, St.Leonard From: Roy & Charlotte LaPointe <birdyard AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:43:12 -0400 Went to check on the NORTHERN HAWK OWL / Chouette épervière on Highway 17 northeast of town at 3 pm this afternoon. Didn't see the bird as I drove up through the stretch where it has been hanging out. I stopped beside the road and as I turned to look in my mirror to make a u-turn, the owl flew across the road 15 metres from the truck and alighted atop a transmission line pylon. The bird was on pylon # 26, 2nd pylon south of where the line crosses the Highway 17 about 23 km north of the Trans Canada Exist # 58 at St.Leonard. This is about 1 km farther north of the spot where it was on Jan 15. Finally managed to get half decent photos in bright sunlight. Forgot to bring my digiscoping camera so will have to go back and try another day. The areas between the roadway and the woods are very heavily trampled by moose. The are a few deer tracks and also quite a few small furry critter tracks so the owl should have little difficulty making it through the winter. Not much snow on the ground for this area at this time of year, about 30 cm, but I think that might change over the next few days. Roy LaPointe St.Leonard, Madawaska Co., NB (506) 423-1900 NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE, 23 Jan 2010 (Saturday) From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:27:37 -0400 NATURE MONCTON'S INFORMATION LINE Edited by : Nelson Poirier Transcript by : David Christie Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS) To respond by e-mail, please address your message to both the poster of this transcript and to the information line editor. For more information on Nature Moncton [Moncton Naturalists' Club since 1962], contact our vice-president, Dale Gaskin, at 734-2197, or visit our web site at http://naturemoncton.org . Saturday morning, January 23, 2010 ** Roger LeBlanc had a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] visit his Henry Street feeder yard in Moncton on Dec. 27 but has not noted it again until he saw it at 8 a.m. this Saturday morning at a feeder. Roger says he may have missed its visits or it is using other food sources in the area. However, it is still very much alive and well. *** This Week's "Sky at a glance": This week, MARS in the eastern evening sky shines its brightest for the year. On Saturday January 23, the MOON [Lune] went into its first quarter phase, rising at noon and setting at midnight. This week's Planet Round-up: MERCURY [Mercure] is having a good morning apparition. Look for it low in the SE about an hour before sunrise. Don't confuse it with the start ANTARES, roughly 30 degrees to the upper right, or ALTAIR a similar distance to the left or upper left. VENUS [Vénus] is hidden behind the glare of the sun. MARS fiery bright, at magnitude -1.3, shines low in the ENE in twilight and higher in the east later in the evening. JUPITER, at magnitude -2.0, shines low in the WSW in twilight and sets fairly soon after dark. SATURN [Saturne], at magnitude +0.8, rises in the east around 11 p.m. and stands highest in the south around 5 a.m. In a telescope, Saturn's rings are tilted 4.8 degrees from edge on to us, almost the maximum tilt we'll see until next August. ** A few upcoming events to pre-register for, if planning to attend: #1 A field trip to Saint John and surrounding area next Saturday, Jan. 30. #2 A workshop on native orchids, with Jim Goltz, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Tankville School. #3 A photography workshop on digital camera use on Saturday Feb. 20, with Clarence Nowlan. Check out the details on these at and make sure to register with Catherine Johnson via e-mail at johnson2 AT xplornet.com or call her at 432-6478. Nelson Poirier, Nature Moncton NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert, Jan. 16-22, 2010 From: David Christie <maryspt AT MAC.COM> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:22:13 -0400 From Maine Birds here are parts of Eric Hyne's transcript of the Maine Audubon Bird Alert. The entire transcript can be accessed at , and . -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert Reporting Period: January 16 - 22, 2010 Area: State of Maine Compilers: Eric Hynes, Stella Walsh Of Special Note Top birds this week are: KING EIDER, THAYER'S GULL [Potentially Maine's first, a 1st-winter bird, at Hatch Hill Landfill, Augusta, Jan. 21-22.], DOVEKIE, NORTHERN HAWK OWL, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER [continuing, but less frequent at Falmouth], and PAINTED BUNTING. Other noteworthy species included: SNOW GOOSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, THICK-BILLED MURRE, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, and PINE GROSBEAK. A conspicuous pulse of NORTHERN SHRIKES, particularly in the Midcoast region, was noted recently. Several NORTHERN FLICKERS were found across southern Maine this week. Gulf of Maine Highlights on Jeffrey's Ledge on January 15 were six NORTHERN FULMARS, 23 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, three DOVEKIE, and 10 COMMON MURRES. [western areas omitted] Penobscot Bay An adult and an immature BLACK-HEADED GULL continue in Owl's Head Harbor. The adult was reported most often from the Lobster Pound at the end of Lobster Lane in Owl's Head where several BONAPARTE'S and ICELAND GULLS are also being seen. A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK is still being seen off Hawes Bridge Road in Prospect. A drake AMERICAN WIGEON was in Owl's Head Harbor on January 17. Four RAZORBILLS and four BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen from the Owl's Head Light State Park on January 16. A GREAT BLUE HERON persists at Weskeag Marsh in South Thomaston. A drake KING EIDER, 33 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 18 RAZORBILLS, and four THICK-BILLED MURRES were among the highlights seen from the ferry between Rockland and Vinalhaven Island on January 21. Carver's Pond in Vinalhaven held a drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and a drake AMERICAN WIGEON on January 21. Two BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen on Cape Jellison in Stockton Springs on January 17. Downeast A male PAINTED BUNTING is still making daily visits to a private feeder in Blue Hill. A COMMON GRACKLE came to a feeder in Surry on January 19. A flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was near the orchard on Center Drive in Orrington on January 19. Northern Maine The Blaine NORTHERN HAWK OWL continues to be seen in an "island" of trees in an overgrown pasture just south and east of the intersection of Pierce Road and Robinson Road. Roving flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are widespread with 60+ seen on January 20 in Presque Isle. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW visited a feeder in Wade on January 19. A COMMON GRACKLE lingers at a feeder in Presque Isle. PINE GROSBEAKS were reported in Caswell, Ashland, Nashville Plantation and Stockholm this week. Small flocks of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen along the Beaver Brook Road in T14, R5 on January 18. Several EVENING GROSBEAKS are visiting a feeder regularly in Castle Hill. Bill Sheehan's excellent summary of birds in Aroostook County can be found at: http://www.northernmainebirds.blogspot.com. NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html Subject: yard birds From: joan pearce <pearcer AT NBNET.NB.CA> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:29:06 -0400 Hello all, Two robins arrived in the yard during the snowstorm Wednesday They are still in the yard-I think eating small rose hips. I threw out some berries and a couple of apples but they haven't taken them yet. Still have a fair sized flock of Am. Goldfinches about 10 juncos, Bl. Capped chickadees woodpeckers, crows and a lot of mourning doves, a couple of tree sparrows. Joan Pearce Saint John NatureNB guidelines http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html