Nature Miramichi:

WINTERWATCH

A small flock of Common Redpolls seem to be hanging about Strawberry Marsh this week. So too is a Northern Shrike, apparently.

Winterwatch – Nature Miramichi

This morning Deana and I took a drive to the beach at the end of Cedriere Rd. which is in Northumberland County but getting close to Tracadie. The beach itself was bare and ice free and very “walkable” although we didn’t walk far. This stretch of beach is beyond Miramichi Bay and the barrier islands, directly on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, so is often partly or completely ice free. There was no ice to be seen today. We were interested in what sea ducks we might encounter. The list includes about 40 Long-tailed Ducks, 4 Common Eider, about 20 Common Goldeneye and one Barrow’s Goldeneye. There were two Herring Gulls as well. We had a flyby of six Iceland Gulls, perhaps checking on whether we had any food offerings. We didn’t. I was not cold nor windy, really quite pleasant.

Peter

From: Marg Sweeney <margsween@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 3:27 PM
Subject: red fox in Chatham industrial park

WINTERWATCH – Nature Miramichi

WINTERWATCH – Nature Miramichi

Ten club members had a pleasant walk yesterday along the Millbank nature trail, although we did not encounter a Red Squirrel (Gus), as far as I know, nor did we see or hear from any of the birds. Regardless, the scenery was lovely as was the company. We covered a little more than 4 kilometers in about 2 hours, so the overall pace was leisurely! Thanks were expressed to Deana for making this arrangement.

WINTERWATCH

Chastity DeGroot found this Spotted Salamander on the MCCSC ski trails this evening.

From: Laura Comeau Fine Arts <lauracomeauart@gmail.com>

WINTERWATCH – Nature Miramichi

Begin forwarded message:

From: Deana Gadd <dhgadd@nb.sympatico.ca>

WINTERWATCH Nature Miramichi

While snowshoeing at the ski club today I came across signs of a Black-backed Woodpecker. These medium sized woodpeckers do not visit feeders, they are associated with burnt areas or boggy areas. You might hear one scraping away the bark, to get at the larvae of beetles within the tree. Peter saw this woodpecker on the ski trails last year, not far away from this site.

Evidence

Bark Debris

Sent from my iPad

WinterWatch – Nature Miramichi

Hi All,

I propose as a club we share our nature in winter observations and experiences under the heading of WinterWatch (title courtesy of the BBC!). The other members of the executive have supported this initiative, Dave G and Mathieu.

Your submissions could be anecdotal, just a straightforward narrative, a poem, a sketch, a photo, a short video clip, whatever. What would be of particular interest would be what the casual observer might miss, the subtleties, the beauty, the curious, the interpretive and so on. Send to gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca 

These submissions will help us all enjoy this apparently quieter time of year all that much more.

I will post, likely on the club’s web site, (with a link for photos and short video clips on Flickr ) textual submissions … so that we can have them all in one location.

Peter

To get started here is a photo of a “Peeping Cardinal” at one of our windows today!

“I know they have food in there! People Watching, a great winter hobby!”

I know this will be a double posting for some. Peter

From: Pam Watters <watterspj3@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 10:24 AM
To: Pamela Watters <watterspj3@gmail.com>
Subject: Miramichi Christmas Bird Count

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Miramichi Christmas Bird/Mammal Count – your input is greatly appreciated!

The results of the count can be found on the Nature Miramichi website at the link below (scroll down to Christmas Bird Counts). Also included is a table of CBC results from 1972 to present. These results have been sent to the NB provincial CBC coordinator as well as entered into the Audubon database.

https://miramichinaturalistclub.com/christmas-bird-mammal-counts/

We found 36 species on count day which is a great number for our count – since the river was partially open, several waterfowl species were recorded, and there are quite a few finch species around this year. We also recorded 9 extra species during count week (December 17-23), and 5 extra species during count period (December 14-January 5). This brings the total for the count period to 50, which is the highest number ever recorded since our count started in 1972.

A beautiful male Hooded Merganser was seen in the open water under the Napan bridge – this is the first time we’ve ever had a Hooded Merganser on the count.

Other highlights on count day were a female Baltimore Oriole visiting a feeder in Millbank, and a Rough-legged Hawk – these species have only been recorded once on previous CBCs.

There is quite an influx of Northern Cardinals in the area this year. We recorded 7, our highest number to date, and that is only from 1 feeder report! I know that there are many others around (and I’m hoping that one will visit my feeders!).

A Tufted Titmouse was photographed in Loggieville during count week. As far as I know, this is the first time this species has been recorded in the county – quite an amazing sighting. Unfortunately, it only stayed around for one day.

Other noteworthy species seen during the count period include Red-bellied Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Rusty Blackbird and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Enjoy the winter birds that are here – it’s a good winter for Common Redpolls, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskins, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, and Bohemian Waxwings!

Good birding everyone!

Pam

I know for some this will be a double posting. Peter

From: David McLeod <mcleodda@nbnet.nb.ca>
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 10:56 PM
Subject: Northumberland County Winter Bird List update

Hello All,

Attached is a preliminary edition of the Northumberland County Winter Bird List that started on December 1 and ends February 28. We have accumulated 57 species so far, but hope to surpass last year’s 68 species over the next two-and-a-half months, or even to beat the record 78 species of 2017-18. Any additions to the list would be most welcome at mcleodda

Thanks for all contributions to date.

Dave

2020-21 Northumberland County Winter Bird List, Preliminary, Dec 18, 2020.docx