Nature Miramichi:

Sunday April 26th at the Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre, Nelson Miramichi, Deana and Peter

(just one individual)

From: Phil Riebel
Sent: April-25-15 6:37 PM
Subject: Meadow vole

This little guy has been roaming around our bird feeders in the past week.

From: Anne Assaff [mailto:anne.assaff@yahoo.com]
Sent: April-17-15 11:33 AM
Subject: Northern Lights last night

The auroras were visible late last night. To the naked eye, they looked like faint colourless curtains with shafts of light or “pillars” appearing occasionally. But with a 30 second exposure on the camera, the vibrant colours showed up. (My camera doesn’t handle high ISO very well, so I had to apply a noise-reduction filter after.)

I found this interesting explanation on the colours:

“The most common auroral color, a pale yellowish-green, is produced by oxygen molecules located about 60 miles above the earth. Rare, all-red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen, at heights of up to 200 miles.” (from northernlightscentre.ca)

Unfortunately, there isn’t much warning when aurora are forecast. This is a good site to check http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/30-minute-aurora-forecast

Anne

Here is hoping they will not go hungry for long!

American Woodcock, Neguac, Aldo

Easter Phoebe, Chatham, Jim

Great Blue Heron, Hay Island, Aldo (FOY – Pam and Phil Baie Ste. Anne)

Ring-necked Ducks, Newcastle, Peter

Green-winged Teal,  Newcastle, Peter

Sent: March-28-15 8:35 PM
Subject: Black Skimmer Photographed by Phil Riebel

Photos from Phil Riebel.

Just received these 2 “mouth watering” images from Phil who finds himself in Florida again , on a work related trip. Mouth-watering, especially if you are a photographer just waiting for spring! Taken on Merritt Island. This is a Black Skimmer. Lovely shots Phil. Peter

Click on thumbnail image.

TREE SWLLOW NEST BOXES

The link below will take you to the Miramichi Leader’s news article on the Tree Swallow Nest Box project.

View “Tree swallows will have new housing upon their return” article at http://tablet.olivesoftware.com/Olive/Tablet/MiramichiLeader/SharedArticle.aspx?href=BNTWML%2F2015%2F03%2F27&id=Ar01505

From: P. Gadd [mailto:gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca]
Sent: March-25-15 5:55 PM
Subject: FW: Tree Swallow Nest Box Project – Preliminary Report to the membership.

Hi Everyone,

Below is the email I sent earlier in the day regarding the Nest Box project. Here are some photos that I have received so far. I am expecting a some more so will add them when they arrive. https://flic.kr/s/aHsk8SLgaX
A job well done.
Somehow the Miramichi Leader heard about it and called me at lunch time for details so I expect there will be a story in the paper on Friday.

From: P. Gadd [mailto:gadd1313]
Sent: March-25-15 1:21 PM
To: Peter
Subject: Tree Swallow Nest Box Project – Preliminary Report to the membership.

Hi Everyone,

The installation of the Tree Swallow nest boxes at Miramichi Marsh this morning went very well. There are now 14 brand new apartments replacing extremely dilapidated ones.

This is an initiative I think the club should be very proud of and I would like to sincerely thank those who were able to do the work this morning on behalf of those of us who couldn’t get there.

The tenants will be looking to move in in three of four weeks if you can imagine. The young fledge in late June and once they learn to catch their own insects on the fly, they leave the marsh area, usually all gone by the end of the first week in July in my experience.

From: David McLeod [mailto:mcleodda@nbnet.nb.ca]
Sent: March-09-15 1:06 AM
Subject: Final 2014-15 Northumberland County Winter Bird List

Hi Everyone:

We had a record-breaking year of 68 species! Well done!!

The final number of species for the winter months of December, January, and February was the same number as for the last update on Feb. 25. This is 7 species more than for the previous record of 61 in the winter of 2011-12.

We almost reached the 70 species mark with a sighting by Jim of what could possibly have been a Northern Pintail, and another by Ken of a possible Eastern Towhee. However, in both cases they were able to get only quick looks at the birds in flight with no chance of getting identifying photos or more detailed descriptions for conclusive confirmations. Unfortunately, neither bird was sighted again.

Just think; there are now only eight-and-a-half months to go before the beginning of our next try on December 1, 2015! I hope you can all wait that long!

Thanks to all for the reports.

Dave

2014_15 Winter Bird List for Northumberland Co., Feb 25, 2015.docx

2014_15 Winter Bird List for Northumberland Co..pdf

From: Ken Walker [mailto:47krw14@gmail.com]
Sent: March-02-15 4:35 PM
Subject: for club site?

Spring?

From: David McLeod [mailto:mcleodda] Sent: February-21-15 3:27 AM Subject: Northumberland County Winter Bird List Update Hi Everyone: The number of species now stands at 67, an increase of 6 species over the past record of 61 from 2011-12. Since the last update, we added Cedar Waxwing (#66) and Merlin (#67). Refer to attached list for details, but note that the species have been placed in taxonomic order in the list and so these numbers will not be the same as in the list. I’ve also attached one photo: the Cedar Waxwing with a flock of Bohemian Waxwings taken by Peter. We still have seven days to add to the list. Several species that have not been reported this year but were on last year’s list are still good possibilities. They include Great Horned Owl, Boreal Chickadee, and Red Crossbill. Others, like Song Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow, could be hanging around feeders somewhere. Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs could be in flocks of Snow Buntings, so it would be worth looking for some darker looking birds within a flock of buntings. Hopefully, as we are already establishing a new record this year, we can get 3 more species to reach the 70 mark. Let’s give it a good try!! Thanks to all for the reports. Dave

2014_15 Winter Bird List for Northumberland Co., Feb 21, 2015.docx

2014_15 Winter Bird List for Northumberland County (Feb 21) (pdf)