Nature Miramichi:

We saw three Horned Larks at Kouchibouguac N. P. this afternoon. It is not a bird I have seen often. Leonel would see them near the runway of Miramichi Airport I know. Deana observed that the Horned Lark, although not all that common, can potentially be seen just about anywhere in Canada, the exception being northern Ellesmere Island. In some parts of Canada it would only be seen in migration. We also saw a Great Blue Heron, 3 ruffed Grouse and one Spruce Grouse, all along the side of the park road. Peter

Enjoy

http://biology.allaboutbirds.org/features/bird-song-hero/bird-song-hero-tutorial

Newspaper article about this. http://www.theguardian.com/science/grrlscientist/2014/nov/15/become-a-bird-song-hero

Peter

Deana and I were asked to do a presentation about birds at the Newcastle-Miramichi Public Library. Attached here is a pdf version of the slides we use for this presentation given on November 12, 2014.  As it is the time of year with winter approaching and we start paying a lot of attention to our bird feeders, we thought we would base the presentation on our experiences with backyard birds in the winter months. Click here -> Feeder Birds 20141112 Newcastle Library

The count for our 2013-14 winter list for Northumberland Co. stands at 59 species as of February 28th.

The list follows the taxonomic order and common names as given in the New Brunswick Birds -Oiseaux du Nouveau-Brunswick (20 August, 2006):

Snow Goose (Red Bank) – Dec.?

2. Canada Goose (Oak Point) – Dec. 10

3. American Black Duck (Hay Island & Burnt Church) – Dec. 7

4. Mallard (Miramichi, Ferry Road) – Dec. 22

5. Northern Pintail (Miramichi, Ritchie Wharf) – Jan. 15

6. Green-winged Teal (Miramichi, east of Ferry Rd.) – Jan 30

7. Common Goldeneye (Hay Island) – Dec. 7

8. Common Merganser (Miramichi) – between Dec. 1 & Dec. 13

9. Red-breasted Merganser (Hay Island) – Dec. 7

10. Ring-necked Pheasant (Miramichi, Ferry Rd.) – Dec. 20

11. Ruffed Grouse (Redmondville) – Dec. 8

12. Spruce Grouse (Weldfield) – Jan. 24

13. Red-throated Loon (Hay Island) – Dec. 10

14. Double-crested Cormorant (Escuminac) – Dec. 7

15. Bald Eagle ( adult at Morrison Cove, Miramichi) – Dec. 4

16. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Exmoor) – Dec. 14

17. Northern Goshawk (Weldfield Road) – Feb. 12

18. Merlin (New Jersey, Mill Road) – Feb. 21

19. Ring-billed Gull (Douglastown Mall) – Dec. 2

20. Herring Gull (Douglastown Mall) – Dec. 2

21. Iceland Gull (Miramichi) – Dec. 24

22. Glaucous Gull (Burnt Church) – Feb. 18

23. Great Black-backed Gull (Douglastown Mall) – Dec. 2

24. Rock Pigeon (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

25. Mourning Dove (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

26. Great Horned Owl (Weldfield Road) – Feb. 24

27. Snowy Owl (Hay Island & Escuminac) – Dec. 7

28. Barred Owl (Miramichi, Douglastown) – between Dec. 1 & Dec. 13

29. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Whitney) – Jan. 15

30. Downy Woodpecker (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

31. Hairy Woodpecker (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

32. Pileated Woodpecker (female at New Jersey) – Dec 9

33. Northern Shrike (Hay Island) – Dec. 8

34. Gray Jay (New Jersey & Redmondville) – Dec. 1

35. Blue Jay (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

36. American Crow (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

37. Common Raven (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 5

38. Black-capped Chickadee (New Jersey, Miramichi & Redmondville) – Dec. 1

39. Boreal Chickadee (Miramichi, Douglastown) – Jan. 27

40. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Redmondville) – Dec. 1

41. White-breasted Nuthatch (Miramichi) – Feb. 15

42. Brown Creeper (Miramichi, Douglasfield) – Dec. 1

43. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Red Bank) – Dec. 14

44. American Robin (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 6

45. European Starling (New Jersey & Neguac) – Dec. 1

46. Bohemian Waxwing (Miramichi, Newcastle) – Dec. 21

47. American Tree Sparrow (Miramichi, Chatham Head) – Dec. 12

48. Dark-eyed Junco (Miramichi, Newcastle) – Dec. 1

49. Snow Bunting (Red Bank) – Dec. 14

50. Northern Cardinal (pair at Miramichi, Newcastle) – Dec. 1

51. Red-winged Blackbird (male at Miramichi) – Dec. 1

52. Common Grackle (Sunny Corner) – Dec. 14

53. Pine Grosbeak (Red Bank) – Dec. 14

54. Purple Finch (Red Bank) – Dec. 14

55. Red Crossbill (Mullin Stream Road) – Jan. 5

56. White-winged Crossbill (Mullin Stream Road) – Jan. 5

57. Pine Siskin (Halcomb) – Dec. 14

58. American Goldfinch (New Jersey & Miramichi) – Dec. 1

59. Evening Grosbeak (Curventon) – Dec. 15

Thanks to the following contributors: Anne Assaff, Julia Connell, Aldo Dorio, Holly Frazer, Peter & Deana Gadd, Kevin Harris, Mike & Rachel Hovey, Nan Johnston, Ken McGraw, Dave McLeod, Walter O’Toole, Alberta Preston, Lynn Pritchard, Phil Riebel, Jim Saunders, Cheryl Stewart, Jan Truka, Elizabeth Walsh, David Warmer, Pam Watters

Dave

Claude and Anne Laberge :
> Had a visitor to the front yard today.

We were snowshoeing in Barnaby today (Feb 18) and my Mom spotted this Barred Owl high up in a cedar. It didn’t seem to mind our presence, just closed its eyes and appeared to be snoozing.

Anne Assaff