Sighting December 24, 2005

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Cardinal à tête noire)

Seen by Jean MacDonald just before Christmas.  Driving on Route 1 from either Saint John or Moncton/Fredericton, take exit 141 (has a Tim Horton's and an Esso) at Quispamsis. Take Route 119, which leads through Quispamsis toward the ferries that cross the Kennebecasis River. Proceed straight 6.1 kilometers to the ferries, which depart every ten minutes or so. When you drive off the ferry at the other side, turn left on Route 845 toward Clifton Royal and drive another 2.6 kilometers. Jean MacDonald lives at #1277 on the left, her house is very near the road.

The feeders are obvious at the end of her house and you can park safely on the side of the road a short distance away and watch the feeders from your car. It is recommended that you stay in your car so as to not frighten the birds at the feeders.

Jean's phone # is 506-763-2937 and she is birder-friendly.

Sighting December 26, 2005

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Bruant à couronne dorée)

Today, during the Memramcook X-mas bird count, Yolande Leblanc located a first winter GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. This is an immature bird and the yellow crown is muted. Yolande located the bird at Dollard LeBlanc’s farmyard at11Chemin Le Montain which is the first right after turning on to Central Street at the corner of Route 106 where the Esso Station is located in Memramcook. Dollard LeBlanc does not mind if birders come by to visit the bird but be sure not to block the driveway where heavy machinery passes. The bird moved around the farmyard to different structures and the manure pile and did not seem to be at all troubled by the farm activity and traffic.   Yolande's phone number is 758-9583.

Sighting December 14, 2005

VARIED THRUSH (Grive a collier)

The Secords live at #106 Penobsquis Loop Road, which is west of Route 1. Travelling east on Route 1 from Sussex, take exit 198 onto Route 114 and drive 7-8 km towards Penobsquis.

Travelling west on Route 1 from Petitcodiac, take exit 211 onto Route 114 and drive 4-5 km towards Penobsquis.

The feeder is located near the house and beside two small conifers that he has placed beside it to provide some shelter. When not feeding (it always feeds on the ground) the Varied Thrush often perches in a small bare oak tree nearby.

The Secord's phone number is 433-1851. I told him that if the bird stays, he can expect a few visitors.....

Sighting November 24, 2005

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER [Paruline à gorge jaune]

Irene Leblanc at 19 Cunard St in Richibucto has an interesting trio of WARBLERS coming to her feeder yard. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER [Paruline à gorge jaune] has been coming in frequently the past few days to her suet feeder and 2 PINE WARBLERS [Paruline des pins] have been coming fairly regularly. To access Cunard St. go the Richibucto via Route 134 and instead of turning to the right to go to the down town area go straight on Acadie Av. and Cunard St. is the street at the traffic lights. Turn right there on Canard to #19. Irene’s home # is 523 4265.

Sighting November 24, 2005

PACIFIC LOON [Plongeon du Pacifique]

A super find from Stu Tingley late on Thursday morning. Stu located an adult PACIFIC LOON [Plongeon du Pacifique] in winter plumage off the Caissie Cape Wharf. He spotted it around 11am and on returning with scope and camera he was able to relocate it. By 1pm it had drifted out some distance and was difficult to see in the higher winds and waves. This surely is a special bird and many will hope it stays in the area. Stu also advised there is a big variety of other sea birds at that location on Thursday. There is a nice area to park behind the line of blue fish sheds at the wharf.

Sighting November 20, 2005

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER  (Tyran à gorge cendrée)

Ramsey Hart reports that he saw on a fairly subdued outing to Cape Jourimain and Cape Tormentine on the Northumberland Strait with the Chignecto Naturalist club was enlivened by a fantastic observation of an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER / Tyran à gorge cendrée. Tony Erskine who has experience with the species helped with the confirmation of the ID. The bird was frequenting the shrubs along the shore immediately to the south east of the Confederation Bridge (right hand side as you approach the bridge). It was very cooperative perching in the open in low shrubs and landing in the middle of the trail.

Rose-Alma Mallet reported that Cecille Leger from Cocagne located a CATTLE EGRET near Cocagne, Kent County, early this afternoon. Rose-Alma saw the bird herself later in the afternoon. From Route 134 in "downtown" Cocagne, turn east onto Route 535 and follow the coast for about 4 kms. until you come to Breau Road, a crossroad between Routes 535 and 134. The egret apparently hangs around fields near a farm at the intersection of Route 535 and the Breau Road and also spent a lot of time looking for insects in the grass near civic #62 on the Breau Road.

FRANKLIN'S GULL (Mouette de Franklin)

A FRANKLIN'S GULL (Mouette de Franklin) has been found on the Scotch Lake Road (about 20 km west of Fredericton). The bird was found by Peter Pearce and Doug Jackson and has been at that location since Sunday afternoon (Nov. 13, 2005). It is a first-winter bird and was seen today (Monday) both morning and afternoon.

The Franklin's Gull is with a flock of Ring-billed Gulls in a large field at 316 Scotch Lake Road. From Route 105 near Mactaquac Park, take Route 615. Then take the Scotch Lake Road and go about 3 km. Just before a sharp turn to the left, there are large fields on both sides of the road. Most of the gulls are usually on the right and if the Franklin's Gull is among them, it can be a challenge to find it. It regularly visits the left side of the road and when it does it can be easily seen at close range.

CAVE SWALLOW (Hirondelle a front Brun)

Reported by Giselle and Norm Belliveau and Rose-Alma Mallet.  Found at on Route 955 - the road to Murray Corner at #1885.  The bird was approximately 13 kilometres in on Route 955 from its intersection with Route 15. Look for the vacant house with no number that also has an open shed and a partly open barn between residence #1846 and #1885. It's on the same side of the road as #1846 and (of course) on the opposite side as #1885.

WESTERN TANAGER [Tangara à tête rouge]

Jim Wilson reports that yesterday and this morning a male WESTERN TANAGER [Tangara à tête rouge] has been feeding on fruits at the home of Carol & Bill Sutton on Mallard Drive at Westfield. Their property has a variety of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs and the tanager has been sampling several.  Mallard Drive turns west off Route 177 (the old road along the Nerepis River towards Fredericton) about 200 metres north of 177's intersection with Route 102 (at the bend in the Saint John River).  The Suttons' house is the first on the right on Mallard Drive.  Jim says the bird may be an adult male. It has a rather faded red head.

Carol and Bill Sutton live at 2 Mallard Drive in Westfield, as David Christie kindly described. Mallard Drive turns west off Route 177 (the old road along the Nerepis River towards Fredericton) about 200 metres north of 177's intersection with Route 102 (at the bend in the Saint John River). The Suttons' house is the first on the right on Mallard Drive. They are avid gardeners and have been interested in and feeding birds for the past 35 years. This is the first WESTERN TANAGER they have ever seen. While we were there a male CARDINAL appeared at their feeder.

When you arrive at 2 Mallard Drive, park on the side of the street and walk into their parking area. The tanager was feeding on berries just to the left of this area much of the time that we were there, and at other times it was in front of the house and visible from the bottom of Mallard Drive. Just watch carefully for bird movement - often near the ground. It forages quietly and rather deliberately. The bird was also picking up small insects from the ground and low shrubbery between feasts of various berries.

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER [Paruline de Townsend]

This afternoon at about 2 PM Jean and I (Jim and Jean Wilson) were fortunate to discover a first-year male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Paruline de Townsend) at Fundy Park. This species has not been confirmed in New Brunswick before.

The bird was feeding in bushes and trees on the hillside directly opposite the entrance of the short road that leads to the swimming pool. Once you reach the Visitor's Centre, take the road to Point Wolfe and the pool entrance is about 0.6 kilometres, on the left. Park near the entrance to the pool area and scan the hillside directly opposite, on the right side of the road. We placed a small piece of florescent orange survey tape on a shrub at the place where we first saw the warbler.

There was a BARNACLE GOOSE [Bernache nonnette] present with a flock of 300-400 Canada Geese in the fields below the Jones farm, adjacent to the Petitcodiac River, on the Coverdale Road in Riverview this morning around 11:00am. The Jones farm is located about 6 kms. west of the Riverview causeway on the Coverdale Road (Route 112). The bird is best viewed from the parking lot of the Coverdale United Church at the intersection of the Coverdale Road and the Turtle Creek Road (Route 910). A telescope is essential as the birds are quite distant. Depending on light conditions and the location of the flock, they can sometimes be better viewed from the Salisbury Road (Route 106) on the north side of the Petitcodiac River at a small pull-off about 5 kms. from the causeway, directly across the river from the Jones farm.

Reported by Jim Wilson.  Travelling south on Highway 1 from Saint John, take exit 112 to Lorneville. Turn left onto highway 100 and proceed straight toward the Coleson Cove smokestacks for 8.4 kilometres. At that point you will arrive at the Coleson Cove Generating Station where the paved road turns left into the station. Don't go there - proceed straight ahead onto the smaller unpaved road that goes straight ahead and will eventually take you to Black Beach or the South Musquash Lightstation.

After beginning the gravel road, drive another 1.4 kilometres. At that point you'll see an orange flagging tape tied to an alder on the left side of the road, marking the entrance to the old gravel pit area where the sparrow was found.  Drive in and watch for a second piece of flagging tape on another alder on the left, about 50-100 meters in. The sparrow flushed from the weedy field on that side and into an alder nearby. 

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant a couronne d'oree]

This is, I believe, the 3rd record for NB after a summer 2003 adult on Machias Seal Island and the long-staying winter-spring 2004-2005 bird at St. George.

SEASIDE SPARROW [Bruant maritime]

Reported by Stu Tingley.  To locate the spot where we saw the sparrow - from the Gunningsville bridge (which connects Riverview and Moncton) go south on Route 114 for about 1 km. and turn left opposite the Petro-Canada gas station onto Point Park Street. At the stop turn left on Avondale, then left onto Hawthorne. Park in the small parking area opposite civic no. 160. Walk down the slope to the gravel hiking trail which borders the marsh, turn left and after just a few meters you should see a couple of "gouges" we scraped out of the trail. Look out into the marsh from these "gouges" toward the Chateau Moncton and you'll see two or three areas of cattail about 10-20 meters out into the marsh. We initailly saw the sparrow in the closer brown cattails then later further out where the cattails are still bright green. That was from about 9:30-10:00 am.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri roux]

CANVASBACK [Fuligule à dos blanc]

Norm Belliveau located a CANVASBACK [Fuligule à dos blanc] at the Arthur Street Lagoon in the St. Joseph area of Memramcook across from the Abby-Landry School.

 Seen in the Lorneville area, beyond Coleson Cove power plant, towards Black Beach. It was past the sign that says barrier but not as far as the barrier itself, on the bay side of the road. Found by Don Gibson and Merv Cormier. They are placing a paper towel there to mark the location.

Doreen Rossiter reports the White Winged Dove in her yard at 62 Foster Drive in Alma, NB.  Foster Drive is to the left in the bend of the road in Alma.  Doreen has had this species appear a few times previously and they have usually stayed a few days. She says the white patches on the wings of this one are particularly conspicuous.

Ken MacIntosh has just discovered an immature SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (Tyran a longue queue) ,hawking for insects.

Driving west from St. George (toward St. Stephen) on Highway 1, do not take the first exit into the town. Instead continue west on Highway 1 until you pass through the divided highway section and then cross a bridge. Then, watch for Manor Road on the left, leading into St. George.

Turn left onto Manor Road. The St. George Curling Club is in there about 200 meters. Park in the curling club parking lot. The flycatcher was in the vicinity of a picnic table shelter near a walking trail that runs along the water.

It is not an adult bird. Its tail is about half as long as an adult but long enough to be deeply forked, and it has a pale yellowish wash on the flanks, instead of the typical salmon hue of an adult.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE   (Pie-grieche migrantrice)

Jim Wilson located LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE at Jemseg on Tuesday afternoon. Jim locating it flycatching from utility wires to the ground in the area of Civic No. 17 on Route 715 which is the route leading from Jemseg to the Gagetown Ferry. Several from the Fredericton and Gagetown area got to see it until evening on Tuesday. So it is suggested that there is a good chance it may still be there today. The bird is weary. It is suggested went spotted to observe it from a distance. The Daoust family at Civic No. 17 are aware that folks maybe looking for this bird. This is a few hundred metres past the United Baptist Church located there. There was a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE located in that area in 1969 that stayed in the area for a significant time. Make sure to advise if and where you see the bird today. (For additional information see Jim Wilson's posting to Nature NB on 7 June 2005)

Seen and photographed at Grand Manan. Alain Clavette provided details on it to Alma White for the Moncton Naturalists' Club Rare Bird Alert, namely that it's at the sewage lagoon of the Anchorage Provincial Park. That's south of Grand Harbour, turning off Route 776 on the road to the Anchorage Park and bearing left towards Long Pond rather than right into the campground. The sewage lagoon is mostly hidden among small trees and bushes on the left perhaps 200 yards before the beach.

This afternoon Alma White sent out the following rare bird alert from the Moncton Naturalists' Club. Louis-Émile Cormier reports a RUFF [Combattant varié] and a EURASIAN WIGEON [Canard siffleur] in the marsh at the bend of the Petitcodiac River in Riverview. These birds were in ponds along a side trail that runs out into the marsh from the Riverside Trail (New Brunswick Trail) between the Greater Moncton sewage treatment plant and the Point Park subdivision. Access the main trail between the Gunningsville Bridge and the sewage treatment plant or from Point Park Drive or Hawthorne Drive in the subdivision.

No information the plumage of these birds, but presumably both are males; male Ruffs vary a lot in overall colour, hence the French name Combattant varié.

LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Labbe à longue queue)

A surprising rare bird was observed by Pat Emond in the Kedgwick River area of Restigouche County on Thursday. He was alerted to the presence of an unusual bird, which amazingly turned out to be a LONG-TAILED JAEGER [Labbe à longue queue],  has been sighted along route 265 leading to Kedgwick River Settlement. To get to the spot where seen, from Kedgwick follow said road, but DO NOT take the fork leading to Larry's Gulgh nor that going to Down's Gulch. Before reaching Kedgwick River Settlement proper there is an intersection then a long hill - Montgomery Hill - leading down to the river. The bird hangs out at this intersection feeding on something on the side of the road. You can call Pat and/or Ginette at (506) 284-2740 or reach them by e-mail at < ginpate@NBNET.NB.CA >

GREAT GRAY OWLS [Chouette lapone]

A few GREAT GRAY OWLS [Chouette lapone] have finally crossed the border into New Brunswick from a very significant incursion of this owl that has appeared in Quebec this winter. One bird has appeared in the Saint-Joseph-de-Madawaska area and another has been located by Mike Lushington near Dalhousie. The directions to the site of the observation near Dalhousie are fairly complicated but specific. Mike Lushington has said that he will be available at 10:00AM on Friday morning at the McNeish Road to lead anyone who wishes to go to the site where the owl has been observed on two occasions now.  Mike's e-mail address is: mhlca@NBNET.NB.CA )

Bev and Mark Sneider located a SAY’S PHOEBE {Moucherelle à ventre roux] on the Mactaquac Christmas Bird Count held on New Year’s Day. The bird was spotted on a clothesline between the house and the garage at civic # 3328 on Route 105. This is a road running along the N side of the Saint John River in the Mactaquac area. The bird could be seen from the road.