[NatureNS] all-white skunk at Annapolis, gray squirrel(s) at Granville Ferry,

Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:16:03 -0300
From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Thanks to Pete Hope for providing the earlier report of the walk mentioned
below:
--------------------
Oct. 11, 2006 - I drove to Annapolis Royal for two events of the Annapolis
Field Naturalistsš Society: first a walk, and then an evening presentation.

ANNAPOLIS MARSH TRAIL in late afternoon: Peter Hope led a group whose pace
was just too slow for me.  Išll first list my own sightings, and then
embellish them with additions from Petešs group.  I saw 15+ PIED-BILLED
GREBES, 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (along river at Belleisle), 1 CAN. GOOSE,
BLACK DUCKS and MALLARDS common, same for GREEN-WINGED TEALS, at least 7 and
probably more N. SHOVELERS, 1 AM. WIGEON, 20 HERRING GULLS, 2 GR. BL.-B.
GULLS, 1 cock PHEASANT heard? (or was it a p.-b. grebe?), 25+ BLACKBIRDS
(mostly or all C. GRACKLES), lots of SONG SPARROWS.

Petešs group also saw GREAT BLUE HERONS, a f/imm N. PINTAIL, 2 BLUE-WINGED
TEAL, another AM. WIGEON, a few RING-BILLED GULLS, an imm. SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK,  12 BL.-C. CHICKADEES, lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,
PALM WARBLERS, C. YELLOWTHROAT, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.

GIANT REED GRASS, alias ELEPHANT GRASS (Phragmites) very abundant -- this
species is apparently native to N.S. and actually occurs in many scattered
locations of the mainland of N.S.  But ALDER BUCKTHORN (Rhamnus frangula), a
very aggressive alien plant species, seemed to be everywhere along 2/3 of
the trail and copiously endowed with black berries -- and most of the
sparrows seemed to be associated with patches of this.

After the walk and a quick supper in Annapolis Royal, I attended the AFNS
regular meeting to hear Merritt Gibsonšs presentation about the life of
Robie Tufts, which was well received by those present.

At that meeting various AFNS members reported the following RECENT SIGHTINGS
of interest to me:  at least 3 different people, over the past two weeks or
longer, have seen an ALL-WHITE SKUNK in the town of Annapolis, and so far it
has avoided becoming a road-kill; and Jon Percy and others reported that at
least one GRAY SQUIRREL still survives at Granville Ferry, although at least
one was recently road-killed there, too. 

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