[NatureNS] nature notes, Wolfville area -- mating blue jays,eagle nest, ducks,

Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:59:43 -0300
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
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April 7, 2008 - 4 CEDAR WAXWINGS in Wolfville at the home of Brenda &  
Bill Thexton.

Apr. 8, 2008 - Sunny and even warmer than yesterday, predicted to get  
to 13 C. (usually gets warmer here in The Valley).

At our Wolfville feeders, at least 8 COMMON REDPOLLS (Martin Thomas  
north of Port Williams is still getting 100-200 every day and eating  
him into the Poor House!), plus male and female CARDINALS, plus the  
CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW, etc.  Also an adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was  
present, probably the same individual seen yesterday.

At noon the male CARDINAL was singing almost constantly just east of  
our home.

Apr. 9, 2008 - Another gorgeous, Sunny, warm Spring day, with Valley  
temperatures up to 15 C. at mid-day.

New Minas riverside Ducks Unlimited pond: 3 COMMON MERGANSERS (2  
males, 1 female).

Van Nostrand's Ponds: 7 RING-NECKED DUCKS (5 m + a m/f pr), 60 CANADA  
GEESE, 1 m/f pr of MALLARDS, 1 m RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, 3 C. GRACKLES.

Port Williams sewage ponds: no geese, a m RING-NECKED DUCK, a m/f pr  
of MALLARDS.

I checked on the BALD EAGLE NEST at Wallbrook on the property of Kay  
& Ralph Stirling.  Beside the nest was an adult pair of bald eagles  
perched together, and the size difference was easily apparent (male  
small, female big) -- perhaps it was warm enough today that the eggs  
did not need to be covered all the time?

Nearby I was surprised (because of habitat) to see, soaring over the  
woods there, a dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, which drifted slowly to  
the south and out of sight.

At home, still a few COMMON REDPOLLS at the feeder, and a cardinal  
was singing at 9:30 a.m.

No COLTSFOOT yet up or in bloom west of Gaspereau where I always look  
in early Spring, and same where Wolfville's Maple Avenue joins  
Wolfville Ridge.

Apr. 11, 2008 - Still at least a couple of  COMMON REDPOLLS at our  
feeders, along with a few GOLDFINCHES.  Also the CLAY-COLOURED  
SPARROW continues to be present.

This afternoon I was sitting in Joe's Food Emporium enjoying clam  
chowder and watching golfers struggling in Georgia at the Master's  
tournament, when 2 BLUE JAYS just outside through the window that  
caught my eye.  They were perched very close together, and one was  
crouching and quivering its wings (and calling?) in a clear begging  
posture; the other jay mounted it and they COPULATED.  This should be  
a good ATLASSING observation for the Wolfville square.

George Alliston reports recently seeing 3 PILEATED WOODPECKERS in his  
woodlot (at West Brooklyn??).  And someone else I know had 3 more  
PILEATED WOODPECKERS very recently at his yard and feeders west of  
New Minas and south of Kentville.

Bob Bearne told me about an ORIOLE (Baltimore?) having been seen and  
photographed about 2 weeks ago? just east of Gaspereau by Dave  
Coldwell.I will do my best to get this confirmed.

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204

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