Nature Moncton Field Trip. Raptors in the Tantramar Marsh

NATURE MONCTON FIELD TRIP – RAPTORS IN THE TANTRAMAR

Date:  ​Saturday, November 26th (rain date: Sunday, November 27th)

Time: ​9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Meeting Place:  The Tourist Information Centre at the end of Mallard Drive, Sackville.

Guides: Roger Leblanc and Louise Nichols

Are you someonewho is interested in learning more about identification of hawks and other raptors?  Would you like to learn waysto distinguish one species from another even if they are viewed at a distance with a scope?  If so, this outing will give you the chance to see some of these birds and learn some helpful hints on how to ID them.

No doubt, birds of prey are a fascinating part of the birding world and one of the best places to see themin winter is the Tantramar Marsh near Sackville.  By the end of November, some of the bigger hawks, harriers and eagles can all be seen hunting for prey.  Red-tailed Hawks can usually be found in this area -- and by this time, Rough-legged Hawks, some of whichspend the winter with us, have usually returned.In addition to these hawk species, Bald Eagles are in abundance and, if you’re lucky, perhaps a Golden Eagle, one of which was present in this area for a number of consecutive years.Also some years you can still find some lingeringNorthern Harriers lookingforfood in the marsh as well as Short-eared Owls.  As winter approaches, it may even be possible to spot a Snowy Owl in the fieldsattracted there by the same “all you can eat rodent buffet” created by the grain left in the fields.And then there is always a possible surprise visitor.

So if you’re interested in learning more about raptors and seeing some in action, join us on November 26th (rain date, the 27th) for this outing.  We will meet at the Tourist Information Centre in Sackville where we can arrange some carpooling to travel out to High Marsh Rd and some of the other marsh roads in Sackville. Bring binoculars and a scope if you have one and bring a snack or lunch as we will continue into the early part of the afternoon.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not