Page 14 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Christmas-Winter Giver 2024

Little Blue Heron (Juvenile)

Who May Be Flitting Around Your Neighbourhood?

By Peter Gadd, Nature Miramichi

One never knows who might be around. The “who”
in this case is referring to birds.
In the Miramichi region this past year we have had
visits from a number of birds that are not often seen.
This of course is true every year. Some of these birds
belong here but are considered rare, perhaps because
they are at the extreme of their normal range. Others are
vagrants, perhaps a little lost, taking a break before they
are on their way again. Birders are always on the
lookout for something unusual, one never knows “who”
might show up.
In May of this year a Fork-tailed Flycatcher found
its way to Hay Island, Neguac. This bird is usually
found in central and south America but occasionally
makes its way north. With its extremely long tail, its
glide as it returns to its perch after snatching its insect In May this year a Glossy Ibis visited Miramichi Marsh in Chatham.
prey in mid-air, is lovely to watch. This colourful bird was at the very extreme of its northern range.
Also, in May this year a Glossy Ibis, a colourful bird was a juvenile of the Little “Blue” Heron species (about
that probes for food in wet, muddy soil, paid a visit to 2/3 the height of the more familiar Great Blue Heron)
Miramichi Marsh in Chatham, at the very extreme of its and as such was almost entirely white.
normal range that includes the eastern seaboard of the Speaking of birds that are white (usually), in
United States. October, a number of migrating Snow Geese spent some
In August, a Little Blue Heron, whose normal range time in the Napan area feeding in agricultural fields
is very similar to the Glossy Ibis, also paid a visit to along with Canada Geese. This species, travelling from
Miramichi Marsh and stayed for about 6 weeks. This their breeding grounds in the far north, are more

14 www.GiverMiramichi.com Christmas 2024