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Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Saturday, 18 April 2015

April 18 2015

**Janet Cormier came across a pair of WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] in
the section of Gray Brook Marsh near the golf course on Thursday and
got photos. She also photographed the PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon
pèlerin] on the "A" logo of Assumption Place on April 5th, and got a
striking photo of a group of GREAT BLUE HERONS [Grand Héron] on the
ice at Pointe-du-Chêne on Thursday. Note the black plumes of the
breeding plumage of the adult, especially in the photo of the
individual bird. Janet also saw a PIED-BILLED GREBE [Grèbe à bec
bigarré] with other Ducks [Canard] in the water off Wheeler Boulevard
between the Georges Dumont Hospital exit and Mapleton Road exit, a
spot she says she likes to check out.
 
**The sudden warmth has triggered the RED MAPLE [Plaine rouge] buds to
prepare for blooming. Linda Banks photographed one in that process in
her Riverview yard. Linda also has a Chipmunk [Suisse] with an
abbreviated tail in her yard, suggesting a possible close call with a
predator.
 
**Brian Stone took note of all the critter tunnels in the melting
snow banks at Mapleton Park on Friday. The heavy snow must have been
very much in the favour of many Rodents [Rongeur]. Brian also got a
nice photo of a WILSON'S SNIPE [Bécassine de Wilson] in the reedy
grass between the bridge over the creek and Gorge Road, and also a
male PILEATED WOODPECKER [Grand Pic]. Mapleton Park is becoming a
dependable spot to see this striking Woodpecker that seems to be
adapting well to urban environments.
 
**Bob Blake comments Friday seemed to be a big arrival day for many
species to their Second North River yard, with a major influx of
DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé], three FOX SPARROWS [Bruant fauve],
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche], ROBINS [Merle
d'Amérique] vocally moving in, the first COMMON GRACKLE [Quiscale
bronzé], and one lone Redpoll [Sizerin] returned, a species that had
moved out of their yard some weeks ago.
 
It’s that time of year when the Coltsfoot plants start to burst into bloom. I noted the first
I had seen this year at Mapleton Park on Saturday.
 
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton

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