Nature Moncton Nature News: May 19 2015

** Julie Pellerin made a run to Albert County on Monday to spot a REDHEAD DUCK [Fuligule à tête rouge] at Calhoun Marsh, an interesting observation. I don’t think that species has been spotted there this season and a special one to see. Julie also enjoyed seeing John Inman’s ORCHARD ORIOLE [Oriole des vergers] at 225 Mary’s Point Rd.

** Anne Marsch had a pleasant experience visiting the GLOSSY IBIS [Ibis falcinelle] still at the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Monday to watch it for some time probing in the mud and preening itself. Obviously very content with what it has found at the Sackville Waterfowl Park. The ibis was still present on Tuesday A Red Trilium (trille rouge) is also in full bloom at Anne’s Lower Coverdale yard.

** Janet Cormier again shares great photos of yard activity - a male BOBOLINK [Goglu des prés] has come to her Salisbury feeder yard for a week now, and she is very much enjoying its song. It is indeed interesting to note the number of Bobolink reports this spring. TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE [Mésange à tête noire] have come to nest boxes in her yard. She checked all 3 OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur] nests in the Barachois area again to find them lively and active. There is one near the large church there. She also got a SPOTTED SANDPIPER [Chevalier grivelé] and an up close photo of a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d’Amérique]. Janet got the SPOTTED SANDPIPER [Chevalier grivelé] and also Aldo Dorio got a photo of a second shorebird species that nests in NB - the WILLET [Chevalier semipalmé] being harassed by a gull at Hay Island Nature Park.

** Georges Brun had a WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG that arrived to his kitchen window on Sunday. This colourful bug is getting more commonly seen in the Maritimes.

** Oscar LeBlanc’s comments on EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL [Engoulevent bois-pourri] got an interesting response from Mike LeBlanc, who has worked at Kouchibouguac National Park for 16 years and reports that he has heard Eastern Whip-Poor-Will calls pretty well every one of those years. This would suggest that the park could be a breeding territory for at least a pair.

** Clarence Cormier added a new arrival to his Grand Digue site on Monday - a GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur chat], one of his favourite birds. His troupe of BOBOLINK [Goglu des prés] swelled from 3 to 6, again all male. Clarence has a field near him that Bobolinks often use, but some construction is going on there this year, but there is another field nearby that he hopes that they will go to.

** Carmel Constable leaves some observations from her Shediac Rd yard. She comments she had 2 SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d’Amérique] arrive to her yard, something she’s not seen in 4 years. This combines well with Lois McGibbon’s comments of a few days ago of more than usual Snowshoe Hares to suggest all went well for them last winter and/or they’re in one of their good reproductive cycles. Carmel also has had BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD [Vacher à tête brune], male and female, for 2 weeks; WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] have come by, and lots of WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche]. A pair of MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks have arrived to her yard with the very considerate and caring of the male to let her feed first and watch over her. This excellent male partner care will suddenly end when the female is on a nest of eggs.

** Bob Betts shares a nice photo he got of his ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose] and a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune] foraging in his Grand-Digue yard.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton