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Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Saturday, 6 June 2015

June 6 2015

**Many folks will be in the Sackville area this weekend, but for those who are not attending the Festival of Nature and are in Moncton, there will be a Birding Hike in the Irishtown Nature Park tomorrow, Sunday, June 7th, at 9:45 a.m. This will be led by Nature Moncton member Eric Wilson, as part of a special day at the park sponsored by the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance. Meet at the waterfalls at 9:45 a.m. for an hour of birding along the Yellow Trail. Eric did a dry run on Friday and was very pleased with the variety of Warblers [Parulines] there; a nesting NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant], Vireos [Viréos], EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE [Pioui de l'Est] and more. The entrance to the Irishtown Nature Park parking lot is 1151 Elmwood Drive, and the main pathway from the parking lot leads to the waterfall.

**Some of Brian Stone’s photos from Thursday got waylaid yesterday. The AMERICAN LADY Butterfly [Vanesse de Virginie], SIX-SPOTTED TIGER BEETLE [Cicindèle à six points], and MALLARD [Canard colvert] Duck and ducklings are added today. A Dragonfly [Libellule] Brian photographed in flight is a male BEAVERPOND BASKETTAIL [Épithèque canine], which Gilles Belliveau points out is readily identified from other Baskettails flying at the moment due to the uniquely shaped terminal appendage which has a turned-down appearance, as Brian was able to catch in the photo. This Dragonfly and the SPINY BASKETTAIL [Épithèque épineuse] fly late May to early July.

**Dave Christie noted two species new for him this spring on Friday. He spotted a male BLACKPOLL WARBLER [Paruline rayée] singing in a thicket close to his Mary’s Point home. Hearing the vocalization of the Blackpoll is special. It is not commonly seen on its migratory route to the north of us, but is not classed as rare, just not seen and heard as frequently as other Warblers. Dave also had a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle à ventre jaune] in woods across from the Interpretive Centre, which is always a nice find. Dave saw a PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] in pursuit of two Pigeons [Pigeons] in the area of the Shepody River dam on Friday, and comments that BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] continue to move through, noting approximately 30 around his feeder yard on Friday.

**Lisa Morris shares photos of the common ASIAN MULTI-COLORED LADY BEETLE [Coccinelle asiatique multicolore]. This is an introduced Lady Beetle that has become very common, especially in homes. Lisa also noted DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes] in Centennial Park. There’s a lot of Minnows [Ménés] in the pond there for fish-eating birds.

**This week’s Sky at a Glance is added to today’s transcription courtesy of Curt Nason. Curt tends to point out what we will see at dusk and after, and adds some of the folklore associated with astronomy.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, June 6 – June 13

The Big Dipper forms the rear haunches and extraordinarily long tail of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. The Dipper is seen easily high overhead around 10 pm. Follow the arc of the handle and you arrive at the bright star Arcturus in the kite-shaped constellation Boötes the Herdsman. Then, angle a line down to the star Spica in Virgo the Maiden. Follow the arc to Arcturus, drive a spike to Spica; a mnemonic that helps you find your way around the sky. One third of the way from Arcturus to equally bright Vega in the northeast is the semicircular Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.

The Mi’gmaq and Iroquois First Nations have a tale of seven young bear hunters, all named for birds, that explains some sights in nature. The bowl of the Big Dipper is the bear, while the handle stars and four in Boötes are the hunters. In order from the bear are Robin, Chickadee, Moose Bird, Pigeon, Blue Jay, Owl and Saw Whet. In spring, when the bear’s den (Corona Borealis) rises, the bear emerges and is chased by the hunters. Over summer and into fall, the four stars in Arcturus dip below the horizon and are said to tire and drop out of the hunt. As the bear starts rising in the east in autumn, it is rising to confront its pursuers. Robin shoots an arrow into the bear’s heart, causing Robin’s chest and the maple trees to get splashed by blood. Robin and Chickadee carve up the bear and cook it in a pot that Chickadee had been toting on his shoulder, and only then does wily Moose Bird appear. Chickadee is Mizar, the middle star in the Dipper handle. If you look carefully you might see the fainter star Alcor very close by – Chickadee’s cooking pot.


This Week in the Solar System

Today sunrise in Moncton was at 5:29 am and sunset will occur at 9:05 pm, giving 15 hours, 36 minutes of daylight. Next Saturday the Sun will rise about two minutes earlier and set five minutes later, giving 15 hours, 43 minutes of daylight.

The Moon is at Third Quarter on Tuesday, June 19, rising around 1:25 am that day.

Mercury will visible in the morning sky later this month but you will have to be out before 5 am to see it.

Venus is at its greatest elongation from the Sun today, but it will not be at its highest above the horizon at sunset for this period of evening visibility. That occurred last month. Since that time, the angle the Sun’s path makes with the horizon has been decreasing from its maximum at the spring equinox. Although Venus continued to move farther from the Sun, it was in a more horizontal direction than vertical. Use binoculars to look for the Beehive star cluster near Venus late in the week.

Mars is too low to be seen in the evening, and it is in conjunction with the Sun on June 14.

Jupiter crosses the astronomical boundary from Cancer into Leo today. Venus has closed the gap to Jupiter to about 15 degrees, the width across your outstretched pinkie and forefinger at arm’s length. They are in a race to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo.

Saturn is due south around midnight this week, when it is highest in the sky and best for observing. Its rings are at their best viewing in a decade so give them a try with your spotting scope.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton

AMERICAN LADY BUTTERFLY. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

ASIAN MUTICOLORED LADY BEETLE.JUNE 4, 2015.LISA MORRIS

AZURE BUTTERFLY. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE


BEAVERPOND BASKETTAIL DRAGONFLY (MALE). JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

CALLIGRAPHY BEETLES 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

CALLIGRAPHY BEETLES 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS IN CENTENNIAL PARK.JUNE 4, 2015.LISA MORRIS

MALLARD DUCKLING. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

MALLARD DUCKLINGS 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

SIX SPOTTED TIGER BEETLE. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

YELLOW WARBLER ( FEMALE ). JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE
Nature Moncton

Friday, 5 June 2015

June 5 2015

** Anne Marsch and Jane Wood had a great day in Hillsborough on Thursday.  In the area of the old gypsum silos, they found 4 to 6 BLACK SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon du céleri] butterflies and a SOLITARY SANDPIPER [Chevalier solitaire] was seen near the spillway.  On the road to Grey's Island Cemetery, they saw BOBOLINKS [Goglu des prés] and a Groundhog as well as many other birds species.
** Barb Sears who lives at 129 Fairfield Rd. in Sackville photographed an adult SANDHILL CRANE [Grue du Canada] in a field behind her house on May 20th.  I don't recall other reports in the area around that time.  She has not seen it since, but the expanse of the Tantramar Marsh and other great habitat is not far away, and may be waiting to greet the Festival of Nature this weekend in Sackville.
** Dave Christie heard his first NELSON'S SPARROW [Bruant de Nelson] of the season singing at the edge of a salt marsh at Mary's Point on Thursday.  He also heard his first EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE [Pioui de l'Est] in woods west of his house.  Both of these species are among the later spring arrivals.
** Jules Cormier heard two BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS [Coulicou à bec noir] vocalizing in the Belliveau Village area on Thursday.  He has seen this species at the same site before.  I hope they find the Eastern Tent Caterpillars that are doing their thing at the moment.
** Brian Stone and I paid a visit to the Alder-Willow growth under the power lines by the Crandall building on St. George Blvd. on Thursday morning with ALDER FLYCATCHERS [Moucherolle des aulnes] in mind as Eric Wilson reported them there last week.  We found some, readily recognized by their calls; however, in true Alder Flycatcher fashion, they were very elusive about showing themselves.  Brian did get some photos from different angles of some of them.  One of the many YELLOW WARBLERS [Paruline jaune] that were more than willing to be photographed is added.
** Brian also visited Mapleton Park on Thursday to find and photograph an American Lady butterfly [Vanesse de Virgnie], a  AZURE butterfly [Azur printanier], CALLIGRAPHY BEETLES, a young MALLARD [Canard colvert] duckling, a SIX-SPOTTED TIGER BEETLE, a female YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] and more.  It seems like everything and everybody enjoyed the pleasant sun of Thursday.
** Aldo Dorio photographed a SWAINSON'S THRUSH and a female AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante] warbler at Hay Island Nature Park.
** To correct a comment made on yesterday's edition, the CRESTED CARACARA [Caracara du nord] found in 2003 was indeed the first reported one in New Brunswick;  however, the last one reported in New Brunswick was one seen briefly and photographed at Miramichi in April of 2014.
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton
ALDER FLYCATCHER 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

ALDER FLYCATCHER 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

ALDER FLYCATCHER 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

ALDER FLYCATCHER 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

ALDER FLYCATCHER 01. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN REDSTART (FEMALE).JUNE 4, 2015.ALDO DORIO

BLACK SWALLOWTAIL JUNE 4,2015 ANNE MARSCH

GROUNDHOG. JUNE 4,2015 ANNE MARSCH

SANDHILL CRANE. MAY 20, 2015.BARBARA SEARS

SWAINSON'S THRUSH.JUNE 4, 2015.ALDO DORIO

YELLOW WARBLER. JUNE 04, 2015. BRIAN STONE

Thursday, 4 June 2015

June 4 2015

**A report of a Crested Caracara [Huppé] went out on the Nature Moncton Rare Bird Alert. It was found in the Grand Anse area and on Wednesday was located in the area of No 205 Rue Acadia which is the main street that runs through Grand Anse. The last Caracara in NB was in 2003.
 
**A special moment for Richard Blacquière on Wednesday morning when he spotted a COMMON NIGHTHAWK [Engoulevent d’Amérique] resting on a gravel path in the Hampton Rural Cemetery near the Hampton Lagoon. Richard comments it is common to see these birds at dusk around that lagoon and they stay out of sight very successfully quietly on tree branches and we seldom see them perched due to their effective camouflage. The photo is zoomed in from a distance so as not to disturb the bird.
 
**Brian Stone shows photos of a COMMON GRACKLE [Quiscale bronzé] in his yard looking not impressed with the cold rain on Wednesday. A CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] seemed to be faring better.
 
 
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton

 
CHIPPING SPARROW 01. JUNE 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

COMMON GRACKLE . JUNE 03, 2015. BRIAN STONE

COMMON NIGHTHAWK.JUNE 3, 2015.RICHARD BLACQUIERE

Wednesday, 3 June 2015

June 3, 2015

** Aldo Dorio got a nice photo of a male BOBOLINK at Burnt Church on Tuesday. Surely is nice to hear all the reports of this species that had taken a dip in numbers in the past years. 
 
** Brian Stone photographed an adult male PURPLE FINCH in his yard on Tuesday seemingly not particularly amused with the rain. 
 
** Anna Tucker walked a portion of the Dieppe marsh trail, a very popular walking trail now. She watched birdlife activity noting lots of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS in that habitat, the CHOKE CHERRY shrubs were in full bloom, EASTERN TENT caterpillars have started constructing their tents, and one of the many SONG SPARROWS cooperated for a nice photo. 
 
** Our GRAY CATBIRD has become a very regular patron to a grape jelly feeder. It briefly posed for a photo in the rain on Tuesday. It must wear great water repellent, the raindrops can be seen beading on its plumage in the photo. We have only seen one so far and hoping for a friend to drop by for it.
 

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
 
                                        BOBOLINK (MALE). JUNE 2, 2015.ALDO DORIO

                                       CHOKECHERRY.JUNE 2, 2015.ANNA TUCKER



                         EASTERN TENT CATERPILLARS.JUNE 2, 2015.ANNA TUCKER

                                  GRAY CATBIRD. JUNE 2, 2015.NELSON POIRIER



                                PURPLE FINCH ( MALE ) 01. JUNE 02, 2015. BRIAN STONE


                                      SONG SPARROW.JUNE 2, 2015.ANNA TUCKER 

Tuesday, 2 June 2015

June 2 2015

** Dale Gaskin spotted 7  CHIMNEY SWIFTS [Martinet ramoneur] flying high foraging in the sky above the first Irving outlet you come to in Hillsborough.  This is the most Dale has seen in that area, having heard them periodically before.  Dale comments on always seeming to hear them before seeing them.
 
** Donat Robichaud on Russellville Rd. Hill north of Miramichi has had a  DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur]  that arrives almost daily to their hummingbird feeders since mid May.  It comes to 2 different feeders.  Donat got a few documentary photos.
 
** Eric Wilson had nice observations of a pair of  BLUE-HEADED VIREOS [Viréo à tête bleue] on Monday evening in Centennial Park, inside the strip of trees between the fenced-in dog park and St George Blvd.  This would be just west of the parking lot and entrance to the Rotary Lodge there; very potentially a nesting pair.
 
** Gilles Cormier comments for the past 10 years he has had a couple of pairs of  EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l’Est] at his cottage in Breau Village.  They usually returned in April.  Last year April 10.  This year he did not see one until May 30, and that was in the Pre d’en Haut area.  He feels numbers are down in the areas where he travels.
 
** Clarence Cormier comments on activity around his Grand-Gigue site.  New arrivals in the past week have been  BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER [Paruline à gorge orangée] and  MAGNOLIA WARBLER [Paruline à tête cendrée],  BLUE-HEADED VIREO [Viréo à tête bleue], and a suspected  PHILADELPHIA VIREO [Viréo de Philadelphie].  Clarence got photos of the Philadelphia Vireo that hopefully will allow a definitive identification.  He has a resident  WILSON’S SNIPE [Bécassine de Wilson] now making winnowing flight so suspect it has territory there, and a recently blooming APPLE [pommier] tree is beyond magnet for  CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d’Amérique] foraging on the petals.
 
** Bob Blake keeps  daily records of morning low temperatures, daily highs, and precipitation records from his Second North River home and compares May 2014 to May 2015.  Bob’s records show May 2015 as a significantly warmer month that May last year:
 
May 2014 he recorded 8 mornings of 0 deg C or lower with the lowest morning of -4 deg C.
May 2015 he recorded 3 mornings of 0 deg C or lower with the lowest morning of -4 deg C.
 
May 2014   7 days were recorded with highs between 25 to 30 deg C.
May 2015 10 days were recorded with highs between 25 to 35 deg C.
 
May 2014 Rainfall was 26 mm
May 2015 Rainfall was 43 mm
 
** Aldo Dorio shares more photos from Hay Island Nature Park near Neguac of a  EURASIAN WIGEON [Canard siffleur] male, singing  CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron], the resident FOX [renard] with prey, and a vocalizing NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte].
 

 
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton 

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.MAY 31,2015.ALDO DORIO

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (MALE).MAY 29,2015.ALDO DORIO

DOWNY WOODPECKER TO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER,MAY 18, 2015..DONAT ROBICHAUD

DOWNY WOODPECKER TO HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER,MAY 18, 2015..DONAT ROBICHAUD

EURASIAN WIGEON (MALE) IN CENTER.JUNE 1,2015.ALDO DORIO

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD.JUNE 1,2015.ALDO DORIO

RED FOX WITH PREY.JUNE 1,2015.ALDO DORIO

Monday, 1 June 2015

June 1 2015

**  Dale Gaskin comments that he seems to have lost the EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] from his  site; he suspects that SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] activity may be responsible. Some of his neighbours see bluebirds from time to time, so he thinks they are nesting in the area but is not sure where. Dale’s Dawson Settlement area [NW of Hillsborough] has been productive for Bluebirds for several years, but things are not looking as good this year.
 
Dale has many RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] patrons, as he always has. In the heavy rainfall on Sunday, he watched flower petals falling from a large apple tree just like it was a snowstorm.
 
 
**  Susan Richards notes a CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] pair appeared with their goslings on a pond in Taylor Village on Saturday. She has noted a COMMON EIDER [Eider à duvet] flock of several birds flying back and forth along the Memramcook River. She wonders why they would be doing that now.
 
 
**  Brian Stone got so many nice photos of ducks and warblers the past few days in the Hampton area, that it’s hard not to share most of them. Several are attached.
 
 
**  CANADA PLUM [Prunier sauvage] was an abundant wild fruit in New Brunswick at one time, being very popular with native people. A form of blight spread through the species that allows the shrubs to blossom but as fruit forms the fungus attacks to leave mummified, shrivelled, infertile fruit. This shrub has therefore been reduced in abundance dramatically. After finding some in the Miramichi area a few years ago and getting to recognize the blooms when they open before the leaves, I noticed the shrub’s gray bark gave its presence away as it is easily confused with other early blooming shrubs at a distance. Last week it was surprising to note several small stands along Route 420, as well as along Route 11. I assume they are very old stands but did find one with a few red plums on it last summer. I’m wondering if there may be some resistance developing. 
 
Nelson Poirier
<nelson@nb.sympatico.ca>,

Nature Moncton
AMERICAN REDSTART (MALE). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN WIGEON (MALE). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN WIGEON (PAIR). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

CANADA GEESE AND GOSLINGS.MAY 31, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS

COMMON GOLDENEYE (MALE). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

COMMON GOLDENEYE (MALE). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT ( FEMALE ) 01. MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

MAGNOLIA WARBLER ( FEMALE ) 01. MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

MAGNOLIA WARBLER ( FEMALE ) 01. MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

MALLARD DUCK NEST BOX. MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

NORTHERN SHOVELER (MALE). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE

RING NECKED DUCK (MALE). MAY 31, 2015. BRIAN STONE