Nature Moncton Nature News: August 27 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 27, 2017 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** A big thank you to Roger LeBlanc for an excellent presentation on our expected common shorebirds on Saturday morning, followed by a visit to Riverview Marsh where everyone was able to see GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier], LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier], SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau semipalmé], LEAST SANDPIPER [Bécasseau minuscule], SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé], WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à croupion blanc], and special bonuses of one SOLITARY SANDPIPER [Chevalier solitaire] and one WILSON'S PHALAROPE [Phalarope de Wilson]. The phalarope chose to stay near the opposite shore most of the time; I was sure surprised, when I got home, to find that the camera set at 83x zoom had actually got it, as it poked quickly among the pond grasses. However, as expected, Carmella Melanson got a better one!

** Last week, Wendy Sullivan and Elaine Gallant had an observation of something we seldom see, a juvenile PIPING PLOVER [Pluvier siffleur]. Wendy got some great photos of this specialty in association with SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé] and SANDERLINGS [Bécasseau sanderling].

** Gordon Rattray visited the Gray Brook dam at Hillsborough and got more nice photos of the EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE [Pioui de l'Est] to show more details. Note that the bill shows the dark upper and orange-yellow lower mandible. He also got photos of a RED-EYED VIREO [Viréo aux heuristic rouges] as well as one of the many GREAT BLUE HERONS [Grand Héron], foraging with the young of the year that are out now. Gordon also got a first-year male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masquée]. Look closely at the warbler to see the black of the face mask starting to form as a slight gray sheen where the border of the mask will be.

** Some of the dogwood species seem to be doing very well this year, as evidenced by the berry crop. Gary Gilbert came across some in fruit on the Tower Road and took a photo. The species appears to be ROUND-LEAVED DOGWOOD [Bois de calumet], as the leaves do appear to be opposite.

** Cheryl Stewart in Quarryville has some CLIFF SWALLOW [Hirondelle à front blanc] nests on her house window ledges each year. Surprisingly, she is still seeing some swallows at the nests. It does seem late. One would wonder if a first nesting failed and some tried for a second chance.

** Dale Gaskin comments that he has been seeing no male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] around his three very active feeders for three days, which is to be very much expected at this date, when only females and juveniles are likely to be with us for another week to ten days, then stragglers only, or off-course surprises. [Transcriber's note: As I finished typing that sentence I looked up to see 3 hummers buzzing around the feeder outside my window. No red throats noted. -- DSC]

Dale was startled as he placed some paper in an already filled wood stove, when something flew out to create an unexpected surprise. It turned out to be a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse], Dale says it might be more suitably called a sooty red-breasted nuthatch. It was easily released outside, being no worse for the experience.

** I got a photo of a young-of-the-year CHIPPING SPARROW last week. The bill of the juvenile and winter adult Chipping Sparrows is bi-colored, which can be seen, but the grass hides the black line between the eye and the bill.

** I'm adding a note about tomorrow morning's Nature Moncton field trip to the Taylor Road, as this is the last publication opportunity.

BIRDING TAYLOR RD, SALISBURY

Field Trip with David Miller

Monday August 28th, 2017

Taylor Rd, near the Irving Big Stop in Salisbury, is becoming a popular spot for birders and no one knows the spot better than David Miller. In the last couple of weeks, David has observed over 60 species of birds along this road, including 18 species of warbler, 5 Flycatcher species, 5 sparrow species, and more. Special recent sightings include Cape May and Blue-winged Warblers, Philadelphia Vireo and Black-backed Woodpeckers.

Join David and Nature Moncton for a birding field trip of Taylor Rd on the morning of August 28^th.

Meeting Time: 7:00 AM

Place: Irving Big Stop in Salisbury (look for David’s white Jeep)

Bring snacks and water.

No fee for field trip. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,