NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 24, 2018 ( Thursday )
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
** Blair Lawrence photographed two SWANS on Jones lake on
Wednesday. I can't tell from the photo just what species they are but are
definitely something to be followed up on with the appearance of a pair of Mute
Swans in the Saint John area. This photo was forwarded courtesy of Dan Hicks.
** Paul and Rhonda Langelaan saw a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO
[Coulicou à bec noir] approximately a mile past their Second North River farm,
in the area of civic number 3960, Route 112. They hear them there every year at
about this time in that area but this is only the third time that they were
actually able to see one.
** Sybil Wentzell shares an interesting
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge
rubis] scenario. She does not have any artificial feeders up yet but some
hummers are around her yard seemingly interested in the dandelions in bloom to
suggest that this would be an abundant, early source of fuel to them whether it
be nectar, insects, or both. Sybil notes that they sometimes hover to feed and
sometimes would alight on the soft dandelion rays and probe. Sybil comments
that she suspects that they are very much waiting for the Quince in their yard
to bloom for another natural food source.
** Those big, valuable BUMBLEBEES are out at the moment.
Dave and Elizabeth Eagles watched an assumedly large queen that overwintered
checking out some freshly opened apple blossoms. They also have a male
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER [Pic maculé] enjoying a suet block that is
heavy on the peanut butter content. Interesting to note how it seems that this
species seems to be becoming more common checking out menus at
feeders.
** It sure is great to hear of the INDIGO
BUNTING [Passerin indigo] reports. Thane and Jane Watts had a male visit them at
their Hopewell Cape home on Tuesday. It does seem like their are more reports of
this species. Maybe it is just more reporting sites, but I hope this pleasant
species is indeed joining us. There are breeding records of Indigo Bunting in
New Brunswick.
** Aldo Dorio spotted four SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHERS [Bécassin roux] at Hay Island on Wednesday morning. They are showing
breeding plumage which we only usually get to see when the early returning birds
still have some in late summer when they stop to fuel up on their return
migration from breeding to the north of us. Aldo photographed a RED-BERRIED
ELDER bush about to burst into bloom and also some more out in the open views of
the GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur chat] that he has been
seeing regularly.
** Peter Gadd got a photo of a WEASEL
taking a rodent prey on May 19. The Weasel is, as expected by now, in complete
summer pelage. The prey identification is hard to be certain of, but Deer Mouse
is suggestive although it could well be a Vole like the one in a photo that Phil Reibel took on April 20, 2015. The prey does not seem to have a long, pointed snout of
a Shrew and the tail, if that is what is being seen, is a good length. Of the
various Shrews in New Brunswick some have short, stubby tails and some have
longer. The Deer Mouse always has a long tail and the two Voles that we have
show relatively short tails.
** Kevin Renton comments on the large
number of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] now attending
his three feeders. Kevin also comments on
a RED FOX
[Renard roux] that was spotted in a field near their home that was showing a lot
of black to suggest some domesticated ranch Fox in its genetic makeup.
** Louise Nichols shares a very
interesting photo from a relative in Toronto. A pair of
RED-TAILED HAWKS have set up
shop on one of the buildings in Queen's Park and now are raising two fledglings.
It would seem surprising for this raptor to nest in such a busy area. The
photographer, Doug Tessier, comments that they still seem a bit uncertain about
planes flying over!
Louise also comments on the
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker female with the black head that was posted yesterday by
Catherine Hamilton. She noted Sibley comments that it does happen occasionally
and one has been recently posted on a Facebook page in New Brunswick by
Pierrette Bourque.
** We were sure surprised to see
a bit of wet snow falling in Miramichi on Wednesday afternoon, but from some
photos that Aldo Dorio submits from Neguac things got much more serious there
but will be goner today.
** Sue Richards got a photo of a
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY [ Papillon du
céleri ] that seemed to have just emerged
from its winter chrysalis and was drying its fresh wings for its mission ahead.
Sue also had a RING-NECKED
PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] become very interested in checking out her new
rock wall protecting some newly planted Holly
bushes.
** Brian Stone got photos of a
PINK SPOTTED LADY BEETLE in Perth, Ont. On a search to see if this species has
been reported in New Brunswick it was found that BugGuide did have a report of
this Lady Beetle from the Edmundston area. There may be more, but we were unable
to find any so keep a close eye for this Lady Beetle in New Brunswick. From what
we see in the literature it is not problematic if it is
here.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature
Moncton
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY. MAY 23, 2018. SUE RICHARDS
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY. MAY 23, 2018. SUE RICHARDS
BUMBLEBEE ON APPLE BLOSSOM. MAY 23, 2018. DAVE AND ELIZABETH EAGLES
GRAY CATBIRD.MAY 23, 2018. ALDO DORIO
HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER.MAY 23, 2018. ALDO DORIO
PINK SPOTTED LADY BEETLE. MAY 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
PINK SPOTTED LADY BEETLE. MAY 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
PINK SPOTTED LADY BEETLES. MAY 22, 2018. BRIAN STONE
RED-BERRIED ELDER READY TO BLOOM.MAY 23, 2018. ALDO DORIO
RED-TAILED HAWK NEST IN TORONTO. DOUG TESSIER. MAY 23, 2018
RING-NECKED PHEASANT. MAY 23, 2018. SUE RICHARDS
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD TO DANDELION. MAY 23, 2018, SYBIL WENTZELL
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD TO DANDELION. MAY 23, 2018, SYBIL WENTZELL
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (BACKGROUND) WITH YELLOWLEGS.MAY 23, 2018. ALDO DORIO
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER.MAY 23, 2018. ALDO DORIO
SWANS ON JONES LAKE. MAY 23, 2018. BLAIR LAWRENCE
VOLE. APRIL 20, 2015. PHIL REIBEL
VOLE. APRIL 20, 2015. PHIL REIBEL
WEASEL AND PREY. MAY 19, 2018. PETER GADD
WHITE-TAILED DEER IN SNOW.MAY 23, 2018. ALDO DORIO
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (MALE). MAY 23, 2018. DAVE AND ELIZABETH EAGLES