Nature Moncton Nature News: May 26 2018

Nature Moncton Information Line…..May 26, 2018 (Saturday)

To respond by email, please address your message to the Information Line Editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Please advise the Editor if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**Clarence Cormier had a visit from a BROWN THRASHER [Moqueur roux] to his Grande-Digue site on Friday. He was able to get documentary photos. Two in one day’s report is interesting, and they are a long way apart.

**Roger Burrows suggests the Empidonax Flycatcher featured in yesterday’s edition is a LEAST FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle tchébec], noting the small bill, rounded head, complete eye-ring, and short primary projection – interesting points to consider when trying to separate suspected ALDER [Moucherolle des aulnes] or Least Flycatcher from photos. Will attach some of these photos again today.

**Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc spotted a pair of RUDDY DUCKS [Érismature rousse] in the Bouctouche lagoon on Thursday and Friday. They were a long ways off, but Jean-Paul was able to get a documentary photo of the male. There were also a pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS [Canard souchet], some BOBOLINKS [Goglu des prés], many TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore], and one BANK SWALLOW [Hirondelle de rivage] around the lagoon.

**Dave Christie comments that Friday marked the beginning of normal migration of CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] in his area of Albert County. A flock of 12 arrived to a tree near the Mary’s Point Interpretive Centre. There were a lot of Cedar Waxwings that did remain in New Brunswick over the winter, but normal return migration of this species that went south is normally about this time. On Saturday, Dave spotted a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] in the area where the Marsh Road in Shepody meets Route 114. Surprisingly, at the same time, Patricia Marshall, who runs the Sandpipers’ Rest in that area, had a few unfamiliar birds in her yard and sent Dave photos. One turned out to be a Northern Mockingbird, and the other a BROWN THRASHER [Moqueur roux]. A bit of a coincidence to have these two species in one yard. Dave is still getting a large number of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] that suddenly recently arrived, seeing 6 – 7 at once, which usually means there’s a lot more in the area.

**Brian Stone sends some more very interesting photos and scenarios from his Perth, Ontario stay. He experienced an explosion of Caterpillars [Chenille] stripping leaves from trees the past few days. He said it almost sounded like rain as he would walk down a path with Caterpillar frass dropping steadily. They were rappelling down from their treetop heights on silk threads. This is all a combination of two Caterpillar species in action at the same time: the EASTERN TENT CATERPILLARS [Livrée d'Amérique] build those compact “tents” and usually don’t go far to forage from their tents. The other actor at work is the FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR [Livrée des forêts] which, despite the name, do not build nests as such, but can travel across an area army-style, eating everything green that’s in their path. I recall outbreaks in some areas of New Brunswick of the Forest Tent Caterpillars in the past, but only smaller local outbreaks recently. Brian has photos of both species. The broken line on the back of the Forest Tent Caterpillar is a quick identification feature to differentiate them from the Eastern Tent Caterpillar. Usually trees will recover if this is only a one-time event. Brian also shares some Dragonfly [Libellule] photos of ones like CHALK-FRONTED CORPORAL [la Julienne], EBONY JEWELWING DAMSELFLY [Caloptéryx bistré], and FOUR-SPOTTED SKIMMER DAMSELFLY [la Quadrimaculée] that we soon will be seeing here. Brian also got photos of a JUVENALS DUSKYWING BUTTERFLY [Hespérie du chêne]. Note the white spots on the wing to help identify it. This Butterfly is now widespread in southern Nova Scotia, but there is only one record from New Brunswick. Jim Edsall comments it is an OAK TREE [Chêne] feeder, and could well be present in small colonies in Oak forests in southeastern New Brunswick as it approaches the border with Maine. Definitely a species to watch for more in New Brunswick. Brian also sends photos of the EASTERN TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY [Bleu porte-queue de l'est], NORTHERN CRESCENT BUTTERFLY [Croissant nordique], GRAY COMMA BUTTERFLY, and the brilliant green SIX-SPOTTED TIGER BEETLE [Cicindèle à six points], all of which should soon be coming to life in New Brunswick.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton