Nature Moncton Nature News: May 29 2018

Nature Moncton Information Line…..,May 29, 2018 (Tuesday)

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

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Suzanne and Yves Poussart paid a visit to the Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area to see lots en route and there. They found the pair of MUTE SWANS [Cygne tuberculé] along Route 955 approximately 5 km from the juncture of Route 15. They were still present at the same location at the end of the afternoon. Just behind the Cape Jourimain Centre they saw many YELLOW WARBLERS [Paruline jaune]. Other species observed were AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante], OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur] nesting on the platform, TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] using a nest box close to the Centre, SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur], and a family of RED SQUIRRELS [Écureuil roux] that were very much getting the attention of visitors. A CROW [Corneille] found itself a fish prey under the vegetation on the beach.

**Phil Riebel and Pam Watters have had a new scenario occurring at their HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri] feeder. A bright male CAPE MAY WARBLER [Paruline tigrée] has come several times to either sample the nectar or possibly after insects attracted to the nectar. They are not certain which is the attraction, but he seems to like it.

**Gordon Rattray visited the Hilllsborough water park on Monday, to find an EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] in full song, AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante], and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS [Paruline masquée]. Gordon comments that BOBOLINKS [Goglu des prés] were in very active song in the surrounding fields, as was a RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide].

**Stella LeBlanc spotted a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] on Monday on Héritage Street in Bouctouche. It’s great to be hearing of Mockingbirds again. There seemed to be few reports of them this past winter.

**Aldo Dorio shares some action at Hay Island. A sub-adult BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] is showing a lot of yellow on the bill, to suggest it will have reached adult plumage next year. A NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet] is showing how it shovels its prey with that huge broad bill. A male YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] shows itself from side and back. The front view shows the obvious reddish streaking the female does not have (or reduced). And the early-blooming LEATHER-LEAF [Faux bleuets] shrub is in full bloom there.

**Brian Stone sends a few of his last photos from his Perth, Ontario visit, to include some butterflies we can expect soon. The DREAMY DUSKYWING [Hespérie givrée], our largest Skipper, a CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon tigré du Canada] that have a real taste for blooming LILAC [Lilas] that we can expect soon, and also photos of JUVENALS DUSKYWING [Hespérie du chêne] that is common in Ontario, parts of Nova Scotia, and rare in New Brunswick, but is one to watch for as it’s expected soon. Brian got back in New Brunswick on Monday, and immediately went to stretch his legs in Mapleton Park to get a nice photo of a female REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante], a brood of MALLARD DUCKS [Canard colvert] that numbered a dozen with one female. I suspect that she was not amused with a male Mallard snooping around. While he was photographing the ducklings, a female WOOD DUCK [Canard branchu] landed in the pond and hid along the pond edge. He did see two SORA RAILS [Marouette de Caroline] running about in the swampy pond, but too fast for a photo op. And a MUSKRAT [Rat musqué] was enjoying a midday swim-about.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton