Nature Moncton Nature News: May 6 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 6, 2018 (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)

** Doreen Rossiter spotted the silhouette of a small bird on a branch outside her window on Saturday. It quickly grabbed her attention as a male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis]. Doreen immediately got her feeders out. She wasn’t expecting it to arrive this early; last year’s first arrival for Doreen was on May 11. Also, as reported, Barb Curlew and Rick Elliott had their first Ruby-throated Hummingbird at their Waterside home on Saturday. John Inman reports his first one arrived on Sunday morning. The hummingbirds seem to be choosing lower Albert County as their first destination. No doubt, the next week will see lots more arriving, so it’s definitely time to put out nectar to be waiting.

** John Inman, at 225 Mary’s Point Road, also had his first WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] arrive on Sunday, and yesterday a couple of YELLOW WARBLERS [Paruline jaune], a BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER [Paruline à gorge noire], and a NASHVILLE WARBLER [Paruline à joues grises] in his yard.

** Mac Wilmot is getting lots of action around his Lower Coverdale yard pond. The WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] have left, but they are seeing unexpected numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune], EASTERN PHOEBES [Moucherolle phébi], BELTED KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique], and MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks. They are seeing and hearing PINE WARBLERS [Paruline des pins] regularly. Mac is also suspicious that a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON [Bihoreau gris] is coming by the last few nights, as he is hearing what sounds like the barks of one after dusk, but has not been able to see it yet to verify that.

Another query that needs an answer. Mac found a globe nest that was at the top of a fir tree that had fallen. In the clear photo, it appears to be constructed of cat-tails and fibres; there is no obvious opening. Comments on what might make this type of nest at the top of a fir tree would be appreciated.

** Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc saw a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] in the Coates Mills area on Saturday. The number of reports of bluebirds already is very encouraging for this species, swelling in numbers in New Brunswick.

A RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] strutted across the road in front of them, allowing a through-the-windshield photo before it disappeared into the woods.

** Sue Richards had more than flying visits from YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] on Saturday. One dropped by to enjoy her delicious looking suet and to provide some nice photos.

** Aldo Dorio got another photo of a very content-looking WILLET [Chevalier semipalmé], enjoying some unidentified prey at Hay Island. The prey looks like something we should recognize, so I’ll hope for some identification comments.

Very unfortunate news for the Hay Island OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur] nest. Aldo found that it has fallen down to the ground on Saturday. Let’s hope that they will find suitable new location to build a new nest.

As a late note, Brian Coyle spotted two Sandhill Cranes in a stubble corn field near his Lower Mountain Road home on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately Brian’s photos did not arrive with his note so hopefully will get them for tomorrow's edition and more exact details. They were adult.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton