Nature Moncton Nature News: May 7 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 7, 2018 (Monday)

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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)

** As mentioned yesterday, Brian Coyle spotted two SANDHILL CRANES [Grue du Canada] in the stubble corn field off Lower Mountain Road on Sunday. Photos are attached today. Brian found himself approximately 150 yards from them and heard them vocalizing. He quickly moved away to leave them be. It would be nice if they could be a potential pair.

Brian comments that sparrows are now getting very abundant in his yard, which could be excellent sparrow habitat. He got a nice photo of a CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant

familier] and a SAVANAH SPARROW [Bruant des prés].

He also sends a photo of a WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] with ribs showing. He was not expecting that because it was a relatively easy winter in that immediate area.

** Marguerite Winsor had a special day on Sunday, when her first male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose] arrived at its spring best, as well as their first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] at noon hour. It was joined by a second in the evening, which immediately started the usual hummingbird squabbling. They also had a brief first visit from a GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur chat].

** Gordon Rattray had a special visitor on Sunday, a brilliant male BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] arrived to join the regulars at his feeders. Gordon is getting some PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins] coming daily, as they have for for a few weeks now. Gordon also shares a photo of a RED MAPLE [Érable rouge] in bloom in his yard.

** Roger LeBlanc is having a great spring start with his nest boxes. A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] are getting serious about one the swallow boxes, as well as a pair of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire]. He is continuing to monitor his occupied SAW-WHET OWL [Petite Nyctale] box from a distance, and getting very rewarding observations. He is off to check out two WOOD DUCK [Canard branchu] boxes. Roger comments, “Get the housing out and they will come."

** A very lively day on Sunday for John Inman’s 225 Mary’s Point Road feeder yard, with a second RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] arriving, a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] and a male ORCHARD ORIOLE [Oriole des vergers], a NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier] warbler and a WILSON’S WARBLER [Paruline à calotte noire]. The male Orchard Oriole is a special visitor and will no doubt draw birders for an audience.

** Dave Christie had a NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier] warbler gleaning insects from a forsythia bush in his yard on Sunday. A special visitor for Dave was an INDIGO BUNTING [Passerin indigo] that he suspects to be an immature male, showing blue only on the tail, head and bend of the wing.

While Dave was visiting a neighbour, Donald Porter [in Riverside-Albert] a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] was ground-feeding and a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] arrived to the window where the Porters usually have a hummingbird feeder up. This suggests a returning patron.

** Brian Stone visited St. Martins on Sunday and got great observations of the SNOWY EGRET [Aigrette neigeuse] still present there. His photos beautifully show the "golden slippers” of this egret species. Brian also got some nice photos of a BLUE-HEADED VIREO [Viréo à tête bleue], GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne dorée] and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne rubis], and the early blooming ephemeral TROUT LILY [Ail doux].

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton