Nature Moncton Nature News: April 21 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 21, 2020 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: david.cannon@rogers.com

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

** Brian Coyle spotted an EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] on a utility wire near his Lower Mountain Road home on Sunday. He was able to get some documentary photos, as well as some nest boxes promptly erected. Brian also got photos of a HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné] pair in courtship on a small beaver pond near his home. The male was very intent on putting on its best show for the female.

** Bob Blake had a pair of EASTERN PHOEBES [Moucherolle phébi] arrive to his Second North River yard on Monday. He had a pair nest on his garage a few years ago and he’s hoping they will do so again. The near-constant tail flicking, and the lack of wing bars plus their distinct vocalizations, help to identify this early arriving flycatcher.

** Louise Richard comments Maurice did some preparations on the swallow box in front of their home on Jones Lake in Moncton recently, and a pair of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] were checking it out Monday morning. She also saw a COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper] fly past their home - which they had not seen in a while, as well as GREAT BLUE HERONS [Grand Héron].

** WOOD FROGS [Grenouille des bois] are out doing their thing, and SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] are sure to follow, if they haven’t already. Jane LeBlanc notes the Wood Frogs are making quite a ruckus now in her St. Martin’s yard pond. She got a photo of a male in full vocalization.

** The EUROPEAN STARLING [Étourneau sansonnet] may not be everyone’s favourite bird, but its changing into breeding plumage at the moment is notable. Yvette Richard took a photo of one, to show the white spotting of winter wearing off to reveal the spring plumage of glistening, fluorescent black, and the black bill of non-breeding plumage becoming bright yellow.

** Brian Stone did a walk up Gorge Road in Moncton on Monday to find a large patch of COLT’S FOOT [pas-d'âne] in prime bloom and some different insects attracted to it. One was the early emerging MINING BEE of the Adrena group as well as another photo of a GREATER BEE FLY. This fly does not bite or sting but is a bee mimic and plays a role in pollination not being specific to any flower but uses the mimicry to allow it to follow solitary bees and wasp to their nests in order to deposit its eggs. After hatching the larvae find their way into the nest to parasitically feed on the grubs.

Brian photographed yet another fly species at the Coltsfoot patch which Bugguide identified as Epalpus signifier a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae which was not able to find a common name for and little detail on its life style.

Brian also noted TREMBLING ASPEN [peuplier faux-tremble hybride] out in bloom. Male and female parts form on different trees (dioecious).

Brian spotted a male RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET in his Moncton yard on Monday showing its usually concealed red crown patch but decided to park elsewhere as Brian’s camera opened.

** There still are some Nature Moncton Tree Swallow nest boxes and Eastern Phoebe boxes available from Fred Richards’ workshop - they are free of charge. Leave a message at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com to arrange for a physical distance pickup in Moncton.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton