Nature Moncton Nature News: May 18 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Monday, May 18, 2020

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

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

**Gordon Rattray explored the main trails in Hillsborough by the Village office on Sunday. He was expecting a larger turn out of warblers after hearing of the numbers in St. Martens a couple of days ago. He did see Yellow-rumped Warblers, Yellow Warbler (a beautiful male showing the red breast striping), Wilson’s warbler and Common Yellowthroat Warbler. A pair of Northern Shoveler Ducks appeared to be contentedly monitoring a nest.

A Gray catbird posed briefly to show its burgundy under tail coverts and black tam. Gordon heard but did not see Bobolinks and surprised a couple of White-tailed Deer on the path.

Also at home I had a female Hummer visiting the feeder

**Chris Antle reports a pair of Wood Ducks were sitting under their box on Sunday morning at her Maquapit Lake site. She hopes to see them entering and leaving soon among with regular other warblers, there was a male Black-throated Blue in her garden Sunday morning and doesn’t recall seeing one there in the past. Another infrequent visitor was a Brown Creeper. Chris comments with so much activity it’s a challenge to attend to her gardening!

**Brian Stone comments he heard of a reliable report of a Black Bear that has been observed in Mapleton Park. I don’t believe this is the first time a Black Bear has wandered into the park. This is very likely a two year old bear that has been sent out on its own by his mother and not yet established a territory.

**A Mallard Duck noted in a roofless derelict Wood Duck box in Mac Wilmot’s Lower Coverdale yard has indeed nested there. It is a seemingly odd spot for a mallard duck to nest. Mac got a photo from above to look down into the house to make sure there was a wire mesh lining so the ducklings could get out and indeed there was one present plus the 9 egg clutch seem to be doing fine.

**Baltimore orioles are moving in. Jane LeBlanc has a neighbor in St. Martins who she comments is getting a very impressive selection of birds to his yard including Baltimore Orioles that Jane got several nice photos of and a Gray Catbird is looking on in one photo. Time to get orange and pink grapefruit sections out!

Jane also got a few photos of a Black-and-white Warbler and a Common Yellowthroat Warbler suddenly appeared. A pair of Common Mergansers were on the marsh before the nearby campers awoke

**Jim Johnson in Scotch Settlement has been waiting patiently for the birds to arrive that seemed had forgotten where he lived. But in the last few days the finches have returned, half dozen Bobolinks, and Tree Swallows galore (20 -25). Also at least 6 Cliff Swallows (hard to count) have arrived. He’s keeping an eye on them to see if they will use the 2 man-made clay nests placed last year with a new colony establishing under the eaves of his home. Only 1 Hummingbird has arrived so far but expects more this week. Jim put up another swallow nest box Sunday morning in the field by his home and they were checking it out before he got back to the house. There is also a pair of American Kestrels around near his home as well.

Jim watched an amusing incident recently. He was out after supper the other night, across the road there was a duck flying ahead of an Bald Eagle being chased by 2 crows all in a row about 100 feet apart.

**Clifford Twist took a hike on the Dobson trail on Sunday to be very entertained by vocalizing Ovenbirds and also Black-throated Green Warblers

**Dave Christie reports the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that seemed to be just dropping by as they were passing through change their tactics on Sunday when at least a pair arrived and fed most of the day.

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com