Nature Moncton Nature News: June 1 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 1, 2020 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Rick Elliot reports that fog and mist continued at Waterside for the 6^th day on Sunday, but it sure was not discouraging some special bird visitors. Among the AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins] moving over their property earlier Sunday morning was a handsome adult male SCARLET TANAGER [Piranga écarlate] and a 1^st spring male INDIGO BUNTING [Passerin indigo]. These two pleasant recent visitors to Rick and Barb’s come after a TOWNSEND’S WARBLER [Paruline de Townsend] and a RED KNOT [Bécasseau maubèche] recently. Very lucky landlords!

** Jane LeBlanc got a photo of a female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masquée] warbler that shows just how bland her plumage is, compared to her black-masked, yellow partner. Jane also had an AMERICAN PAINTED LADY [Vanesse des perlières] arrive in her St. Martins yard on Sunday and got an awesome photo of this beautiful butterfly summer visitor.

** Jim Johnson of Scotch Settlement asked last week where all his hummingbirds were. They still had not arrived in numbers that he usually has. The wait is over because the mass arrived on Sunday, now having 20 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] present. All’s well that ends well.

** Yvette Richard got a pleasing photo of a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier] at the Memramcook lagoon and also a photo of a NORTHERN PINTAIL [Canard pilet] male in its best breeding plumage, and a NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet]. acting more reserved. She also got a photo of two scaup at the Grand-Digue lagoon. They appear to be GREATER SCAUP [Fuligule milouinan].

Yvette reports that she has 3 TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] boxes up and all three are occupied.

** I’m finding that the 18 swallow boxes in my Miramichi area are being very slow to get serious activity, whereas occupancy was 100% last year. I’m hoping that the cold spell we had earlier in May has just set things back a bit.

** Aldo Dorio is pleased to report that EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l’Est] have returned to his Néguac yard. They appeared earlier in spring scouting, and are now back with their suit-cases, fine-tuning their nest box. Aldo had a pair nest in the same box last year. Another lucky landlord.

** We have a query from J. Lestage about why he is seeing fewer gulls [goélands] in the Shediac, Cap Pelé area. Does anyone have any comments on that?

** Bob Blake reports morning temperatures, low temperatures, daily high temperatures as well and daily precipitation at his Second North River home. Bob sends a table to compare May of 2020 with May 2019. 2020 was warmer in general and precipitation less, even though we did have snow in May this spring. Bob’s table is attached below as he forwarded it.

Weather stats for May

2019		2020
morning temperatures	daily highs and rainfall	morning temperatures	daily highs and rainfall
+12-1 day +11-2 +10-1 +9-6 +8-3 +7-3 +6-2 +5-4 +4-4 +3-4	+23-1 +22-1 +21-1 +19-1 +17-3 +15-4 +14-3 +13-1 +12-5 +11-3 +10-1 +9-2 +8-3 159 mms. rain	+21-1 +20-3 +17-1 +16-1 +15-1 +14-1 +11-2 +10+2 +9-3 +7-6 +6-1 +5-1 +4-1 +3-2 +2-4 +1-1	+31-1 +30-1 +29-1 +28-2 +26-3 +25-2 +24-1 +23-1 +22-1 +20-1 +19-1 +18-3 +16-2 +14-4 +12-2 +10-2 +8-2 +6-1 +4-1 +3-1 59 mms. rain 2 cms. snow