Dave Christie had a Yellow-throated Warbler pay a visit to his
Mary’s Point yard on Saturday morning but he was not able to relocate it after
some brief observations. However, it reappeared on Sunday morning and Dave was
able to capture a quick documentary photo. It obviously stayed near the area and
may or may not continue to do so for a bit.
** Lois McGibbon got a photo of a GRAY COMMA [POlygone gris] on Saturday.
She says that she had been seeing commas earlier but could not capture a photo
of this fast-flying butterfly. She also got a photo of a SPRING AZURE butterfly.
I asked Jim Edsall if there was any significance to getting two Gray Comma
reports but none of the more common GREEN COMMAS [Polygone à taches vertes]. He
felt not; all these commas over-winter as adults and will fly at the first
warmth.
** Doreen Rossiter had a new arrival in her Alma feeder yard on Saturday,
a BOBOLINK [Goglu des prés]. This species doesn’t come to feeders often but this
is the time that the odd one does. It’s a real treat to see one up close. Doreen
reports that she has lots of PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] and AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] but no PINE SISKINS [Tarin des pins] now.
Doreen usually gets her returning RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge
rubis] and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] among the first of
all of us, but she says that this year neither have appeared in her yard, as of
Saturday. I suspect that will change quickly.
** Anna Tucker walked around Jones Lake [Moncton] on Thursday evening. She
spotted the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] that tends to stay near
Louise and Maurice Richard’s home. Anna watched it as it actively moved about
the shrubbery and crossed the street for a drink at the Richards’ waterer.
** Clarence Cormier comments on a new bird food mixture he has tried and
can barely believe the interest that birds have taken in it. He picked up a bag
of Armstrong Bird Seed Mixture at Canadian Tire. Most of his patrons seem to be
going for it ahead on any of his other offerings. It’s a blend of black oil
sunflower seed, safflower seed, raisins, peanuts and wild fruit. If you’re going
to try it, you’ll need a ten-dollar bill, but then again it’s Mother’s
Day.
Clarence’s AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] flock has now reached
40+ [at his Grande-Digue home]. He also spotted a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
[Paruline noir et blanc] on Saturday.
** There surely have been a lot of reports of RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS
[Colibri à gorge rubis] arriving, so I won’t be reporting individual ones. The
first arrivals seemed to come very suddenly, and some observers reported them
earlier than last year. The hummers obviously did not get weather reports from
New Brunswick ahead of time to influence their travel itinerary. [Transcriber’s
note: At my Mary's Point feeders, the first female hummingbird of the spring
arrived this morning.]
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
GRAY COMMA.MAY 9, 2015..LOIS McGIBBON
GRAY COMMA.MAY 9, 2015..LOIS McGIBBON
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD.MAY 9, 2015..ANNA TUCKER
SPRING AZURE.MAY 9, 2015..LOIS McGIBBON
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER.MAY 10, 2015.DAVID CHRISTIE
