Nature Moncton Nature News: May 6 2015

** Jean-Paul LeBlanc got photos of a decomposing LEATHER-BACKED TURTLE [Totue luth] on the shore near the Irving Eco-Centre at the Bouctouche Dune on Monday. It is approximately 4 ft. in length.

** The RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] have come on the scene. John Inman at 225 Mary's Pt. Rd. had his first-of-the-season arrive on Monday morning. John also had several NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier] warblers pass through his yard early Monday morning.

** Paula Lansdale reports that her sister in Alma had her first RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] visit on Tuesday.

** The mole salamander breeding season may be coming on rapidly. Mike Sullivan commented that he went out on an owl survey Monday evening in the Fredericton area. He had never observed so many YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDERS [Salamandre maculée] out in the ponds at one time.

** Aldo Dorio again shares more nice photos he took at Hay Island Nature Park in Val-Comeau, including a male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune], a BROAD-WINGED HAWK [Petite Buse] perched on a utility wire and a sharp portrait of a DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur].

** On Monday, Brian Stone visited some old stomping grounds down at the end of Mapleton Rd. that went from a path to a constructed road last year. He got some excellent photos of a PALM WARBLER [Paruline à couronne rousse] from different angles, a male and a female WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche], a RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée], a RUFFED GROUSE scat pile, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune], a DRAGONFLY exuvia from last season, and surprisingly, an INFANT MOTH that stayed long enough for a photo. He also saw a TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge] going over Mapleton Park, a location he had never seen one before. He saw a MOURNING CLOAK BUTTERFLY [Morio], heard YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS [Pic macule] calling, and SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] were calling loudly at 5:00 pm.

** Eric Wilson reports hearing NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier] warblers on Monday afternoon and seeing a BELTED KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique] at Mapleton Park, as well a pair of WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] in a lagoon.

** Clarence Cormier comments on new arrivals at his Grande Digue site the past few days. SWAMP SPARROWS [Bruant des marais] have returned to a wet site near his home, and it's the one time window of the year to much more readily see this secretive sparrow before the foliage emerges, and the males are vocalizing. He had 5 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boreal] appear, so all have not taken their leave as of yet. He also had a RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] feeding near his home, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] were not present on Tuesday, so they may have moved north.

** Roger LeBlanc reports that he as well was hearing very lively groups of SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] in Notre Dame. Roger noted that TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] arrived back at a nest box he has at the end of Henry St. in Moncton that he and Brian Dalzell erected there many years ago. Roger leaves an interesting comment on this week's sudden surge of the seemingly missing Tree Swallows -- that is was just like a switch had been turned on.

** Bob Betts' Grande Digue yard is flushed with activity with most of the expected regulars; however, in addition, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune] and a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] have taken an interest in the suet block. A male HAIRY WOODPECKER [Pic chevelu] has decided a white PVC tube bird house would make a good drumming site, and also female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à epaulettes] have arrived to Bob's feeder yard.

** Dave Christie comments that COLTSFOOT [Tussilage] now has gone wild with the warmth in many sites; however, he did not see any on Caledonia Mountain. Dave also reports John Inman had a GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur chat] arrive to his yard as well as a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER [Paruline noir et blanc] and Dave notes the FOX SPARROWS he had seem to have continued their northern migration.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton