** Rick Elliott and Barb Curlew spotted an adult LITTLE BLUE HERON
[Aigrette bleue] at Waterside, in the big pond at the western end of the marsh
on Saturday. It foraged along the side of the pond closest to Route 915. There
are other ponds nearby that it could easily move to, if it stays with us for a
bit.
** Julie Pellerin has had a GREAT EGRET [Grande Aigrette] arrive in the
Cap-Brûlé Marsh behind her home. This has been a popular spot for Great Egrets
in the past, so Julie is hoping it stays on. Julie says that the variety and
number of ducks seems more than usual on the Cap-Brûlé Marsh, with seemingly
every expected duck species accounted for. There were five GREAT BLUE HERONS
[Grand Héron] as of Saturday. Also a pair of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à
tête noire] has taken over a swallow house on a utility pole near her
home.
** Stu Tingley has identified the bee that Brian Stone and I found at
Hillsborough Waterfowl Park on Friday as DUNNING’S ANDRENA bee [Andrène de
Dunning]. Stu found one in Albert County on May 3 last year and had it confirmed
at Bug Guide. This is one of the mining bee group. They are among the first bees
to become active in the spring. That would make for a reason for it to be on a
male willow catkin. They nest in the ground, and can nest in groups but are
solitary bees, meaning that they create a personal nest and care for developing
young on their own. Their stinger is not strong enough to puncture human skin.
Those photos are re-attached today, so folks can be watching for them at this
time.
The MASON BEES [les osmies] (Osmia spp.) are early risers as well, that
will hopefully soon find the many mason bee houses in the area, following the
recent building workshop.
[Transcriber’s note: If you have a special interest in bees and
pollination, search the Internet for: Native Pollinators and Agriculture in
Canada (ou en français: Les insectes pollinisateurs indigènes et l’agriculture
au Canada).]
** Clarence Cormier experienced a kinglet fallout at his Grande-Digue site
on Saturday; it was RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne rubis] and
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne dorée] mixed. Julie Pellerin and
Richard Léger dropped by to help identify the group. The three of them were able
to identify 5 Golden-crowned and 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, with the remainder
uncertain. They estimated the kinglet total to be approximately 25. A
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune] appeared briefly and later 3
SAVANNAH SPARROWS [Bruant des prés] came by.
** Gabriel Gallant came across a female SPRUCE GROUSE [Tétras du Canada],
while walking through woods at his Sainte-Marie-de-Kent property on Saturday. It
stayed put for a while, making clucking sounds, to allow for a photo.
** Dave Christie reports the evening chorus of SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette
crucifère] at Mary's Point has become much more intense. Suddenly WHITE-THROATED
SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] have become the most numerous sparrow in his
area.
John Inman has had a pair of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS [Pic maculé] arrive
in his yard, with the male doing some serious drumming on a dead poplar.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] have also increased, Dave
hearing 3 singing around his house in the morning.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
SPRUCE GROUSE (FEMALE).ARRIL23, 2016.GABRIEL GALLANT
.
DUNNINGS ANDRENA BEE (A MINING BEE). APR. 23, 2016. BRIAN STONE.
DUNNINGS ANDRENA BEE (A MINING BEE). APR. 23, 2016. BRIAN STONE.
