Nature Moncton Nature News: April 26 2016

** A very rare bird alert went out on Monday evening. Nicole MacDonald discovered a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW on Monday evening foraging around the foundation of the Beaubassin Research Station building, and around some of the staff vehicles. This bird was seen early Tuesday morning by Jim and Jean Wilson and Bill Windsor so it is still present. The Beaubassin Research Station is located just east of Aulac. From the Irving Big Stop take Aulac Rd. east, then take the Brown Rd. which is the only road you can turn down into the marsh on. This road leads to the research station which is a white house across the tracks.

** The Nature Moncton day field trip to Albert County will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, April 27, led by Norm Belliveau. The meeting spot will be the Petro-Canada station on Hillsborough Rd. across from Point Park at 8:00am. There has been a lot of nice activity reported for Albert County recently so there should be lots to see.

** Great to hear that EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] are appearing back. Amanda Howe and Regine Robichaud were pleased to have a pair arrive at their Fairisle yard on Monday evening. This is in the Neguac area. There is a bird house in that yard that they arrived to, so hopefully housekeeping will ensue. Regine got a quick photo of the bright male.

** George Sinclair reports the BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] nest that was in a Poplar tree at Hopewell Cape does not seem to be occupied this year. However there appears to be a new nest built this spring on the Hillsborough side of the little creek next to the cemetery and close to the bank of the Petitcodiac River. George also visited the Bald Eagle nest on Grey's Island near the middle of the cemetery, on the side facing the river. That nest is occupied, as has been reported earlier.

** Gordon Rattray leaves a report from Grey Brook Marsh on Monday. There were many pairs of AMERICAN WIGEONS [Canard d'Amérique] and a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEALS [Sarcelle à ailes bleues]. There were also a large number of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] and one PALM WARBLER [Paruline à couronne rousse]. Gordon got a photo of a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne rubis] as well. He has noted RAVENS [Grand corbeau] around the first Irving Station in Hillsborough stealing from the open door garbage cans for some time. It now looks like they are nesting on the top of the canopy, seeing them coming and going from there often now.

The showers on Saturday kickstarted the salamanders to David Cannon's swimming pool. On Monday he retrieved a large YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] that really dwarfs the RED-BACKED SALAMANDERS [Salamandre rayée] that make up most of his pool visitors. David got a photo of the two species together.

** David and Ethel Douglas visited the pair of BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] in mid afternoon on Monday at the end of the Crowley Farm Rd. to take a few photos of this very public nest location. They seem to ignore human traffic. The Douglas’ saw a third adult Bald Eagle in the area being harassed by an AMERICAN CROW [Corneille d'Amérique] at the same time.

** Jim Wade photographed a PREDACEOUS DIVING BEETLE on Monday. This is a large beetle that traps a bubble of air before it dives for prey, which can include prey as large as tadpoles. It also can fly well, and can go from pond to pond.
nelson@nb.sympatico.ca