Nature Moncton Nature News: April 30 2016

**Doreen Rossiter had one male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose] arrive to her Alma yard on Friday. She often gets 8-10 arrive, but she has been noting this season that lone birds would appear several days before the main flock seem to arrive, which is not usually the case for her. The same scenario occurred with NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant], WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] and SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur]. Doreen also had one lone CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] arrive this week; however, FOX SPARROWS [Bruant fauve] have not arrived in her yard yet, as they usually do.

**Thanks to Roger Burrows for pointing out the mislabelled Duck [Canard] photo in yesterday’s edition. The duck labelled “GREEN-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle d'hiver] female” should be “GADWALL [Canard chipeau]” female. Roger points out the yellowish bill, greyish head with high forehead, and pale feather edgings make it a female Gadwall. The photo is re-attached today.

**YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS [Pic maculé] seem in good numbers this year. Maurice Richard got a photo of a male at their Acadieville cabin on Friday.

**Aldo Dorio got a photo of the first GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] that he has seen at Hay Island on Friday.

**Anna Tucker comments on the abundance of SWALLOWS [Hirondelle] taking up residence in the many provided nest boxes at the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Friday. She also photographed TRAILING ARBUTUS, aka MAYFLOWERS [Épigée fleur-de-mai] in bloom, and was able to see many of the other specialties spotted at the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Friday.

**Many gathered in Aulac at the Beaubassin Research Station for the BLACK-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge noire] which continued its presence all day Friday. Brian Stone and I were among the troop. At the site we were treated to an unexpected bonus when a RAVEN [Grand Corbeau] lifted from the marsh and the cries of young were heard. Gordon Rattray spotted a Raven’s nest and we were able to watch the nestlings being fed. This was a first for many of us. Several of us got documentary photos showing the bright red area around the mouths of the gaping nestlings. Photos were hard to get clearly due to the distance and lighting; photos taken earlier in the day with better light on the nest may show it better. I’m sharing several folks’ photos of this special event.

**Gordon Rattray was yet another to enjoy the activity in the Sackville-Aulac area on Friday on the way to BLACK-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge noire] headquarters. A pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS [Busard Saint-Martin] were riding a thermal. A juvenile RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] and a few juvenile BALD EAGLES [Pygargue à tête blanche] were floating in the sky.

**The GREAT EGRET [Grande Aigrette] was seen early in the day at Sackville Waterfowl Park, but it was seen flying across the road to the Tantramar Wetland ponds by the Tantramar High School. Brian and I visited it there to get nice photos as it foraged with gusto. A BULLFROG [Ouaouaron] was noted at the Sackville Waterfowl Park as well as PALM WARBLER [Paruline à couronne rousse] and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune]. We also found and photographed a HONEY BEE [Abeille à miel] collecting pollen from a PUSSY WILLOW [Saule discolore] blossom.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton