Nature Moncton Nature News: May 21 2016

**Jean Renton came across a TURKEY [Dinde] on a nest in the Canaan Forks area in a field on Thursday. It turned out to have 6+ chicks with it. Turkeys have been roaming the area around the Rentons’ Canaan Forks camp for some time.

**Ray Gauvin came across a WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG [Punaise Américaine du pin] on Friday to get a nice photo. This insect is becoming much more common in New Brunswick.

**There surely does seem to be a lot of reports of BALTIMORE ORIOLES [Oriole de Baltimore] this year. Audrey Goguen has a pair coming to orange sections she has attached to a utility pole in their Northview Street yard in Moncton. They often get them yearly, but this is the first time that Audrey recalls a pair, feeding on each side of the pole at the same time.

**Jules Cormier, who had a male Baltimore Oriole for ten days, which left, has had it replaced by a female Baltimore Oriole on Friday to his Memramcook yard. Jules also comments the pair he reported on yesterday at 17 LeBlanc Street in College Bridge are still very much present.

**Aldo Dorio shares a nice photo of a SWAMP SPARROW [Bruant des marais] he got on Friday, as well as a closeup of a CRANEFLY [Tipule], a large harmless insect we will be seeing a lot more of over the season. They are attracted to lights at night. We have several Cranefly species in New Brunswick – some are quite colourful. This specimen is unfortunately missing a wing.

**Brian and Annette Stone headed to Saint John on Friday and made a stop at the Hampton lagoons. Waterfowl present were six pairs of NORTHERN SHOVELERS [Canard souchet], some COMMON GOLDENEYES [Garrot à oeil d'or], a pair of MALLARD DUCKS [Canard colvert], and a pair of CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada]. Insects noted were a HONEY BEE [Abeille à miel] and a CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLY [Piéride du chou]. A WHITE-TAILED DEER [Chevreuil] was on one of the paths, showing its winter pelage being shed.

**We got some nice photos of the sharply-dressed male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS [Cardinal à poitrine rose]. I’m able to add some photos of the more conservatively-dressed female to the photo roster today, that are enjoying our Miramichi feeder yard.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton