Nature Moncton Nature News: May 24 2016

** A very pleasant and early morning surprise for Dave Miller at 4:45 am on Monday to hear an EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL [Engoulevent bois-pourri] vocalizing on the Taylor Rd. near Salisbury. This species was once relatively common in New Brunswick but now is seldom heard. But every spring seems to hold a few reports of a few somewhere in New Brunswick. The male song is readily identified and heard from dusk to dawn.

** Brian Stone visited the Hampton lagoon on Sunday as a follow-up to Richard Blacquiere's report of REDHEAD [Fuligule à tête rouge] ducks there. He was able to see two male and four female individuals. It does seems like this species is becoming more common in New Brunswick. Brian also got photos of COMMON GOLDENEYES [Garrot à oeil d'or] in courtship there, RING-NECKED DUCK [Fuligule à collier] pairs and WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu]. Brian also came across what appears to be a newborn SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d'Amérique] and noted an adult not far away. Young Snowshoe Hares are born ready to go and with only minimal parental care.

** Aldo Dorio got some nice photos of a male NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet] duck as well as a pair, and a nice photo of a male YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] on Monday. Aldo also got photos of a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] checking out a nest box at his home in Neguac that a pair of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] also have an interest in. Aldo also got a photo of a CASPIAN TERN [Sterne caspienne] at Malpec on Monday.

** Mac Wilmot photographed a FALSE MOREL MUSHROOM in a Lower Coverdale yard on Monday. This mushroom is not an edible mushroom unless prepared correctly to release the heat labile toxin safely. This is the time of the year that the False Morel is expected to emerge.

** Anne Marsch had a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] arrive to her Lower Coverdale yard on Tuesday morning to quickly check out a blooming cherry tree.

** Jack Perry has also had his male BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] returning for the put-out orange booty and getting vocal about his contentment.

** As many are suddenly experiencing in the past few days, the JUNE BEETLES are back with their annual mating flight. Brian Stone got a close-up to, as he says, note just how cute they really are! Brian also got an OVENBIRD [Paruline couronnée] to show that orange crown stripe, white eye ring, pink legs and other unique field marks.

** Jim Johnson reports three EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] appeared at his Scotch Settlement feeder yard on May 21st, a species that he had not seen in a very long time. There does seem to be more reports this year of this species that used to be so abundant.

** Jack Perry came across one of our several species of our harmless CRANEFLIES [Tipule] recently. The wings are marked interestingly in this specimen. They can look like large mosquitoes.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton