Nature Moncton Nature News: May 26 2016

** John Flliter and Clevie Wall paid a visit to the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Wednesday to get a nice photo of a GADWALL [Canard chipeau] pair, a male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes] on territory, a MUSKRAT [Rat musqué] grubbing up on land, and RHODORA in bloom.

** Anna Tucker was also there on Tuesday and comments on the many AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante] warblers there. She tried very hard to get photos, but the warblers were doing what warblers do ... always on the move while foraging.

** Rosaire Richard got his BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] to orange sections on Wednesday, a handsome male that stayed all afternoon feasting in his Cocagne yard. He also had a visit from a male AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante]. Rosaire updates on the NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] family that took a nest box in his yard. Lots of going and coming of adults at the moment. Rosaire will be sharing photos when the young arrive and the real round of activity starts.

** Louise Nichols found activity in their Sackville yard pond on Wednesday finding EASTERN NEWT [Triton vert], a BULLFROG [Ouaouaron] tadpole and an adult Bullfrog. Also an AMERICAN EMERALD dragonfly. A nice seasonal selection.

** Audrey Goguen comments that the bonded pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES [Oriole de Baltimore] that have been coming to her Northview Moncton yard are still regular patrons, and always arrive, feed, and depart together.

** Jean Renton comments that she has a HAIRY WOODPECKER [Pic chevelu] pair and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] pair, both nesting in her Stilesville yard.

** Brian Stone captured photos of some of the lightning storm activity that we experienced in New Brunswick on Wednesday. It was a very dramatic light show in some areas. Brian also visited the Crowley Farm Rd. BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] nest on Tuesday. The two youngsters are obviously developing very rapidly, and the parents are in full parental mode. There would appear to be lots of food available. Brian comments the eagle pair seem to pay no attention whatsoever to the human traffic, however harassing Crows did get appropriate attention.

** The colorful SPHINX moths are starting to appear to lights at night now. I have had two ONE-EYED SPHINX MOTHS pay their first visit to my Miramichi moth light on Tuesday night. There are several large Sphinx Moths that will be dropping by lit areas now, as well as the big, beautiful Silkworm Moths. I also spotted my first CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL butterfly of the season, plus two other interesting looking species that would not cooperate for identification or even a distant photo.

After hearing about everyone else's Baltimore Oriole visits, my reward came to my Miramichi yard on Wednesday morning when a brilliant male BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] arrived to enjoy red grapefruit sections.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca