Nature Moncton Nature News: May 8 2016

** Gordon Rattray visited the Hillsborough ponds on Saturday and found most of the ducks now in pairs, including RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier], AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d’Amérique], MALLARDS [Canard colvert], NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet], lots of CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada] and, somewhat special, a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle à ailes bleues] of which he got a nice photo. This species arrives later than most waterfowl.

On the main trail below the village office were SAVANNAH SPARROWS [Bruant des prés], SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur], and quite a few SWAMP SPARROWS [Bruant des marais], a more elusive species which Gordon managed to photograph. He also found a patch of MAYFLOWERS [Fleur de Mai] a.k.a. Trailing Arbutus, with only one flower in bloom. A male BELTED KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique] also appeared.

Gordon says he got a report of an EASTERN MEADOWLARK [Sturnelle des prés] in Baltimore, Albert County, that he will check on today.

** Dave Christie reports that his PINE WARBLER [Paruline des pins] was present [at Mary's Point] for a fourth day on Saturday, and he was pleased to hear it singing.

He checked the CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] nest that had been so visible at Lars Larsen Marsh. He had found it empty on Thursday; there was no sign of young goslings on Friday or Saturday, so he suspects the nest may have been predated. He is thinking of paddling out to the site to check it further.

** Louise Nichols took note of some amphibian egg masses in a relatively small puddle of water that she says seems to stay. There was a relatively fresh-looking egg ss that appeared to be WOOD FROG [Grenouille des bois] eggs; some silt-covered gelatinous masses attached to sticks that are suggestive of YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] eggs. The silt covering does not show the individual eggs. There were also some young tadpoles present, which appear early, as many things are this year; they are probably Wood Frog hatchlings, usually the first to hatch out in spring.

** Susan and Fred Richards briefly detained a PREDACIOUS DIVING BEETLE [Dytique prédateur] on Saturday. This is a large beetle usually found around ponds and takes a bubble of air when diving to search for prey. It can also fly quite well when indicated. This is no doubt one that will be talked about at the Nature Moncton pond life workshop next Saturday, May 14.

** Brian Stone took some photos on Saturday of the RED MAPLE [Érable rouge] trees now in bloom, before their leaves appear. He also saw a SAVANNAH SPARROW [Bruant des prés] in his Moncton yard.

The Nikon P-900 camera has become a very popular camera with many naturalists. Brian Stone advises that two people from the Focus Camera Club have two slightly used P-900 for sale for $700, which include a spare battery and UV filter.

** MASON BEES [abeille maçonne] are on the move so it’s time for everyone who built mason bee houses at the recent Nature Moncton workshop to be on the watch for activity. One of the houses I had just put up at our Little Southwest Miramichi camp had mason bees arrive in the sudden heat of Saturday to start investigating the holes. They were very lively, moving fast and not interested in being photographed. I detained one briefly to slow it down and get a photo for identification purposes, then let it proceed on its mission. The photo is of a female ORCHARD MASON BEE [Abeille maçonne des vergers], a species very significant in pollination, and a native species used in managed agriculture to increase crop yields.

Houses built after the workshop have holes 5.5 inches deep to allow for more female bees to be produced, following a suggestion from Julie Singleton, who has been very successful in propagating this species to help in pollination. Julie has been a very helpful appreciated mentor.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton