Nature Moncton Nature News: June 1 2016

**Jean-Paul and Stella Leblanc have had a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in their Bouctouche yard checking some of the nest boxes not occupied by TREE SWALLOWS, hoping they will set up housekeeping.

It surely is pleasing to hear all the reports of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS recently.

Jean-Paul and Stella also came across 2 WILLETS in a field of heavy grass in the Grand Digue area on Tuesday. This species are more commonly seen in shoreline areas. Photos are attached.

**An interesting observation from Mac Wilmont in Lower Coverdale. He recently had a MOOSE in his yard that appeared to have crossed the Petitcodiac River from the Saint Anselme area side. He followed some tracks to find a track that showed the moose had apparently crossed the river at full tide as the first track was at the edge. The moose obviously knew what it was doing to avoid the sticky mud flats of low tide.

**Aldo Dorio got more photos of a BLACK BELLIED PLOVER in non adult plumage. Dave Christie feels these are year old birds. Apparently some of the young males will develop a nearly adult alternate plumage but the majority will be quite patchy as well all young females.

He also got a photo of a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER.

Aldo has an EASTERN BLUEBIRD pair and a TREE SWALLOW that have their eye on the same nest box in his Neguac yard. A photo shows them appearing to try to stare each other down.

**A detailed write up on the BioBlitz at Fundy National Park termed, "Ten Days in June" is added as an attachment. It looks very interesting. Take a moment to open the attachment and review it.

**Some additional comments on the SANDHILL CRANE photos distributed yesterday. Gilles Belliveau suggests this would not be a first year bird as they do not take on the red on the head until the second or third year and the amount of red on the head does suggest this bird is an adult or nearly so. The rusty plumage is not reliable as an age indicator as it's not uncommon in adults depending on where they have been foraging and stage of molt.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton