Nature Moncton Nature News: June 11 2016

**Jim Saunders spotted and got a documentary photo of a LAUGHING GULL [Mouette atricille] at the Walmart parking lot in Miramichi on Wednesday. Jim looked in the expected local spots on Thursday to re-locate it, with french fry offerings. I did the same with a large package of cracker pieces. It did not resurface for us, but a Laughing Gull was or is still in the Miramichi area somewhere.

**Nancy Creighton in the Elgin area has had a WOODPECKER [Pic] in unexpected plumage colour that has been around her feeder for the last few weeks. Three of us studied the photo and suspected it is actually a HAIRY WOODPECKER [Pic chevelu] that has been discoloured by tannins from going in and out of the nest hole. The near crest on its head is a bit more unexplained, or the whole disarranged plumage is a result of caring for teenage nestlings.

**Brian and Annette Stone paid a visit to the Irishtown Nature Park on Friday to get some photo action between showers: an AMERICAN KESTREL [Crécerelle d'Amérique] with prey, a BELTED KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique], a BEAVER [Castor] lodge, an adult COMMON LOON [Plongeon huard], and CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] which now would be assumed to be more likely migrants, as they often are late arrivals, even though many stayed with us last winter. Also CLINTONIA [Clintonie boréale] in bloom, and a YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masquée] with its mate.

**Either a few or one very lively WHIP-POOR-WILL [Engoulevent bois-pourri] has been in the Douglastown area of Miramichi for some weeks now. With a tip from Mathieu Carroll, Pat and I heard it at approximately 9:50 p.m. on Friday in the area at the corner of Brook and Wesley Streets in Miramichi. It was incredibly loud and repetitive, and seemed to be moving about.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton