Nature Moncton Nature News: June 16 2016

** Laurie Murison reports there was a similar pair of BELUGA WHALES spotted earlier this spring off Carquet, similar to Jean-Paul and Stella Leblanc's experience at Pointe Sapin and suspects it may be the same pair. Laurie advises any further reports should also go to MARS, which is the Marine Animal Response Society, at 1-800-567-6277.

** Georges Brun has noted an immature COMMON LOON [Plongeon huard] in the Petitcodiac River at the mouth of Hall's Creek for the past few days. It arrives with the tide, fifteen to twenty minutes after the Bore. There is also an adult on the big Riverview pond on the east side of the TransAqua facility. On Wednesday morning Georges spotted approximately fifty NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet] ducks flying into the same pond. A female NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] was hunting the area as well. On Tuesday evening a GROUNDHOG [Marmotte commune] was out by the mouth of the creek, waving to passers by.

** Jean-Paul Leblanc got a photo of a fledgling AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] under a foundation tree in front of their Bouctouche home on Wednesday, still with a few down feathers to lose.

** Yet another EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] to appear to be moving in. Rene Girouard in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent had a bright male arrive to his yard on Wednesday. He had a neighbor 1.5 Km away that also had some arrive.

** Brian Stone and I visited the site originally found by Carmella Melanson where MOURNING WARBLERS [Paruline triste] are being seen. It is near the corner of Middlesex and Sanatorium roads near Salisbury. Nicely past the first house on Middlesex Rd. on the right. We were able to spot some that were skulky and moving about low through the new growth with quick movements. Some photos were caught and are attached showing different angles. Am showing too many but they were hard to get! There may be several there in their favourite habitat of new growth. In this case after a forest fire. Brian also shares a photo of a CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] posing, and a CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] family.
nelson@nb.sympatico.ca