Nature Moncton Nature News: June 6, 2016

** Doreen Rossiter had a WHITE-WINGED DOVE [Tourterelle à ailes blanches] arrive in her Alma feeder yard on Sunday morning and it was still present Sunday evening. Doreen comments that it perched on cross-pieces, from which feeders hang, and was often fluffed up with its head under a wing, rather exhausted looking. Doreen has had several past visits from White-winged Doves but all were in September, October, November and December. This is the first visit of one in June. The last was in November 2012.

** Gordon Rattray shares several photos of blooming wild plants, including CLINTONIA [Lis boréale], a.k.a. Blue-bead Lily, STARFLOWER [Trientale boréale], STRIPED MAPLE [Bois d’orignal], SWEET WHITE VIOLET [Violette de Macloskey] and WILD LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY [Muguet]. The blooming season surely is in high gear.

** The CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon tigré du Canada] has come on in great numbers at the moment. Mike Britton photographed this beautiful butterfly in Mapleton Park on Sunday.

** Brian Stone and I spent Saturday and Sunday exploring the Miramichi area, Grande Anse, and Pokeshaw, with some rewarding observations, mostly on tips from others. A visit to Little Sheephouse Falls and its nature area, featured with directions in Nick Guitard’s book on Waterfalls of New Brunswick is very recommended.

A stop at the Newcastle lagoon gave more WOOD DUCKS [Canard branchu] in one spot than either of us had ever seen, with approximately 50, plus other expected ducks.

A visit to the BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE [Mouette tridactyle] colony at Grande Anse was very interesting indeed, to see the birds on their nests, with immature BONAPARTE'S GULLS [Mouette de Bonaparte] in the water near them. A stop at Pokeshaw sea stack gave great observations of RAZORBILLS [Petit Pingouin] nesting on the cliffs there, along with BLACK GUILLEMOTS [Guillemot à miroir], DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS [Cormoran à aigrettes] and expected gulls.

Pam Watters had noticed the large number of Wood Ducks earlier in the week at the Newcastle lagoon. Roger Dumaresq gave directions to the Kittiwakes and Razorbills.

We missed out on a MOURNING WARBLER [Paruline triste] found by the Acadian Peninsula group, but a very cooperative AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante] gave a consolation prize.

HOBBLEBUSH in bloom was photographed with the showy white sterile flowers at the perimeter to attract insect pollinators, and the actual productive flowers in the centre. STARRY SOLOMON’S-SEAL [Smilacine étoilée] was also noted in bloom.

We don’t apologize for all the photos; there was a lot to see!

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton