Nature Moncton Nature News: April 27 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 27, 2017 ( Thursday )

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Jamie and Karen Burris went on a photo shoot to the Hillsborough wetlands park on Tuesday. There was lots of bird action there with dozens of PALM WARBLERS [Paruline à couronne rousse] and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] fluttering about everywhere. Jamie got some excellent flight shots of some. Note especially the Palm Warbler that shows nicely the undertail markings. The shot of the RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne rubis] nicely shows the red crest of the male, not always seen like this, as well as the wing bars and yellow streaking in the tail that help identify it.

Due to the washout and detour a drive to Hillsborough continues to be a challenge. Jamie comments that he suspects he has a few loose teeth after the detour drive there and back! IIt was still a very rewarding day as the photos attest.

** David Christie has started hearing SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] from the small pond by his Mary's Point home, and also from a wet area across the road from him. On Sunday evening he heard his first two vocalizing, on Monday evening only one, Tuesday evening was quiet, but on Wednesday evening at least six Spring Peepers were heard. The temperature hit 11 deg. on Wednesday evening with earlier nights being much cooler. David has not heard Wood Frogs from this location as of yet. This is late for this site as David comments that he sometimes hears the early frogs by the end of the second week of April. We can expect a beautiful spring chorus line to go wild in the next few days with the warmth being predicted.

** Gordon Rattray had his first visit of the season from a CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier] to his feeder on Wednesday. Note how the photo shows that the black line through the eye goes right to the beak. That portion between the eye and the beak is a nice feature to help confirm a Chipping Sparrow if in doubt.

** Jean Paul and Stella Leblanc had a group of EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] arrive to their Bouctouche yard feeders on Wednesday that had not been winter regulars. They as well had three NORTHERN FLICKERS [Pic flamboyant] in their yard on Wednesday. From the Northern Flicker reports it is appearing that this species has had a good winter.

** Elaine Gallant had a pair of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS [Vacher à tête brune] arrive to her Parlee Beach feeder yard early Thursday morning for a first arrival. From reports it suggests that there is a notable number of this species appearing this year as well. Some are commenting that there seems to be more than in other years.

** Brian Stone and I were alerted to a wetland area between Lawson Ave. and the Sobeys location in Riverview that appears to have been protected and we visited the area briefly in the rain on Wednesday. It is a very interesting area of varied habitat including a bog site. I will do a bit of sleuthing to find out the reason for it being protected. It surely does seem like an important site to protect.

We found MAYFLOWER, aka TRAILING ARBUTUS, in bloom and lots of the evergreen leaves of this plant. We also found PITCHER PLANT from last year, LEATHERLEAF about to come into bloom, and many LICHENS as well as other plants getting ready to bloom in the next few weeks. It seems like an area that will be loaded with wildlife specific to this unique habitat. Some SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] were heard and I expect it will be alive with early frogs and salamanders this week.

Brian also got a photo of a SHORT TAILED ICHNEUMON WASP moving about on Wednesday around his home.

** CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] continue to come daily to the cut up apple fruit tray in our Moncton feeder yard. Oddly there seems to be one there almost all the time and sometimes up to a half dozen. A big drop from a few weeks ago, but that half dozen are still faithful regular patrons. I am assuming that these are overwintering birds. Oddly enough I see HOUSE FINCHES [Roselin familier] now at the apple tray frequently and I am not sure if it is the seeds they are after or if they are actually sampling the fruit which it seems they are doing.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton