Nature Moncton Nature News: May 16 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - May 16, 2017 (Tuesday)

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

Transcript by : Louise Richard richlou@nbnet.nb .ca

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

** Fred and Lynn Dube had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW [Bruant de Lincoln] come by their Lower Coverdale feeder yard on Monday. We don’t very often see this sparrow at feeder yards. Note the buffy bib on the upper chest and as Gilles Belliveau pointed out the fine streaking on the chest and flanks as well as the small, not very prominent, central spot on the chest.

** The ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS [Cardinal à poi trine rose] are arriving on schedule. Margaret Murray had her first male drop by a window feeder at her Scotch Settlement home on Monday. We also had our first male appear on Monday. Margaret comments the TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] are dropping by briefly in the morning, but were not at all amused with the cool damp weather on Monday.

** Dave Christie leaves some interesting observations from Monday--Dave points out the PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] is a very early nester, and that he watched an already fledged nestling begging of the 2 parents with fluttering wings and open bill. The adults would pass it food along with feeding themselves. Suspect many are not aware this species nests so early. We have some coming to our camp feeders so will be on the watch for it as well. Dave’s INDIGO BUNTING [Passerin indigo] is still in the area and made several visits to feeders on Monday when boisterous Blue Jays took a break. While Dave was out checking for Fiddleheads he suddenly scared a RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] off her very cryptic ground nest of 10 eggs. He departed the area very quickly to let her get back to her mission.

** Elaine Gallant comments she’s having a lot of sparrows coming daily to her Parlee Beach feeder yard, but was pleased to have a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche] join them on Monday, her first male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] arrived on Sunday, the day after she put the feeder up, to remind her it goes up earlier next spring.

** Greg Rogers will be giving a foraging workshop with a brief presentation/discussion on foraging for plants, berries, and mushrooms in a format of a lunch and learn at the Moncton Public Library on Wednesday May 17 from 12 to 1 pm. He hopes to include information on where to go for more information. This new initiation of the library fills up fast, so that if you’re interested in attending, phone the library at 869-6000 to reserve a seat.

** The Magnolia and Forsythia are out in bloom this week. Ray Gauvin sends a photo of a Royal Star Magnolia he planted 15 years ago. Both these species burst into bloom before their leaves appear.

Moose this time of year can look quite scruffy from rubbing off winter tick areas. Often worst in the hind area with patches of bare skin. Aldo Dorio got a photo of one in the Neguac area that is clearly a bull with its nubs of antler ready to start. A photo from the back may have looked more denuded. I have seen 3 over the past few days that were in pretty good flesh, but very scruffy that will soon become clean crisp with texture in fresh summer coat coming on.

** Dave Miller got a photo of a Western Tanager on their stand in Alberta. This species has visited NB as rare bird on several occasions over the years. It’s the only Tanager with a wing bar.

** Brian Stone photographed a colourful Long Horned Beetle pair at Serviceberry blooms on May 13 at Irishtown Nature Park. This is apparently widely distributed in North America. The only common name found in one reference is the Flower Long Horned Beetle, but many say it has not been assigned its common name yet. Another one he found on Serviceberry blossoms as well was the Orsodacnid Leaf Beetle. The distribution of this beetle in NB is hard to find a source to advise us. Brian is visiting family in Perth, Ontario, and sleuthing the nature there. He was greeted upon arrival with seeing Bobolinks. Note the pale edgings of the breast feathers we normally see as all black. This is an early spring male that will soon moult to more solid black undercarriage. He was also greeted with gliding Turkey Vultures. On early Tuesday morning he had Eastern Whippoorwill calling its haunting song, Woodcocks calling, Ruffed Grouse drumming, and a Brown Thrasher on a treetop vocalizing, and other expected species including a neighbour’s well tuned Rooster.

** Pam Waters points out the small island I mentioned yesterday off Douglastown is called Ballast Island. Ships dumped ballast there when they used to come up the Miramichi River. Pam comments there is often even more DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes] than noted on Sunday, and suspects it is the staging area for them on route to breeding on the Barrier Islands. Ballast Island is a popular nesting site for Gulls.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton