Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Sunday, 21 May 2017

May 21 2017

 
 
 
NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 21, 2017 (Sunday)
 

 To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
   Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.
 
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com
 
 
 
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
 
 
** Lois Budd’s son-in-law, who lives on the O’Neill Road, off Highway 112, had an INDIGO BUNTING [Passerin indigo] visit his suet and sunflower seed feeders on Saturday; always a special visitor.
 
** Louise Nichols visited the trail around the Port Elgin lagoon on Friday, and experienced a lot of birds activity and song. There were lots of warblers and sparrows, and TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore]. The most numerous warbler was YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune], and there were lots of AMERICAN REDSTARTS [Paruline flamboyante] and a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masquée]. Louise saw and photographed her first LEAST FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle tchébec] of the year, being able to identify it by its song.
 
Other highlights included 9 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS [Chevalier grivelé] along the edge of the river, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW [Bruant à couronne blanche], a BLACKPOLL WARBLER [Paruline rayée] that was too elusive for a photo, and a male RUDDY DUCK [Érismature rousse], hanging out with RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier] on the lagoon.
 
** Margaret Murray had lots of action in her Scotch Settlement yard on Saturday afternoon. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose] came to the window feeder, followed closely by a brilliantly plumaged male BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore]. To top it off, 6 EASTERN KINGBIRDS arrived at the cherry tree in the yard. There were lots of other regulars, but a PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] had not shown up until this week. TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] were checking boxes and CLIFF SWALLOWS [Hirondelle à front blanc] were creating their mud nests uner the eaves of an old garage.
 
** Shirley Xue and Li Hu enjoyed a day at the Saint John nature parks Saturday. They saw many expected species and some new arrivals, including several warblers that included a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH [Paruline des ruisseaux]. Unfortunately, Shirley’s photos cannot be added today but will be attached next week.
 
Feeder yards in Harvey, Albert County, are currently being dominated by flocks of Blue Jays, the presence of which means considerably fewer visits than normal by smaller species, such as sparrows, finches, and chickadees. John Inman, and Sybil and Peter Wentzell estimated about a hundred jays in their yards for most of Saturday. The effect was also felt by Dejah and Rick Morcom and by Dave Christie who hosted about 40 each. Hummingbirds are less affected because of their different feeding habits.

Late on Saturday, John Inman was told about a large brownish heron in a field at Waterside, where the Shortcut Road turns off Route 915 at 9 a.m. Saturday. The description suggests that it might be a Sandhill Crane.

 
 
 
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton
INDIGO BUNTING.MAY 20, 2017.VIA LOIS BUDD

LEAST FLYCATCHER. LOUISE NICHOLS. MAY 19, 2017

SAVANNAH SPARROW. LOUISE NICHOLS. MAY 19, 2017

SPOTTED SANDPIPERS. LOUISE NICHOLS. MAY 19, 2017

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. LOUISE NICHOLS. MAY 19, 2017