Nature Moncton Nature News: June 5 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 5, 2017 (Monday)

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

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Nature New Brunswick’s highlight of the year, the Festival of Nature, took place this past weekend at Kouchibouguac National Park. In spite of the testy weather conditions during some outings it was the major success it usually is, with approximately 200 people in attendance. The major effort of Nature New Brunswick staff and Kouchibouguac National Park employees made it the success that it was. There were many wonderful memories created, and photos taken to record them. I’m attaching some of the special moments that Brian Stone captured.

A visit to the famous Tern Island was a major hit to see some of this very large colony on their nesting mission. Several walks with great and knowledgeable leaders gave many special moments. A cooperative YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle à ventre jaune] allowed one group to observe it and listen to its call to help differentiate it the LEAST FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle tchébec] heard on the same trail. The cold weather and rain kept some warblers quiet, while others made brief appearances. Butterflies and dragonflies decided it was just not their weather to fly, and coastal bug life was also quiet. It was surprising what did make an appearance.

A visit to the Kouchibougacis River to see what Friends of the Kouchibougacis were doing to return the ATLANTIC SALMON [Saumon atlantique] to that river was a real eye-opener, with some young, enthusiastic biologists and technicians making an incredible effort and getting results. Kouchibouguac National Park is a national treasure and one weekend only gives time for a brief peek at what goes on there. Other photos from the event will be coming in during the week.

** All day Saturday, Dale Gaskin watched a large group of CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d'Amérique] foraging on blooming apple blossoms, a yearly behaviour of this species at this time of year. Dale is also watching a male EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] regularly and hoping a female is nesting nearby in a box in his Dawson Settlement yard. Dale also has a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER [Pic maculé] coming to a pile of fruit, in which it appears to be after the remnants of juice.

** Mike Plourde captured a video of a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL [Petite nyctale] on his trail camera in the Tankville area on Feb. 11. Check it out, at

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ek9pvjbzrzaaxt6/saw%20whet.AVI?dl=0

** Mac Wilmot has a EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN-ASH [Sorbier des oiseaux] tree in full bloom on Sunday. Mac says that this tree did not bloom at all last year, and thus there was no fruit, but is exuding with bloom this cold, wet season. He comments on the odour of the blooms in less than flattering terms, with words like “a stench.” Mac also shares a photo of a WILD SARSAPARILLA [Salsepareille] plant in full bloom at the moment.

** Aldo Dorio got a photo of another MOOSE [Orignal] that shows the denuded patches on the shoulder and rump, as a result of rubbing areas of winter tick attachment. The ticks will fall off, and bright new summer pelage will soon cover the bare spots. These ticks are host-specific to Moose and not a problem for humans. Aldo also photographed an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle à côtés olive]. Note the clear white tufts near the rump that are distinctive to this species, as well as the “unbuttoned vest” in the front view. This not now a common flycatcher in New Brunswick as it used to be. Aldo also got nice views of an EASTERN KINGBIRD [Tyran tritri] showing its terminal white tail band, as well as a single immature BONAPARTE'S GULL [Mouette de Bonaparte] on Hay Island on Saturday, as well as 30 BLACK SCOTERS [Macreuse noire], all appearing to be males. I’m not sure what a group of Black Scoters are doing there in June, and the bachelor group were not saying why. [Transcriber's note: Black Scoters do not breed until 2 to 3 years of age; groups pass the summer in New Brunswick in some favorable feeding areas, for instance a group of about 20 at Mary's Point during June-August 2016. — DSC]

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton