Nature Moncton Nature News: June 6 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - June 6, 2017 (Tuesday)

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 : Louise Richard richlou@nbnet.nb .ca

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

** Pat Fox had a juvenile BROAD-WINGED HAWK [Petite Buse] arrive to her Upper Coverdale yard on Saturday. The local BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] and EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet] were not amused and started harassing it mercilessly. The Hawk reacted by spreading its wings. We are calling this a juvenile Broad-Winged Hawk as most field marks seem to fit. A juvenile much less common Red-Shouldered Hawk was considered as well, so any comments are welcomed.

** Julie Pellerin reports the Cape Brule area and marsh are quite active at the moment. The 2 GREAT EGRETS [Grande Aigrette ] continue to be present there for 2 weeks now, almost constantly. If looking for them, sometimes one gets into a low area and is not seen. There are BONAPARTE'S GULLS [Mouette de Bonaparte] over the marsh area at the moment, as well as a number of COMMON TERNS [Sterne pierregarin]. Julie has a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] still coming regularly to suet in her yard and comments there seems to be more PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré] present than other years. LEAST FLYCATCHERS [Moucherolle tchébec] and ALDER FLYCATCHERS [Moucherolle de aulnes] are in the area, along with YELLOW WARBLERS [Paruline jaune], and GRAY CATBIRDS [Moqueur chat].

** The EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE [Pioui de l’Est] is not an easy bird to get photos of and can be tricky to identify without hearing its vocalization. Janet Kempster got a few photos of what is suspected to be an Eastern Wood Peewee. There is an apparent lack of eye ring, and note the relatively short legs characteristic of this species.

** The GRAY JAY [Mésangeai du Canada] can sometimes be hard to find and photograph, and the juvenile Gray Jay in its dark plumage before moult to adult seems elusive and many of us may never have seen one. Jim Saunders shares a few nice photos of a juvenile Gray Jay he got a photo of at his Redmondville woodlot near Miramichi. Note the sooty gray overall plumage with a faint white mustachial streak.

** Shirley Childs reports an interesting scenario near the Trinity United Church in Riverview. Recently a male NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] has been heard singing in early morning. A female cardinal had been seen at feeders in the area in past winters. The possibilities have to be interesting.

** Janet Kempster, Danny Sullivan, and Brian Stone made visits to the Tucker St Lavoie Ducks Unlimited impoundment and Bell Marsh on Monday with some nice observations. At Tucker St, Brian photographed BARN SWALLOWS [Hirondelle rustique], EASTERN KINGBIRD [Tyran tritri] to show field marks nicely, ducks, SORA [Marouette de Caroline], and BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tote blanche]. At Bell Marsh, they got the bird of interest at the moment there: a COMMON GALLINULE, formerly known as COMMON MOORHEN [Gallinule poule-d’eau]. I’m attaching 3 photos from different angles that show the identification features to watch for. Brian also photographed a RED-EYED VIREO [Viréo aux jeux rouges], EASTERN TENT CATERPILLARS getting started, and CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada] and goslings at both locations.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton