Nature Moncton Nature News: April 26 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 26, 2018 (Thursday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

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

Transcript by: Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com

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**Georges Brun shares some photos he got around Moncton. A male SURF SCOTER was on Jones Lake, approximately 300 feet from the inlet into Jonathan Creek on Main St. on Wednesday. The CANADA GOOSE was nesting on what appears to be a winter muskrat lodge among cattails. Georges comments the RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, now paired off, seem to be spotted in the most open areas one could imagine. Georges also got a nice photo of one of the many SAVANNAH SPARROWS returning to NB over the past few days and some NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCKS were checking out a pond bordering the Petitcodiac River within the city.

**Gordon Rattray visited the Salisbury wetland park on Wednesday. The wind was very strong there, making it difficult to find birds as they were either down in the vegetation or seeking protection elsewhere. Gordon did end up with a couple of nice photos of a BARN SWALLOW, over and under in flight, to show that long forked tail and brilliant colours. There were at least 5 barn swallows there with TREE SWALLOWS of which Gordon got another nice flight photo of. A flight shot of an OSPREY nicely shows the undercarriage plumage and a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD to show the brilliant red epaulettes on the wings of the adult male.

**Jean-Paul and Stella Leblanc had their first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW of the season to their Bouctouche feeder yard on Wednesday to get a photo of it in its spring plumage best.

**Aldo Dorio spotted his first AMERICAN KESTREL of the season at Hay Island on Wednesday morning. The newly arrived OSPREY continues its vigil and we don't often get to see RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS sitting up on ice floes at the moment which Aldo photographed on Wednesday.

**Brian Stone took note of some insects travelling about his yard on Wednesday. One seems to be the WINTER FIREFLY that gets more description at the attached link. https://bugguide.net/node/view/42641

He also got a photo of a MASON BEE, one of our early emerging bees. It's carrying a lot of apparent mites that I am not sure if they are problematic to the bee or simply hitchhikers (phoretic)

Also on Wednesday Brian spotted a TURKEY VULTURE in flight in the Upper-MOUNTAIN Rd area in Moncton to allow nice photos showing the posterior wing area.

**I came across a MOOSE contentedly browsing on young saplings on Wednesday. It appeared to be an immature animal and very rough looking from winter tick infestation denuded areas that will be falling off soon to allow for the summer coat to look fully clothed and in excellent pelage. It seemed quite unconcerned with its tick load which may have already fallen off. Check out a short video of it at the attached link.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r4118sudo6jupv3/MOOSE.APRIL%2025%2C%202018.NELSON%20POIRIER.MOV?dl=0

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton