Nature Moncton Nature News: May 12 2018

Nature Moncton Information Line, May 12, 2018 (Saturday)

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

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Brittany Crossman captured some awesome photos of the activity of a RED FOX [Renard roux] family contentedly going about their daily affairs in Riverview. It is on private property, and the mother would appear to have chosen the den site very wisely. It is interesting to note just how large these kits are, as of May 4th. Obviously, in getting these photos, Brittany put no distress on the animals whatsoever.

**Roger LeBlanc sends a documentary iPhone photo of the occupied SAW-WHET OWL [Petite Nyctale] nest he has on his Notre Dame property, to show just how very cool this little leprechaun of an owl really is. Roger plans to open the box for a look at the progress but is waiting to make certain that it is far enough advanced in nesting so there will be no fear of her abandoning the nest. Roger will be keeping us up to date on events as they happen, and more photos as it gets safer to do so.

**Clarence Cormier comments he first noted numerous flies [Mouche] about his Grande-Digue site on May 6th, which coincided with the arrival of many birds, especially RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne rubis]. Present around Clarence’s yard on Friday were the Warblers YELLOW-RUMPED [Paruline à croupion jaune], BLACK-AND-WHITE [Paruline noir et blanc], NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier], NASHVILLE [Paruline à joues grises], and CAPE MAY [Paruline tigrée], to make a nice daily warbler tally in one’s own back yard. Other birds present were BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER [Gobemoucheron gris-bleu], GRAY CATBIRDS [Moqueur chat], YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER [Pic maculé], CHIPPING SPARROW [Bruant familier], TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore], and WILSON'S SNIPE [Bécassine de Wilson]. Clarence saw his last AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] on May 10th.

**Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park on Friday – lots of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] about, and a female posed nicely for a photo op, as did a MUSKRAT [Rat musqué] going about its day. The VIRGINIA RAIL [Râle de Virginie] was still vocalizing but not seen. The GREEN HERON [Héron vert] is still present in the park; Brian got a brief look at it as it flew off. Brian comments all thanks to Gary Dupuis for drawing his attention to where it was, to give the fleeting observation that he did get.

*Some of the early-blooming trees are blooming with abandon at the moment on these warm days. One I noted on Thursday that has burst is the RED ASH [Frêne rouge] tree with its unique bloom. A photo is attached. This is a male pollen flower cluster. With the Red Ash, the male pollen flowers are produced on one tree, while the different-appearing female seed flowers will appear on a completely separate tree.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton