Nature Moncton Nature News: May 16 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 16, 2019 (Thursday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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** Rick Elliott and Barb Curlew were greeted with a female BLUE GROSBEAK [Guiraca bleu] at their Marsh Lane feeder yard at Waterside on Wednesday morning. The female is so much more conservatively dressed than her male kin that she could easily be overlooked. Rick’s photos show that signature orange front wing bar nicely, the large beak, and Rick noted the larger size when it was at the feeder with PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré]. They also had a visit from a male BOBOLINK [Goglu des prés] on Wednesday. Rick and Barb are having a great spring of special visitors.

** Mac Wilmot’s Lower Coverdale suet block is surely attracting the wood warblers. He has had a steady stream of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune], BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS [Paruline noir et blanc], one PALM WARBLER [Paruline à couronne rousse], one NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier], and on Wednesday morning a bright CAPE MAY WARBLER [Paruline tigrée]. We experienced a wave of Cape May Warblers last year. I’m wondering if we will have the same treat of this colourful warbler this year. That is quite a wave of warblers to one yard that I’m sure find Mac’s suet mix very appealing with insects in short supply with the cold weather.

Mac’s own blend is one part oatmeal to two parts suet by weight. He warms the suet to the point where it starts to liquefy and then blends in the oatmeal. There must be something special about it to suet connoisseurs!

** Ron Stiles reports he saw three birds in flight in the Baie Verte area while travelling on Rte 16 on Tuesday that landed in an open field a distance away. Their flight appearance was consistent with SANDHILL CRANES [Grue du Canada]. He also comments that a friend saw two birds in her back field in nearby Pointe-du-Bute and got a poor photo of them that showed the profile of Sandhill Cranes. Sandhill Cranes have been spotted in this area in other years, so chances are high there are some back.

** I was given a novelty bird feeder in the shape of a bass. It has proven to be a very popular feeder with many species of birds. A few photos are attached. It is designed to use mid-cut sunflower chips.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton