Nature Moncton Nature News: May 18 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 18 May 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Brian Donovan, who has contributed some awesome photos and video clips of mammals such as Marten [Martre], Fisher [Pékan], Otter [Loutre], Mink [Vison], RED FOX [Renard roux], etc., has set up a YouTube channel of many of his videos for an awesome display of some of these animals going about their mission, not aware they were being photographed. Take a look and enjoy Brian’s excellent work at the attached link. All these videos were taken just north of Miramichi.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqWdHlXO7zff2EVrh5lB3LA/

**Yolande LeBlanc’s normally very lively feeder yard in Memramcook is active plus at the moment. The species that has her surprised the most is the number of BOBOLINKS [Goglu des prés]. A few stopped by earlier in the week, but that has swollen to 6 as of Friday morning. She has never had this many before. Also, PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] numbers are high (at least 27), SAVANNAH SPARROWS [Bruant des prés] are coming, and Yolande comments that male WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] seem to be reducing in numbers from their recent high point. However, females are still attending the feeder area in significant numbers.

**John Inman at 225 Mary’s Point Road in Harvey has a partial albino RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à epaulettes] that is very predominantly white regularly visiting his feeder yard. Every albinistic bird is unique, as there are no exact duplicates. Thanks to Carmella Melanson for getting some of John's photos of it to share. A very interestingly-plumaged bird.

**Jane LeBlanc spotted a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] perched on a road signpost at the end of Beach Street in St. Martins on Friday. Jane comments there was a Mockingbird in that area that nested near the beach a few years ago and chased her dog on their daily walks.

Georges Brun had a great day of observations around the Petitcodiac River on Friday. It must be Bobolink week with all the reports coming in. Georges comments the last time he saw this species was in 1999 across from the St. Anseleme Church. They were near a pond close to the juncture of Vaughan Harvey Boulevard and Wheeler Boulevard on Friday.

A dozen plus swallows were cavorting over the pond as well.

Also what appears to be a Red-throated Loon was moving upriver with the tide on Friday morning.

On Thursday, 5 Great Blue Herons were in the Petitcodiac River just down river from Halls Creek. Georges suspects with a full moon on the horizon and big tides, Gaspereau could be at peak spawn to interest herons as well as other fish connoisseurs.

**Doreen Rossiter has her second BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] arrive to her Alma yard, and no mistaking this bright adult male. She was surprised to see it only at the Hummingbird [Colibri à gorge rubis] feeder so far, and not at orange sections yet, that she has seen. Doreen also has some tame or maybe better labelled “spoiled” Crows [Corneille d'Amérique] that come to their windows to get food. She noted them carrying sticks in March to build their nests, but now is noting them gathering large beakfuls of grass. She rather assumes incubation had started earlier, so this may be a bit of nest reparations.

**We have been using the term “FOY” a lot recently. I mentioned its usage a few times, but to clarify it again, it is short for “first of year”, that is to say it is the first time the reporter has seen this bird this season. It has nothing to do with seeing a lifer or one never seen before. Hopefully folks are OK with its usage – it really shortens daily reports for transcribers.

**The FOY Hummingbird [Colibri à gorge rubis] is always a special moment to welcome them back. That continues to happen as May unfolds. Brian Coyle had his first male on Thursday night to his Lower Mountain Road yard, to get a pleasing photo.

**One more plant identification ticked: Richard Perron took a photo of a plant we could not identify on the Cocagne River floodplain field trip. Sean Blaney identified it as none other than Goldenrod [Verge d'or], to show that even the simple everyday plants are not easily identified as they emerge.

**I’m sure many of us would like to have some BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS [Dendrocygne à ventre noir] pay a visit to New Brunswick. Ken MacAuley’s neighbour Ken Burrows photographed seven Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in Port Mouton, Nova Scotia on Wednesday evening. It’s not all that far away! Here’s hoping they will make a side stop to Nova Scotia’s neighbour. All thanks to both Kens for sharing the lucky photo.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton