Nature Moncton Nature News: May 9 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 09, 2019 (Thursday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: bjpstone@gmail.com

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

Dale Gaskin reports he found a male Scarlet Tanager at a suet feeder at the Chocolate River Motel near Hillsborough on Wednesday and found that it was also there on Tuesday as well. A very pleasant uncommon visitor to Moncton area. Dale also reports that Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows are very active at his home in Dawson settlement.

Dave Christie took a hike on Wednesday to the end of Mary’s Point and back through the woods of Middle Island. Spring Beauty is now very numerous with up to a few thousand in flower. Trout Lily leaves were abundant but only one in bloom with lots more to come.

One Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, John Inman had one arrive on Sunday for a short visit however there was a report of Brian McDonald in Harvey having 2 Ruby- throated Hummingbirds on Monday morning coming to the flowers of Red Maple, then moved on.

Dave also reports he revisited Gray Brook Marsh and the American Toads were still loudly vocalizing in the same place on the north side he had heard them the day before. Spring Peepers were vocalizing as well. The variety of ducks continues as reported earlier but on Tuesday he noted 45 Canada Geese present where he had only seen a dozen the day before

** Roger Leblanc did his owl survey route on Monday night/Tuesday morning on a section of the Shediac River Rd. and was very rewarded. He was able to tally 7 BARRED OWLS [Chouette rayée] and one NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL [Petite nyctale] over his route. The Barred Owls were really hooting it up and continued to do so after Roger made his last scheduled stop. Sounds like a great night.

** Judy Marsh spotted an Azure butterfly floating about on Tuesday, May 07. This would most likely be the early emerging SPRING AZURE [Azur printanier], however the classification of the Azures is under debate at the moment.

** Karen and Jamie Burris recently spotted their FOY BLUE-HEADED VIREO [Viréo à tête bleue] to get some great photos that clearly show its distinct white spectacles and bluish head. Vireo arrival time is here. Jamie also sends a photo of a male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD [Vacher à tête brune] that is lingering in their Riverview feeder yard to get a front and rear view.

** Jane Leblanc paid a visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy near Simcoe Ont. to get some very interesting photos that we normally only see from a distance. One is of a GOLDEN EAGLE [Aigle royal] that happens to be over 35 years old. She got some great photos of 7 to 8 week old GREAT HORNED OWL [Grand-duc d'Amérique] chicks and a SNOWY OWL [Harfang des neiges] that was over 25 years old. They also visited Point Pelee National Park but hit it a week too early. The big bird migration had not arrived yet and it had been very cold prior to their visit.

Lynda Leclerc comments on a nice count of bird species Wednesday in her Harrisville yard on Wednesday. Blue Jays, Common Grackles, Mourning Doves , Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throat Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, American Goldfinch(males), 6 Evening Grosbeaks (2 females and 4 males), being the first ones this year, American Robins and 4 Tree Swallows. There is a pair of American Wigeon at Meadow Lake at the Harrisville Boulevard end of the Humphrey Brook trail. No warblers seen on Wednesday but that area last year, at certain times, had many warblers there.

Lynda has not had grosbeaks in her back yard for many years so it was quite a treat, the males had such brilliant yellow, white and black markings.

** The Nature Moncton Swallow Box Project is seeming to be a very successful venture. There are approaching 200 boxes now erected and they are getting lots of tenants. Requests for more boxes have come as folks see others putting them up and enjoying the busy Swallow families. Fred Richards reports a dozen plus Swallows around nest boxes that he has out on the Memramcook Marsh. I have 12 up in the Miramichi area and all seem to be getting attention at the moment. I am noting that it is the year old weathered ones that are getting the attention first, whereas the new brighter ones seem to get investigated next.

Fred Richards has again offered already to get the assembly line going early next winter to have more ready for erection in 2020. Fred also points out the nest boxes that can be seen from Wheeler Blvd at the Université de Moncton are the same style of box that he cut out and that Alain Clavette got erected there.

** Brian Stone captured some great photos of the Hampton Lagoon’s now potential resident BLACK VULTURE [Urubu noir] enjoying the early morning meeting with its friends before going out on its day’s mission. It will be interesting to follow the behaviour of this individual. There was lots of other TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge] action to photograph as well. Brian also did some nature sleuthing of the Hampton/Upham area to get some photos of TRAILING ARBUTUS, aka MAYFLOWER, in very full bloom.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton