NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 24, 2021 (day)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
Mother Nature has provided us with
perfect conditions for our first weekly night hike of local areas of interest
to happen tonight, Thursday night. Write-up with all directions to join in
below:
First
Tuesday (Thursday this week) Night Nature Moncton Walk. June 24, 2021, 6:30 PM.
This is the first in a series of nature walks to view some of
the wonderful natural areas in the region.
This week we will be walking a loop trail that is located at the Dobson
trailhead in Riverview. This walk will take about 1 ½ hour and cover a little over 2
kilometers. The trail is forested all
along and follows Mill creek for the first half then loops back. The trail is a
little hilly and there are quite a few tree roots so good walking shoes are a
good idea. The cost is a toonie for non-members. Members and children 12 and
under are free. We will meet at the trail head parking lot (there are two lots,
we will be starting from the second one a short .2 km. past the 1st
one) and the walk will start at 6:30. If you could be there by 6:15 so we can
cover the Covid rules. The lot is located on Pine Glen Road 0.7 km. south of
the intersection of Gunningsville Blvd. and Pine Glen Road. The Richards went there Friday evening at
6:15 and the traffic on the bridge was not bad at that time.
Sue and Fred previewed it and viewed some birds, a snake,
some freshly released Grey Squirrels from Atlantic Wildlife institute and a lot
of plant life including some Pink Lady’s Slippers. There were quite a few mosquitoes, but a
liberal application of repellent kept them from bothering us. Covid rules will apply but there is lots of
room for physical distancing. We are
hoping you can come out and take in this beautiful spot and enjoy an evening
stroll with us.
The Dobson trail is the longest volunteer-maintained trail in
eastern Canada. It runs from the
trailhead in Riverview to Fundy Park.
** Doreen Rossiter had a WHITE-WINGED
DOVE come by her Alma feeder yard on Tuesday and it returned a few times over
the day. When it first arrived Doreen felt that it was rather puffed up and not
looking fit but it seemed better on subsequent visits on Tuesday. Doreen was
away on Wednesday so was not sure if it returned. She has had a surprising
number of White-winged Dove visits over the years.
** Brian Coyle was out to Kouchibouguac
National Park for some hiking Tuesday and came across a couple of interesting
items on the Claire Fontaine trail. First there were some choice OYSTER
MUSHROOMS. He found a total of at least a dozen small dead Maples with clusters
on them. Oyster Mushrooms will sprout whenever there is sufficient moisture in
its substrate which is often the case in the center of dying trees. This is
classed as a choice edible but from trying it I’m not convinced. Maybe it’s one
of those that takes on the flavour of whatever it’s cooked with. It is grown
commercially as well and is pricy in the grocery store.
Brian also photographed LABRADOR TEA
that was in bloom and INDIAN CUCUMBER which he found a large cluster of. The
immature plant can be mistaken for Starflower plants if no mature plants are
present. It has a delicious tuber that gives it its name. Wild SARSAPARILLA was
just beginning to flower and 1 PINK LADY’S SLIPPER ORCHID was noted.
** Elaine Gallant visited Bis Marsh in
Dieppe on Wednesday to see and photograph an adult BALTIMORE ORIOLE, an EASTERN
KINGBIRD, and a VIRGINIA RAIL. This marsh is on the Riverfront Trail at the
base of Louis St. in Dieppe.
** In follow up to Cynthia McKenzie’s
comments on birding in Magnetic Hill Zoo Eric Wilson, who has become very
interested in birding by ear, paid a visit to the zoo and splash park with
birding by ear on the agenda and I am passing on Eric’s birding by ear results
and where he located them. I am attaching Eric’s report as he forwarded it
below. He was hearing AMERICAN REDSTART, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT WARBLER, VEERY,
RED-EYED VIREO, and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER. (Editor’s note: Acadian Flycatcher is
one of the Empidonax Flycatchers that would have to be confirmed by ear and it
would be a good bird to get in New Brunswick as we are north of its expected
range).
Eric’s complete directional report is
below:
“•American Redstart. at the
western most edge of Parking lot of the souvenir shop. Just inside the covered
bridge entrance.
•Yellow Warbler. in the trees
above the first zoo side employee-only gate. Beautiful red streaked male.
•Common Yellowthroat Warbler. Zoo
side. Way past the zoo. Past the piles of landscaping rocks. Past the timber.
Beside the locked fence door entrance to a big stockpile of dirt. Unlike most
Common yellowthroats this one was a gentle talker. I always love seeing that
mask!
•Veery. At the opposite end the
carousel parking lot. Go up the exit to the uphill road.
•Acadian flycatcher. Leaving the
park by escape road. At the bend at the bottom of the exit hill. Walk right
along the top of the hill. On your right. But there is lots of bird traffic
back and forth from the pines to the field.
•Red-eyed video. Very vocal and a
fast talker. Keep walking past those same pines. On your left inside that
grove.”
Eric also heard a BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO vocalizing near Magic Mountain Rd. which he sends a map location for as
this is not a bird we get to hear that often. It may well stay in that area and
potentially an opportunity to hear this bird vocalize. The Splash Park is to
reopen Friday which may make hearing it more challenging.
** An ATLANTIS FRITILLARY arrived in
Jane Leblanc’s St. Martins yard on Wednesday to nectar on clover blooms. Jane
also noted lots of SAVANNAH SPARROWS finding some delicious insects to attract
them there on the beach.
** Fred and Sue Richards comment that
their Taylor Village property must be very favourable for YELLOW WARBLERS as
they have seen them every year since they moved there and are very likely
nesting. Sue photographed a male showing its bold, reddish breast stripes that
are very muted in the female.
**Clarence Cormier gets regular visits
to his Grande Digue site form VEERY. They also enjoy a bath compliments of
Clarence’s inviting bird bath.
** Aldo Dorio photographed an ORANGE
HAWKWEED, aka Devil’s Paintbrush, in full bloom at Hay Island on Wednesday. Hay
Island is a very popular habitat for SAVANNAH SPARROWS that cooperate nicely on
the boardwalk for photos. NELSON’S SPARROWS should be there by now and giving their
“drop of fat in a hot pan” vocalization, but they are very difficult to
photograph.
Aldo also had a RED-EYED VIREO greet
him to be photographed on Thursday morning.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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