Nature Moncton Nature News: April 21 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

April 21, 2022 (Thursday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**On Wednesday morning, Roger Dumaresq in Paquetville had what he thought was a Pine Warbler coming very fast to a suet feeder and leaving after a few seconds and not being able to get satisfactory photos, he called his neighbour Frank branch to collaborate to try for a photo. Frank got lucky and was able to get one striking photo of this colourful warbler enjoying suet as this species frequently does.

**Sybil Wenzel had a pleasant variety of activity in her Harvey, Albert County yard on Wednesday.

First Yellow-rumped Warblers (2 males) showed up in her yard in the afternoon. They were actively catching insects midair from their perches on the pine branches.

Three Northern Flickers took refuge from the rain and spent close to a half hour clinging and sometimes preening on the dry side of the elm tree.

The male Northern Cardinal that was with them all winter has successfully found a potential mate. It had been calling for the past several days and on Wednesday the two showed up together on the property.

**Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins saw her first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the year in her yard on Wednesday. She got some documentary photos through a window.

Sure is great to be talking warblers again!

**Lois Budd reports her son-in-law cleaned out his Nature Moncton Tree Swallow nesting box this Easter weekend and he was sad to notice several young Tree Swallows of 2021 did not make it. He has had very good luck with this box and many have fledged near his pond over the years of having this nesting box.

There have been a number of similar reports in some areas of southeastern New Brunswick. It is thought a cold period at a crucial time of nesting may have caused this. If that is the reason, hopefully it does not happen again this year.

**Brian Stone forgot to add the photos he took of Harbour Seals enjoying the sun at Northport on Monday. The seals were mentioned in yesterday’s writeup of the blog.

**Brian Stone walked behind Crandall University on Wednesday and experienced rain, hail, high winds and sunlight in even amounts.

His first photo of the day was an Eastern Phoebe at the trail entrance, followed by a Black-capped Chickadee and a female Purple Finch.

He then photographed 2 Nests, one smaller and round about the size of a grapefruit and a larger one cone shaped and about half again the size of the first one. Both were high in trees. (Editor’s note: any suggestions on what species of bird occupied these nests would be very appreciated)

Several examples of Tree Fungus, Moss, and Lichens caught his attention as did some newly opening Red Elderberry buds. Wood Frogs were calling in all the ponds and Brian was still unable to catch sight of any. He did manage a picture of an amphibian egg mass in a puddle on the trail. A chilled Mining Bee was sitting on a rock remaining motionless.

Amanda Bremner at the New Brunswick Museum confirmed the bright orange mushroom Brian photographed as Pycnoporus cinnabarinus (Cinnabar-red Polypore). Amanda comments that this species is found year-round usually on dead hardwoods. They should taste slightly bitter.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton