Nature Moncton Nature News: May 11 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

May 11, 2022 (Wednesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins noticed that the Ostrich Fern fiddleheads were up on her property, down by the river.

She also saw a Mourning Cloak Butterfly on her driveway.

Jane was able to share photographs of both.

**Louise Nichols visited the Tintamarre Wildlife Area, taking the road to Paunchy Lake on Monday. She noted a number of waterfowl species including a Surf Scoter and other expected ducks such as Mallards, Blue-winged Teals, Green-winged Teals, American Black Ducks and Ring-necked Ducks. Swamp Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers were in abundance. A couple of Northern Harriers, both male and female, were soaring above the marshes. Louise could hear both Spring Peepers and Leopard Frogs on the edges of some of the lakes and water impoundments. Louise is always amazed at the size and beauty of this area which holds within it lakes, marshes and fields. (Editor's note: Paunchy Lake area is indeed as Louise points out an incredibly rich area to visit, especially in spring before foliage hides the prolific critter community)

On her way to the Tintamarre, Louise stopped at the big nest on Jolicure Rd which was earlier occupied by Bald Eagles (as reported several weeks ago by Brian Stone), but now seems to be occupied by Osprey. Louise noticed two in the nest on her way by and three adults flying around on her way back past the nest when she was returning home.

Before leaving that morning, Louise got a photo of her FOY Blue-headed Vireo in a tree just outside their front door.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a Red Fox on Tuesday as it explored Hay Island. The animal’s pelage appeared to be in good condition.

**Cliff Swallows are arriving! Jim Johnson in Scotch Settlement reports that he now has five occupied Cliff Swallow nests on his home and garage.

**Brian Stone photographed a Pied-billed Grebe with a live critter in its bill. In consultation with Alyre Chiasson, he was able to identify the prey as a Four-spined Stickleback and his interesting comments are quoted below:

“The Pied-billed Grebe’s prey is a 4-spined stickleback. Stocky compared with the other sticklebacks. Dark upper body, silver underside. Somewhat blotchy towards the back. The fourth spine is not highly noticeable because it is tucked close to the dorsal fin. The grebe is swallowing it in the right direction. Don't know about grebes but kingfishers can flip them around in mid-air. Failure to do so can mean a stickleback lodged in the throat and death by starvation.”

Thank you, Alyre, and the photos are repeated in today’s edition.

**Mike Wedge is a fan of the in-progress rejuvenation of the Petitcodiac River. Mike has a fantastic series of videos of the Tidal Bore coming in and some of surfers taking advantage of it. Check out the videos on Mike’s YouTube page at the link below:

https://youtube.com/user/wedgem

**Gordon Rattray reports his first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the season, Gordon notes that this makes the third year in a row that the first hummer visit of the season was on May 10. Gordon also reports that the Eastern Phoebe pair is very busy with nest building under the eave of a gazebo.

On a walk in the Hillsborough wetlands Gordon was able to photograph a Mourning Cloak Butterfly. He has had many sightings this year, many more than other years. Gordon finds it interesting that a pair of Downy Woodpeckers have taken to feeding at the hummingbird feeders very frequently all day and sometimes both at the same time.

**Fred Dube got some photographs of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker enjoying raspberry jam at Nelson Poirier's camp feeder on Monday. Fred also got a photo of a freshly arrived very sharply dressed male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

**Brian Stone toured the Jemseg area on Tuesday in search of the frequently reported Painted Turtles and had no problem finding them. He didn't keep a count but saw 40+ for sure. Osprey were present and nesting in good numbers and a very vocal Northern Waterthrush was hiding behind branches in a vain attempt to hide from the camera. (Editor's note: nice to get such nice photos of this skulky secretive wetland warbler)

Muskrats were feeding on the roadsides in several spots and Mourning Cloak and Green Comma Butterflies were out and about in the warmer, sheltered spots. A freshly sprouting luxurious green plant was False Hellebore and was quite well under way in several fields.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton