Nature Moncton Nature News: May 8 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

May 8, 2022 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Cathy Simon has recently been birding around the Colvert Lake loop in Centennial Park and Jones Lake. She was very impressed with the wide variety of species seen (up to 23!) most notably a Common Loon, Hooded Merganser, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Ring-necked Duck. She was also happy to see several nest boxes being used by Tree Swallows surrounding the Cafe Codiac on the corner of Mount Royal Blvd. and St. George Blvd.

**Yolande and Eudor LeBlanc spotted a new bird in their Memramcook yard on Saturday, on spruce trees and in a Serviceberry. It was much larger than a goldfinch, yellowish, and when Yolande put the binocs on it, she noticed the large bill. Her first thought was oriole, but the bill threw her off. Upon checking with Sibley and Peterson, Yolande opted for a Summer Tanager... until someone tells her differently. She didn't see any wing bars and it was darker on the back than the chest and belly. Unfortunately, no photo as yet.

**Louise Nichols joined the outing on Saturday to the Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail in Elgin. She sends a couple of photos of the field trip participants. A few were wondering what would have peeled the bark off a tree and Louise includes two photos, one from one side of the tree and one from the other side. Birds were mostly quiet along the trail although some were heard including Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Brown Creeper and a beautiful Winter Wren. Louise and Brian Stone spent some time trying to track down the wren and finally succeeded in spotting it on the ground near a creek. The wren hopped down to the creek and along some of the rocks close to the water where it enjoyed a drink. Louise also includes a photo of a female crossbill which she saw in the parking lot at the end of the walk. She saw this bird only from the front before it flew and so was not able to ID it definitely as to specific crossbill species.

The Green-winged Teal pair Louise included in her photos was seen on their home pond in Aulac Saturday morning as she was leaving to go on the field trip.

**President Fred Richards comments Saturday’s Nature Moncton outing was to a beautiful spot and suspects lots of photos will be shared but sends a photo of one of a new member who seemed to like the very large Hemlock tree. The outing was more challenging than advertised and took a while to complete. After the outing Sue Richards, Lynda Leclerc and Fred Richards were lucky enough to see three young Great Horned owlets in Moncton. (They cannot give out the location as the homeowner asked them not to.) It was a wonderful thing to see, and Fred hopes the pictures are enjoyed by all. (Editors note: this successful nest is in the middle of an urban subdivision).

**Brian Stone sends some photographs from the Mapleton Acadian Forest Trail outing on Saturday. The weather was excellent, and many examples of nature's variety were examined and identified. Items noticed by group members and pointed out to Brian for photography include a Turkey Vulture, a distant Chipping Sparrow, a well camouflaged Brown Creeper, and a highlight was a very vocal Winter Wren. A colourful Virginia Ctenucha Moth Caterpillar and Mining Bees on willow catkins were added to the list. Some plants were noted including last season's Ferns and some newly emerging Trilliums. Several Flying Squirrel nest boxes were seen on trees and left-over remnants of mining structures were barely noticeable under the moss and woodland plants.

Brian (official Nature Moncton photographer) got many pictures of the group of participants that really show the background of this special protected trail.

**The editor is adding lots of photos of the Winter Wren as this is such a special bird to get photographed!

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com how long

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton