Nature Moncton Nature News: May 14 2023

May 14, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**On Sunday, Rick Elliott located a flock of approximately 30 shorebirds at Waterside and was able to capture better images than conditions permitted on Saturday. All appeared to be Least Sandpipers. Rick felt that the smaller flock they found on Saturday night appeared to be a mixture of species.

(Editor’s note: these birds are obviously in migration, so interesting to note their stop was for more than one day).

**Louise Nichols walked the two loop trails on opposite sides of Walker Rd. in the nice weather of Friday morning. She heard bird song from a number of species, including the serenading song of two Winter Wrens, one on each trail -- and many new arrival warblers, including Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, and Northern Parula. Purple Finches were also in fine voice, as were Blue-headed Vireos, among others.

The birds, however, were high in the canopy and difficult to see -- even more difficult to photograph -- so Louise turned to some of the plant life, which was at least low to the ground and still for the camera! One of the nicest areas on one trail was an extensive patch of Trout Lily in bloom. Mixed in with the Trout Lily and alongside it were patches of Carolina Spring Beauty in bloom. It was nice to see some early spring flowers. Louise also photographed a Green Comma Butterfly that rested momentarily on a tree trunk.

On Saturday afternoon, Louise saw her first Brown Elfin butterfly on their Aulac property, close to the bog area where she sees them each year.

**John and Shannon Inman appear to be experiencing an oriole bonanza!

On Sunday, John photographed 2 adult and 3 juvenile Baltimore Orioles and 3 Orchard Orioles, 2 adult, and 1 juvenile.

John also photographed a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird as well as a Merlin that found John’s yard very interesting.

John also spotted an Eastern Kingbird and a Bobolink back of their home but too distant for photographs.

**Jane LeBlanc and Judith Ives visited their friend's yard on Main Street in St. Martins and were treated to 4 male Baltimore Orioles (all seen at one time), two male and two female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a pair of Gray Catbirds, the immature male Orchard Oriole, and a female Black-Throated Blue Warbler. Too many others to name, but a hot spot for sure.

**On Saturday, Ron Arsenault went to the end of Aviation Boulevard in Moncton to see what he might be able to find. He came across a Garter Snake, noting the difference in colouration between the head and the body of this snake. Ron does not remember seeing such contrast before.

**Brian Stone returned to the Taylor Rd. at Second North River near Salisbury to see if any Brown Elfin Butterflies were out yet and was rewarded with an appearance of one of the tiny beauties. Just the size of an adult's fingernail, the little butterfly waited until the end of Brian's walk to show up but stayed put for a photo as a reward.

Also seen and photographed along the road were several interesting spring birds, including one of many Northern Waterthrush, an Eastern Phoebe, and a bright Nashville Warbler. Northern Azure Butterflies, Comma Butterflies (identification to be verified), and Mustard White Butterflies were also seen alongside the road, and a large Tri-coloured Bumblebee on a Dandelion Flower was an interesting comparison to a tiny Sweat Bee (suspected) on a similar flower. A Bee Fly also patronized a dandelion nearby.

Brian also stopped in at Highland Park in Salisbury on Saturday after hearing reports of a good variety of birds present there. As he started along the trail, a vocal Warbling Vireo foraged low in a tree close enough for a few excellent photos. (Editor's note: am running 4 photos as we just don't often get the chance for good observations of this skulky vireo.)

A Baltimore Oriole was calling higher up in the next tree, and several (!) Northern Cardinals could be heard among the many other vocalizations filling the air. Brian found fellow Nature Moncton member Cathy Simon birding along the same trail, and with her help, he managed to find and photograph a shy Sora hiding in the reeds, an Eastern Kingbird that gave up a flight photo, and an American Coot that was hiding in plain sight at the edge of the pond.

Cathy pointed out some ducks flying overhead that turned out to be American Wigeons that were following another duck that looked possibly to be a White-winged Scoter but it was unable to be verified. A Canada Goose appeared to be resting on a nest, and one of the vocal Pied-billed Grebes suddenly came closer than usual and joined the photo session. Brian finally saw his first dragonfly of the season and suspects that it is a female Dot-tailed Whiteface Dragonfly. As usual, it will be halfway through the summer before he regains any confidence in dragonfly identification. (Brian's words!)

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton