Nature Moncton Nature News: May 17 2023

May 17, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**A very special thank you to Andrea Flemming and Jim Goltz who joined the Nature Moncton meeting on Tuesday night to explain the new website they are working to develop. It is designed to be user-friendly for naturalists encountering New Brunswick Flora, so that they will be able to more easily confirm identification.

This is a huge project that is still a work in progress that will become our go-to source for botanical identifications.

This is a resource for us to look forward to, and all appreciation to Andrea and Jim for their yeoman work to make it happen.

**The Bobolinks are arriving on schedule.

Clarence Cormier had 12+ arrive at the area of his Grande-Digue site on Tuesday.

(Editor’s note: the Bobolink is one of the few bird species that are dark on the bottom half and light-coloured on the top)

**John Massey was in the St. Martins area on Tuesday to capture a very pleasant photo of a trio of Common Loons gliding across the very calm water.

**John Inman points out they put jelly in some oranges. The orioles like it, but the Red Squirrels do not. Otherwise, Red Squirrels eat them and cart them away. Oranges are hard to come by in the Inman's area; they buy them in season and on sale, cut them in half, and freeze them for times like this. (Editor’s note: what a great idea a lot of us just might be copying!)

(Editor's note: I put out raspberry/ strawberry jam in a vial that attracts Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Gray Catbird by day, but Flying Squirrels have a taste for it at night).

It was a bit overcast on Monday morning, but a male Summer Tanager showed up for a little orange and gone again.

**Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins had warblers everywhere Tuesday morning. She pished out a Chestnut-sided Warbler and Northern Parula Warbler from her deck, but neither stayed for photos.

She briefly visited her neighbour's magic yard on Main Street and got a photo of the male Orchard Oriole.

Returning home, she let her dog out in the fenced yard, and the dog was going crazy about something on the other side of the fence, so much so, she dug her way out and was sniffing around an old culvert just down the hill. After Jane captured the dog, she discovered baby Raccoons calling out for mom. She hopes mom will come back and move the babies before harm comes to them or to the dog if Mom gets to her.

(Editor’s note: the eyes are just opening on the young, so it would be assumed they are possibly less than a week of age).

**Aldo Dorio had a White-crowned Sparrow drop by his Neguac yard on Tuesday.

(Editor’s note: note how the White-crowned Sparrows normally pass through our area later than the Fox Sparrows that are doing the same thing. Both are making refueling stops as they migrate to the north of us to breed for the season).

**Three photos that were added to yesterday’s edition did not attach when the edition was published. They are added today below:

-Northern Azure Butterflies (a special open-wing photo)

-- Gordon Rattray's male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

-- Aldo Dorio's Gray Catbird

(Editor’s note: not sure why this technical glitch happened, but I suspect gremlins were overwhelmed by sixty beautiful photos!)

**A heads up for the next Nature Moncton outing to a rich warbler area this coming Saturday, May 20, with the writeup below:

NATURE MONCTON WARBLER HIKE

Date: May 20, 2023

Time: 9:00 AM

Place: Kiwanis parking lot on Mill St., Hillsborough

Guide: Gordon Rattray

In late spring each year we have the movement of many birds returning to their nesting regions, both local nesters and those that just pass through on their journey farther north. The warblers are one such group that either pass through or nest in our area. These little birds are very colorful and very vocal as they stop for a rest and feeding, and in late May we can often locate many of the warbler species in the Hillsborough area. On May 20, Nature Moncton will host a hike for members, and anyone interested in observing warblers. The warblers are most active as the morning warms and the insects take flight, so this makes 9:00 a good starting time. The hike will be on an abandoned rail line, flat but the rails are still in place, so a little bit of difficulty. The rail hike is only 200 meters up and then we will double back. Also in the same location are the prepared trails of the Hillsborough Water Park, a walk on a gravel surface of 2 kms. For those wishing for a little more birding we will do this trail after lunch.

As a bonus, those of you who take photos of warblers on this trip will be invited to share (if you’d like) your best shots at the June Nature Moncton membership meeting to be held on June 20^th at 7:00 PM.

So if you’d like to see some warblers and learn more about their appearance and songs, join us for this warbler walk in an area where warblers of many species should be active.

Bring snacks and lunch, and bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we may have a couple of extra binoculars that we can lend out for the day. Wear sturdy footwear (for hiking) and dress appropriately for the weather.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton