Nature Moncton Nature News: May 2 2023

May 2, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Saturday was a good day at the Sackville Waterfowl Park for Deanna Fenwick.

The Tree Swallows are back and choosing their respective nesting boxes all over the park. There were the usual American Wigeons, Mallard ducks, and Gadwalls floating about, and Deanna spotted that smaller duck - the Blue-winged Teal and his mate quite close to her under the boardwalk. The Birch Trail was full of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Savannah Sparrows. She saw a female Yellow-rumped Warbler for the first time.

Then just beyond the Birch trail, Deanna heard the elusive Virginia Rails calling to each other from one side of the boardwalk to the other. They were almost impossible to see - you can sometimes glimpse the back end as they pass through the dried brush, but she did manage one quick photo as it passed an open spot. A Sora was also calling, but Deanna could not locate it.

(Editor’s note: does this report maybe make you want to head there?)

In Memramcook, there were several Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeons, Mallard Ducks, a few Green-winged Teals, a pair of Northern Shovelers, and a Northern Pintail.

Then at Mapleton Park, Deanna found the Hooded Mergansers commenting ‘They always look so exotic’!

**John Inman reports there were at least 40+ loons going over his Harvey area on Tuesday morning, all very high and going in a northeast direction. John felt they were Common Loons, but they were flying very high. John did manage a distant documentary photo.

John also photographed a visiting Pine Warbler in his feeder yard.

**Shannon Inman photographed two Bullfrogs, which appear to be male and female.

Shannon also photographed the patch of the welcome-to-the-season violets as well as the attractive early-blooming plant Daphne.

(Editor’s note: Daphne is a non-native garden escapee that is quite commonly found around homesteads. This attractive plant was brought here by early European settlers due to its striking early blooms. This plant does have a toxic principle, especially the attractive berries that will form later and are not to be eaten).

**Beth Bastarache photographed some of the Tree Swallows that were investigating Nature Moncton nest boxes at Mapleton Park.

Fred Dube was very instrumental in getting these boxes erected, and it appears as though his effort is being appreciated.

**Brian Coyle sends some photos of what a typical Poison Ivy plant looks like at this time of year. Brian has visited this site for many years now to see the plant in all its stages.

This patch is at the very end of Ryan Road, which ends at a dead end beside Wheeler Boulevard.
(Editor’s note: Poison Ivy is a plant all of us should be familiar with at all times of the year. This sounds like an excellent site to visit several times over the year to be confident of its identity. We do have 2 species in New Brunswick, with the only real difference being that one is a climber and the other is a stand-alone low shrub).

**Along the Dieppe Trail Sunday, April 30, Georges Brun photographed at least 10 Tree Swallows. They were checking nest boxes. Georges comments that they seemed to have an interest, specifically those closest to a water source (small pond). With the Bis Marsh Pond so big and full, perhaps if the water is closer, the distance to get water for chicks is maybe a factor in choosing a prime location.

Also, Georges saw numerous Ring-necked Pheasants that were mostly male but he did observe one hen.

**It is always interesting when a Muskrat suddenly pops up swimming by so efficiently against the current with that very effective rudder tail working so well, as Nelson Poirier photographed on Monday.

**Heads up to slot of May 13 for a special event

Nature Moncton Event on May 13

Duration: 4 hrs

Nature Moncton and the staff from the Fundy Biosphere Region will be planting trees on the Moncton Riverfront on Saturday, May 13, starting at 10 am and most likely finishing at 2 pm. We'd love to have you come and help!

The actual planting site will be the site of the former Moncton dump that has been covered over. What a perfect site to start an urban forest.

All are welcome to join this project to reclaim this location to nature with all that it will attract.

What to bring/wear:
* weather appropriate clothing
* sturdy footwear
* work gloves
* packed lunch and water bottle
* shovel (there are a few to lend as well)
* consider if you need sunscreen too