Nature Moncton Nature News: May 20 2023

May 20, 2023

Species names are in boldface when there is a photo included.

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**John Inman was able to get a nice photo of his visiting male Summer Tanager on Friday. John is hoping a nuptial visit will happen with the female Summer Tanager that has been visiting the yard of his neighbour Sybil Wentzell.

(Editor’s note: this bird is showing some remnant yellow areas in the plumage to suggest it may be in advanced first summer molt. John’s photo also shows the huge bill of this species nicely.)

**As mentioned in an earlier addition, it is very important that sleuthing naturalists are aware of the appearance of Poison Ivy in all its stages of development.
Brian Coyle is doing just that, recording photographs of Poison Ivy in a cluster in the Moncton area. Brian took photographs on May 19 that show the dark red leaves contrasting notably with the dead-looking grey stalks. Flower buds were beginning to emerge as well.
The cluster of Poison Ivy plants Brian is following is found by “going down Hildegard from Mountain Road to Ryan Road, turning left onto Ryan Road, and driving down to a barrier. Park there and walk down to the end of the road, almost to the chain link fence. There is a wooden power pole on the left, and that is where you will find the Poison Ivy.”

**The much more conservatively dressed female Red-winged Blackbirds in comparison to their flashy partners, are arriving in good numbers now, stopping by feeder yards. The arrival of the females will mean both genders will be off to establish breeding territories and relieve pressure at feeder yards.

Aldo Dorio got a photo of a female Red-winged Blackbird at Hay Island on Friday that shows the striking dimorphism in the plumage of the genders of this species.

**Frank Branch comments that he and Michel Roy also saw a lone and immature Bonaparte’s Gull on Friday at the wastewater lagoon in Caraquet.
It was a nearly exact copy of the one Aldo Dorio photographed at Hay Island on May 17.

**Clarence Cormier reports Friday’s new arrivals to his Grande-Digue site included 25+ Cedar Waxwings, 2 Red-eyed Vireos, and 3 Wilson’s Warblers.
(Editor’s note: the timing is right for the arrival of Cedar Waxwing flocks. They enjoy feasting on the opening petals of blooming trees, especially apple blossoms.)

** On Thursday, Brian Stone went to Hillsborough and walked along the wetlands trail and sends some of the photos he took while there. American Redstarts were vocal in the trees all along the trail, and Brian managed some photos of a fresh male specimen. Yellow Warblers were also frequently seen and heard, and Brian saw both male and female individuals.

Along the roadway near the water tower, a family of Canada Geese was disrupted by a passing ATV and got scattered. Brian watched as the goslings slowly gathered themselves together in small groups and gradually made it into a field where their parents were waiting patiently.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton