Nature Moncton Nature News: May 22 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

May 22, 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

**Deanna Fenwick also comments that Saturday’s Nature Moncton warbler field trip was a big success!

Thanks to Gordon Rattray for being our guide!

Deanna shares more photos of the day, including Eastern Phoebe, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and both genders of Blue-winged Teal.

**Deana and Peter Gadd have only black oil sunflower seeds available for birds presently, hoping that a Northern Cardinal pair will finally stay around for the summer and nest nearby. So far, so good.

Happily, on Sunday morning, they were pleasantly surprised with a visit from a Scarlet Tanager (in the pouring rain) which also went for the sunflower seeds. It is a species they have not seen for 5 years, and the first time they have seen one visit their garden. The previous 2 Scarlet Tanager sightings in Miramichi have been almost on the same date, give or take a day.

(Editor’s note: this report is very coincidental. I got a call from home in Moncton on Saturday that there was a reddish bird with black wings my sister-in-law had never seen before at the feeders. It was taking black oil sunflower seed. It was the size of a small robin. It has not reappeared yet. Chances are!)

**Folks in St. Martins know Jane LeBlanc has been wanting to photograph foxes, so when she got a phone call saying they were playing on the side of the road, she jumped in her car and went. The Red Fox vixen was lying, ignoring traffic, and keeping a sleepy eye on at least 3 kits. This was on Sunday after most of the heavy rain had stopped.

** Jane and Ed LeBlanc took a drive to Tynemouth Creek on Saturday afternoon, (near St. Martins) and found a male Ring-Necked Pheasant strutting his stuff near the covered bridge.

**Clarence Cormier reports on Sunday, a flock of 15+ Blue Jays dropped by his Grande-Digue location for some mixed seeds and some fresh water. Also, 2 Chipping Sparrows joined in later.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler and more Yellow Warblers arrived and Clarence suspects he has 4 Gray Catbirds (2 pair).

(Editor’s note: although some of the Blue Jay population stay with us all winter, the majority do migrate south and have been returning the past few weeks in flocks that may surprise people with their sudden presence at feeders in large numbers.)

Nelson Poirier has seen a Groundhog a few times around his Miramichi camp. It was seen a few times on Sunday popping its head out of a space under the camp. Nelson placed a few pieces of raw turnip near the opening, one of which disappeared. A head of lettuce was purchased as an offering to make it feel welcome. Sadie (his pooch) is undergoing training to be Groundhog-friendly! It has already been christened Bucky.

Nelson is also noticing many more female Red-winged Blackbirds joining the males at feeders now and was able to photograph the two genders together. The females seem smaller than the males, but the guides do not suggest that.

**As a heads up, the next Nature Moncton outdoor event will be this coming Saturday, May 27, with a tree planting day at the site of the former Moncton City dump. Details below:

Tree Planting Event: Saturday, May 27

by Fundy Biosphere Region and Nature Moncton
Main St. Moncton
Duration: 4 hr

Nature Moncton and the staff from the Fundy Biosphere Region will be planting trees on the Moncton Riverfront on Saturday, May 27th, starting at 10 am and most likely finishing at 2 pm. We'd love to have you come and help!

🌳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

🌳Meeting place: Parking lot on the Moncton side next to the traffic circle near the new bridge to Riverview.

🌳Trees to be planted: white pine, red pine, white spruce, black cherry, and red maple.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton