Nature Moncton Nature News: May 27 2023

May 27, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Brian Stone recently got some photos of a 1^st spring Tree Swallow, and Barn Swallows that I expect will be new to many of us.

Gilles Belliveau came to the rescue and offers some very interesting information:

One photo appears to be a Tree Swallow, probably a first-year bird.

The 2nd and 3rd photos are a different individual that appears to be a first-year Barn Swallow (born last summer). The 4th photo may be another individual or the same as in the 2nd and 3rd photos, but Gilles believes it is also a first-year Barn Swallow.

This is a plumage that often causes confusion at this time of year because field guides don’t seem to show these first-year birds, but if you look at the photos, you can see some of the buffy toned feathers on the belly/chest area and some of the chestnut feathers appearing in the throat in the 2nd and 3rd photo and some chestnut coloured feathers at the outer edge of the throat in the 4th photo.

From what Gilles has read on Birds of The World in the past, it seems some young Barn Swallows will complete their molt on the wintering grounds before spring migration, and some will only complete their molt after spring migration while they are on the summering grounds.

(Editor’s note: these photos are definitely worth looking at closely to prevent some head-scratching in the future!)

**Deanna Fenwick had some very interesting finds this week. First, in Sackville, she photographed Wilson's Warblers and a male Bobolink, and the Merlin app told her there was a Cape May Warbler present, but she didn't see one.

At their property in Fenwick, Nova Scotia, Merlin again identified a lot of things Deanna didn't see but could hear: Ovenbirds (many), Northern Parula Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed Vireo, and Philadelphia Vireo (which was unreported in E-bird). She did manage to get photos of the Red-Eyed Vireo, American Redstart, Swainson's Thrush, and Magnolia Warbler.

All but the Magnolia were identified using the Merlin app.

The site was near Ripley's Maple Sugar Bush. There sure is a lot there - probably because it is a rare old-growth forest. Deanna’s son found Wood Ducks nesting in a tree there about a month ago.

**Louise Nichols sends photos of a few observations she's had the last few days.

On Wednesday, in the sunshine, she walked part of the trail through the Baie Verte Nature Reserve to see if dragonflies were flying yet. She did see quite a few there, mostly Beaverpond species and a couple of Hudsonian Whitefaces. She was also able to photograph a 'comma' butterfly, both the upper wing and an underwing view, to identify it as a Gray Comma.

At home, Thursday morning, she found a large moth on the greenhouse door (a light that shines all night above this door attracts some moths that are sometimes still present in the morning). Louise identified the moth as a Twin-spotted Sphinx. On Friday morning, the sphinx was still there, sharing the space with a Crane Fly.

**Georges Brun photographed a Ruby-crowned Kinglet on his Moncton property with difficulty, which is often the case with this quick and fast-moving species.

**We don’t tend to see many Red-throated Loons in full breeding plumage. However, Aldo Dorio photographed one off Hay Island on Friday. He again photographed a Common Tern resting there.

A Hermit Thrush was waiting in Aldo’s Neguac yard to be photographed.

**Nelson Poirier shares a few nature photos recently taken.

White Nettle (Lamium album) is a plant he came across on May 9 and could not recall seeing it before, but with Gart Bishop’s help, identified it. He returned to the site a few more times to photograph it as it progressed to full bloom on May 23, with those series of photos added today.

Nelson also photographed Yellow Witch’s Broom on Balsam Fir. This colourful infection on Balsam Fir is caused by a fungus that normally would not kill the tree but is problematic on Christmas tree plantations. The tree will lose its needles in the fall to become naked. Its alternate host is Chickweed.

A photo of emerging Wild Coffee is also included.

Nelson also photographed Turkey Vultures that now arrive as he does to be the first to dine on fish offal and kitchen waste at a backwoods path site in Miramichi. They appear to want to get to the booty before the ravens and crows take over.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton