Nature Moncton Nature News: June 17 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

June 17, 2023

Species names in boldface indicate that a photo is included.

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** Louise Nichols did her marsh survey Saturday morning at the marshes on Eddy Rd. near Amherst, NS. It began as a foggy and damp morning and ended as not-so-foggy but still damp. Louise heard (but did not see) some of the target species for the survey: Pied-billed Grebe, Marsh Wren, Sora, and Virginia Rail. She heard and saw many of the usual songbirds that hang out around marsh habitats, some of them carrying food, indicating that nesting is in full swing. At the Eddy Marsh (the larger of two marshes), Mink Frogs were in full voice, and Louise wondered where they were until she noticed about a dozen heads sticking out of the water a little way offshore. She zoomed in for a photograph and discovered many of the vocalizing Mink Frogs in the water, actively chasing one another, likely involved in mating rituals.

The best find of the morning happened when Louise first got out of her car to start the survey and heard the song of a Willow Flycatcher nearby. Louise was able to locate the bird and take a few photos and a video of it singing its special song, which is just a little different from the Alder Flycatcher, with its 2nd syllable descending in pitch rather than the ascending song of the Alder. The video and photo are both a bit dark and grainy as this was early in the morning, and it was dim and misty.

Listen to this uncommonly encountered sparrow at the link below that needs to be confirmed by its vocalization, being one of the Empidonax flycatchers.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lrpenhns895xb8y/Willow%20Flycatcher%20-%20Louise%20Nichols.MP4?dl=0

**Joanne Savage points out that one of the moth photos in yesterday’s edition was labeled incorrectly. The corrected labeling of White-dotted Prominent moths is reattached today and corrected on the blog.