Natural History Observations from a week in New Brunswick

 

New Brunswick is a gorgeous province! It is still 90% covered with Boreal forest, Bogs, Wetlands and has not been "developed" like the Southwestern Ontario peninsula where I reside.  The air is fresh, the views of the ocean, the seemingly endless expanse of forest is simply mind-blowing for a nature loving individual like myself.

My family lineage is mainly of Irish/French background, and involves Irish immigrants settling near Mirimichi NB and the Acadian Peninsula where many French settlers made their home. The north-eastern corner of New Brunswick is rich in history - a mix of Native Peoples, along with French and British cultural tensions. 

Some goals for this trip:

*See a Moose
*Walk on a few Bogs
*Go to the Kouchibouguac National Park (https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nb/kouchibouguac)
* Go to Irving Eco-centre, la Dune de Bouctouche
* Go to Irving Nature Park in St John
*Go to Blacks Harbour (and perhaps the ferry to Grand Manan Island)

*Go to Johnson Mills Beach, in Dorchester NB - which is famous for shorebird migration
*See some waterfalls
*Try to get any Bird, Butterfly, Moth, Botany lifers or Atlantic specialties (Ex: Saltmarsh Sparrow, Altlantic Puffin).
*Of course, natural history observation was not the only purpose of this trip, I was there primarily to help my dad drive up to NB, as its an 18 hour, two-day car trip.

Summary of Trip:

Long story short, NB is almost a square-shaped province. I essentially drove from the top left corner of the province (Edmonston) , to the top right (Tracadie), down the eastern coast (mirimichi, moncton), then back along the southern edge (St John, St Andrew, Fredricton). 

Birding Efforts

Since I did not really have my own car, my birding efforts were a little more "muted" than if I had free reign of where I could go. Still, the end of the my week was in the St John NB area, and my cousin from that area was very obliging to help me birdwatch and visit sights. The deal was - we can go anywhere, and I would pay for the gas... Seem fair no?

I had only one lifer - Saltmarsh Sparrow ---- (Editor's Note ---> I have probably seen/photographed a Nelsons' Sparrow --- I was looking at Ebird, and it seems there are not many saltmarsh sparrows as far north as NB)

*Note: I could be wrong on Saltmarsh Sparrow - There is a chance it is Nelson's Sparrow... I have little experience with these species, but considering its a salt-marsh habitat along the atlantic ocean / Bay of Fundy --- I will side with Salt Marsh. 

Blacks Harbour - Black Guillemot

Veudreuil - Montreal - A Coopers Hawk chasing a Pileated Woodpecker (no photos) at my cousin's house.

Butterfly Watching Efforts

With all the nature and habitat in NB, one would expect a bounty of butterflies, but my observations of lep species were surprisingly weak! Of course, mid August may not be the peak time to observe butterflies but still.

Some butterfly lifers are:

Short Tailed Swallowtail (Kouchibouguac Park NB)
Maritime Ringlet (St Andrews NB)
Green Comma (Fredricton NB - Split Rock Falls)

Botany

Turtlehead  (I think) was easily noted at a historic site called "Acadian Village" in New Brunswick. This is supposed to be a native plant in Ontario, but I have never seen it until this trip. Pitcher Plant (tuberous?) was noted at the kouchibouguac bog trail.

Waterfalls

Lepreau Falls (St John NB)

Reversing Falls/Rapids (St John NB)

Joclyn Creek Falls (Fredricton NB)

Split Rock Falls (Fredricton NB)

Noteworthy Spots:

Conclusion:

New Brunswick is a stunning province from a nature perspective. From an Ontarian's perspective, its almost like going "Back in Time" before Ontario's Forests and Wetlands were converted into cash crop fields. Before the land was segmented by a matrix of roadways. I would like to go back again next year, perhaps earlier in the summer (Early July?) to see the breeding Atlantic Pelagic Species that can be well seen near Grand Manon/Blacks Harbour. Johnson Mills was beautiful and interesting, but having seen great shorebirding days at our local Hillman Marsh, it was not as diverse as I was hoping.  I was reminded that even though the ecosystem is clearly intact and alive, the Great lakes - Carolinian Life zone that I live in is surprisingly biodiverse. 

Yours in Nature,

Dwayne Murphy

Point Pelee walk with the Ojibway Birding Group

The southern-most Racoon in Canada? This is how I feel when I have to get up early!

This morning I joined the excellent Ojibway Birders Group (OBG?) led by Paul Pratt.  The morning consisted of a great group of people, keen birders along with fantastic weather .... mix these things together and you're having a great morning. My morning started out late, I did not meet the group at the 8:00am meeting time, but  luckily I met up with them later at the tip of Point Pelee. At the tip, Tom Preney kindly pointed out the controversial Yellow-legged Gull / Herring Gull and I was able to snap a photo of it ... check it out ... (outrageous, isn't it?).  Along with great birds today, I saw Rick, Kelly, Sil, and Fitcetera (Karen) at Point Pelee... Great People!

Is this a Yellow Legged Gull? A new lifer?

After hanging out near the tip, we had moved northward towards the tram loop when we noticed a Scarlet Tanager. We followed it southward back towards the tip. One group member likened our reversal in direction as "reverse migration" LOL!!!

 At one point, Paul, our group leader mentioned Indigo Buntings and Prothonotary Warblers near the tip... I thought he was joking but no... This P.W. was foraging along branches and in the undergrowth. One usually expects this bird near a bug-infested slough.

Red eyed Vireos are a beautiful bird, very common, but rarely seen. On any summertime walk, if you hear this song: "Here I am.... (pause) Where are you?.... Here I am....Where are you?". This bird is often a victim of cowbird parasitism. Read more here....   Red Eyed Vireos were very numerous today.

Today was a wonderful day at PPNP, and there were some nice birds out, but one had to work. There wasn't a great density but overall a nice mix for the later end of the migration season. The OBG (Ojibway Birding Group) later went into the visitor center, where the park interpreter Sarah generously doled out "100 Species" pins to some of the OBG members that had a "+100 Big Day" earlier in the week. I just couldn't take one... I've never even come close to 100 species in a day... I'm just not there yet. My senses aren't sharp enough yet. Every Empidonax Flycatcher is a least flycatcher to me.... Every Gull is a Ring-billed... I'm just not there yet! :^)

Northern Parula had been heard on several occasions throughout May but not seen until today. I actually had several views but this one was the best. He was just perched on a branch, not moving, about 7m up in the air... not bad... but he was in the shade.

Good birding!
Dwaynejava