Nature Miramichi:

Hi All,

Well three of us thoroughly enjoyed a few hours on Hay Island this morning. (Is there ever a need to travel to a Caribbean Island to enjoy a beach, fine weather and a lovely walk and pretty good wildlife (no nightlife though!)?

Our initial encounter was with a flock of mixed warblers at the entrance to the first trail to the left as you enter the wooded area once you cross the bridge: Bay Breasted Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, (adult feeding young), Blackburnian Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and possibly a

Northern Parula. There was also a Philadelphia Vireo and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Once further along in the open area of ponds we were able to see a few Short-billed Dowitchers, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and a couple of Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Osprey (the beak!) and Gulls were about and Double-crested Cormorants. We were able to catch sight of a Merlin and a Northern Harrier.

There were sparrows about too of course and we were able to pick out the salt marsh inhabitant, a Nelson’s Sparrow.

On our way in before the bridge we caught sight of a White-rumped Sandpiper.

In bloom were Beach-Peas, Scotch Lovage, Seaside Goldenrod and Sea Lavender. Mosquitos weren’t bad and interesting insects were nectaring on these plants. We spotted a black coloured swallowtail butterfly which is a tough identification. It was either a Black Swallowtail or a Short-tailed Swallowtail. Both can be found in this habitat. The latter is a coastal or alpine species only found in Atlantic Canada and perhaps at altitude in northern Maine. Photo attached and help in identification would be appreciated. INaturalist suggests it is a Short-tailed Swallowtail. Details are hard to see.

In the area of the Neguac Wharf we spotted a Black-bellied Plover and 11 Semipalmated Plovers.

At a quick stop at Oak Point we were able to spot a Bald Eagle, (which since perhaps June seem to have been scarce around Miramichi after being plentiful), a Spotted Sandpiper and a few Barn Swallows amongst others.