Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Sunday, 20 September 2015

Sept 20 2015

**  There are still lots of shorebirds in the area. Louise Nichols visited Petit-Cap hotspot on Friday and saw 12 species on the muddy side of the sandbar there. She saw SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé], LEAST SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau minuscule], GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier], LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier], WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau à croupion blanc], just one SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER [Bécassin roux], BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER [Pluvier argenté], DUNLIN [Bécasseau variable], lots of SANDERLINGS [Bécasseau sanderling], SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé], and the bonus surprise was 50 to 60 RED KNOTS [Bécasseau maubèche]. I suspect there are few of us who have seen that many of this species at one spot in this area. A few were showing remnants of reddish plumage. It’s a great time of year to see shorebird variety.
 
**  We have mentioned hearing the calls of SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] at this time of year lately. Barb Jennings forwards a photo her sister took of a Spring Peeper that occasionally visits their window sill; a thumb beside the peeper, in the photo, shows just how small Spring Peepers are.
 
**  Aldo Dorio got a nice portrait of a cooperative RED-EYED VIREO [Viréo aux yeux rouges]. Note the distinct white eyebrow bordered with black above and below, and the stout vireo bill. It may be a first fall individual, as there is more yellow blush in the plumage and the ruby-red iris does not show. 
 
   Aldo also photographed an unfamiliar caterpillar a few days ago. Jim Edsall suspects it to be a SAWFLY [tenthrède] larva.
 
**  Brian Stone reports that he had 18 AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique] hanging out around his Moncton yard at twilight on Friday and a dozen still there on Saturday. Adult and young of the year CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d’Amérique], 10 in number, were also in the yard.
 
**  I have placed black mats on the ground to attract snakes for the past four to five years, after hearing of that idea from Gabriel Gallant. The most popular users have been RED-BELLIED SNAKES [Couleuvre à ventre rouge], especially this year. I have found the inexpensive black plastic boot mats from Walmart, placed upside down, to be the most attractive. A photo of one these is attached and a photo of two Red-bellied Snakes together that shows the two colour morphs and also the yellow spotting at the base of the neck.
 
 
Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton
BLACK PLASTIC BOOT MAT TO ATTRACT SNAKES.SEPT 19, 2015.NELSON POIRIER

CEDAR WAXWING (YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR). SEPT. 19, 2015. BRIAN STONE

CEDAR WAXWING (YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR). SEPT. 19, 2015. BRIAN STONE

DUNLIN. LOUISE NICHOLS. SEPT. 18, 2015

RED KNOT WITH SOME RED HIGHLIGHTS. LOUISE NICHOLS. SEPT. 18, 2015

RED KNOT. LOUISE NICHOLS. SEPT. 18, 2015

RED-BELLIED SNAKES (TWO COLOUR MORPHS).SEPT 19, 2015.NELSON POIRIER

RED-EYED VIREO.SEPT 19, 2015.ALDO DORIO

SAWFLY CATERPILLAR (SUSPECTED).SEPT 17, 2015.ALDO DORIO

SPRING PEEPER.SEPT 19, 2015.VIA BARB JENNINGS
 

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