Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 13, 2015

** Jean Renton leaves some observations from their Canaan Forks camp. She comments a group of TURKEYS [dinde] have been around their camp in the woods and fields for some time. Of the group they have been seeing the number of has only decreased by 1 for some time. One showed up to partake at her feeders for Thanksgiving, a bit of a reversal of scenarios :) A PILEATED WOODPECKER [grand pic] is back checking out feeder offerings as well as RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse], BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire], and AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d’Amérique] are very actively foraging on the berries of MOUNTAIN ASH. Jean also comments she is finding lots of MUSHROOMS [champignon] in the Canaan Forks area.

** Clarence Cormier commented yesterday on many AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d’Amérique] and CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d’Amérique] harvesting the very abundant berry crop around his Grand-Digue home; however a scenario that he is noting, and a bit surprised at, is how many all tend to be ignoring the MOUNTAIN ASH berries and concentrating on HAWTHORNE berries and other blue and black coloured berries in the area he is uncertain of the identify of. An interesting scenario as these species are often seeming to favour Mountain Ash berries, which may be a case of availability. They obviously enjoy and partake of them all.

** We have 4 native snakes in New Brunswick named: Garter Snake [Couleuvre rayée], Red bellied Snake [Couleuvre à ventre rouge], Ring-necked Snake, and SMOOTH GREEN SNAKE [Couleuvre verte]. The NORTHERN WATER SNAKE which seems to be all around us has not been reported in NB. It is present in the Moosehorn Reserve that borders NB on the Ste-Croix River, and coming into NB would seem an easy trip. I am adding a photo that Brian Stone took of a Northern Water Snake in Perth, ON, on Sunday to show the appearance of this snake so, if spotted in NB, it will get reported.

** When SALAMANDERS [salamandre] feel threatened they will stand and wave their tail about. This is a ploy for a potential predator to grab the tail, which in the Salamander is easily detached and will grow back, letting the Salamander escape. I’ve seen them do this before but never had one cooperate for a quick photo of the ploy in progress. That happened on Monday. It quickly went calm and cooperated for a photo of it calmed down. There are also a lot of BARN ORB-WEAVER SPIDERS under the eaves of an abandoned camp. I noticed several were guarding a spun ball attached to the wood. On opening one, it they were full of small yellow eggs as the photo shows. The large mother will die when the cold weather comes and the eggs will overwinter to hatch and disperse in the spring

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton