Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 4, 2015

** Bob Blake noted a large influx of CHIPPING SPARROWS [Bruant familier] in their Second North River yard on Friday, all in basic plumage, as a migratory wave. Maybe someone will get a photo soon to remind us all of what the colourful Chipping Sparrow looks like in its non-breeding plumage. There are sometimes a few that stay with us in winter at feeder yards. It’s always worth a second look to make sure one is not the similar CLAY-COLORED SPARROW [Bruant des plaines].

** Dave Christie points out that in the zoomed-in photo that Georges Brun shared yesterday of ducks and a lone sandpiper, that the sandpiper is an adult DUNLIN [Bécasseau variable], as it still shows a black patch on its belly as well as the long-billed Dunlin profile.

** Aldo Dorio got a nice photo of a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune], a fall issue, on Saturday, with views from below and from the side, as well as a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne rubis]. Note the shape of the eye-ring in Aldo’s photo.

** Brian Stone is visiting Ontario but his camera is still at work. He shares items just as apt to be in New Brunswick as there. He noted a SUNDOG [faux soleil] appearing in the contrail of an airplane on one day, and the day after, saw a sky event he had not seen before, a SOLAR HALO [halo solaire] with sundogs on either side at the same time. He also photographed a CLOUDED SULPHUR [Coliade du trèfle] butterfly, a TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge] in light that really emphasizes the pale rear portion of the wing, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune] of fall issue, and a RED-OSIER DOGWOOD [Cornouiller stolonifère] bush heavily laden with its white berries.

As well, he photographed a BLACK-LEGGED TICK [Tique aux pattes noires], the species that has the potential to carry the LYME DISEASE [maladie de Lyme] organism; this tick is prevalent at this time of year.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton