Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 5 2015

** Anne Marsch got photos of two CHIPPING SPARROWS [Bruant familier] and a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW [Bruant à gorge blanche] in Riverview on Saturday, at Jane Wood’s yard at the corner of Old Coach Road and Gaskin Boulevard. Jane said the Chipping Sparrows were there all summer but are now moulting into basic plumage for the winter. The beak tones seem very pale for Chipping Sparrows but other than that indicate Chippies. The White-throated Sparrow is a bright-plumaged adult but juveniles were noted as well.

** Dave Christie remarked on EASTERN PHOEBES [Moucherolle phébi] appearing to be on the move recently. Margaret Murray had a Phoebe around her Scotch Settlement yard as well, on Sunday. She has also been seeing EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] checking nest boxes in her yard for almost two weeks now. This seems to be a traditional fall behaviour of Bluebirds for folks lucky enough to have this species nesting.

** The BEAR’S HEAD TOOTH MUSHROOM (Hericium coralloides) is an interesting fungus that appears best this time of year on trees. It’s a very good edible when found fresh. Kevin Renton reports that he found two nice-sized ones on Sunday that are already en route to the 'table of haute cuisine.'

** Susan Richards comments on the flocks of waterfowl recently moving southerly down the Memramcook River towards the Bay of Fundy. She got a photo of a passing flock at 6 o’clock on Sunday. Susan is also noting the work of a woodpecker on a tree near her home. It’s just a few days’ effort, appearing to be the work of a PILEATED WOODPECKER [Grand pic] with large wood slivers and the tendency to be an elongated, rectangular cavity.

** Brian Stone is enjoying working on flight photos of TURKEY VULTURES [Urubu à tête rouge] and shares a few more today.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton