Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 23 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – 23 September 2017 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**Leon Gagnon saw and got some documentary photos of three RUSTY BLACKBIRDS [Quiscale rouilleux] from a distance as they perched on the summit of a SPRUCE [Épinette] tree at Wilson Point on Miscou on Friday. Rusty Blackbirds are always special to see; their numbers have declined dramatically. Leon also photographed a BLACK AND YELLOW ARGIOPE SPIDER. This relatively common colourful Spider are at their peak size at the moment, thus more apt to be noticed.

**Ray Gauvin photographed a NORTHERN PAPER WASP on Friday on the Parlee Beach walking trail. This is a social Wasp that builds a nest looking a bit like an upside-down umbrella. The body of the nest has many large openings; the nest is often constructed under eaves or overhangs.

**Some interesting return comments on the black morph GRAY SQUIRRELS [Écureuil gris] in New Brunswick: Bev Schneider reports she has never seen any in Fredericton. Jack Perry in West Saint John reports he has been seeing more of the black morph for the past three years there, with a marked increase this past summer. He noted one on Thursday that seemed half-way between grey and black; otherwise, those he has seen were decidedly black. A third comment came from Roger LeBlanc. He was shooting a documentary film on nature in New Brunswick for several days at different places in New Brunswick several years ago, and did home in on Gray Squirrels. The only black morph ones he came across were in Fredericton. Roger comments he has seen more of them in big cities like Montreal.

**Brian Stone cruised the trails behind Crandall University again on Friday, to note more new items. He noted an abundance of Mushrooms, but one is very worth concentrating on – the KING BOLETE. This tends to be a large, thick-stalked Bolete, chestnut-brown on top, pale white going to yellow tubes beneath.. It is a sought-after edible, and quite expensive to purchase at places that sell it. Brian captured a feature that is very helpful in identifying this Mushroom: note the net-like appearance where the stalk meets the cap. The only other Bolete that has this feature is the BITTER BOLETE, that tends to have pinkish tubes underneath, is not as robust, and tastes bitter when tasting a small piece of the peel. The King Bolete is definitely a good Mushroom to learn and become familiar with – the reason for today’s more serious look. One more note on the King Bolete – when it’s being prepared for the table it’s best to slice it into thin slices and sauté it in butter in a hot pan.

Brian also got some photos of the Warblers BLACK-THROATED GREEN [Paruline à gorge noire] and a tail-flipping PAggmassesLM WARBLER [Paruline à couronne rousse]. Brian also got some photos of slug egg masses. These egg masses can sometimes be easily confused with the grape-like clusters of the Red-backed Salamander.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton