Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 7 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – 7 October 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)

**Lots of folks were staked out on Friday to get an audience with the CRESTED CARACARA [Caracara du Nord] that seems to have happily settled in at Shepody-Hopewell Hill. I think all were rewarded by getting nice observations at various times of the day, and at various locations near its frequented spots. Thanks to Wendy Sullivan for the nice report of activity.

**Hay Island seems to have had a near fallout of HUDSONIAN GODWITS [Barge hudsonienne] this year. Over the past several years, it was a treat to see one or two Hudsonian Godwits travelling with other shorebirds. Aldo Dorio has seen up to 6 at once there recently, but Peter Gadd visited Hay Island on Friday to find a surprising 14 Hudsonian Godwits in the most eastern pond near the lighthouse, and got some great photos. Peter also got a nice photo of a LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Hay Island. Great to see them start joining us.

**Ray Gauvin was out on Thursday night to catch the striking fall HARVEST MOON ascending the night sky.

**Brian Stone made his visit to Mapleton Park on Friday, to note and photograph the fall colour show in its prime. A SPREADWING DAMSELFLY enjoying some late fall warmth, a large area of ripe BITTERSWEET NIGHTSHADE [Morelle douce-amère] berries vining on a shrub which appears to be an ALDER [Aulne], and a WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR [Chenille d'Isia Isabelle], which is the larval stage of the ISABELLA TIGER MOTH that will overwinter as the larval caterpillar.

**On Thursday afternoon, I noted a shrub of WINTERBERRY HOLLY [Houx verticillé] more heavily laden with fruit than I usually see, growing happily by itself in a wet area of CATTAILS [Quenouille] off the Shepody Marsh Road. These berries will cling to the branches most of the winter, long after the leaves have dropped, and will be consumed by fruit-connoisseur winter birds, although they don’t seem to be a berry of first choice.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton