Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 5 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 5, 2018 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Brian Coyle shares several nature photos he captured when he was out checking his trail cameras on Saturday. While photographing some birds, he was startled by a WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] snorting explosively approximately 20 feet away from him. Brian comments that he was not sure which one of them was more taken by surprise. He came across a fresh COYOTE [Coyote] scat measuring from 1-1/4 inch diameter. With wild canine scat identification, an adult fox scat is three quarters of an inch or under, while an adult Coyote would be in exactly Brian’s measurement. Brian also came across a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masqué] warbler carrying groceries, and a fledgling. He also found a colourful BLACK AND YELLOW ARGIOPE SPIDER [araignée du genre Argiope] with a grasshopper prey well-wrapped. Brian also sends photos from the Nature Moncton field trip to Grand Lake Meadows that include the S1 species of plant, BUTTONBUSH, one photo hosting a MEADOWHAK DRAGONFLY. NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH WARBLERS were also common there that day in their favoured habitat.

Brian also comments that he is noting CICADAS [Cigale] loudly making their mating sounds, called stridulation in insects. They have been particularly noticeable during the past week on hot days.

I noted a large exuvia of a cicada attached to the bark of a Red Spruce tree on Friday. They come up from the underground and the adult emerges to fly off on its mating mission. It is amazing to note the small slit that the adult emerged from, to leave the exuvia looking so much like a very formed insect. Photos of it, removed from the tree bark, are attached.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton