Nature Moncton Nature News: August 19 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 19, 2019 (Monday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition, go to <http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca>.

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Please advise the editor if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling. Note that corrections, deletions, or delayed additions may not always appear on the Info Line and email transcript but will always appear on the BlogSpot. For this reason, it is recommended that those wishing to look at historical records use the BlogSpot rather than the email transcript. The BlogSpot can always be accessed from the website.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at <http://naturemoncton.com>.

Edited by Nelson Poirier, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>

Transcript by David Christie, <maryspt@mac.com>

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

Sunday was another interesting day at the Mary’s Point shorebird roost. One highlight moment had a Peregrine Falcon knocking a sandpiper from flight onto the water where it twice dived to successfully escape passes of the falcon. This activity attracted a Herring Gull that caught the sandpiper one of the times that it emerged at the surface again.

** Yvette Richard got a great series of photos showing an OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur] making one of their dramatic dives to capture fish prey, showing how deeply they can submerge themselves before the big shake to shed water from the dive. This Osprey does not seem to have been successful, but putting on a performance like that, it deserves to be.

** Hearing the DOGDAY CICADA [Tibicen canicularis] and the SAY’S CICADA (Okanagana rimosa) is very common in the warm days of July and August in New Brunswick. Brian Stone got a photo of a CANADIAN CICADA (Okanagana canadensis) in the Gorge Road area of Moncton in 2018 that was recently confirmed by Bug Guide. I’m not sure how common this species is in New Brunswick, but its buzzy call can be differentiated from the Dogday Cicada and the Say’s Cicada.

Another heads-up for the Nature Moncton Shorebird Day coming up next Saturday, August 24. The timing seems to be perfect with several nearby sites reporting nice shorebird displays which will have lots of shorebird viewing to be had as a group. Contact Louise Nichols at nicholsn@eastlink.ca if you think you may be attending to facilitate planning. The write-up for it is repeated below.

HERE COME THE SHOREBIRDS

WORKSHOP AND OUTING

Date: August 24^th, 2019

Time: Workshop will begin at 10:00 AM at the Sobey’s Community Room off Elmwood Dr. (77 Filles de Jesus Ave) in Moncton

The group will leave at 1:00 PM from the parking lot of Sobey’s for an outing at Petit-Cap (with possible first stop at Riverview Marsh)

Presenter and Guide: Roger Leblanc

Cost (for workshop): $8.00

Registration (for workshop): Louise Nichols, nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** Those interested may choose to participate in the workshop alone or in the outing alone.

Even though we are smack in the middle of a beautiful hot summer, autumn migration has already started. No, not so much those confusing autumn warblers or hard-to-differentiate flycatchers yet, but shorebirds. Now the simple mention of shorebirds brings a glazed look to the eyes of many who are just starting out birding, and for good reasons. There are dozens of species and they are often seen in mixed flocks. Plus here in the Maritimes, we mostly see them at a time of year when they have gone (or are going) into drab basic or winter plumage that is essentially the same for all: a bicolored combination of dark gray on top, alternating with pale gray on the bottom -- great for hiding from predators but not so good for birders. Add to that that they are more often seen far out in marshes or mud flats, and it is understandable that some just call them peeps and move on to more “reasonable” birds. But shorebirding can be lots of fun and we are in fact fortunate in our region to be close to some shorebird migration phenomena that are world class and of global importance. So how are we supposed to identify those little gray birds all the way out there on the mud flat that just won’t stand still and kind of all sound the same?

Once again Nature Moncton is coming to the rescue. On Saturday August 24th we will offer a practical workshop on shorebirds, focusing on the 15 or so species that we can reasonably expect to see here now. Our own Roger Leblanc will lead this workshop/outing and will share with us the tricks of the trade that he has honed over several decades for putting names on most of the shorebirds of autumn. In the morning workshop he will focus on ID field marks, but also habitats, behaviors and other clues that help birders more easily identify the birds. So if you have been hoping to find something to do bird-wise to bridge the extravanza of spring birding and the allure of autumn rarities, this is your chance. Don’t miss it. All are welcome, Nature Moncton Member or not.

** Bring a lunch and a scope if you have one.

Nelson Poirier, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>,

Nature Moncton