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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Gordon Rattray and Roger Leblanc
were birding through Albert County on Monday when word that the BLACK SKIMMER
[Bec-en-ciseaux noir] was still present in Saint John came. A quick trip from
Alma and the bird was waiting for them on their arrival, to depart 20 minutes
later thus allowing appropriate time for observations and photos. Gordon got a
nice photo of it skimming the water with its huge beak to collect food items.
Gordon comments that they tallied 50 bird species on their day trip.
** Last Saturday, September 21, the
Chignecto Naturalists Club had a field trip to Louise and Glenn Nichol’s Aulac
property. Besides having a nice outing they discovered a very special orchid
that is still considered rare in New Brunswick … the YELLOW LADIES’-TRESSES.
Although still considered rare, this orchid is being found at more sites. It is
easily confused with the much more common Nodding Ladies’-tresses which
normally blooms in July and August with the much more uncommon Yellow Ladies’-tresses
tending to appear later in September. The specimen that they found was in
prime, perfect bloom and Louise got some great photos of their special find to
assure it was the real McCoy. Jim Goltz is among the best when it comes to
orchids and Jim confirmed the identification. I am attaching Jim Goltz’s
comments below for those who may want to go deeper into the history of this new
special orchid quoting Jim Goltz. I am including 4 of Louise’s photos from
different views.
Quoting Jim Goltz
“I
think that the Spiranthes is Yellow Ladies’-tresses (S. ochroleuca).
This species can be very challenging to differentiate from Nodding
Ladies’-tresses (S. cernua), and for many years was lumped in with it.
However, I think this Spiranthes is S. ochroleuca since the
flowers appear to be creamy (not pure white like S. cernua), the lateral
sepals are flared outwards and the dorsal petals and sepals are curved upwards,
and since the centre of the lip has a distinctive yellow colour.
According to the latest taxonomic reference, the centre of the lip of S.
ochroleuca should have a distinctive yellow colour when viewed from its
underside whereas that of S. cernua should be pure white when viewed
from that aspect. Also, S. ochroleuca typically grows on well
drained sites, but S. cernua typically grows in ditches, along
lakeshore, and in sites that are seasonally flooded. There is a challenge
though: S. cernua and S. ochroleuca often hybridize and the
hybrids tend to be more like S. cernua since that species contributes
double the genetic material to the hybrids. Here are some links that may
be helpful for differentiating these near look-alike species from one another.
This
species is spreading in New Brunswick but is still rare here.
End of quote
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
BLACK SKIMMER AND DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. SEPT 23, 2019. GORDON RATTRAY
BLACK SKIMMER FEEDING. SEPT 23, 2019. GORDON RATTRAY
YELLOW LADIES'- TRESSES ORCHID . SEPT. 21, 2019. LOUISE NICHOLS
YELLOW LADIES'- TRESSES ORCHID . SEPT. 21, 2019. LOUISE NICHOLS
YELLOW LADIES'- TRESSES ORCHID . SEPT. 21, 2019. LOUISE NICHOLS
YELLOW LADIES'- TRESSES ORCHID . SEPT. 21, 2019. LOUISE NICHOLS
