NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Oct. 5, 2020 (Monday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
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**Deana and Peter Gadd were
driving to Escuminac Point on Friday on Highway 117 at Horton’s Creek in Baie du
Vin area. They saw a tight cluster of
shore birds. They were not sure of their
identity at the time as they were facing away and not moving about. When they looked at the photos there were 27 RED KNOTS [Bécasseau
maubèche] in a tight
cluster. Peter comments, it seems a
little on the late side for them to be passing through and has never seen such
a large number at one site. I’ve never
seen that number in one spot either but Gilles Belliveau reports counting 76 of
this species at Johnson’s Mills last year.
It strikes me we are seeing more Red Knots in the past few years and
especially this year (at least during my birding career).
Peter and Deana also visited
a field near Miramachi Rural School where Pam Watters had noticed SANDHILL CRANES [Grue du
Canada] on Friday. There were 13 of them there Saturday morning
and seen again late afternoon. A local
resident said they are annual visitors in recent years and they have been there
for a week or two. This sure seems like
a high number in one spot in New Brunswick.
Yet another species we seem to be seeing more of in New Brunswick in
recent years. Most of the birds in
Peter’s photo appear to be adult.
**On Sunday, a stop at the
St. Thomas wharf allowed Yves Poussart to get photos of a RED-THROATED LOON [Plongeon
catmarin] still with some
breeding plumage remnants. Along the
coast large groups of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT [Cormoran à aigrettes] were present. Most of them were juveniles
and finding an appropriate site to rest does not seem to be a problem in that
area where shellfish aquaculture is active from floating structures.
**Yolande LeBlanc has a GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur
chat] enjoying the fruit of
wild River-grape at her Memramcook home.
Yolande also has cultivated grape but the catbird seems to favour the
wild variety. There is also an AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle
d'Amérique] in its company
enjoying the booty as well.
**Fred Dube reports they had
one and suspect two WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine blanche] visit their Niagara Road yard outside
Riverview on Sunday. It’s the first time
they have had a White- Breasted Nuthatch in their yard in approximately 5
years, so a real treat.
**Bev Schneider got an
interesting puffball mushroom photo of the Barometer Earthstar [BAROMÈTRE
EARTHSTAR]. We don’t see this very often
compared to the other puffballs except in favourable habitat. This puffball specimen seems to have matured
appearing like the center has an opening in it and has released its
spores. It is usually found in sandy
soil and sometimes around conifers. When
fresh, the rays will actually close over the central ball in dry weather. There are a lot of these at Bouctouche Dune, at
some times.
**Lisa Morris got a
documentary photo of a white goose chumming up with Mallard Ducks at Centennial Park in Moncton. It would appear
to be a domestic goose on an adventure into the wild world. There were reports
of a few present there in recent weeks.
**Aldo Dorio is seeing HORNED LARK [Alouette
hausse-col] arriving at Hay Island
on Sunday and got some photos. Note the
hunched leaning forward posture of the bird in one photo which is a common
posture seen in the species.
Aldo also sent a photo of a pumpkin in the
back of a pickup truck in Neguac. This
is one very large pumpkin! Howard Dill
would be impressed.
Aldo also photographed a fall version PALM WARBLER and a
fall version CHIPPING
SPARROW [Bruant familier] in his Neguac
yard. The bill colour has either changed
to winter pale colour or this could be a juvenile that has molted out of
young-of-the-year breast streaking.
**The beautiful Fall day weather could
hardly be more ideal for a mushroom foray on Sunday, as the group brought many
mushrooms to be identified and chatted over, to Roger LeBlanc’s Notre Dame
property. Lots of great information
exchanged by everyone and followed by a great hike along some of Roger’s
trails. Many photos were taken of the
mushroom event, which will trickle out over the next few days. A big thank you to Louise Nichols, chairperson
of the activities committee for arranging the logistics to let this event take
place observing Covid restrictions, and as well to Roger LeBlanc for hosting
the event. A great day closed out with
an OSPREY
[Balbuzard pêcheur] perched atop a
utility pole nearby across the road, to get us all on its day list. It’s getting to be a late date for Osprey to
be still in New Brunswick.
The number and variety of mushroom specimens
brought in was impressive as we have so many species in New Brunswick yet some
expected species did not come in, no doubt due to the very dry summer
conditions. The brilliant orange oozing
of the Orange Latex Milky [Latex orange laiteux] is always a hit. This is an excellent edible. The Green Stain Fungus [Champignon de tache
verte] was found, where the fungus stains rotting wood a blue-green colour
however the tiny mushrooms that pop up from it are not often seen, yet it was
on Sunday in Louise Nichols’ close-up photo.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
