Nature Moncton Nature News: July 10 2016

** We have several species of CRANEFLIES [tipule] in New Brunswick, with adults on mating flights at the moment. Debbie Batog had one of the more colourfully marked species perch right by the door of her home all day on Saturday, not moving as traffic came and went.

** Louise Nichols took note that a pipe to a water fountain, unused at the moment, had an earthen plug suggestive of an opening used by a MASON BEE [abeille maçon] or POTTER WASP [guépe maçon], very likely with several compartments walled off, with an egg in each. Louise also got an interesting photo of WATER STRIDERS [gerris] riding the surface tension on a pond. Note how one is carrying a few mites in the head area and also how their leg tips barely indent the surface tension of the water. The mites may be simply hitching a ride. Louise also got nice photos of the larva of a PREDACIOUS DIVING BEETLE [dytique], which is an aggressive predator of a variety of prey. Its larvae live in damp soil near water and the adults return to the water after emerging from the larval cell.

** Jamie and Karen Burris witnessed an adult male CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron] catching caterpillars on alders, while a fledgling waited nearby. Note the obvious yellow patch on the crown of the head of the adult, the only obvious yellow spot on this warbler. They noted another unknown fledgling, as well as a cooperative AMERICAN BLACK DUCK [Canard noir] in Hillsborough. Jamie also shares a photo of COMMON WOOD-SORREL [Surette], a plant they like to add to salads; giving a tangy flavour because it contains oxalic acid.

** Some bird feeder activity for Dave Christie at Mary's Point. He had a pair of EVENING GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] at sunflower seed feeders throughout the day on Saturday, a species that he has not seen at the feeders since early May. Dave suspects a failed nesting as he would expect youngsters in tow at this time of year. By contrast a group of 4 or 5 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] were actively vocalizing and foraging in some nearby spruce trees.

** The pleasant descending call of the VEERY [Grive fauve] is frequently heard near dusk and on cloudy days at the moment. Aldo Dorio got a photo of one out during the day on Saturday, as well as of a male COMMON WHITETAIL [La lydienne] dragonfly. The male’s white body and dark wing patches make it easy to identify but the female is quite different, with a brown body and a different pattern of wing spots.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton