Nature Moncton Nature News: July 11 2016

** Life around Louise Nichol’s Sackville pond continues to be a community of its own. There are a lot of BULLFROGS [Ouaouaron] present and there was some thought that they might over-run the GREEN FROGS [Grenouille verte], but that does not seem to be the case as there is an abundance of both. Some Bullfrogs (tadpoles from previous years) are transforming to adults, as Louise is seeing ones with legs developed but the tail not yet absorbed. Also a lot of very small tadpoles are appearing, to suggest Green Frogs, as she rarely hears or sees evidence of WOOD FROGS [Grenouille des bois], SPRING PEEPERS [Rainette crucifère] or N. LEOPARD FROGS [Grenouille léopard] in this pond; Bullfrog egg masses probably have not got to this stage yet, while the earlier active Green Frogs could.

Louise also was able to get some very good photos of a EUROPEAN SKIPPER [Hespérie des graminées] that was moving slowly in the cool temperatures of Sunday. The PREDACIOUS DIVING BEETLE [dytique] larva that Louise photographed a few days earlier was accidentally not included in yesterday’s edition. Those photos are added today.

** Aldo Dorio got a close-up photo of one of the KILLDEERS [Pluvier kildir] spending the season at Hay Island. Hopefully, chicks will soon be out and about there. There are also reports of more SHOREBIRDS arriving at Hay Island.

** Another note on summer bird-feeding; Bob Blake comments that his Second North River feeder yard is very lively, with ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose], RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes], and approximately 20 PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] cleaning out a Magnum feeder of sunflower seed every day.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton