Nature Moncton Nature News: July 18 2016

** Dave Christie saw a flock of about 40 shorebirds at Mary's Point Saturday morning, and another flock of about 8 flying about as the tide receded. He could distinguish SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé] and LEAST SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau minuscule] by voice in these flocks; he also heard a single SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER [Bécassin roux], LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] and possibly a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé]. The shorebirds are definitely arriving in swelling numbers.

** Louise Nichols had another great day at the White Birch Ducks Unlimited impoundment near Sackville. There are some juvenile BLACK TERNS [Guifette noire] now flying. Louise was able to get photos of them and also of an adult carrying a fish prey. She also saw a RIVER OTTER [Loutre de rivière] briefly that gave its distinct snort vocalization, also a SWAMP SPARROW [Bruant des marais], and a juvenile SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] and juvenile TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] were observed. Note the enlarged bill edge that suggests recently fledged juvenile birds in the photos of these last two species. Louise also clearly heard MINK FROGS [Grenouille du Nord] again, but a convincing photo could not be achieved.

** Aldo Dorio got a photo of a SALT MARSH MOTH [Chenille des marais salés] at Hay Island that shows the yellow-orange top of the abdomen and the black-dotted edge of the wing of this species, with the wings folded over the body similar to some other common species. The common Salt Marsh caterpillar should be appearing in the weeks ahead.

** I’m attaching some photos of a mushroom, CLEFT-FOOT AMANITA [Amanite brunissante] found on Sunday. There are 3 photos; one shows the typical hanging apron style partial veil of many amanitas. One shows the partial veil detaching from the top of the mushroom as it expands, and another the cleft in the swollen foot that gives this mushroom its common name. It is not a suggested edible.

I also noted the first CANADA LILIES [Lid du Canada] that I’ve noted this year. The blooms usually hang down but one photo shows the bloom from below.

** A story of a tree shows what can happen from one very small seed. Approximately 15 years ago, Nature Moncton member Janet MacMillan brought me a seed-pod from a tree, wondering what it was. It turned out to be NORTHERN CATALPA [Catalpa], which is a tree much more common to the south of us but that will obviously grow in our zone, as there are several around Moncton. I planted some of the seeds in the pod. One germinated and was planted outdoors when we lived at Shediac River. When we moved to Moncton I transplanted the small, at-the-time, tree to our Miramichi camp yard, and now it is 18 feet high and has started to become a showpiece of beautiful flowers in mid-July. We may have lost Nature Moncton member Janet, but the tree is a constant reminder of her memory. A photo tells the story.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton