Nature Moncton Nature News: July 24 2016

** Dave Christie spent time on Mary's Point as the high tide was receding and noted a very apparent increase in shorebird activity on Saturday. He saw flocks ranging from 30 to a few hundred, and one group of approximately 2000 that were flying into the Shepody River. He drove over to check that area but with so many sites for them to land, he did not relocate them. Those would be very predominantly SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé]. He did hear calls of LEAST SANDPIPER [Bécasseau minuscule], SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER [Bécassin roux] and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé] also present.

** Lois McGibbon’s husband came across what seems fairly sure to be the nest of a HERMIT THRUSH [Grive solitaire]. It was built on the ground; the white appearing on the eggs is from light coming from above.

** Mike Britton visited the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Saturday and got some very nice photos of contented-looking AMERICAN BLACK DUCK [Canard noir] ducklings, a juvenile PIED-BILLED GREBE [Grèbe à bec bigarré], a YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] carrying food to a nest, and a cooperative AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d’Amérique].

** Aldo Dorio got a photograph of an adult SPOTTED SANDPIPER [Chevalier grivelé] on Saturday. This sandpiper species nests in New Brunswick and we should soon be seeing young that don’t sport the breast spots of the adults.

** I visited Escuminac Point lighthouse on Saturday. A few dozen shorebirds were around the point, including at least one RUDDY TURNSTONE [Tournepierre à collier], SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé], SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé], and YELLOWLEGS [chevaliers]. Small groups of NORTHERN GANNETS [Fou de Bassan] were flying past. Near Miramichi, I noted the first SMALL PURPLE FRINGED ORCHID [Habénaire papillon] of the season. This is a common orchid, often in wet areas. The group seen on Saturday were along the river’s edge.

I’m noting that the juvenile YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS [Pic maculé] coming to the jelly feeder now seem to be showing a lot of pale yellow in their plumage. I’m not sure whether it was always there or it’s a change in plumage. I’m also noting EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR [Livrée d'Amérique] moths around the moth light. They are similar to the FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR [Livrée des forêts], small- to medium-sized.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton