Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 2 2016

** Carmella Melanson shares some of the photos captured on the pelagic birding trip off Grand Manan organized by Jennifer Pierce last Saturday, July 30, which was enjoyed by many. Carmella shows photos of 3 of the 4 Shearwater species that can be seen in NB. Note especially the photo of the MANX SHEARWATER [Puffin des Anglais] and the GREAT SHEARWATER [Puffin majeur] in the same frame. Also a photo of a flock of RED-NECKED PHALAROPE [Phalarope à bec large]. There are 2 more pelagic trips planned - one for Labour Day weekend, and one for the September 10-11 weekend, coordinated by Alain Clavette. Carmella also shares a photo of the BLACK VULTURE [Urubu noir] that had been visiting Miscou Island and also captured an AMERICAN BITTERN [Butor d’Amérique] catching a frog lunch. It’s usually hard not to photograph a Bittern, let alone photographing one at lunch!

** Gordon Rantray got photos of a LADIES’-TRESSES ORCHID in full bloom on Monday. This is the blooming period for this striking orchid plus a few others of the less common Ladies’-Tresses. Gordon also got a photo of some fresh looking OYSTER MUSHROOMS growing on a tree as they always do, and a photo of a blooming MONKEY FLOWER.

** Amanda Howe and Regine Robichaud got a photo of 2 just fledged EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l’Est] in their Fairisle NB yard on July 27, perched on their yard clothesline pole.

** Aldo Dorio got a photo of COMMON TERNS [Sterne pierregarin] on Monday, one enjoying a fish lunch. He also got a photo of the Empidenax Flycatchers that are hard to identify without hearing their specific vocalizations. He also got a nice photo of one of the EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l’Est] fledglings from his own yard nest box.

** Bob Blake maintains daily morning temperatures, daily highs, and precipitation from this Second North River home. Bob was away for 12 days in July of 2015 so the comparison records between July 2015 and July 2016 may be not be realistic; however precipitation levels recorded are.

July 2015: 61 ml rain

July 2016: 140 ml rain quite a significant difference !

** Brian Stone has got several insect photos over recent days that are now identified. He got good closeups of a PAPER WASP, that’s a solitary wasp that builds the small umbrella style nest, a POTTER WASP, a tiny Inch Skipper Butterfly, and a CLUB TAILED DRAGONFLY of both genders that Gilles Belliveau points out is either the LANCET Clubtail or DUSKY Club Tail which are hard to differentiate on photos alone.

On Sunday afternoon, July 31- while travelling south on Route 105 in Middle Southampton ,York County. David Myles observed a large kettle of Turkey Vultures circling over the Saint John River.He counted them and because they were ascending as a group they were constantly changing their positions it was not definite – but the count range was 14 to 17. They were in a nice updraft and climbed rapidly. David has have never seen so many vultures in a group in NB. They are certainly adapting to this area.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton