Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 3 2016

**We've had some challenges getting identity of a BEE photo Anna Tucker submitted on September 25. It has turned out to be one of the cuckoo bee species and photo is attached today.

**Anna visited the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Monday to the note lots of YELLOWLEGS, a WIGEON family, the plant ARROWHEAD blooming and going to seed and lots of WAXWINGS checking out the berry crop.

**Sterling and Judy Marsh had a baby boom scenario in their Moncton yard in July with DOWNY WOODPECKERS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and some FLYCATCHERS too fast to identify. At one point it got so hectic that a parent downy woodpecker almost fed a willingly-to-receive red breasted nuthatch fledgling.

While canoeing on Sliver Lake in Sackville on Monday, a BULLFROG eyed them closely with the photo even providing an extra eye.

**A relative of Brian Stone's got a photo of a snapping turtle juvenile in Ontario. It's very dry in that area at the moment and a lot of streams drying up which may have this species moving about more.

**Aldo Dorio got an update photo on his yard EASTERN BLUEBIRD fledglings on Tuesday showing one to be taking on blue wing and tail feathers. Note the thickened edge of the bill, especially at the rear to indicate a bird recently fledged.

**Pat and I visited the Saint George marsh trail on Sunday. We often hear Nature NB members mentioning it but had not been there. A very beautiful spot now in striking color with the water plants like PICKEREL WEED, WHITE WATER LILY, ARROWHEAD, also COMMON ELDER, VIRGIN’S BOWER and lots more. A very suggested stop for anyone who may not have visited, particularly in the different seasons. The PINECONE galls were forming on many willow bushes.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton