** Louise Nichols took in
the SHORT-EARED
OWL [Hibou des marais] show on Tuesday night on the
Tantramar Marsh along with others to find it just as lively as Judy and Sterling
Marsh experienced with owls continuing to land on the side and the middle of the
road. Louise comments it took a long time to get back because she was afraid of
hitting one saying she had never seen anything like it. Food availability on
the marsh must be very abundant this year.
** QUEEN ANNE’S LACE [carotte sauvage] is one of the many
flowering plants in abundance in roadside and field at the moment. That single
purple flower in the centre of the white umbel floral display is striking! Some
plants are starting to mature to show the birds’ nest look. Some photos are
attached.
** The EVENING PRIMROSE MOTH [La Noctuelle rose de l’onagre] has laid
its eggs on its host plant and caterpillars are emerging to feed on ripening
pods and can be so very cryptic in their green camouflage resembling the seed
pods. I was surprised to note one of the caterpillars sporting a reddish colour
to act as camouflage against the reddish parts of the top of the plant. A photo
is attached.
** It’s time to be thinking of workshops and field outings.
The first one of the new season schedule for August 27 to take on the magic of
the shorebird migration with Nature Moncton’s own Roger LeBlanc.
HERE
COME THE SHOREBIRDS - Workshop
and Field Trip with Roger Leblanc - Saturday
August 27, 2016
Even though we’re smack
in the middle of a beautiful summer, autumn migration (although some don’t like
to think about it J) has already
started. No, not so much those confusing autumn warblers or hard to
differentiate flycatchers yet, but shorebirds. Now the simple mention of
shorebirds brings a glazed look to the eyes of many who are just starting out in
birding -- and for good reasons! There are many species of them and they are
often seen in mixed flocks. Plus here, we mostly see them at this time of year,
when they are going into drab basic or winter plumage that is essentially the
same for all: a bi-colored combination of dark gray on top alternating with pale
gray on the bottom -- great for hiding from predators but not so good for
birders. Add to that that they are more often seen from afar, out in marshes or
mud flats, and it is understandable that some just call them peeps and move on
to more “reasonable” birds. But that would be an error. Shorebirding can be lots
of fun and we are in fact fortunate in this region that we have some shorebird
migration phenomena that are world class and of global importance. But all this
brings us back to the dilemma: How am I supposed to identify those little gray
birds all the way out there on the mud flat that just won’t stand still and kind
of all sound the same?
Well once again Nature
Moncton is coming to the rescue. On Saturday August 27th we will be
offering a practical workshop on shorebirds. Following our recent successful
approach to combine an indoor presentation with a hands-on field outing, we will
also go out to observe what we have learned. So rather than tackling the 30+
species that you might expect to see at different times of the year in the
province we will focus on the 15 or so that we can reasonably expect to see here
now. Our own Roger Leblanc will lead this workshop/outing and will share with us
the tricks of the trade that he has honed over several decades for putting names
on most of these shorebirds of autumn. In the workshop he will focus on ID field
marks but also habitats, behaviors and other devices that, all put together,
help expert birders more easily and quickly call birds. So if you have been
hoping to find something to do bird-wise to bridge the extravaganza of spring
birding and the allure of autumn rarities, this is your chance. Don’t miss
it!!
Saturday
August 27th
Workshop
from 1:00 pm to 3:00; Field trip will follow and will likely go into the early
evening, so bring a sandwich and some snacks.
Tankville
School, 1665 Elmwood Dr.
Registration
with Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca, or phone Louise at
939-5054.
Cost
of workshop is $8 payable at the door . All are welcome, Nature Moncton member
or not.
**
Bring binoculars (and a scope if you have one) and bring footwear that will
enable you to walk on a beach.
Nelson
Poirier
Nature
Moncton
PRIMROSE MOTH CATERPILLAR (IN REDDISH CAMO).AUG 8, 2016.NELSON POIRIER
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE.AUG 6, 2016.NELSON POIRIER (2)
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE.AUG 6, 2016.NELSON POIRIER (2)
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE.AUG 6, 2016.NELSON POIRIER (2)
