Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 7 2016

** Jamie Burris made some nice photographic observations over the weekend. A cooperative AMERICAN TOAD [Crapaud d’Amérique] - note the large significant parotoid gland just back of the head on the neck area. He watched a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] that would lay flat on the ground for a short time then jump into the air and then lie flat again. Northern Flickers are known to do anting behaviour to let ants on their body, which may be what was happening, but they usually just lay for a time and act as if they’re dust bathing usually. Jamie comments Warbler numbers seem to be dropping but did get a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masquée] and a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron]. He noted a MUSTARD WHITE BUTTERFLY and also was surprised to see hundreds of CLOUDED SULFUR BUTTERFLIES [Coliade du trèfle], and with difficulty got one to show an open wing from the top side. Jamie also made a trip to Dorchester to look for the Sandhill Crane. He did not see it on Tuesday but found apparently one has been in the area for a month. He has a friend who works at the Penitentiary who said he would give him heads up if it reappears.

** Anna Tucker shares a dragonfly photo that proved a challenge to identify - a suspected LANCE-TIPPED DARNER. This species has a diagnostic spike at the tip of the terminal appendage of the male. One of only two species in NB that have that feature. On close scrutiny of the photo, Gilles Belliveau felt he noted a blurry spike that was blending in with the dark background. Gilles also comments it has a fairly distinct pattern on the abdomen with matches for a Lance-Tipped Darner identification.

** The comments on the huge numbers of MUSHROOMS emerging a the moment keep coming in. Photos of many mushrooms can be very hard to firmly identify as several features have to be checked including spore print in many. It’s a great time to be out checking them out, it may not last long.

** Pat and I were in the Pokeshaw-Grande Anse area on Tuesday. The large sea stack at Pokeshaw is relatively quiet to what it was in the spring with Razor Bills, Gulls, and Double-crested Commorants were nesting. Lots of BONAPARTE'S GULLS [Mouette de Bonaparte] were in the Grand Anse area near the wharf. I did not get down to the Black-legged Kittiwake nesting site but didn’t see any flying the area. Was surprised with the heat in the open areas to fill a box with fresh HORSE MUSHROOMS but no photos as were on a lawn without permission to be there. A big surprise at day’s end while doing a bit of BASS fishing was to have a very large LOBSTER take the bait... as I like my truck, it was released after Pat took the photo, but surely was a surprise and unexpected catch !

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton