Nature Moncton Nature News: August 12 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – 12 August 2017 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

**The hot shorebird report today comes from the near-at-hand Riverview Marsh. Roger Leblanc went to check out the area on Friday and was very surprised and pleased at what he found. As Georges Brun had pointed out earlier, the character of the marsh area has changed, to now have left a drier wet area and a pond impoundment to prvide ideal shorebird habitat. On Saturday, Roger identified 8 different shorebird species. The most surprising was 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES [Phalarope à bec étroit] in juvenile plumage in the impoundment area, and at very close range of approximately 5 metres distance at one point, to create excellent photo opportunities. He says many YELLOWLEGS [Chevalier] were seen, with approximately 300 LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] and approximately 150 GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier], some WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau à croupion blanc], and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé]. Some species Roger mentioned are missed, due to cell phone reception in the wind. The Riverview Marsh is obviously an excellent nearby shorebird site to visit, with excellent variety, and with shorebird movement just really getting underway, surprises could arrive there any time.

**Jack Perry sends a photo of a plant that often tends to give folks problems in identifying. It is HIMALAYAN BALSAM [Balsamine de l'Himalaya], that can end up growing chest height, with showy blooms. This is a non-native plant that originally appeared in the Saint John area, thought to be introduced from European ships’ ballast. It now pops up in other areas of New Brunswick, sometimes just a few plants, as it has done at Bell Marsh in Moncton.

Another plant we don’t tend to see much is the CANADA ANEMONE [Anémone du Canada]. This plant was photographed blooming during the New Brunswick Botany Club excursion on the shoreline of the Aroostook River on August 5th.

**The Nature Moncton Activities Committee has met to start planning for the upcoming season, and the slate is going to be lively. The first field trip will be a short shorebird workshop followed by a visit to a local hot spot, led by Roger LeBlanc on August 26th. The write-up is being prepared, with meeting place for a short workshop to be confirmed, as well as location to be visited. Another field trip to Taylor Road near Salisbury to be led by Dave Miller who knows that area so well. This is set for Monday morning August 28 meeting Dave’s white Jeep at the Irving Big Stop on the TCH at Salisbury at 7:00 a.m. This one had to go on a weekday as running out of weekends.

Great to get started again! The first Nature Moncton meeting on September 19th welcomes BLACK BEAR [Ours noir] biologist Kevin Craig, and more for the season will be on the Nature Moncton website and on the Information Line, as plans firm up.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton