Nature Moncton Nature News: August 13 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 13, 2017 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** David Christie reports that Saturday was a damp day for shorebird watching at Mary's Point. However, he and others were out for a considerable time. Dave estimates that approximately 1000 birds roosted at the base of the point at high tide. SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé] were particularly conspicuous as they were higher on the shore, nearer the people.

There was no disturbance from PEREGRINE FALCONS [Faucon pèlerin] which is unusual. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK [Épervier brun] did arrive but was unsuccessful in capturing a lunch.

When the tide was dropping, a huge flock of shorebirds began flying back and forth along the north side of the point and landing on a beach that juts into Shepody Bay. This was in the 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. period and the birds put on a terrific show, without Peregrine Falcon interference.

Aldo Dorio was able to capture photos of a selection of shorebirds at Hay Island to include Black-bellied Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Sandpiper,and Ruddy Turnstone (note the frontal bib arrangement)

** We have a HEARTNUT tree planted In our urban Moncton yard that over eight years has grown incredibly rapidly, to now produce a potential harvest of plump nuts. We don't have a population of Gray Squirrels [Écureuil gris] in the immediate area but every one in the surrounding area knows the exact time to launch on that tree to glean the booty before they are ready to be harvested. That feast started on Saturday, and provides today's one photo.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton