Nature Moncton Nature News: August 14 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 14, 2017 (Monday)

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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)

** Dave Christie made a walk out Mary's Point from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Sunday and saw thousands of peeps feeding on the exposed mudflats on either side. A PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] flew overhead but did not disturb the many birds. Dave was back on the beach at 4 p.m. and as the tide peaked at 4:50 p.m., 30,000 birds arrived, and two Peregrines kept them moving about. One falcon knocked a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau semiplamé] to the beach but it managed to fly off into some bushes and escape. After a time, the Peregrines took their leave and about 25,000 shorebirds settled down to provide visitors with nice shows of lifting and shifting at close range. They were very predominantly Semipalmated Sandpipers, with lesser numbers of LEAST SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau minuscule] and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé], the latter obvious as they chose to roost high on the beach. Dave comments that BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER [Pluvier argenté] and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau á croup ion blanc] had been noted earlier but were not seen among the roosting group.

** Karen McDermott and others came across a juvenile BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête-à-tête blanche] that appeared injured at a local golf course on Friday morning. DNR came along and got the eagle which is probably now under rehab at the Atlantic Wildlife Institute. They wondered whether the bird may have had a vision disability.

Mitch Doucet reports seeing 3 Great Egrets in the Petitcodiac River this past weekend. He saw 3 from the Dieppe side on Friday and Sunday and shares photos of them with the now numerous Great Blue Herons.

** Brian Stone spent time on Sunday in his own front yard and found several insects to photograph, including two views of a HARVESTMAN, a.k.a. daddy long-legs, a FLOWER FLY (a wasp mimic), a very tiny, 3-mm long FRUIT FLY, a green plant bug, a PAPER WASP, and a LEAFCUTTER BEE. Good use was made of BugGuide to help confirm identifications. Brian continued into the evening when he found a PLUME MOTH and a CROSS SPIDER. The spider had 3.5-cm long legs. Females reach their maximum size as the season progresses.

** Nature Moncton's Activities Committee's chairperson, Louise Nichols, has arranged a birding field trip for Monday, August 28, to be lead by Dave Miller to the Taylor Road near Salisbury. The write-up is attached. This Outing is being held on a week-day as we are running out of weekend dates that won't conflict with other trips coming up.

BIRDING TAYLOR RD, SALISBURY

Field Trip with David Miller

Monday August 28th, 2017

Taylor Rd, near the Irving Big Stop in Salisbury, is becoming a popular spot for birders and no one knows the spot better than David Miller. In the last couple of weeks, David has observed over 60 species of birds along this road, including 18 species of warbler, 5 Flycatcher species, 5 sparrow species, and more. Special recent sightings include Cape May and Blue-winged Warblers, Philadelphia Vireo and Black-backed Woodpeckers.

Join David and Nature Moncton for a birding field trip of Taylor Rd on the morning of August 28^th.

Meeting Time: 7:00 AM

Place: Irving Big Stop in Salisbury (look for David’s white Jeep)

Bring snacks and water.

No fee for field trip. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

** I dropped by Riverview Marsh on Sunday, and rain turned it into a very short visit. There were lots of shorebirds there, especially on the impoundment area. I was able to get a few photos in between showers, to show SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semiplamé]. One of a LEAST SANDPIPER [Bécasseau minuscule] along with three Semipalmated shows the smaller size of the Least, it's slightly drooped beak and its yellowish legs. There were many shorebirds there. A better-weather day could provide a great shorebird watching.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,