Nature Moncton Nature News: June 24 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 24, 2019 (Monday)

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Edited by Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by David Christie, maryspt@mac.com

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

** Brian Coyle has several things to share from his Lower Mountain Road location. He has had a RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] with a badly injured leg around his yard for a couple of weeks. It is hopping quite successfully on one leg and has no wing problem. Brian was photographing some things in his yard when suddenly a flurry of wings erupted, of a raptor descending on the pheasant. The pheasant fought it off and flew off with the hawk in pursuit. However, Brian saw the pheasant hours later back in the yard, seemingly unphased by the attack. There is a good chance that this was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes] that Brian got a quick photo of, because this hawk does go after Ring-necked Pheasants and is quite capable of taking them.

Brian also got a great photo of an Empidonax flycatcher that he was able to identify with certainty as an ALDER FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle des aulnes] by hearing its distinct vocalization. Brian has also had a pair of COMMON RAVENS [Grand Corbeau] that nested on top of a tall spruce tree in his yard. The young have presumably fledged, and Brian got photos of the two adult birds performing some interesting behaviour at the top of the spruce tree, appearing to be grasping each other’s beaks and grooming one another. A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flanc marron] also gave a great musical show.

Brian also took a video of a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER [Pic maculé] doing some serious hammering and also a video of his Ring-necked Pheasant survivor. Take a look at the attached links:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcauhrmum8ci3h6/DSCN3441.MOV?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ok8gylhv294i5eo/DSCN3217.MOV?dl=0

** Jane and Ed LeBlanc recently visited the NORTHERN GANNET [Fou de Bassan] colony on Bonaventure Island in Gaspé, Québec. The Gannet chicks are just starting to hatch, with many more to come. It is estimated that 55,000 Gannet pairs nest at this colony. It’s a very special place to visit, as visitors can go right up to a fence around the colony, for a very close-up experience with no disturbance of the birds. Depending on the direction of the breeze, it can also emanate an unforgettable odour! Jane quips that the egg under the bird in her photo reminded her of a potato.

** Another sphinx moth reports in. Margaret Murray in Scotch Settlement found a SMALL-EYED SPHINX [Sphinx myope] perching on a screen door on Sunday morning. The photo shows the signature posture and colour of this very nocturnal moth, when perched. Sliding the forewing over will reveal two silver eye-spots surrounded by a black rim, or it can be seen in flight, meant to frighten off intruders.

** Aldo Dorio got some foraging activity by MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducklings at Hay Island on Sunday. They seem to be very able to forage on their own, but still need the supervision and protection of their mother.

Aldo also photographed a CRAB SPIDER [une sorte d’araignée] in his Néguac yard. This spider does not build a web but usually gets around flowers, changing colour to blend in and lunch on unsuspecting insect visitors. This one must be on its way elsewhere, as colour change or camouflage is not in use.

** Brian Stone spotted an AMERICAN CROW [Corneile d’Amérique] fly across his Moncton yard, with a bird’s egg in its beak and two sparrow-sized birds in hot pursuit. He was not able to identify the nesting birds in the flurry of activity. Their nest was halfway up a tall spruce tree, and was difficult to see.

Brian also noted some leaves of a CHOKE CHERRY [Cerisier à grappes] tree looking abnormal and later found an APHID [puceron] infestation on close inspection. A little later, a YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] appeared on the scene to snack on them.

Brian also shares more plant photos from our Saturday visit to the Kingston Peninsula area. They will be doled out over the next few days, so as not to do a plant overload. Today’s feature is THYME-LEAVED SPEEDWELL [Véronique à feuilles de Serpolet], being able to see the one smaller petal of the four to lead one to a speedwell species identification, COMMON TWINFLOWER [Linnée boréale], COMMON WOOD SORREL [Surette], and MOUNTAIN MAPLE [Érable à épis] showing its upright floral clusters, whereas on a similar STRIPED MAPLE [Érable de Pennsylvanie] flower clusters would be drooping, and WATER ARUM [Calla des marais].

Nelson Poirier, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nature Moncton