Nature Moncton Nature News: August 10 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 10 August 2019 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

**Dale Gaskin has had two EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] pairs use nest boxes at his Dawson Settlement site. One box fledged young some time ago, but on Friday he spotted another pair carrying food to another box. This is the latest that he has seen a hatch of Bluebirds. I would assume it could not be ruled out that this is the same pair, nesting twice in the season, or it could well be a different pair, as the Eastern Bluebird is not as consistent about its nesting time as Swallows [Hirondelle], for example.

**Chris Antle has been watching an individual RED SQUIRREL [Écureuil roux] in her Maquapit Lake yard, noting the pelage change it has made over the season, as many mammals do. She watched it change colour from its pale grey colour of winter to the more colourful brown and brighter white on the tail and helmet area of summer.

**Lisa Morris got a cooperative photo of a Darner Dragonfly [Aeschne] showing the top view. Not seeing the side of the thorax to show the varying thoracic lines makes it harder to make certain identification. In asking Gilles Belliveau’s thoughts, he suspects it’s a SHADOW DARNER [Aeschne des pénombres], but can’t say with certainty, not seeing more thoracic side view details.

**Jane LeBlanc got a photo of a Damselfly [Demoiselle] that Gilles Belliveau suspects is a candidate for a FAMILIAR BLUET [Agrion civil] recently emerged. The Familiar Bluet tends to emerge a bit later than some damselflies, and can fly late into the fall. Jane also got a quick photo of a raptor flying over her St. Martins yard. Again in consultation with Gilles, he points out features that suggest COOPER'S HAWK [Épervier de Cooper], pointing out the features… “the tail shows the more rounded shape due to the central tail feathers being longer and the getting progressively shorter going outward, the wings are straight along the front edge rather than pushed forward at the “elbow” and the head looks large.”

We used Gilles Belliveau’s expertise a lot in today’s edition, and appreciate his help.

Georges Brun photographed side by side view of an adult Ring-billed Gull and a juvenile plumage Bonaparte’s Gull. These were taken behind the Circle K location on Champlain Street in Moncton.

**Aldo Dorio’s EASTERN BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] family is still lingering about his Neguac yard since fledging over two weeks ago. There are two adults and three young of the year birds. The young are still showing their juvenile plumage. I’m not sure when the juveniles will moult into adult plumage. Any comments on that would be welcomed.

**Brian Stone sends a few photos that he took in Rockwood Park in Saint John on Friday. The cones of WHITE CEDAR [Cèdre Kakskus] are maturing nicely. A BLUE MUD DAUBER WASP [Potière bleue] posed. These wasps are not aggressive, and use mud nests to let their egg go to the larva which will overwinter. Brian also checked out a nest box at his sister’s place. It looks like this box was used by a FLYING SQUIRREL [Polatouche] this past season, which the residents were not aware of due to the very nocturnal behaviour of the Flying Squirrel.

Brian also captured several photos of the Moon and Jupiter as they appeared in proximity on Friday night. Jupiter also put on a display of some of some of its moons.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton