Nature Moncton Nature News: August 17 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 17 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)

**Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Reserve and Interpretive Centre manager Kerry-Lee Morris-Cormier leaves an interesting commentary update on the shorebird activity at that site at the moment, and what may be to come. Kerry-Lee’s commentary is below.

“According to the calendar, it is peak season at Johnson’s Mills but shorebird numbers are more representative of the beginning of the season. Current estimates of Semipalmated Sandpipers are between 20,000-30,000. Interestingly, on July 31^st, the estimate was over 100,000. In early August, Peregrine Falcon and Sharp -shinned Hawk activity along with mild windy conditions are thought to have caused the shorebirds to spend most of the high tide period in flight or possibly in Nova Scotia. This week the birds are roosting again at high tide which is best seen from the interpretive centre. To date, researchers working at Johnson’s Mills have not encountered any juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers so we expect more flocks of birds to arrive soon. Other sightings this week include: Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant, Common Eider, Black Scoter, Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. High tide on Saturday is 2:15pm and 3:00pm on Sunday”

**Roger LeBlanc leaves a very encouraging message on shorebirds at the nearby Riverview Marsh. He spent time there on Friday, and very much suggests that people pay a visit at the moment. On Wednesday, when Brian Stone and Roger found the MARBLED GODWITS [Barge marbrée] there, they were at a distance and there were few other shorebirds. Friday was a complete 360. There were hundreds of shorebirds and variety really changing. There were many more Yellowlegs [Chevalier], SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS [Bécassin roux], LEAST [Bécasseau minuscule] and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé], at least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée], and the two Marbled Godwits were still there, but much closer and wandering about. Roger also saw a young of the year VIRGINIA RAIL [Râle de Virginie]. Roger suggests when visiting to simply stay in one spot for a while and let the shorebirds come to you. He comments all the activity was in the pool on the right side of the path going to the river, being quiet on the left side. All looking good for the August 24th Nature Moncton shorebird day event.

**Leon Gagnon shares more action from around his Wilson’s Point summer home on Miscou Island. He quite regularly sees an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle à côtés olive] which seemingly has a territory established there. One photo nicely shows the so-called “unbuttoned vest” in the breast area of this species that is very much down in numbers. I hope the abundant cone crop comments of a few days ago are for real. Leon saw a group of six WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié] enjoying the cone crop on Miscou on August 14th. Hopefully this is the advanced guard. Leon got photos of the adult reddish males and the yellowish females (or immature birds).

**Ruth Rogers was sent a photo of a caterpillar of the SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER [Hespérie à taches argentées] by a friend in the Ottawa area. I had thought we did not have that species in New Brunswick, but Jim Edsall advises it is thought they may be present in the Oak Bay area of New Brunswick, and Jim found one himself in the Moores Mills area in the 1980s. It may well be worth remembering what this species looks like.

**Jane LeBlanc shares a photo of a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER [Paruline noir et blanc] that is enjoying foraging in her St. Martins yard. Jane also got a photo of a resident BULLFROG [Ouaouaron] in her yard pond. Note how the dorso-lateral line curves down around the tympanum to identify it as a Bullfrog. Jane also got a photo of the full moon as it appeared on Thursday night at Quaco lighthouse in St. Martins.

**As a side comment to the two MARBLED GODWITS [Barge marbrée] Roger LeBlanc and Brian Stone found at Riverview Marsh on Wednesday, there’s also a Marbled Godwit visiting Covehead, PEI.

**I’m attaching a photo of a mushroom growth on the base of a Spruce [Épinette] tree. It appears to be the imaginatively-named fungus SCRAMBLED EGG SLIME [Fleur de tan]. It surely gives a flash of colour to bland grey bark, and yes, it is indeed slimy to the touch!

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton