Nature Moncton Nature News: August 20 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 20, 2019 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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** Roger Leblanc and Louise Nichols scouted out Petit-Cap Monday afternoon in preparation for the Nature Moncton shorebird outing on Saturday. They saw 10 species of shorebirds. They did see a great PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] show. A young Peregrine Falcon flew in a couple of times to try its luck. The third time it gave chase to a WILLET [Chevalier semipalmé], a potentially large target for a Peregrine. They watched the chase for quite some time. The Peregrine did not want to give up until finally, the Peregrine got it. It flew away and went down behind some grass where they couldn’t see it anymore. A few moments later, a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] flew in. They saw the Peregrine reappear above the grassy section with no prey. Then the Eagle landed just down the beach from them with the Willet in its grasp. They didn’t see the exchange take place, but obviously the young Peregrine was forced to give up its meal to the adult Bald Eagle. Louise got a few photos of the Eagle with the stolen Willet on the beach. Louise also attaches some photos of shorebirds. She got some good photos to compare some different species since the birds were all standing still and facing the same direction very cooperatively. Note the Bald Eagle in one photo has the third eye lid (nictitating membrane) half way across the eye. This thick membrane is there to cover and protect the eye when indicated.

The MARBLED GODWITS continued their stay at the Riverview Marsh on Monday. Georges Brun got some nice photos of them going about their day again in close proximity to one another.

** Brian Coyle shares some photos of warblers that do seem to be starting to be on the move. He got some nice cooperative poses of an OVENBIRD [Paruline couronnée]. A young-of-the-year of uncertain identity was photographed. The undertail white patches may match YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER but other species could not be ruled out. We don’t often get to see this detail so nicely. Brian also got a VICEROY BUTTERFLY [Vice roi] that several folks are noting now as they are in their second brood of the season. Two adult SPOTTED SANDPIPERS [Chevalier grivelé] appeared around the Magnetic Hill pond on Monday.

** Brian Stone got a nice photo of an AMERICAN LADY BUTTERFLY [Vanesse de Virginie] on Monday that seems to show all the ID features. Note the bulge out in the forewing, the two large eye spots on the hind-wing underside and a pinkish area typical of the American Lady in the mid-hind-wing area. Brian also got a photo of TOMENTOSE BURYING BEETLE. These colourful beetles are members of the carrion/burying group of beetles that quickly move in when something dies to forage on the remains. It is one of the reasons we don’t see many dead animals in the forests even though their lifespan may be relatively short.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton