Nature Moncton Nature News: August 22, 2019.

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 22, 2019 (Thursday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com.

** Yvette Richard got a nice photo of the WILSON'S PHALAROPE [Phalarope de Wilson] in molting plumage that is in the Riverview Marsh pond along with the 2 MARBLED GODWITS [Barge marbrée], both of which were seen and enjoyed by several folks on Wednesday.

Yvette also got a flight photo of a group LEAST SANDPIPERS to show nice flight features.

** Roger Leblanc dropped by Petit-Cap and Riverview Marsh on Wednesday. He tallied 14 shorebird species between the two sites. The MARBLED GODWITS [Barge marbrée], as mentioned, are still continuing to be present as well as the molting WILSON'S PHALAROPE [Phalarope de Wilson] at Riverview Marsh. Roger comments how the species selection at Riverview Marsh seems to change day by day and it’s becoming a real hot spot this year, and so close at hand for those in the Greater Moncton area.

** Jane Leblanc got an unexpected photo of a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] and an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune], both perched in nearby trees to make for an interesting photo. Jane also saw a flock of 40 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé], a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau semipalmé], including a one-legged one that seemed to be doing just fine hopping about. Jane also got a side-by-side photo of two LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] and one GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] to offer comparison. Note the bill length of the front bird seems to be 1 1/2 the length of the head and seems larger, while the bills on the hind birds appear to be the length of the head and the birds appear smaller. Jane also got a photo of a TURKEY VULTURE [Urubu à tête rouge] recycling what appears to be a skunk at the airport arterial (Rte 111) in Saint John on Monday.

** Aldo Dorio got a photo of a young-of-the-year GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur chat] at Hay Island on Wednesday, showing its immaturity. He also got a photo of a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER [Pluvier argenté], still with breeding plumage remnants quite obvious. Note the honker of a bill and the white undertail coverts to not confuse it with the potential American Golden Plover. As well, he got a second Black-bellied Plover more advanced in its change to basic plumage.

** I’ve received reports back on two photographs of bumble bees from Bumble Bee Watch. One submitted by Susan Linkletter is the TWO-SPOTTED BUMBLE BEE which is not on the list of New Brunswick bumble bees distributed at the Festival of Nature presentation. The other, a NORTHERN AMBER BUMBLE BEE, photographed by Jane LeBlanc is on the list but its status is not listed. I don’t recall seeing either of these before, but may simply have not recognized them.

** Brian Stone photographed one of our several species of ICHNEUMON WASP in Keji Park on Wednesday. These are not aggressive wasps, and some can be surprisingly large and colourful. Brian also photographed a cooperative PAINTED TURTLE [Tortue peinte].

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton