Nature Moncton Nature News: August 26, 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 26, 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)

** Jamie Burris recorded an interaction between a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD [Colibri à gorge rubis] and a BUMBLEBEE [bourdon]. It all began in their Hollyhock [rose trémière] patch when a hummingbird was feeding on the flowers and a bee got too close to the bird. The hummingbird started chasing the bee around and around. It was like watching a spitfire and an ME109 in an aerial dog fight. The bumblebee flew inside one of the flowers to escape, but the hummingbird followed and went into full attack mode, snapping its bill at the bee. As the bee got deeper inside the flower, the hummingbird lost interest and began feeding on the next closest flower, as did the bee. Jamie’s photos are labelled 1 to 6.

** Georges Brun sends photos of the RED-NECKED PHALAROPES [Phalarope à bec étroit], as the group saw them on Saturday. Georges comments on how much he appreciated Roger LeBlanc’s workshop and help from Louise Nichols. Georges also photographed a WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK [Sympétrum éclaireur] dragonfly while on the outing.

** I went back for a second try to get photos of the BALD-FACED HORNET [Guêpe à taches blanches]. This wasp is the one that is making the nests that are basketball-sized at the moment. They are fairly easy to identify from the white designs on the face and the rear, with black in between and a slender waist. Attached photos show that. This species is actually a yellow-jacket wasp, not a true hornet, despite its common name. It can be very aggressive when provoked but only if provoked, which is easy to do inadvertently.

Nelson Poirier, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>,

Nature Moncton