Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 2 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, September 2, 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)

** Elaine Gallant spotted two GREAT EGRETS [Grande Aigrette] at Pointe-du-Chêne on Sunday evening, near the current tern colony location. They seemed to be disturbed by the noisy terns and flew off in the direction of the “Big Lobster” at the Foch Bridge.

** Leigh Eaton saw a small weed among his herbs growing in a railing planter. He pulled the weed and lightly crushed a leaf, then put it up to his nose to determine if it might be an aromatic herb. Leigh instantly felt pain and discomfort as the saw-toothed leaf touched his upper lip, and apparently penetrated the skin. His lip turned red with moderate pain and lasted a couple of days before subsiding. The plant that caused the problem is a STINGING NETTLE [Grande Ortie], of which Leigh got a photo of the leaves.

Regarding avian visitors, Leigh still has a quantity of the usual varieties, and interestingly, HOUSE SPARROWS [Moineau domestique] certainly are in no danger of extinction at his Riverview site. He is seeing lots of SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur] that look like small brown chickens without their tail feathers. He used to think that they likely had a narrow escape from a predator but now suspects that it’s just a stage in obtaining new feathers.

Leigh also got a photo of a PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY nectaring on a yard Coneflower bloom.

** David Cannon heard two PILEATED WOODPECKERS [Grand Pic] carving up a dead birch tree beside his Ammon Road lawn on Sunday morning. They were making quite a racket and not really being careful about the quality of their work. One male posed for the nice photo attached.

** Jane LeBlanc did a nice job of getting some underside photos to show the gills and a spore print of a group of the mushrooms she noted a few days ago in St. Martins. Everything favours a more definitive identification of the JACK-O-LANTERN MUSHROOM [Clitocybe de l’olivier]. This mushroom is inedible. It’s not deadly but can cause a gastric upset that could last a few hours to a few days. It is important to know this mushroom as it has similarities to the sought after and much more commonly found CHANTERELLE [Chanterelle commune]. The gills do descend the stalk a short distance but not as far as on the Chanterelle. The gills are much thinner on the Jack-o-lantern than the thick ropey gills of the Chanterelle. The Jack-o-lantern tends to grow in tighter clumps than the loosely arranged Chanterelle. When fresh, the Jack-o-lantern, if placed in a dark room will give off an eerie green glow, that gave it its original name.

** A visit to the Miramichi Marsh on Sunday netted a small, but nice, selection of shorebirds. At least one SOLITARY SANDPIPER [Chevalier solitaire] was present, and possibly two, unless one followed me around. GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] were present and LEAST SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau minuscule]. I’m attaching some of the Least Sandpiper photos that show variations, and one to compare a Least Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpiper side by side.

Some CHOKE CHERRY [Cerisier de Virginie] fruit had ripened to black in colour, and WILD-RAISIN [Viorne cassinoide] fruit was showing a blend of ripe blue fruit and ripening pink fruit from the same plant. Blooming Eye-bright [Euphrasie] was very abundant as well.

The prize of the day was finding 50+ YELLOW LADIES’-TRESSES ORCHIDS in peak bloom in a vacant parking lot near the marsh. It would seem like an unlikely spot to host this very uncommon orchid in New Brunswick; however, some plants were found at that site this time last year at this time. It is a late appearing orchid that is to be expected. They have obviously flourished with more plants present this year. Rose Pagonia and White Fringed Orchid were found at the same site by Jim Saunders earlier in the season, again a surprise to find orchids happily enjoying whatever they have found at this unexpected habitat. Several photos of the orchid are attached to show the identification features. Jim Goltz has confirmed the identification.

Nelson Poirier, <nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com>,

Nature Moncton