Nature Moncton Nature News: July 11 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 11 July 2020 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

Carmella Melanson shares a photo she took on July 8th of the GREY HERON (Héron cendré) visiting the Miners Marsh in Kentville, NS, off and on, since June 30th. The bird was originally found by Sarah Foote and its appearances at the marsh are difficult to predict and its whereabouts when it’s not at the marsh remain a mystery. It is a very rare visitor from Eurasia and also parts of Africa, with only a few North American records from Newfoundland and Alaska. It is smaller, paler and lacks the cinnamon on the thighs and bend of the wing of our adult Great Blue Heron.

An interesting comment from Carmella : « Grey or Gray? The american spelling of the adjective “grey” set aside, the name of the bird according to the ABA is Gray Heron. However, this is a Eurasian bird and the name of the bird there is Grey Heron. I like ‘grey’.”

**The Memramcook Arthur Street lagoon has been a RUDDY DUCK [Érismature rousse] favourite for some time now. Yvette Richard got an excellent photo of a male still in brilliant breeding plumage. There were at least two males there. It won’t be long before he will lose all this handsome plumage and look similar to the more conservatively dressed female. Yvette comments, like several others, her TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] very abruptly fledged, and not a sound from the nest box suddenly.

**A heads-up on the Nature Moncton field trip coming up next Saturday, July 18th to the White Birch Ducks Unlimited impoundments near Sackville. There has been a change in the bog visits, choosing a smaller nearby one, as the others off High Marsh Road were found to be too much to include with this trip. All information is attached below.

NATURE MONCTON FIELD TRIP

WHITE BIRCH RD IMPOUNDMENTS and BOG.

DATE: Saturday July 18^th, 2020 (Rain date: Sunday July 19^th, 2020)

TIME: 9:00 am

PLACE: Meet in the parking lot of Lillas Fawcett Park, off Morice Dr. by Silver Lake, Sackville

GUIDES: Roger Leblanc as birding guide; Louise Nichols who is familiar with the area

** PLEASE REGISTER WITH LOUISE NICHOLS AT nicholsl@eastlink.ca

Two interesting habitats to explore in one day! After meeting at Silver Lake, we will travel up to White Birch Rd. which provides access to an extensive area of marsh and impoundments. As this is one of the few areas where Black Terns breed, we may possibly see some of these birds flying and even be lucky enough to see the adults with juveniles. Waterfowl, warblers and other songbirds will also be present as we visit some of the marsh area along the road and walk on the dyke through a very large wetland.

After exploring the impoundments, we will turn our attention to a bog which runs alongside one of the impoundments where we will be able to see bog plants, insect life and even more birds. Keep in mind that much of this walk – and the walk through the wetland and the bog -- will be in the sun without benefit of shade, so a hat will be a good idea. The bog is not extremely wet, but shoes that can withstand some wet ground or rubber boots should be worn, at least for that part of the trip.

In addition, bring a lunch, water, sun screen and insect repellant.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

**Brian Stone sends some photos from his walk to two Milkweed [Herbe à coton] patches on Thursday, July 9th. The patch at the off-ramp of Gorge Road was hopping with life – butterflies, bees, Hummingbird Moths [Papillon colibri], and more. The patch nearby on Gorge Road seemed to have just bees. A Cicada [Cigale] flew to a branch at his feet, and he got some photos of it upside down. There were lots of them in the area, and you can hear them in the background of a video of butterflies that Brian has attached. He made that video clip of two ATLANTIS FRITILLARY BUTTERFLIES [Argynne de l'Atlantique] interacting. Check it out at the attached link. The NORTHERN CRESCENT BUTTERFLY [Croissant nordique] looked more white than usual underneath, and he first thought it was something different; however, it is possibly just worn. Two of his butterfly photos were car collision victims that he took home to his back deck for better photos. The PECK'S SKIPPER [Hespérie de Peck] was still alive and active, while the Atlantis Fritillary was barely moving. He found a wasp nest that had been disassembled by something. He got close for a close-up photo, and the wasps decided that he may have been the guilty party, and swarmed him until he backed off. Other photos of Brian’s that day are attached, including a GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY [Argynne cybèle] and EUROPEAN SKIPPER.

Brian was out again at dawn on Saturday morning to view the once-in-a-lifetime visitor, Comet NEOWISE. Conditions seemed better than yesterday and he was just getting warmed up shooting it and was waiting for a bit more dawn light to make better images ( the P900 doesn't like shooting in the dark) when a heavy fog rolled in and blocked everything but did get some documentary photos which are attached.

**It is so humbling when the shorebirds start appearing and one thinks surely we can be sure on identity of the first fresh ones by now. Three Yellowlegs [Chevalier] were hanging near each other on the shoreline at Neguac on Friday. Yes, Yellowlegs, but to be sure which ones? They were staying together, beaks seemed to be slender with no downward curve, a dove-like head profile, and impression was they were small for Greater Yellowlegs so calling them as LESSER YELLOWLEGS.

Gilles Belliveau reviewed the photos and commented it is not easy to decide on photos not actually seeing the size of the bird but the bill does appear to be about the same length as the head using the measuring tool in the photos app on his phone. Gilles photo is attached. An interesting useful app!

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton