Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 17, 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 17, 2020 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

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

** As far as I am aware, the YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON [Bihoreau violacé] was not located Sunday, however lots of folks were out hoping for an audience. However the three little LITTLE BLUE HERONS juveniles are still with us and were enjoyed on Sunday.

** Gordon Rattray made a visit to the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Sunday. All three little juvenile Little Blue Herons were present and Gordon got several nice photos. Several duck species, YELLOWLEGS [Chevalier], and a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER [Bécassin roux] were also seen. In the plant division there were a number of HIMALAYAN BALSAM plants near the viewing tower. Gordon comments that he has only seen these before in the Reversing Falls Park in Saint John. Gordon got a photo of a blooming TURTLEHEAD plant. It is not hard to see how this plant got its name using a bit of imagination looking at the blooms. The colourful GOLDENROD SOLDIER BEETLE found Gordon's camera lens. It appears to be checking out something other than goldenrod.

** Louise Nichols visited the Chignecto Wildlife Area on Saturday. That site is adjoined to the Amherst Bird Sanctuary. She saw one HUDSONIAN GODWIT [Barge hudsonienne] there. Many shorebirds were around but it was difficult to get good views even with a scope because they were so far off, especially this year where the water levels are low and mudflats are everywhere, so the birds are very spread out. Lots of GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] and LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] were there, and a couple of KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir]. There were distant flocks of peeps that were just too distant to identify to species.

** Brian Stone got some MINNOW photos at the Tantramar Wetlands ponds recently and Alyre Chiasson gives a nice commentary. Alyre comments that he's not 100% certain, however by a process of elimination: obviously still juvenile with light pigmentation. Note the narrow, long, short, dorsal mouth and highly forked tail. He suspects they are juvenile ATLANTIC SILVERSIDES. They can tolerate fresh to full saltwater but tend to frequent intermediate habitats. They are very fragile when caught and almost impossible to release them and have them swim off. On the belly, and about halfway up the body, one should notice a silver sheen. Schooling fish can form large groups.

**Aldo Dorio got a photo of a fledgling GRAY CATBIRD and a SORA appearing to be a fledging as well in molt.

** I photographed a COMMON EASTERN BUMBLEBEE very busy visiting the bloom of the nectar-laden THISTLE bloom. Note the large package of pollen being carried in the leg sacks which will go back to the nest to be used as food for the colony.

** The PINE CONE GALL is very common on WILLOW shrubs at the moment. They are plump, thumb-sized, and off-white in colour at this point. They get the name from the resemblance to a pine cone. The gall is produced by a MIDGE FLY and if cut open at the moment a midge larvae can be found in the centre.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton