Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 23 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 23, 2020 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

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** Richard Blacquiere got a great photo of the colourful BLACK AND YELLOW ARGIOPE SPIDER working at her web at the Hampton Lagoon on Saturday. The females are at their largest this time of year. You can see a wrapped-up package of prey, and the zig-zag stabilimentum stands out beautifully, pointed out by an arrow.

** Aldo Dorio got some photos of a male CAPE MAY WARBLER [Paruline tigrée] at his Neguac yard on Saturday. It’s still showing most of its breeding plumage, but a few hints of non-breeding fall plumage just starting.

Aldo also got a great photo of a RED KNOT, a shorebird we don’t get to see often here. Note the black primary projection and modest length bill. It is in non- breeding plumage.

**Ray Gauvin shares a few more photos of the female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD he necessitated after a window strike that flew off seemingly revived.

** Brian Stone visited the milkweed patch on Gorge Rd. on Saturday that was a bit wilted but otherwise in pretty good shape. The milkweed patch on the Gorge Rd. off-ramp showed a different story. That patch is extremely wilted and about 1/3rd dead and crispy. Many sulphur butterflies were present, and one fritillary. He found one MILKWEED BUG NYMPH. In the tall grasses of the off-ramp divider there were some large spiders, a BANDED ARGIOPE doing its mission similar to the gal Richard Blacquiere got of its close relative..

On on earlier drive around Turtle Creek and Caledonia Brian came across a large group of berry trees being fed on by a large group of 20 plus Cedar Waxwings, including a lot of immature birds (showing the streaked chest).

** It was pleasant to visit the Magnetic Hill Zoo with family on Saturday. They are doing a great job at physical distancing and one-way traffic. I’m attaching a few pictures. A nice display of a Piping Plover on a nest is at the entrance, an Ostrich head portrait, and one of the few places one would see Flamingoes and Mallard Ducks foraging together in New Brunswick.

** The Nature Moncton Shorebird Field Trip went off under sunny, pleasant skies on Saturday. It was a beautiful afternoon out at the Tucker Rd. impoundments. Lots of activity with geese and waterfowl. The group was treated to a nice showing from an AMERICAN BITTERN [Butor d'Amérique] who wasn't too shy to come out into the open. They saw 9 species of shorebirds altogether, including KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir], SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER [Bécassin roux], PECTORAL SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée] and several SPOTTED SANDPIPERS [Chevalier grivelé] in addition to the expected sandpipers and yellowlegs. Despite their best efforts, they didn't see a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à croupion blanc] although both Roger and Louise have seen them there on previous visits. The most exciting moments of the afternoon were several passes (all unsuccessful) from a young PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] which Roger thought might be one of the Assumption Place Peregrines trying his skill outside of the city. Duck species present included MALLARD [Canard colvert] and AMERICAN BLACK DUCK [Canard noir], both TEAL [Sarcelle] species, HOODED MERGANSER [Harle couronné] and NORTHERN SHOVELER [Canard souchet]. Many thanks to Roger Leblanc for guiding the group and providing informative commentary.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton