NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October
28, 2020 (Wednesday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
** Frank Branch had a very pleasant
surprise come to his Paquetville feeder yard when he had a male NORTHERN
CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] visit his yard on October 18th and 19th
and on Tuesday afternoon a female dropped in. Frank comments that he is usually
happy to have one cardinal come by every 4 or 5 years so a pair was a real
treat.
** Daryl Doucet had a flock of 15 EVENING
GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] drop by his Moncton feeder yard on Tuesday with
males outnumbering females 3 to 1. Daryl comments that they sure added a flair
of colour to his yard. It’s a nice sign of possible Evening Grosbeak visits to
come.
** Gabriel Gallant checked under an oak
tree in the Moncton region that he keeps an eye on each year for
HEN-OF-THE-WOODS mushrooms. He found one weighing 9 lbs and took a photo.
Unfortunately 2 oak trees in the Miramichi area that he found some under in
previous years did not produce any this fall, likely due to the more dry
conditions in the that part of the province. This is prime time for the
Hen-of-the-woods to fruit. It is a delicious edible that is easy to identify
and can become surprisingly large. This mushroom species is always found
associated with the Oak tree.
** Jane Leblanc got a photo of a COMMON
LOON [Plongeon huard] in non-breeding plumage in the bay off St. Martins on
Tuesday. It takes a Common Loon 2 to 3 years to mature into breeding plumage so
this is probably one yet to mature as adults should still have strong remnants
of breeding plumage. Jane also got a close up of a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
[Sittelle à poitrine rousse] in her yard. I am noting the yellow nodules on the
foot and I am not sure if this is normal or possibly Avian Pox. Jane has
several Witch Hazel shrubs in her yard. This shrub normally blooms the yellow
blooms at this time of year and even later. Last year’s developed seed/fruit
capsules are as well still attached and unopened.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
