NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May
26, 2021 (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)
** Great to hear of another EASTERN
BLUEBIRD [Merlebleu de l'Est] pair checking out real estate. Wayne Corcoran in
Chelmsford near Quarryville had a pair checking out his yard nest box on Monday
evening. He did not see them on Tuesday but hopes they will return and complete
their mission.
** Louise Nichols saw some strange
things in the strong winds of Tuesday at her Aulac property. Louise took 2
videos close to the bog area. There is some standing water there and the tree
roots alongside (along with a patch of ground) were heaving up and down. The
second video shows some water from an underground well rising up and down. She
is not sure what it is all about that the wind would cause these things. Any
comments to explain what may be happening here would be welcomed. Check out the
activity at the attached links below.
Brian Stone commented “In reference to Louise's water video I can say that as I drove through Sackville on Tuesday on that very windy day there was water boiling up out of the manholes in spots in town and work crews were opening hydrant valves at several spots to release the pressure. Whether that was caused by the same thing that caused Louise's video or if that actually caused Louise's video I can't say.”
** Jane Leblanc sends a photo of a GREEN
FROG [Grenouille verte]. It does have a bluish-grey cast to it which is not
necessarily common but regular. She also got a nice pose of a CHESTNUT-SIDED
WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron] showing the characteristic features of
yellow crown patch which is the only significant yellow area on this warbler,
white facial patch, and chestnut coloured streaks running down the sides.
** John Massey recently came across a
SMOOTH GREEN SNAKE [Couleuvre verte] to allow for a cooperative photo. The
Green Snake is a small, gentle snake that appears to not at all mind the warmth
of human hands when held.
John also took note of a striking
growth of moss on a decaying log. In consult with Bruce Bagnell he advises that
it is the DELICATE FERN MOSS which a close look at suggests why it gets that
common name. Bruce advises that this moss occurs in moist areas and is
typically more greenish in colour suggesting that it may be drying out or
getting more sun than it would like in this case.
** Jim Johnson sends photos of 2
different CLIFF SWALLOW [Hirondelle à front blanc] nest sites in the eaves of
his Scotch Settlement home and garage. These are new sites that were set up on
Jim’s home a few years ago wisely choosing a site where they will not be
disturbed.
** Brian Stone sends a few more
pictures from his visit to Louise Nichols' Aulac property and the surrounding
area on Monday, May 24th, plus a few more from the Arthur St. lagoon in
Memramcook on that same day. At Louise's Aulac yard Brian photographed GREEN
FROGS [Grenouille verte], LEOPARD FROGS [Rana pipiens], BULLFROGS [Ouaouaron],
(Editor’s note: Note how the dorsolateral line curves down sharply around the
tympanic membrane in the Bullfrog while it extends straight back in the Green Frog
for quick recognition clue) and some TADPOLES in one of her ponds.
That pond also hosted several SIX-SPOTTED
FISHING SPIDERS resting on reeds waiting for prey to present itself.
A female PURPLE FINCH [Roselin pourpré]
came close enough for a picture and a TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] looked
out from a nest box overlooking a larger pond.
In a boggy area in the back of Louise's land
Brian photographed THREE-LEAVED FALSE SOLOMON’S SEAL and LEATHERLEAF plants.
At a brief stop before Louise's place
Brian imaged a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT [Paruline masquée] warbler that was
displaying its high level of curiosity.
Back at the Arthur St. lagoon Brian
took photos of a family of MALLARD DUCK [Canard colvert] ducklings and some
male NORTHERN PINTAILS [Canard pilet]. At a distant corner of the lagoon a male
AMERICAN KESTREL [Crécerelle d'Amérique] perched atop a swallow nest box as it
scanned the surrounding fields for prey to hunt.
** Aldo Dorio is noting CANADA GOOSE
[Bernache du Canada] goslings at Hay Island now. Most Canada Goose clutches
seem to have fledged by now. He also photographed a PAINTED TRILLIUM. From
reports it does seem like the trillium time window for all three of our
trillium species. The spotting on the leaves in Aldo’s photos is probably due
to the abundant pollen being spread at the moment.
** While our Painted and Red Trilliums
are very obvious and striking when they bloom our third native trillium, the
Nodding Trillium, chooses to tuck its blooms underneath its leaves and the
plant can be easily overlooked. I am attaching a photo of a NODDING TRILLIUM bloom
with one leaf stripped off to really show the attractive bloom in its hiding
spot.
** The recent May Nature Moncton
meeting with Karen Vanderwolf gave an excellent presentation on the bat status
in New Brunswick and bat housing was taped and is available for anyone who may
have missed it. The link to watch the complete presentation is below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i7xtj3d5jaicnxs/GMT20210518-220828_Recording_1920x1080.mp4?dl=0
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
