NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June
6, 2021 (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)
** Jane LeBlanc sends a photo of one of
our EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHERS that appear so similar to one another, it can be
difficult to identify them without hearing their male vocalization. The Least Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher and
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher are the most common with the Willow Flycatcher
less common. A good opportunity to hear
the vocalization usually gives the identification.
** More LUNA MOTH [Papillon lune]
observations. Bev Schneider comments
that she saw one flying in a hardwood forest in Mactaquac on Saturday. Bev comments that because of its size, it
reminded them at first of a warbler, and very beautiful.
** Susan Linkletter was able to track
down some old photos of interest. One
was a beaching of PILOT WHALES at Salisbury in 1932. They were very possibly chasing fish,
possibly salmon or gaspereau. There were
reported to be approximately 40 of them and they were buried right in the mud
by the bridge. Another photo shows an ATLANTIC
STURGEON caught in Salisbury possibly about the same time. I am aware of two documented incidences of
Atlantic Sturgeon getting through the causeway gate after the causeway was put
in. Another photo shows a 200 lb., 6 ft.
Atlantic Sturgeon that was found dead in the river in August of 1956. These are very long-lived fish so there is
the possibility of one getting up the river now that it is free flowing. Susan also sends a photo of folks fishing for
smelt on the Petitcodiac River in the 1960s.
** The WOOLY BEAR CATERPILLAR that has
overwintered as the caterpillar larval stage of the ISABELLA TIGER MOTH [L’Isia
Isabelle] will be in the process of now going into the pupal stage to transform
into the adult flying moth. Lisa Morris
came across one on the shovel that she had moved it from twice in two days. Other photos appear to show it going into its
pupal stage.
** Aldo Dorio is now seeing SPOTTED SANDPIPERS
[Chevalier grivelé] moving
about Hay Island that will be nesting at that site. Spotted Sandpiper and Willet are two
shorebirds that nest with us in New Brunswick instead of heading up farther
north to set up housekeeping.
** Brian Stone visited the Sackville
Waterfowl Park on Friday for a short visit.
The first thing he saw was an extended aggressive conflict between two
male GADWALLS
[Canard chipeau]. It was quite a disagreement! A baby MALLARD [Canard colvert] duck exploring on its own seemed to be
trying to reach something among the reeds, but Brian could not see the item of
interest there. It soon rejoined its
larger family group.
An EASTERN PHOEBE [Moucherolle phébi] posed for a portrait, and a male AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] and a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle à ailes bleues] were hanging out together in one corner of the park. Brian also got a nice portrait of a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes] and a cooperative SWAMP SPARROW [Bruant des marais]. A real treat to get this secretive sparrow species out in the open.
Brian also got
a dragonfly in flight that Gilles Belliveau feels is a BEAVERPOND BASKETTAIL
DRAGONFLY [Épithèque canine] because of the way the cerci (upper
terminal appendages) seem to get really broad at the tip (both upper and lower)
to suggest a Beaverpond Baskettail.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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