NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 7 August 2021
(Saturday)
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Edited
by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript
by: Catherine Clements
Info
Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**As a
heads-up on the regular Tuesday night Nature Moncton outing, this coming
Tuesday, August 10th, we are fortunate to have Dan Hicks, Director of Parks and
Recreation for the City of Moncton, to lead us to see some of the City’s
special trees. Dan is very experienced as an arborist, and has Moncton
completely mapped as to what trees are where and will have a lot to offer. A
write-up of the evening is attached below.
How is Moncton’s urban forest preparing for
climate change? Come check out some Carolinian tree species in Centennial
Park with a stroll along the Colvert Trail around Centennial Pond. You’ll see
Dawn Redwood, Redbud, Tulip tree, Catalpa, Sycamore Walnut, Sweetgum and
Flowering Dogwood to name a few. For those who wish to go further there are some
Katsura trees, Golden Chain Trees and what may be the largest Mountain Ash in
North America scattered around town. Meet at the top of the hill at the
stairway by the canteen at Centennial Park at 6:15 for a prompt 6:30
departure.
**Aldo Dorio photographed one of the two similar very
cryptic grasshopper/locusts we see this time of year suddenly leaping into the
air. The underwing easily distinguishes them when the take their CRACKLING
GRASSHOPPER makes the clicking stridulation when it flies, the CAROLINA
GRASSHPPER does not.
Photos of the open wing of the two from past editions
are attached.
Aldo also sends a photo of the CHOKECHERRY laden with
fruit as so many other fruit/nut/cone trees are this season.
**Brian Stone drove through Cassie Cape on Friday and stopped at a
spot that had a group of 19 BONAPARTE'S GULLS feeding near shore to do a
nice photo study of some of the different stages present. Most were still in
full breeding plumage, while others were in the early stages of molting to
winter plumage, and a few were showing the brown of molting to 1st
winter plumage.
Also
Brian photographed an OSPREY that had just caught a fish prey that
looked like it may be a plump MACKEREL.
**It’s that time of year when we start to see bald-headed BLUE JAYS. These are young of the year birds that have moulted to adult plumage, all except the dorsum of the head crest area, to make them look like something only a mother could love. A photo of one of my patrons is attached.
Also,
I’m noting a yard tree of ALTERNATE-LEAVED
DOGWOOD is forming its berry clusters. They will all end up deep blue. A
few photos are attached of the berry clusters and the leaves with the arcuate
veining.
The moth attractor light has seemed fairly
quiet the past few nights. However, a NORTHEASTERN
PINE SAWYER BEETLE did pay a visit. The literature says this is the largest
Longhorn beetle in the east. It is not considered a pest, as females choose
trees that are dying or have already fallen over for a nursery, thus having no
impact on healthy trees.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson
Poirier,
Nature
Moncton
