NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, September 23, 2021 (Thursday)
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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)
** Roger Leblanc checked out Bis Marsh
in Dieppe on Wednesday afternoon for some interesting action. There were many PECTORAL SANDPIPERS there on the mud
flats however an uncommon BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER was with them and was easily observed, especially with a scope.
There were at least 1,000 GREEN-WINGED
TEALS in eclipse plumage so it looks like a choice spot for these eclipse
plumaged birds to hang out. Two NORTHERN
HARRIERS and 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS,
all juveniles, started hunting and were sometimes putting the birds in flight.
** Daryl Doucette got 2 great photos of
a RUFFED GROUSE. It is displaying
the black ruff on the neck from which it got its name as well as the legs
feathered to the toes (booted). They don’t often cooperate so nicely for a
photo.
** It surely is the time for colourful
caterpillars to be on mission. Aldo Dorio got a photo of a WHITE PINE SAWFLY CATERPILLAR near his Neguac home on Wednesday
this is very likely one that few of us have encountered. This species is not
native, having been introduced from Eurasia into northeastern North America. It
is now gradually becoming established. The larval caterpillars feed on the
needles of pine trees, especially the White Pine.
** The early appearance of the HEN-OF-THE-WOODS mushroom has been
unexpected. It usually does not start fruiting until October. Gabriel Gallant
found one earlier in the season. I was driving down McLaughlin Rd. in Moncton
on Wednesday and was very surprised to see a large, fresh Hen-of-the-Woods on a
lawn. This is a choice edible so it took only a brief stop to get placed into
my possession and become haute cuisine after taking appropriate photos to
share. This mushroom grows in association with oak. This specimen was fruiting under
a planted Linden tree, but Oak trees were approximately 40 ft. away. For some
reason this mushroom does not become insect infested and stays fresh for
several days. It has the brown leafy appearance on top and the underside is
white being made up of very small pores that make it look velvety white.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
