NATURE
MONCTON NATURE INFORMATION LINE, Oct. 18, 2021 (Monday)
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Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**"David Cannon was playing golf in Irishtown
Saturday and paused to take a photo of some of the many MUSKRATS at his
golf course. They seemed to have little interest in the golfers but very much
enjoying the landscaping and obviously feeling no threat being provided with a
comfortable environment. A pleasant photo!
**Anita Cannon spotted a Common Looper Moth nectaring
from a Cosmos in her Irishtown garden mid-afternoon on Sunday. We don't often
see most moth species out and about during the day. It has been a bit
surprising to get submitted photos recently of the Common Looper Moth day
flying and visiting flowers. The florescent stigma (arrowed) is a feature of
looper moth species, and the shape is the ID clue to species. Not sure why we
are seeing more day flying at the moment. They do have 2-3 broods per season
and the one Anita photographed looks very fresh.
***Stella and Jean-Paul LeBlanc spotted
3 very prime condition doe White-tailed Deer Sunday afternoon along
Route 134 near Cocagne. Deer hunting season is about to start soon and wonder
if they know being a doe is a real asset as in most zones only antlered bucks
can be harvested.
Stella
also found 2 Ruddy Ducks in the Bouctouche lagoon on Sunday. The erect
tail indicates they are both male and suspect they’re going into winter
nonbreeding plumage.
It is
interesting to note that the first bird alert I recall on a Ruddy Duck in NB
was at the Bouctouche lagoon some years ago and folks came from far and wide
for an audience. Their population surely has done well, especially at the Memramcook
Arthur Street lagoon.
**Verica LeBlanc comments “We are lucky
to live in a country that has beautiful fall colours, as at Middle Island in
the Miramichi River. We also do not need to travel far to experience them.
On the Thanksgiving weekend there were a lot of trees in colour while others
had not even begun. We did however already have two frosty nights, and
rain that escalated the leaf drop. (Editor’s note: Jack
Frost does little to initiate fall foliage change. It is predominantly
length of day that will trigger fall foliage colour changes as nutrition to the
leaves is cut off by Mother Nature in preparation for winter). This was already evident in the trees in her photo
foreground taken at the Miramichi Marsh the same day. Now after the two
rainy days, some of the leaves nearby have totally dropped their leaves.
A beautiful time of the year, but sad as we know what is coming next.
Verica came across two little Red Squirrels playing tag around a tree, but too fast for her. Then she heard a little vocalizing, slowly made her way back to find one going to the tip of the branches of the tree, breaking off the cones and returning to the centre more sturdy branches to have its treat. She enjoys seeing these little guys; they are cuter than the black and gray ones Verica was accustomed to when they lived in Ontario.
**Aldo
Dorio captured a nice photo of a young-of-the-year Great Blue Heron in
full pose mode at Hay Island.
Not to be
outdone by a Big Lobster, Nequac has erected a Big Oyster to recognize
the major oyster aquaculture industry there.
**Another
heads up on the Nature Moncton meeting taking place tomorrow night, Tuesday:
**The
October Nature Moncton meeting will take place by Zoom this coming Tuesday
night at 7:00 PM with all details below:
Nature Moncton October Meeting
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 7:00
Marine Animal Response Society
Zoom presentation https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89989465110?pwd=WS9SVTZVaFJsZlVCMWZmOUpxU2Vrdz09
All are welcome to join in
The Marine Animal Response Society is a charitable organization
dedicated to marine animal (whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals)
conservation in the Maritimes through response, research and education. MARS
personnel will present information regarding our programs, the species
encountered and how our efforts support their conservation. Information on how
community members can help respond to marine animal incidents in the Maritime
Provinces as volunteers with MARS will also be provided. Volunteers and
community supporters are key to the success of this organization, and with
their help, MARS is able to assist live animals in trouble and gather valuable
information from dead animals which contributes to the conservation of these
incredible marine species.
The presenter can give a personal introduction at the meeting.
This
meeting will be a virtual Zoom meeting and the link for anyone anywhere to join
the presentation is
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89989465110?pwd=WS9SVTZVaFJsZlVCMWZmOUpxU2Vrdz09
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
