Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 22 2022

August 22, 2022 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

** Rheal Vienneau shares a video that was taken by a Deplex lady blogger in the US a week or so ago.

Rheal comments it is a great home video for Nature Line readers to enjoy. Open the link below and enjoy as the peak activity we have seen this summer has become less active as the Monarch Butterfly amazing migration proceeds.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5qa0jcitcwsfs5c/Monarch%20depositing%20egg.MOV?dl=0

**Pat Gibbs shares a pleasant photo of a male House Finch enjoying a sunflower seed at her yard feeder.

Pat did not recognize this bird at first as she is relatively new to New Brunswick. The House Finch would be very unexpected at rural feeders as they are very addicted ‘city slickers’. They were accidentally released from pet stores in New York some time ago and have expanded their range northward along the eastern coast of North America.

** Lisa Morris photographed one of our several species of Carrion/burying Beetles feasting on a deceased small rodent on a beach. The rodent was discovered Saturday afternoon intact and Lisa went out Sunday morning to find the rodent too far gone to take a photo but noticed the thumb-sized beetles on it.

These colourful beetles, of which we have several, are very significant recyclers of deceased mammals and birds and can be on the scene very quickly. Some actually bury their targets while others feed on the spot.

**On Sunday, Verica LeBlanc made a trip to Escuminac. They were surprised to find hardly any activity there. Only one Herring Gull resting on the beach.

A lone juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper (Editor’s note: note the cleanly white fringed mantle feathers of the juvenile) was foraging among the kelp.

A Song Sparrow among the weeds cooperatively posed for a photo nicely showing the malar stripe and moustachial stripe of this sparrow.

A Cabbage White Butterfly was nectaring on the weeds.

**Aldo Dorio was able to photograph a Broad-winged Hawk at Malpec on Sunday morning. The Broad-winged Hawk tends to prefer wooded areas over open country.

Aldo also photographed a butterfly at Hay Island on Saturday that we have had few photos of this year, a ‘spread eagle’ American Copper Butterfly. (Editor’s note: not knowing the size from a photograph, this butterfly can be easily confused with the Bronze Copper Butterfly which is notably larger). It is most commonly seen nectaring on flowers enjoying the abundant goldenrod this time of year.

Aldo photographed an adult Spotted Sandpiper, who is a seasonal nesting inhabitant, patrolling the beach at Hay Island.

**It’s August and many flocking birds have their group size swollen in numbers with young-of-the-year birds.

On Sunday, as it was rather calm in the woods on Miscou Island, Leon Gagnon went for a walk to the Miscou lighthouse. Approximately 700 meters northwest of the Miscou lighthouse, two groups of Double-crested Cormorants totaling about 220 individuals were observed. A group of about 140 were lounging on a rocky island. Another group, approximately 80, were resting on the nearby beach. As they slowly approached the group on the beach, the birds moved towards the water and slowly, one by one, they would glide across the surface of the water. The operation was done smoothly, each individual waiting their turn and acting calmly. A spectacle remarkable for its beauty! Thereafter the birds kept their distance on the water.

The rocky island where the group of 140 Double-crested Cormorants was found, was shared with approximately 100 Common Terns. As the rocky island is a good distance from the beach, the birds do not leave their location despite the presence of observers on the beach.

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com