Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 24 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Sept 24, 2022 (Saturday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Elaine Gallant spotted 3 Great Egrets in the Pointe-du-Chene area earlier in the week. Ray Gauvin was able to relocate 2 in the Parlee Beach area, east end estuary, at 3 PM on Thursday. Ray checked other feeding spots at different times, but only saw the duo.

**Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have almost become a seasonal memory at this point.
Jack Perry in the Saint John area had a straggler visit his feeder a few times on September 22.
As mentioned earlier, it is a good idea to leave one feeder up and fueled for late stragglers or an opportunity for a visit from an unexpected hummingbird species.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a group of Bird’s-nest Fungi at Hay Island on Friday.
These interesting structures are small and easily overlooked. They get the name as they resemble cuplike bird’s nests with eggs inside. The ‘eggs’ are actually little seed-like cases that contain the spore mass. The ‘nests’ are splash cups that disperse the eggs when raindrops fall in. The nests begin as closed, cushion-like structures with lids that open to permit spore dispersal. The white eggs are attached by coiled cords that will spring to disseminate their spore cargo when mature and hit by raindrops.
Chances are Fiona could generate a spore dispersal event!
Aldo had a Merlin keep an eye on him while he was photographing the fungi.

**Nelson Poirier noted a real swelling in numbers of American Goldfinch to the few summer bird feeders up on Friday seemingly preparing for Fiona's arrival. Other patrons seemed to be in regular numbers