Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 11 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Oct 11, 2022 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Leo LeBlanc came across a large strikingly coloured Polyphemus Moth caterpillar in Elgin recently.

It would definitely have cocoon preparation in mind this time of year. They weave their large oblong cocoon on the branch of a shrub. The cocoons are silky white when fresh but over the span of a few days they harden to become tougher and become brownish.

The cocoons can be put in an aquarium type container in a cold unheated area and will readily hatch out (eclose) in the spring (if not parasitized) to be released.

**Aldo Dorio photographed White-rumped Sanpipers at Hay Island on Sunday. Some members of this shorebird species tend to stay with us into late fall.

The bird in Aldo’s photo would appear to be a young-of-the-year bird showing the scalloped effect to some of the feathers.

Aldo also photographed an Eastern Phoebe. It was pumping its tail in signature Eastern Phoebe style.

**Josee Martin and Brian Stone share more photos of the dramatic fall colour show witnessed on the Nature Moncton field trip to the Mapleton Acadian Forest area near Elgin. The dramatic show will be short-lived so enjoy the photos while the show was on!

They show many more items encountered including lichens and mushrooms, some of which are being held pending more firm identification.

A huge Bald-faced Hornet’s nest was encountered which was empty as all except the Queen of the nest succumb with the onset of cold weather.

The group was surprised to find several neatly arranged piles of Jack Pine cones in one area. There was no evidence of them being chewed. It was assumed these were middens arranged by squirrels but there was some discussion about the possibility of this being done by humans to foil the imagination of naturalists!

Several mushrooms were encountered with labelled photos attached. It was a surprise to find a False Morel mushroom fruiting at this time of year as they are normally an early spring mushroom.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton