Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 9 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Oct 9, 2022 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Frank Branch in Paquetville got a surprise on Saturday morning when one of his 30 Common Grackles visiting his yard was really standing out in the group and Frank got a photograph.

This individual being partially albinistic is an easy one to spot sporting its white headdress. The eye colour appears to be affected as well. An individual for certain!

**The females of several species of spiders are becoming quite plump this time of year with their egg cargo and as a result, they become more obvious and visible.

Lisa Morris got a few excellent photos of the Marbled Orb Weaver spider from a top and side view to show the unique markings of this species. This spider is sometimes called the 'pumpkin spider' because of the resemblance of the females' inflated abdomen to an orange pumpkin. Whether you like or dislike spiders, one would have to agree this is a beautifully marked spider!

**Pat Gibbs made an interesting observation of 2 Ring-necked Pheasants on her back fence recently.

One, with the long tail, Pat suspects to be the Big Daddy, father of the two broods that hatched in her yard this spring. The other one, with the shorter tail, she suspects to be one of the young-of-the-year males that hatched from either the first or second brood. The young males all now have their full male colouring, but Pat has noticed that 3 males have short tail feathers and only one male has the long tail feathers she is accustomed to, so she made the assumption that the long tail is the Daddy and the short tails are the sons. She will watch and see now to find out if all of them will have the long tails by spring but is assuming that tail length is a true indicator of maturity at this time of the year.

**Anna Tucker visited the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Friday. She photographed the colourful fall foliage creating an archway of colour along the boardwalks.

She noted contented Canada geese, American Wigeon, Gadwall ducks, and Red-winged Blackbirds. She saw many meadowhawk dragonflies and photographed a bright red-bodied male Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (Editor’s note: note the brown legs of this meadowhawk species).

**Mother Nature cast her kindness on the Nature Moncton field trip to the Mapleton Acadian Forest on Saturday with light showers coming to a stop and the sun breaking through just as the group started out in the trail. It was a fantastic day, and many photos were captured to enjoy again the members of Mother Nature’s community admired. The colourful fall foliage was at its peak to create an incredible backdrop. It was pleasant to be joined by Maddy Hogan from the Nature NB Fredericton headquarters and Josee Martin, a fresh Nature Moncton member to provide two more sets of sharp eyes.

‘Staff’ photographer Brian Stone shares several photos he was able to get prepared for today with many more to follow.

•the fall foliage sometimes creating a cathedral like ‘tunnel of colour’

•the bark of Ironwood and White Ash trees

•the unique naked winter buds of Hobble Bush. Being a naked bud, what is seen is the actual leaf that will burst out next spring.

•White Baneberry showing its ‘dolls eye like’ fruit and thick red pedicels. This plant is an indicator of rich woods.

•A variety of fruiting mushrooms which will follow. The edible Honey Mushroom is featured today.

•Many varieties of lichen which will be featured in later editions, once properly identified.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton