Nature Moncton Nature News: August 10 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

August 10, 2023

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise both the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and the proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com . (Under reconstruction at moment)

Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**The Shediac Bay Watershed Group maintains a nesting platform beside the walking bridge in Pointe Du Chene.

On August 8, Elaine Gallant was able to get a photograph of some successful Common Tern families.

This project appears to be very successful and rewarding.

**Mac Wilmot comments, “This handsome guest (Skunk) was kind enough to show up at suppertime when the light was still good. They had a pleasant, uneventful visit. Skunks are good critters if you don't step on them in the dark!”

**Clarence Cormier had a pair of Eastern Kingbirds arrive earlier this week at his Grande-Digue site. Clarence comments they arrive every year in early August and it is always great seeing them.

He also suspected a juvenile Bay-breasted Warbler landed at his feet and also a ground foraging Hermit Thrush, both of which presented a challenge to get a clear photograph.

**Mac Wilmot noted some pathology in the leaves of an Oak sapling.

Consultation with Doug Hiltz at the Maritime College of Forest Technology provided an excellent response, and I am quoting Doug’s explanation below:

“I’m fairly certain what we are looking at on this Oak leaf is damage caused by leaf skeletonizers. These are tiny insect larvae (usually from a species of moth or sawfly) that excavate the mesophyll (soft tissue), which contains most of the leaves’ chlorophyll from the middle layers of leaves. This leaves behind the very thin outer layer of the leaf (the cuticle) and the veins. The lack of chlorophyll is what causes the very pale colour. This damage is most likely very fresh, as it doesn’t usually take long for the excavated area to turn brown and deteriorate.

There are some leaf diseases that cause very clearly delineated areas of discolouration, almost to the point that it doesn’t seem natural. But these usually cause yellow, brown, or black areas of dead tissue that have smoother edges/outlines. The very pale colour and the slightly irregular/ragged edge to the discoloured area make me almost certain it is leaf skeletonizers.”

Thank you Doug Hiltz!

**Brian Stone took photos during the Nature Moncton Wednesday Walk at the Salisbury Government Rd. lagoons and wetlands. The weather was humid, and the sky was cloudy at times, and some photos suffer from dim light blur. The group first checked the sewage lagoons to find many Wood Ducks, some Mallards surrounding a Yellowlegs and 2 Spotted Sandpipers. What Brian thought at the time was a late remaining Tree Swallow turned out to be an Eastern Kingbird perching on the chain fence surrounding the lagoon. Other kingbirds were soon noticed lower down on the ponds, searching for insects and perching on dead tree branches.

Down the hills at the ponds 2 adult Bald Eagles were alternately perching and flying overhead while an immature Bald Eagle sat in a tree, keeping a sharp eye on the events. A distant group of ducks kept the Wednesday Walkers busy looking for identifications as 5 plus Nighthawks circled high overhead, giving a certain photographer a bit of neck strain. Isabelle, the youngest but most enthusiastic walker, brought several interesting items to the group's attention during the walk, including tiny Spring Peeper Frogs, a larger American Toad, and other small critters not photographed.

A female American Redstart photo suffered greatly from dim light blur, but its interesting colour palette showed through. A large Black and Yellow Garden Spider got photographed after a long wait for its web to stop vibrating after the photographer accidentally set it into motion. In the pond, a large Bullfrog sat silently, and a Muskrat (suspected) glided past at a distance, also silently. Joe Pye Weed was in bloom in several spots along the trail and added a bit of relaxing aromatherapy to the outing.

**Nelson Poirier noticed a Beech tree laden with Beech Nuts that were close to breaking open to expel their seeds. Beech nuts are a Black Bear favourite food item.

He also noted on a recent visit to southwestern Nova Scotia that some Beech trees had a notable amount of smooth bark; we are just not used to seeing Beech trees with bark that is not severely cankered.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton