NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
September
23, 2023
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Edited by
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Proofreading
courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**
Louise Nichols visited Ann's Acres beach on Friday morning to do a shorebird
count. At low tide, the birds were widespread, and most were heavily
feeding and not too concerned with Louise's presence. She saw 7 species
in all, including the three regular sandpipers, some Dunlin, Sanderlings,
Semipalmated Plovers, and Black-bellied Plovers. The sun
was shining most of the time, but the north breeze made it quite chilly out on
the sand flats. In Louise's photos, some ID features are visible --
notably the smudgy dark shoulder of the Sanderlings and the reddish colour at
the base of the lower mandible on the White-rumped Sandpipers (arrowed in one photo).
**We
all enjoy taking photos of shorebirds and studying them closer when we can get
home and put them on a larger screen for scrutiny and rewarding identification.
Barb
Curlew shares 2 nice photos that clearly show that challenge.
A
consult with Gilles Belliveau gives some excellent comments to consider and makes
us all feel just a bit better!
I am
sharing some of Gilles’ comments below:
"I believe the 2 most prominent birds (with their underparts brightly
lit) are likely White-rumped Sandpipers due to the fine
streaking/spotting on the flanks.
The other
birds I can’t say for certain what they are.
With photos
with most of the birds laying down and partly/mostly obstructed and no context
for size or structure, sometimes we just have to accept that they can’t all be
identified.”
(Editor’s
note: I always recall a comment Kathy Popma made to me one day while looking at
a group of shorebirds saying “shorebirds with their head tucked under their
wing should be classed as ‘the ones that got away!'")
**
Georges Brun notes that another wild fruit tree species is doing very
well this season. The Hawthorne Trees that are situated along
the east side of Milner Road just down from Alexander Ave in Moncton's West End
are heavily laden with fruit. Georges did a rough count of more than a
dozen trees.
He also
noted a Woolly Bear Caterpillar (larva of the Isabella Tiger Moth) on the service road/trail atop
former solid waste cells west of Jonathan Creek.
Georges
also noted an abundance of Gem-studded Puffball Mushrooms on the
walking/bike trail.
Georges met
with Ranger Sebastien Arsenault of the Department of Natural Resources.
Numerous people called the Dept. yesterday morning, informing folks that
a Moose was seen wandering the northside marsh of the Petitcodiac River
next to the new bridge. He sends a photo of the image that might be a young
moose well concealed.
**Jamie and Karen Burris had a Ruby-throated
Hummingbird feeding on their flowers Thursday. The photo attached was
taken earlier this year as their visitor on Thursday was camera shy.
Jamie also shares a photo of a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth that was feeding on Swamp Milkweed
earlier in the season.
Jamie and Karen also share a taste of the wild on
Friday, making Staghorn Sumac and Hawthorn Berry jelly. They comment, “They
are delicious when combined! Foragers alert.”
**The
recorded audio (recorded on a hand recorder) of the very popular presentation by Pierre Janin and Sam
Legresley at the Nature Moncton September meeting is available
at the link below:
The volume
is low so the use of earphones is very helpful.
Pierre and
Sam made their PowerPoint presentation available, which can be accessed at the
link below. The presentation pointed out some extremely interesting information. If you listen
to the presentation, open up the audio first, then click on the PowerPoint
presentation to follow along.
Some slides to take particular notice of are the following:
-
nutritional differences between native
and non-native berries.
-the most
important insect for birds is the caterpillar and these
insects are
evolved to associate with native plants.
-the slide
on keystone species with sunflower, goldenrod, and aster at the top, as well as
the slide on keystone tree species.
-Clicking on Grow Me Instead in the closing slide opens a very informative book
dealing with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
(Editor’s
note: we also have the audio of the second half of the meeting when Peter and
Sam answered more questions from the group. If anyone wants this, the audio
link can be emailed to them, but as with the first link, the volume is low, and
earphones are indicated.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
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