NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
October 8,
2023
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**Gabriel
Gallant was able to capture 3 excellent photos of a Ring-necked Snake, a
species Gabriel has been trying to find a specimen of for 10 years.
He
found it in Jacket River when bringing in wood on the
basement floor and was happy it did not get accidentally squished.
(Editor’s note: Gabriel’s photos show the very distinct complete yellow neck ring, and the underside in one view shows the yellow coloration. Many of us, including the editor, have been watching for this species of snake for considerable years and are just never in the right place at the right time as Gabriel was on Saturday. The Ring-necked Snake is one of our smaller snakes and tends to enjoy seeking out a Red-backed Salamander menu.)
**While walking their dog on the St. Martins beach
Friday morning, Jane and Ed LeBlanc saw 3 Common Loons fishing. This
seemed odd as the tide was going out. Jane got a distant photo and saw one loon
had a delicious crab in its bill.
**Rheal
Vienneau shares a nice video of the last Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Caterpillars fueling up on Parsley to get into the cocoon stage before the
cold weather sets in.
Hopefully,
we will get a photo of the cocoon at the appropriate time. Check out these
colourful caterpillars at the link below.
**The
White Underwing Moth is a large moth that tends to enjoy its nocturnal
outings on cooler nights this time of year.
Fred
Richards had one day perch on his Taylor Village windowsill a few days ago.
** Lisa Morris noted very busy bumblebees in the
calm before the storm on Saturday. Lisa comments that it is interesting how we
now think of the nutritional value of our native plants after Nature Moncton’s
September presentation on growing native species in our backyards.
(Editor’s note: Pierre Janin and Sam LeGresley pointed
out that sunflower and goldenrod were among the top-rated native
plants of value to wildlife.)
Lisa had Black-capped Chickadees occupy 2 Nature
Moncton nest boxes again this year. One egg remained unhatched in one box. The
second nest box was occupied on the same property about 200 feet apart. Lisa commented
it was interesting to note the difference in the height of the nesting material in
the boxes.
The
nests were constructed in standard chickadee fashion of a layer of moss at the
base with hair/feathers on top.
**Barbara
Smith was able to capture another video of a near seashore crab on its mission.
It appears
to be a Rock Crab.
(Editor’s
note: note in Barbara’s video how fast a crab can travel always in a sideways
direction. The back 4 appendages are designed for that direction of travel,
whereas the front appendage is designed for capturing food and defense which
would include the toes of humans whom it may see as a threat.) See the action
at the link below:
Barbara also took note of a beautifully constructed Bald-faced
Hornet nest last week quite high up in a maple tree. She didn't see any
activity and wondered if perhaps it had been abandoned. The colours and ridges
reminded Barbara of a snail shell, intricate and beautiful.
(Editor’s note: I suspect it would be a bit early
yet, but after a few killing frosts, all the occupants of the nest will pass on,
with only the Queen left alive to overwinter and start a new nest colony next
spring.)
**Maureen Girvan highly recommends a documentary
called "In the Quiet and the Dark" about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and
the hemlocks infected in NS and what they are doing about it. It was on CBC
from 9-10 and probably available on CBC Gem as well.
Donna Crossland is very involved with this program and
was featured in this documentary.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
