Nature Moncton Nature News: August 3 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

August 3, 2024

Nature Moncton members, as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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**The Gray Heron is native to Eurasia and also parts of Africa. A Gray Heron paid a visit to Prince Edward Island last year and many folks made the pilgrimage to have an audience with this rarity to North America.

David Seeler, a prominent Prince Edward Island birder spotted a suspicious heron at Covehead on Friday with gray thighs and no evidence of the immature plumage of a Great Blue Heron. It was on mud flats by itself and a scope was required for observation. This is not a confirmation but a heads-up of a possible presence of a Gray Heron on Prince Edward Island with New Brunswick an easy flight away.

The Grey Heron is smaller than the Great Blue Heron when seen together and there are no chestnut-brown flanks and thighs that would be seen on the Great Blue Heron.

**Although we have four snakes native to New Brunswick, the Ring-necked snake is one we encounter the least assumedly do to its nocturnal secretive behaviour.

Gabriel Gallant was lucky enough to encounter a Ring-necked snake under a board when visiting family in Jacket River. Gabriel was able to capture some excellent photographs to show the very distinct ring on the neck and the brilliant red underbelly of this small harmless-to-humans beautiful creature.

This snake prefers to forage on small salamanders, earthworms, and slugs. The female will lay 3-10 eggs in early summer which will hatch in the fall and are precocial, not needing parental care.

(Editor’s note: It is Gabriel that gave the editor the idea of placing black boot mats to attract snakes; however, neither of us have ever been able to attract this little gem that way.)

**Another snake encounter!

Lisa Morris had a Garter Snake appear at the same site she had spotted one earlier. This time it brought its lunch of an American toad.

Lisa had to lift the wooden beam so it could pass under with its take-out toad being too high. When she returned and had to step on the beam to enter the shed, the beam wobbled a bit as she hadn’t secured it well, and she feared she might have injured the snake which she thought had left, but quickly saw it was still partially underneath. Lisa quickly moved off and moved the beam away. The snake released the toad and took off to the woods. The toad’s back legs appeared paralyzed so she carefully moved it out of the sun to the woods.

About 20 minutes later when Lisa happened to walk back from the garden, the snake was atop the beam again probably trying to reclaim lunch. She then went to retrieve the toad to try and let Mother Nature do her thing after unintentionally interrupting it, but the toad was mysteriously gone! Lisa felt bad and wished she had not needed to go to the shed at that time and let Mother Nature take its course without influence from humans.

**Aldo Dorio photographed three of the regular patrons of Hay Island that will soon be joined by many migrating species.

The Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Blue Heron will keep an eye on the pools and coastal area of Hay Island for fish snacks.

(Editor’s note: the Great Blue Heron in Aldo’s photo is a young-of-the-year bird as indicated by the all-dark upper mandible, almost complete black crown, and no trace of breeding plumes.)

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

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