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John, it seems very late to me for tent caterpillars -- could they have been something else, like fall webworms? Fall webworms make their tents around the foliage, unlike tent caterpillars which put the tents in branch-forks (and usually in spring/early summer). I think the fall webworms are now all finished, having left their tents to pupate etc. They are tiger moths (arctiids) and can be found on a variety of woody plants but mostly on alders. Your aerial feeding gulls were most likely feeding on flying ants, I'll bet! Cheers from Jim in Wolfville ---------------- On Sept. 3, John Belbin wrote from Kingston: "Tent caterpillars were everywhere, by far the worst infestation I have seen locally." "At home early this afternoon my attention was drawn to a dozen Herring Gulls that were circling continuously overhead. They were acting like flycatchers and having some considerable success at capturing an airborne prey. Whatever they were after was prolific and quite active. It would often see them coming and attempt to dodge - it was quite amusing to see the gulls try to stop on a dime and stretch out their necks to catch whatever was fleeing from them. This chase went on for several minutes." ---------- From: john belbin <jbelbin@ns.sympatico.ca> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 18:34:17 -0300 To: Naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> Subject: [NatureNS] Paragon Walk This morning I walked round the perimeter of the Paragon Golf Course, down to the Annapolis River and then through the woods between the golf course and the river. When I started out it was cool, almost frosty and calm, when I returned 90 minutes later it was amazingly warm and bugs were out everywhere. At the river, several Humming Birds were working the flowering plants, one male buzzed me when I apparently got between him and a choice patch. A DC Cormorant and a GB Heron were on the river, I assume the Heron is the same one that roosts near my home. 3 Wood Ducks were in a small pond near the river. There were the usual large numbers of Chickadees and Goldfinch. Small flocks of Juncos everywhere including a large number of juveniles. Several Catbirds called from the bushes. As I have found at home, White Breasted Nuthatch seemed to be calling from all over the place. The larger birds were highly active with Blue Jays stripping the trees of acorns and Crows flying off with apples stuck in their beaks. Sometimes it looked as if a Crow could barely fly because of the size of its trophy. A couple of Red eyed Vireos were singing their hearts out. Both Swamp and Savannah Sparrows were noted and watched. At one point I was literally surrounded by a highly aggressive flock of Blue Jays, one came down to within 2 metres to scold and peer at me while a companion drove off a White Breasted Nuthatch that I had been watching. They were replaced by a small flock of Ruby Crowned Kinglets which were far more pleasant to be near. There were several Palm Warblers, and Common Yellowthroats scolded me when I got too close. A flock of Robins was moving through the woods. Tent caterpillars were everywhere, by far the worst infestation I have seen locally. At home early this afternoon my attention was drawn to a dozen Herring Gulls that were circling continuously overhead. They were acting like flycatchers and having some considerable success at capturing an airborne prey. Whatever they were after was prolific and quite active. It would often see them coming and attempt to dodge - it was quite amusing to see the gulls try to stop on a dime and stretch out their necks to catch whatever was fleeing from them. This chase went on for several minutes. John Belbin - Kingston
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