[NatureNS] Spital Road Pit

Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 16:10:09 -0300
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Angus MacLean <angusmcl@ns.sympatico.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects


This morning I checked out an area in one of my Atlas Squares called 
Spital Road Pit (sw edge of Coldbrook). Despite being a working pit 
(at times) it proved last summer to have quite a variety of birdlife 
(along with other creatures).

- There were 5 Alder Flycatchers singing. I recall there were a few 
more last summer.
- A Bank Swallow colony has increased dramatically. Last summer there 
were ~20 nestholes. Today I counted 26 in one gravel face & 48 in 
another. Obviously this is a new colony. Last summer I thought they 
had little chance since the gravel faces they were nesting in, were 
being worked on intermittently. However this year they are nesting 
much higher so I presume they are safe from the front end loader.
-  Spotted Sandpipers nested here in 2006 but no sign of them this year.
- Red-eyed Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Redstart, Least Flycatcher 
& many other species were heard.
- I heard one short high-pitched sound I was confused by. It turned 
out to be a 2nd year male Redstart. It's a standing joke with the 
group I usually bird with that any confusing bird song can be ticked 
as a Redstart!!

- I was intrigued by something oddly shaped that "floated" by me a 
few times. It finally landed and I was able to get a photo.The shape 
and pattern of their bodies suggests (a mating pair of) stoneflies & 
I presume, because of their size would be "Taeniopterygid 
broadbacks". However the extremely long legs would suggest something 
else. Note the red on the legs and parts of the body. Help!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58321572@N00/520342445/

Angus 

next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects