[NatureNS] Spital Road Pit

References: <20070529191007.FCIG1625.simmts5-srv.bellnexxia.net@maclean-foq8al1.ns.sympatico.ca>
From: Steve Shaw <srshaw@dal.ca>
Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 16:46:22 -0300
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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Angus:  Focus is a bit off, but they look more like mating craneflies 
(Tipulidae, Diptera).  Look for club-shaped halteres in place of the 
second pair of wings possessed by most other insects.
Steve

On 29-May-07, at 4:10 PM, Angus MacLean wrote:

> 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
>

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