[ValleyNature] ducks, tanager, solitary bees and ??, deer flies -- was nature notes

[James W. Wolford]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Angus MacLean <angusmcl at ns.sympatico.ca>
> Date: April 10, 2009 7:35:28 PM ADT
> To: NatureNS at chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: [NatureNS] Nature Notes
> Reply-To: naturens at chebucto.ns.ca
>
> Decided to check out the local ponds this afternoon. The water  
> level in Saxon St. Pond was quite high so only a few teal. Nothing  
> around Canning so I went next to Canard ond where I met Eric & Ann.  
> Nice assortment of ducks there but Eric will report on those. They  
> did save me some time by telling me there was little to see in the  
> Starr's Point area. There was a fem. Black Scoter (!) at the Church  
> St. pond. Only 3 Greater Scaup at the Port Williams sewage  
> ponds...no Tree Swallows (they're usually seen there first in the  
> Spring).
>
> Checked on the Summer Tanager in Kentville for the second time.  
> Christine (Ross) told me it was there early this morning.
>
> At Palmeter Woods, there were two male & one fem Wood Ducks near  
> the bridge. Wonderful view with the sun shining on the males!! They  
> wandered off but I heard another....finally located another pair.
>
> On the trail near the old campground, noted many "flies' flying low  
> to the ground where the sun flitered through the trees. Through my  
> binoculars I could see they were nearly all Andrena bees..not  
> surprising at this time of year but these bees dig burrows in loose  
> soil and hibernate there. No sign of burrows in this area so ??  
> Also a few well-marked wasps or so I thought since they had a  
> similar pattern to Sand Wasps. However after a closer look think  
> they were bees, perhaps Cuckoo Bees. They were barred on the  
> abdomen with yellow and black and forward on the side of the  
> abdomen was a round yellow spot. I had nothing to collect them with  
> and no macro lens with me (typical). Will have to try again, likely  
> after the predicted rains and cooler weather the next few days.
>
> In another part of the trail, there were several Deer Flies. Even  
> when sluggish they look menacing to me!!
>
> Angus
>

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