Nature Moncton Nature News: July 5, 2015

** Lots of photos today. Seven regular contributors have new cameras, so expect a lot of things to be flying by or perched on your computer screen.

Anna Tucker was in the Sackville Waterfowl Park on Thursday and spotted an AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante] female flying off her nest located along the walkway, not far from the visitor information building. It was quite near ground level.

** John Filliter noted groups of colourful beetles on Daisy [Marguerite] blooms at Cap-Brûlé on Saturday. A close view shows them to be ST. JOHN’S-WORT BEETLES (Chrysolina hyperici), as identified from BugGuide.

** Anne Marsch dropped by Riverview Marsh on Friday. The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes] were very busy hauling groceries to fledglings, with a male YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] looking on.

** Brian Stone got two nice odonate photos on Friday; one is the SUPERB JEWELWING [Caloptéryx élancé], one of the largest of our New Brunswick damselflies, the other is a MAINE SNAKETAIL [Ophiogomphe du Maine], a colourful dragonfly that can be seen along rivers and streams in earlier season. I always associate it with the sea trout run in late May and early June along the Miramichi River. Brian also got a pair of EBONY JEWELWING [Caloptéryx bistré] dragonflies in a mating wheel, and a female of that species depositing eggs under water; also a GARTER SNAKE [Couleuvre rayée] showing green tones that he had not seen on one before; this snake also easily swam away; also one of the FISHFLY [corydale?] species, which is a large-winged insect seen this time of year, as well as several butterflies and a rather unique looking SCARAB BEETLE [scarabée] species.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton