Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 4 2015

** Another WHITE-WINGED DOVE has come on the scene. John Inman had one arrive at his 225 Mary's Point Rd. feeder yard briefly at 9am Monday to return again at 5pm briefly and for a longer more comfortable appearing visit at 6pm, so it may be continuing its visit.

Alain Clavette reports the WHITE-WINGED DOVE at his Taylor Village yard has not been seen since it was photographed on Thursday and a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO that has been around his home seems to have relocated as well.

** The BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS are starting to join the rest of the arriving shorebird contingent. Aldo Dorio got a photo of an adult still in breeding plumage at Hay Island on Monday.

** Jane Aikman found several caterpillars of BLACK SWALLOWTAIL butterflies feeding on GARDEN LOVAGE, a cultivar. They can obviously use this plant very successfully as a food plant as Jane placed the caterpillars in jars with pieces of the plant and all went to a chrysalis and are now emerging out as adults. Some photos of the garden lovage are attached. It's a very tall growing perennial. Jane purchased the plants in the photo at a plant nursery in a small pot in 2009.

** Dave Christie reports shorebird activity at Mary's Point was very similar to what it was on Sunday with birds not coming in until one and a half to two hours after the high tide levels when many birds came in close. They did spot one very large flock in the distance, Dave estimated at 25,000 - 30,000+ but some smaller groups came in to the receding tide.

** Georges Brun noted a fly pass of a flock of shorebirds at the bend of the Petitcodiac River on Monday. They may be checking out the mudflats along the Petitcodiac River. He also noted COMMON EIDER in the river and shares a photo of the Beaumont Church that shows the very high tide of August 2nd we have experienced the past few days.

He also noted several of what appeared to be the SULFUR butterflies on the walking trail but wind prevented good photos.

** Anne Marsch was at Johnson's Mills on Monday and comments due to the high tides the big show did not get underway until a few hours after high tide however was awesome. She noted several Great Spangled Fritillaries nectaring around the Interpretation Center.

Anne also comments she spotted a MONARCH butterfly and a BLACK SWALLOWTAIL butterfly nectaring in her large common milkweed patch in her Lower Coverdale yard on Monday evening.

** With lots of shorebird chatter on now am adding some shorebird photos from the past few days to include; SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST SANDPIPER and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS at Johnson's Mills. There will no doubt be lots more shorebird photos being submitted over next months. Also a photo of a NELSON'S sparrow that entertained from near the Ram Pasture area at Sackville on Saturday.