Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 9 2015

** Louise Nichols and Anne Marsch visited Ann’s Acres near Cape Jourimain on Friday. They noted a LEAST SANDPIPER [Bécasseau minuscule] that appeared dark and water-soaked. Louise got a photo of it beside a normal-looking Least Sandpiper. We wonder if this bird had got into an oily substance that gave rise to its unusual appearance. They also noticed a BLACK SWALLOWTAIL [Papillon de céleri] butterfly in that area, and a group of four EASTERN KINGBIRDS [Tyran tritri], probably a family unit. A NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] cruised the nearby marsh and suddenly dropped down and stayed down.

Louise also found a LAUREL SPHINX [Sphinx du laurier] moth at her home in Sackville; it seems late for this species to be flying. She also spotted a colourful WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH caterpillar [Chenille à houppes blanches] on apple tree foliage. This caterpillar usually has a red head but for some reason, this one lacks that feature.

** NORTHERN GANNETS [Fou de Bassan] are appearing more regularly off coastal areas at the moment, with the adults showing their “fluorescent” white plumage. Aldo Dorio got a photo of one in flight offshore at Tabusintac on Saturday. I noted several while crossing the Confederation Bridge on Saturday. Aldo also got a GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY [Argynne cybèle] butterfly nectaring on the ever-popular JOE-PYE-WEED [Eupatoire maculée].

** Brian Stone has several RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] coming to his feeder. On Saturday, he photographed one that he suspects is a young of the year.

** WILD PARSNIP [Panais] has been in the news a lot, after a young person was badly blistered after being in contact with the sap of this plant that can make skin sensitive to sun exposure. The Wild Parsnip is a very common roadside plant in this area. Especially on Saturday after hearing the news on it, I noted hundreds of plants at roadside. I’m not aware of these problems from local media but assume that the same potential is here. Some photos of the plant are attached. It is getting mature at the moment and going to seed. This was the source of our domestic parsnip and has the strong smell of parsnip, when the leaves are crushed, but it’s obviously not a good idea to do that without proper gloves that can be disposed of.

Another plant appearing roadside and elsewhere at the moment is CHICORY [Chicorée]. Its blue blooms are striking. Apparently, the roots of this plant have been used as a coffee substitute in the past.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton