Nature Moncton Nature News: June 28 2016

Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc were on Les Iles de la Madeleine last week and were very lucky to photograph a Snowy Owl. They said most locals they spoke to were surprised to hear about it. I am not aware of their summer status there, but I suspect it is unexpected. It calls to mind Snowy Owl reports from Miscou Island last summer. One has to wonder if these are non breeders or is something changing. They also took a photo of a Double-crested Cormorant colony there that reminds me of one aside the causeway at Pictou, NS right beside heavy traffic.

Louise Nichols visited a wet area near Jolicure on Monday to spot some of the early blooming bog orchids and Pitcher plants opening up. She got photos of Arethusa AKA Dragon’s Mouth and Calopogon AKA Grass Pink. Pitcher plants were numerous. She saw Black Terns again, American Bittern, a couple of Eastern Kingbirds and could hear Sora Rails and Pied-Billed Grebe.

It is obviously hatch time for some of the spider species from the photos coming in recently. Louise Richard came across a group of spiderlings on the siding of their garage in Moncton’s West End on Monday.

Larry Sherrard took a photo of Big Poplar Sphinx Moth aka Modest Sphinx attached to my ‘dezapped’ bug zapper moth light recently.

As mentioned yesterday, many Nature Moncton members took advantage of Jim Wilson’s donated supply of Swamp Milkweed seeds to plant for Monarch Butterflies especially, but also other butterfly species as well. Louise Richard planted four packets in trays and now has approximately 200 seedlings ready to transplant. A photo is attached.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton