Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 28 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, September 28, 2017 ( Thursday )

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier. nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Brian Stone. bjpstone@gmail.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** David Christie reports that the SWAINSON'S HAWK [Buse de Swainson] was still in the same location on Tuesday, seen from the junction of Midway Rd. and Route 915, but was at a great distance and was difficult to see when it would move among the tall grasses. David noticed a flock of approximately 175 CANADA GEESE [Bernaches du Canada] feeding in a field about a kilometer to a kilometer and a half in on the Midway Rd. overlooking the Shepody River. David noted a white spot when binoculars went up to find a family group of SNOW GEESE [Oie des neiges] composed of two adult birds and three young that were obviously smaller in size and grayish in plumage. It sure is that time to be checking Canada Goose flocks for surprise tag alongs.

** There would appear to be an unprecedented number of PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES [Belle dame] on the wing in the past weeks with reports of high numbers from many Maritime locations. Jack Perry in west Saint John comments that he has seen an abundance of them at the moment in his home location.

** Bev Schneider shares a nice photo of a PELECINID WASP (Pelecinus polyturator), a large insect that we tend to see at this time of year. Its size and conspicuously long abdomen are unique to help recognize it. It is a parasite of June Beetle grubs by using its long abdomen to probe into the soil until it reaches a beetle grub. They do not sting people, and almost all specimens seen are female.

** Fred Richards, Nature Moncton’s chief Swallow nest box builder, is shown in a photo placing Nature Moncton's box no. 51 in the Memramcook marsh. The projecting device around the entrance hole is a predator guard given to Fred to try by John Filliter that he had purchased at Lee Valley Tools. There is also a flat, brassy plate John donated that Fred is trying on another box.

** There is a small inlet just off St. John St. in Point-du-Chene that flows into the Parlee Beach lagoons. Ray Gauvin is noting LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] and GREAT BLUE HERONS [Grand Héron] in there frequently, so it is a spot worth checking when in that area for surprise drop-ins.

** Aldo Dorio is continuing to photograph a nice selection of birds at Hay Island. On Tuesday he saw twelve HORNED LARKS [Alouette hausse-col] there to get a nice photo of one, and a group of three PECTORAL SANDPIPERS [Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée] that made a nice photo. These birds are on the shoreline in this photo, but this species can just as readily appear in fields and mowed areas. A photo of a HUDSONIAN GODWIT [Barge hudsonienne] preening shows some of the field marks that we may note in this species when in flight.

** Brian Stone cruised the Hopewell Hill/Shepody/Harvey area on Tuesday with the Crested Caracara, Swainson's Hawk, and Loggerhead Shrike biggest on the to-see list. Those three did not show, but as usual Brian found lots of nature to photograph. A WILSON’S SNIPE [Bécassine de Wilson] posed in a small pond, the weather produced some striking cloud formations, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS [Pluvier argenté] were in some marsh areas.

** I am attaching a few photos of a BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY [Papillon du céleri] in the chrysalis stage that is ready to overwinter, courtesy of Marguerite Windsor's Salisbury dill patch. The green one was just in the transformation stages a few hours before and will turn brown like the others shown. Note in one photo a remnant of the caterpillar skin that did not break loose yet. Bill Winsor shares a link, with some nice photos, that describes the life cycle of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Check that out at the attached link.

https://bybio.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/munching-the-dill/

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton