Nature Moncton Nature News: 2017-07-23

Saturday, 29 July 2017

July 29 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – 29 July 2017 (Saturday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com

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

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

To respond by email, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

**Kerry Lee Morris-Cormier advises the annual SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau semipalmé] migration is underway, and the displays of thousands of birds flying, feeding, and roosting near the Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Interpretive Centre are magnificent. PEREGRINE FALCONS [Faucon pèlerin] have been hunting, and a raft of BLACK SCOTERS [Macreuse à bec jaune] is floating in and out on the tides daily.

**Nancy Mullin in Quarryville is an avid Moth watcher, and operates a light and bait to attract them. Nancy comments the UNDERWINGS [Likenée] are starting to fly at the moment, and many are very striking, when those brilliant underwings open. One Nancy photographed recently was the SCARLET UNDERWING [Catocala coccinata], with photo attached. Most Underwings are medium-sized Moths, with one, known as the WHITE UNDERWING [Catocala relicta], that is quite large.

**Mac Wilmot photographed a mother MOOSE [Orignal] nursing her calf on July 10th at Little McKendrick Lake. The photo is attached. He revisited the same spot on July 27th. The mother Moose was still there in the same area in late afternoon. They spotted the calf as they were leaving, but no photo. Mac also took note of a plant growing by their Guagus camp on the Renous River. It was approximately 7 feet tall, and appears to be TALL BLUE LETTUCE [Laitue bisannuelle].

**Gordon Rattray paid a visit to Dale Gaskin’s home at 709 Dawson Settlement Road on Friday, to see some of Dale’s EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est]. One cooperated on cue for a photo.

**John Massey shares a photo of his MASON BEE [Abeille maçonne] house with patrons taking and filling compartments nicely.

**I’m adding a few more recent botany photos after having Sean Blaney confirm them. Sean comments the HORNED BLADDERWORT [Utriculaire cornue] likes wet peat areas, where we found it. It has a mass of tiny green pseudoleaves at the base sticking up around the plant, which I did not notice, but will be on the watch for next time. Sean identified the pink flower as HAIRY WILLOW-HERB [Épilobe hérissé], a species which is uncommon in the Maritimes, but seems to be slowly increasing in distribution. I saw it near Lamèque this week. The Orchids, RAGGED-FRINGED ORCHID [Habénaire lacérée] and CLUB-SPUR ORCHID [Habénaire claviforme], were in prime bloom at a bog on Miscou Island this past week.

**Wild PARSNIP [Panais] is a very common invasive plant on roadsides and in field areas, blooming at the moment. It is an attractive yellow plant, but one should be careful about handling it, as the sap of this plant can make skin sensitive to sunlight. That being said, I’ve had no personal problems with it before I was aware of that. A few photos are attached from Friday. Also, VALERIAN [Herbe aux chats] is a very common plant in bloom at the moment. This plant is not problematic, but does contain the sedative drug Diazepam, so it is one of the plants used medicinally in the past, which did have sought-after effects. While looking at these plants roadside, a FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle] was on the road and still alive. I suspect it had been brushed by a car. I led it off the road, then picked it up to toss it into tall grasses, when it flew off into bushes, so it appears that recovery may have been imminent.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

CLUB SPUR ORCHID.JULY 25, 2017.NELSON POIRIER

EASTERN BLUEBIRD. JULY 28, 2017.GORDON RATTRAY

EMPIDONAX FLYCATCHER.JULY 28, 2017.NELSON POIRIER

HAIRY WILLOWHERB.JULY 25, 2017.NELSON POIRIER

HUMPED BLADDERWORT.JULY 25, 2017.NELSONPOIRIER

MASON BEE HOUSE.JULY 28, 2017.JOHN MASSEY

MOOSE AND CALF.JULY 10, 2017.MAC WILMOT

MOOSE.JULY 27, 2017.MAC WILMOT

RAGGED FRINGED ORCHID.JULY 25, 2017. NELSON POIRIER

SCARLET UNDERWING MOTH.JULY 28, 2017.NANCY MULLIN

TALL BLUE LETTUCE.JULY 25, 2017.MAC WILMOT

VALERIAN FOLIAGE.JULY 28, 2017.NELSON POIRIERa

VALERIAN.JULY 28, 2017.NELSON POIRIER

WILD PARSNIP.JULY 28, 2017.NELSON POIRIER

Friday, 28 July 2017

July 28 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 28, 2017 (Friday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

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

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

** Gordon Rattray was checking out the marsh behind Grey’s Island in Hillsborough on Thursday and heard a NELSON'S SPARROW [Bruant de Nelson] vocalizing, but could not find it in the grass. But as a consolation prize, a female YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] gave a striking pose.

** A few sundry items to add from the past few days: Brian Stone got a nice photo of an insect in the ROBBER FLY family [Les Asilidés]. The name Robber Fly reflects their notoriously aggressive habits. They feed mainly or exclusively on other insects they often ambush. Another is a grasshopper from a bog in Miscou called the LARGE MARSH GRASSHOPPER. There were only a few other reports of it on Bug Guide for New Brunswick, so it is potentially uncommon. We have RED BANEBERRY and WHITE BANEBERRY in New Brunswick, but oddly, the occasional Red Baneberry plant has white berries which we ran across in Petit Rocher. Both the normal red and white plants were growing side by side. The Red Baneberry has long thin stems to the berry whereas the White Baneberry has thick short stems to the berry which was not present. Both are classed as toxic.

** I’m also adding another photo of the LEAST SANDPIPER [Bécasseau minuscule] we came across at Hay Island relaxing in a bed of washed up eelgrass, quite close to us and quite confident it was not being admired by two photographers.

** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 29 – August 5

After twilight the bright star Altair is halfway up in the southeastern
sky, forming the lower peak of the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb.
It is flanked by two somewhat dimmer stars, Tarazed and Alshain, and the
trio forms the head of Aquila the Eagle. The eagle’s body and tail
stretch southward, while the wings reach forward to propel it up the
Milky Way. In Greek mythology the eagle was the pet of Zeus and the
bearer of his deadly thunderbolts. In Chinese mythology Tchi-Niu (Lyra)
was a princess and royal weaver, and Kien-Niou (Aquila) tended the
king’s cows. The two fell in love and were married but they subsequently
neglected their chores. Angered, the king placed the herder on the
opposite side of the river, represented by the Milky Way. On the seventh
day of the seventh month all of the magpies in the country form a bridge
to allow the lovers to be together for one day.

Following a string of stars beyond the eagle’s tail, over the
constellation border into Scutum the Shield, a binocular search will
pick up a smudge of light which is a cluster of stars called M11 or the
Wild Duck Cluster. From the eagle’s head toward Cygnus or Lyra is a tiny
constellation called Sagitta the Arrow. Look to the upper right of the
arrow’s fletching with binoculars to see a popular asterism of about a
dozen stars. Although it is upside down you will recognize the
Coathanger Cluster.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:58 am and sunset will occur at
8:52 pm, giving 14 hours, 54 minutes of daylight (6:05 am and 8:55 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:06 am and set at 8:43
pm, giving 14 hours, 37 minutes of daylight (6:13 am and 8:45 pm in
Saint John).

The Moon is at first quarter on Sunday, allowing for great views at star
parties this weekend, and it passes near Saturn on Tuesday. Jupiter is
sinking lower in the west as dusk, setting before 11:30 pm this week.
Mercury is at greatest elongation this weekend, about halfway between
the Sun and Jupiter and setting an hour after sunset. Venus is the
bright Morning Star, rising around 3 am and situated approximately where
the Sun resides at the summer solstice.

Astronomy clubs across the country are participating in a public
National Star Party on the evening of July 29. New Brunswick locations
are at Mactaquac Provincial Park, the Irving Nature Park in Saint John,
and the Moncton High School Observatory. The Saint John Astronomy Club
meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on August 5 at 7 pm.
All are welcome.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

Aquila_2017

LARGE MARSH GRASSHOPPER (STETHOPHYMA SP).JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE.

LEAST SANDPIPER.JULY 25, 2017.NELSON POIRIER

RED BANEBERRY.JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE. JPG

ROBBER FLY.JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE

YELLOW WARBLER. JULY 27, 2017. GORDON RATTRAY

Thursday, 27 July 2017

July 27 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 27, 2017 ( Thursday )

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca . Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

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

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Dale Gaskin is very much enjoying EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] in his 709 Dawson Settlement yard. He suspects there is more than one pair and also suspects that he has seen fledged young. Both male and female come to his birdbath and take their dips very seriously with water flying everywhere. Dale also heard a COYOTE [Coyote] vocalizing early Sunday morning and briefly saw one in his yard on Monday morning. He has also seen Coyote scat which is the first that he has noted in a year.

** Aldo Dorio got a nice photo of an AMERICAN LADY [Vanesse de Virginie] butterfly. Note the two very large eye spots on the hindwing underside and the squared off forewing tip to help separate this species from the Painted Lady butterfly. Aldo also got two photos of a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON [Bihoreau gris] and a fledgling WILLET [Chevalier semipalmé] chick.

** Brian Stone and I dropped by Cheryl Stewart's place in Quarryville on Wednesday to check on the approximately 20 CLIFF SWALLOW [Hirondelle à front blanc] nests that she has on her home. Some nestlings were still in some of the nests being tended by adults but Cheryl feels that many had already fledged. She commented that numbers are down from last year but there was still lots of activity at the site.

We checked out a few Milkweed patches for Monarch butterfly activity off of Route 126 but did not find any Monarchs. However, one of the Milkweed plants off Route 126 had one leaf with approximately 40 small caterpillars feeding on it. Their appearance was consistent with the larvae of the MILKWEED TUSSOCK MOTH. I saw a Milkweed patch with the caterpillars of this moth feeding on it in 2014 in the Fredericton area. Large areas of the patch were stripped near naked and were just skeletonized leaves and I had never seen them since. Am attaching 2 photos from that encounter. By the way they skeletonized the patch, would suspect them to be unwanted visitors. Some links to read more about the Milkweed Tussock Moth are http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.ca/2011/07/milkweed-leaves-trenched-and.html and http://www.backyardnature.net/instars.htm

Some PAINTED LADY [Belle dame] butterflies were also nectaring on Milkweed blooms, as were some ATLANTIS FRITILLARY [Argynne de l'Atlantique] butterflies, GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY and also a PECK'S SKIPPER [Hespérie de Peck] butterfly was noted. With the Painted Lady butterfly note the four eye spots on the underside of the hindwing, two small ones and two larger ones, to quickly separate it from the American Lady butterfly also featured in today's edition.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

AMERICAN LADY BUTTERFLY.JULY 26, 2017.ALDO DORIO.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (AT NEGUAC WHARF).JULY 26, 2017.ALDO DORIO

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (TRACADIE).JULY 26, 2017.ALDO DORIO

CLIFF SWALLOW NEST. JULY 25, 2017. BRIAN STONE

CLIFF SWALLOW NESTS. JULY 25, 2017. BRIAN STONE

GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY. JULY 25, 2017. BRIAN STONE

MILKWEED TUSSOCK MOTH CATERPILLAR ACTIVITY.AUG. 20,2014.NELSON POIRIER

MILKWEED TUSSOCK MOTH CATERPILLARS.AUG. 20,2014.NELSON POIRIER

MILKWEED TUSSOCK MOTH CATERPILLARS. JULY 25, 2017. BRIAN STONE

PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY. JULY 25, 2017. BRIAN STONE

PECK'S SKIPPER BUTTERFLY. JULY 25, 2017. BRIAN STONE

WILLET CHICK.JULY 26, 2017.ALDO DORIO

WOOD NYMPH BUTTERFLY.JULY 26, 2017.ALDO DORIO

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

July 26 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 26, 2017 (Wednesday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: Catherine Johnson johnson2@xplornet.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

**Gordon Rattray did a nice set of photos to familiarize ourselves with the many blooming plants at the moment. Common Tansy in full bloom, with a flower fly in one photo, and Queen Anne's Lace. Meadowsweet is a very common plant flowering now, the flowers are very striking in Gordon's close-up photo. Gordon photographed a mushroom that appears to be one of the numerous Russella species as when he shows the broken stem, it broke like a piece of chalk with a clean break, typical of that species of mushrooms and also the milk mushrooms (Lactarius). Other plants include Purple Loosestrife, (plants and flower close-up), Sedum, with its thick leaves close-up and a fledgeling SONG SPARROW that came near him to his to his parents displeasure.

**Brian Stone and I continued our two day visit to the Acadian Peninsula sleuthing Miscou and area. There was not any abundance of shorebirds on Miscou as yet at Malbaie or Lac Frye other than several YELLOWLEGS and one WHIMBREL in flight that did not stick around for a photo.

Several orchids were in the bogs that have to be verified. Several bog plants with berries now including Bakeapple, aka Cloudberry, lots of Black Huckleberry and dwarf huckleberry and lots more fruiting plants. As always in bogs, lots of SUNDEW plants attracting an insect lunch.

Dwarf Birch was quite common when the large catkins for the size of the shrub were noted and the uncommon to NB Brass Buttons in flower. Also many Rose Pogonia orchids were in bloom but nearing their best before date. Nice to see several BONAPARTE'S GULLS still in full breeding plumage.

A stop at Hay Island had a few fresh arrivals of LEAST SANDPIPER and one showed the incredible way they can camouflage themselves in the seaweed. Also heard NELSON'S SPARROWS, SAVANAH SPARROW, AND SONG SPARROWS there as well as a few loud WILLETS.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton