Nature Moncton Nature News: July 23 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 23, 2018 (Monday)

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

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

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

** Ron Steeves was starting to get a bit envious about all the MONARCH [Monarque] butterfly reports, but found that his thoughts were very unfounded. On a check of his own patches, of both COMMON [Herbe à coton] and SWAMP MILKWEED [Asclépiade incarnata], on Sunday morning he found at least six nice-sized caterpillars enjoying breakfast. He has been constantly removing MILKWEED LEAF BEETLES [chrysomélidés] that tried to take over his patch. He has removed 60+ so far and found as many again on Sunday, but is wary about disturbing the patch now that Monarchs are there.

** Aldo Dorio came across a sow BLACK BEAR [Ours noir] with two cubs at Hay Island on Sunday, a busy spot right now for that trio. He was able to get a photo of one of the cubs.

** Brian Stone and Carol Shea paid a visit to the very lively Sackville Waterfowl Park at the moment, with the shorebirds arriving, birds fledging, and the foliage maturing. They found GREATER [Grand Chevalier] and LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier], there seeming to be more Lessers than Greaters. A SORA [Marouette de Caroline] permitted a quick photo. A few SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS [Bécassin roux] were noted with breeding plumage remnants, and some ducklings were nearing the size of their parents. A YELLOW WARBLER [Paruline jaune] family was just fledging, and a RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes] fledgling was noted. The plants PURPLE LOOSETRIFE [Salicaire] and BROAD-LEAVED ARROWLEAF (SAGITTARIA LATIFOLIA)were in bloom, and BUR-REED [Rubanier] had gone to its seed clump. One of the many MUSKRATS [Rat musqué] that enjoy the waterfowl park was getting things in order with a mouthful of food, possibly for a young family. There were many CEDAR WAXWINGS [Jaseur d’Amérique] present. The Sackville Waterfowl Park is a great spot to visit at the moment.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton