Nature Moncton Nature News: June 24 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 24, 2020 (Wednesday)

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

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling. Note that corrections, deletions, or delayed additions may not always appear on the Info Line and email transcript but will always appear on the BlogSpot. For this reason, it is recommended that those wishing to look at historical records use the BlogSpot rather than the email transcript. The BlogSpot can always be accessed from the website.

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

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Fred Dube got some excellent photos of the TWIN-SPOTTED SPHINX MOTH [Sphinx moth a deux points] as it day perched at his Lower Coverdale home. Fred got a closed wing view, however it gently decided to show its underwing to show the double eye spot that gives it its name. Like many of the large, strikingly marked moths that we occasionally get to see this time of year this one develops into a colourful larval caterpillar from its eggs laid that tends to arch up its head area like the Egyptian Sphinx to get the sphinx name.

** Lynda Leclerc shares a few more views from the White Rock field trip on June 20^th. A sign is erected where the Mastodon was discovered in 1936 and is presently on display at the New Brunswick Museum.

We all noticed that the terminal branch of a Red Maple sapling had leaves looking very abnormally bleached out with red spots that no one could explain. If anyone is aware of why this has occurred comments would be appreciated.

One of Mac Wilmot’s resident GREAT HORNED OWLETS was spotted preening behind their home during the day. This owl family has become very comfortable in Mac’s Lower Coverdale yard. The photo shows it is now an emerging teenager and if not flying yet, will soon be taking inaugural flights. This Great Horned Owl pair surely chose a good safe spot to raise their family.

** Gordon Rattray paid a visit to the quarry area at White Rock. There were lots of butterflies on the wing such as WHITE ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY [Amiral], NORTHERN CRESCENT BUTERFLY [Croissant nordique], NORTHERN CLOUDYWING SKIPPERS [Hespérie nuageuse], ARCTIC SKIPPER BUTERFLY [Échiquier], LONG DASH SKIPPER BUTTERFLY [Hespérie mystique] and COMMON RINGLET BUTTERFLY [Satyre fauve] with no hindwing ring as is the case with some. Note the line of hindwing spots parallel to the wing’s edge on the Long Dash Skipper to help identify it.

** Brian Stone was out and about at his favourite beaver pond off the Gorge Rd. to as always see lots. An EASTERN KINGBIRD [Tyran tritri] was at a distance. The Beavers had fallen some quite large trees. BUNCHBERRY was in full bloom. A HONEYSUCKLE [Chèvrefeuille] variety was forming its joined double seed. A CHALK-FRONTED CORPORAL DRAGONFLY [Dragonfly corporel fronté en craie] and FOUR-SPOTTED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY [Écumoire a quatre points dragonfly] gave good observations as did COMMON RINGLET BUTTERFLY [Satyre fauve] and WHITE ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY [Amiral].

Brian is noting many of the plants in the MILKWEED [asclépiade] patch have lower leaves turning yellow and falling and wonders if this is due to the dry conditions or normal. I notice that my plants are doing the same in my yard. Brian also has an AMERICAN ROBIN [Merle d'Amérique] family fledged in his yard and got some photos of the fledglings being tended by a male parent.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton