Nature Moncton Nature News: July 22 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 22, 2020 (Wednesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** HOUSE WRENS [Troglodyte familier] are uncommon in New Brunswick but there seems to be a report of a pair nesting almost every year. A pair chose a very wise spot to nest. On June 8^th 2 House Wrens showed up at Jim Carroll’s in Quispamsis. They immediately began building a nest in an empty nesting box near his house and despite being harassed by resident Song Sparrows they persisted tirelessly over the next week and a half. The nesting box was packed with twigs and a nesting cavity was built in the back and down. After the nest was built they were seen less frequently however at least one of them had taken to spending the night in the nesting box. On July 7^th they noted that they the wrens bringing food to the box and afterwards the removal of fecal sacs. A few days before fledging the Carrolls got their first glimpses of the chicks vying for space outside the inner nesting cavity. 7 of the 8 chicks can be seen fledging in a video at 6:55 am on July 21^st. Take a look at the family’s activities at the link below.

https://youtu.be/1BcuL3qPKBg

** The GIANT WATER BUG [Punaise d'eau géante] is indeed a giant of a bug. Susan Richard’s cat pointed out one to her in a marshy area of a fen near her Taylor Village home. These bugs are predatory on other insects, tadpoles, small fish, etc. and are quite capable of a human nip if disturbed. They run 5 to 6 cm. in length. They sometimes get the common name “Toe Biter”.

** Jane Leblanc got a nice photo of a COMMON WHITETAIL DRAGONFLY to nicely show the white pruinosity on the abdomen and the wide white wing bands to readily identify this ode. She also had her first visit from a MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] to her yard Milkweed patch at St. Martins and on checking her notes found that it has been exactly one year since the first one arrived last year and yes, it’s a gal with no pheromone dark spot on the hind wing that the male has.

** On Wednesday Georges Brun spotted a breeding plumaged COMMON LOON [Plongeon huard] in the waters of the Petitcodiac River exactly across from the Chateau Moncton. One plunge, just after the tidal bore, and within 20 seconds it was in front of the Moncton public wharf. There has to be something there of interest coming in with the tidal bore to attract a loon and a seals that Georges recently photographed.

** It is very likely most of us have never seen a COMMON NIGHTHAWK [Engoulevent d'Amérique] nest. Kelly Honeyman, a staff naturalist with J.D. Irving forest operations, had 2 of his woodland staff come across nests with young. One was in Nova Scotia and one was at Blackwood Lake which is nestled in the Kent hills amongst the wind turbines. Both of these sites were buffered off forestry operations to let the nesting complete undisturbed. Kelly shares the photos taken recently by the forester Sherri Hoggart in the Anthony Lake area. It may look like a ball of fluff on the ground but there are 2 Common Nighthawk nestlings there. The forestry industry is New Brunswick’s major resource and it is great to know that J.D. I. takes measures to protect these scenarios as they are located.

**Aldo Dorio photographed a Willet at Hay Island on Tuesday. The photo really shows the large ‘honker’ of a bill this species wields, this one seeming a bit super size!

** Brian Stone and I did a check of several local Common Milkweed patches on Wednesday for Monarch Butterflies. We did find a few eggs in a patch off Assomption Blvd and one MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] flitting about at another patch there. We found a female ovipositing at the 2 patches near/off the Gorge Rd. which “may” have been the same female at both Gorge Rd. spots. CICADAS [Cigale] are really starting to stridulate with the heat and are quite loud to get a few photos of this quite large insect on its mission. One photograph is a SAY’S CICADA and was on a Grey Birch Tree and another on an apparent Cherry Tree.

Brian’s home tank raised YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] larva is starting to lose its gills and is moving to the top to take air bubbles. It has a stairway to get out of the water when needed and is soon to be released when the transformation is complete.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton