NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
June 26, 2025
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To
view the live feed of the Peregrine Falcon nest cam on the summit of Assumption
Place in Moncton, go to:
There was a great and enthusiastic crowd out for the June
25th Wednesday evening Nature Moncton walk in Mapleton Park. The group
enjoyed a walk along the lesser-traveled, upper north ridge of the park, where
many wildflowers were seen, including shinleaf, blue-bead lily, and wild
sarsaparilla. Some budding birders in the group were able to add some species
to their life lists, including red-winged blackbird, red-eyed vireo, northern
parula, and song sparrow. Finally, the highlight of the evening was watching
a white-tailed deer doe cross the path in very close proximity to the group.
Special thanks to Fred Richards for managing the eBird checklist and to Cathy
Simon for being the last-minute stand-in walk leader.
Jessica Belanger-Mainville shares a few photos of the evening.
**Aldo Dorio was again able to photograph short-tailed
swallowtail butterflies at Hay Island. He located four of them on Wednesday.
The worldwide distribution of this butterfly is at
certain coastal sites along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with Hay Island being one
of those sites.
**On Tuesday afternoon, Brian Stone stopped in at Wilson
Marsh and noticed a tree swallow pair living up to their name by nesting
in an actual tree, something he has not seen very often.
**Bernice Johnstone and Nelson Poirier explored a
hardwood ridge and a cedar swamp in the Miramichi area on Wednesday.
Many yellow lady’s slippers were found, but only
one remained in full bloom. Other orchids encountered were one showy lady’s
slipper, yet to bloom, a round-leaved orchid that was past bloom,
and many broad-leaved helleborine that were also past bloom.
Indian cucumber-root and
wood sorrel were in bloom. A deformed but healthy cedar tree made
for a good woodland seat!
A surprise, low white plant had Bernice and Nelson
completely mystified as to its identity. We did not believe our plant AI app
that identified it as broad-leaved helleborine. We politely apologize to the
magic of AI today as an evening consult with Gart Bishop got the response
below:
”The white plant is Epipactus helleborine (broad-leaved
helleborine), and it can frequently be that white anemic form. Don’t know why?”
Nelson noted some insects on Wednesday: a colourful tomentose
burying beetle (large lady beetle sized), and a fishfly. This insect
is approximately two inches in length with four large, membranous wings. Most of its life is spent underwater, but we see the adults out on their mating
missions.
Moths noted were the black-rimmed prominent moth
and the colourful small-eyed sphinx, which cooperated in showing its
hind wing eye spots.
Nelson Poirier.
Nature Moncton
