Nature Moncton Nature News

Monday, 22 June 2026

June 22 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

Nature Moncton members, as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News.

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

The camera on the peregrine falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image, which shows what is happening in real time.

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

The natal down is rapidly disappearing, to be replaced by beautiful juvenile feathers!

**Another moth caught the eye and camera of Anita Cannon on Saturday.

Anita photographed a small red moth that fluttered past her in the garden to rest on a stone wall. It was less than a cm long and wide, with wings not fully open as the photo shows. Anita doesn’t remember seeing such a brightly coloured moth before and for very good reason!

This moth, the raspberry pyrausta moth (Pyrausta signatalis), which Anita correctly identified, may be common in some parts of North America. Still, reports of it in New Brunswick are “very limited". There have been reports of it in Ontario, Québec, and British Columbia. Its host plants are members of the mint family, such as bergamot and bee balm, both of which we do have in New Brunswick.

(Editor’s note: this moth may be small, but the brilliant red forewings should make it easy to spot. More photographic records would be very significant. It gets its common name from the brilliant raspberry colour, not its host plant.)

**It was a soggy and mosquito-filled morning hike for Brian Coyle’s trail camera check on Sunday, but worth it.

Brian has three videos to share: one of a cow moose, an American bittern which shows up on this camera every week, and a river otter. Brian suspects that this individual might be a kit of the year, when compared to the muskrat video that he sent previously from this same location. Check out the action at the links below:

DSCF0004.MP4

DSCF0020.MP4

DSCF0105.MP4

**Jonathan Sherrard and son Mason came across two white-tailed deer fawns while searching for a lost baseball near their north Fredericton home on Saturday. One was carefully concealed in a brush pile. Mother was no doubt nearby as they promptly departed.

**While in search and rescue training on September 20, one of the members found a modest sphinx moth, a.k.a. poplar sphinx in a gravel parking lot.

(Editor’s note: this large, heavily-bodied sphinx moth (35-50 mm) is flashing its brilliant hind wing eye spots to ward off potential predators.)

**Mountain maple and striped maple are at peak bloom at the moment. Nelson Poirier took photographs of blooming mountain maple on Sunday. These two maple species can sometimes be confused. Both are smaller understory trees/shrubs. The flowers of mountain maple are upright, whereas those of striped maple droop.

The leaves may be similar, yet different. Mountain maple leaves have coarse, jagged teeth, three shallow lobes, and a softer, downy (hairy) underside. The petiole of the leaf of mountain maple is red, whereas the petiole of the striped maple leaf is green. Striped maple leaves have fine, double teeth and often resemble a ‘goose track’ and feature a smoother, hairless texture (especially on the leaf underside). There are several other differentiating features, but these are a few to look for this time of year.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

WHITE-TAILED DEER FAWN. JUNE 20, 2026. JONATHAN SHERRARD

RASPBERRY PYRAUSTA MOTH. JUNE 20, 2026. ANITA CANNON

MODEST SPHINX MOTH, AKA POPLAR SPHINX. JUNE 20, 2026. BRIAN COYLE

MOUNTAIN MAPLE. JUNE 21, 2026. NELSON POIRIER

Sunday, 21 June 2026

June 21 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

**The contact email to register for the pelagic adventure off Grand Manan scheduled for August 15 in yesterday’s edition was incorrect for the first part of the day, and when corrected, still did not work for some.

The correct contact address is Cynthia Doucet at outandabout4nm@gmail.com.

**Jane LeBlanc had to go whale watching for work (such a chore!!) on Saturday and sends a few photos. A minke whale was spotted, as well as an Atlantic puffin, bald eagles, and gray seals.

(Editor’s note: Jane is a guide for cruise ship passengers that makes her do these chores that get shared with us!)

**Ted Sears often finds the bridge going into Poodiac (not far from Cassidy Lake) always provides excitement, and an eastern phoebe was cooperating as usual. There were two adults and three ready-to-fledge nestlings on a nest under the bridge.

Ted also photographed a chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly and a lancet clubtail dragonfly, both posing nicely.

**That time of year has arrived when we will start to see the nocturnal moths day perching, often right in our yards for us to enjoy.

Katie Girvan enjoyed observing and photographing the stunning colours of the rosy maple moth, one of the smaller of our colourful silk moth group. Katie also photographed the pale beauty moth. Both of Katie’s specimens are at their prime and have probably just emerged from pupation.

**About five or six years ago, Nelson Poirier sent Jim Johnson in Scotch settlement two handcrafted clay cliff swallow nests, which he mounted on the peak of two garages. It was a little late in the year, so there was very little interest in them then. Even for the next two years, the cliff swallows would check them out, but that was all. Last year, one was occupied, but the other one was not. This year, they took to both of them right from the start and even added a little mud to the opening of one. They started coming to Jim’s buildings about 10 years ago. Jim has no idea why, but they certainly are welcome. There are five pairs so far, and they are very active, as there seem to be a lot of bugs this year.

(Editor’s note: approximately 10 years ago, these clay cliff swallow nests were available to purchase but then went off the market. Brian Dalzell had successfully used them in Grand Manan. Nelson Poirier had one unused nest, which Roger LeBlanc talked a neighbour who did pottery into copying. She made 25 of the clay nests, which we gave out to several people who already had cliff swallows nesting naturally. The nests are very durable and still up, with some being used regularly and some not.)

**Suzanne Rousseau recently sent a photo (reattached today) of a 9:30 PM red sky light show that we had to get some consultations on.

Curt Nason supplied an excellent commentary that anyone should refer to when they see something similar. I am quoting Curt’s explanation below:

“Suzanne was looking southward around 9:30 from near Bouctouche, where sunset was at 9:14 Thursday and at azimuth 306 degrees. Therefore, the centre of a rainbow would be at azimuth 126 and the right-side red arc at 168, close to due south. Near sunset, the shorter wavelength rainbow colours get scattered away, leaving the red. I see hints of yellow and orange in the photo, probably just before they disappear. I have seen a red rainbow before, but not like this, so I checked Wikipedia and it explains the scattered red. We see only the corner of the rainbow due to that being the only area with raindrops catching sunlight at the time."

(Editor’s note: if Curt Nason has not seen a scenario like this, it must be very uncommon, as Curt has his eye on the sky as much as anybody in New Brunswick!)

Below is further explanation found online:

"A monochrome or red rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon and a rare variation of the more commonly seen multicolored rainbow. Its formation process is identical to that of a normal rainbow (namely the reflection/refraction of light in water droplets), the difference being that a monochrome rainbow requires the sun to be close to the horizon; i.e., near sunrise or sunset. The low angle of the sun results in a longer distance for its light to travel through the atmosphere, causing shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue, green and yellow, to be scattered and leaving primarily red, hence the name "monochrome rainbow".^[1] In the lower light environment where the phenomenon most often forms, a monochrome rainbow can leave a highly dramatic effect.^{[2][3]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monochrome_rainbow

Also: "}Occasionally, a shower may happen at sunrise or sunset, where the shorter wavelengths like blue and green have been scattered and essentially removed from the spectrum. Further scattering may occur due to the rain, and the result can be rare and dramatic.”

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

EASTERN PHOEBE. JUNE 20, 2026. TED SEARS

ATLANTIC PUFFIN. JUNE 20, 2026. JANE LEBLANC

CLIFF SWALLOW NESTS (HANDCRAFTED AND NATURAL) JUNE 19, 2026. NELSON POIRIER

GRAY SEALS. JUNE 20,2026. JANE LEBLANC

MINKE WHALE. JUNE 20, 2026. JANE LEBLANC

CHALK-FRONTED CORPORAL DRAGONFLY. JUNE 20, 2026. TED SEARS.

LANCET CLUBTAIL DRAGONFLY. JUNE 20, 2026. TED SEARS.

ROSY MAPLE MOTH (DRYOCAMPA RUBICUNDA) JUNE 20, 2026. KATIE GIRVAN

ROSY MAPLE MOTH (DRYOCAMPA RUBICUNDA), JUNE 20, 2026. KATIE GIRVAN

PALE BEAUTY MOTH (CAMPAEA PERLATA) JUNE 20, 2026. KATIE GIRVAN

RAINBOW (RED). JUNE 17, 2026. SUZANNE ROUSSEAU

Saturday, 20 June 2026

June 20 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

**President Fred Richards gives an update on the planned Nature Moncton group visit to Grand Manan for a pelagic tour on August 15. This is a great opportunity to be out on the Bay of Fundy to witness the special birds and mammals we only get to see on such a pelagic adventure.

If you are interested in participating, register promptly to make sure this trip is a go as 20 are needed to make it happen, with a maximum of 30 seats available. At the moment, 16 have registered. All details below:

Pelagic Tour to Grand Manan! 🐦🌊

We still have spaces available for our pelagic seabird tour to Grand Manan on Saturday, August 15, 2026 — and non-members are now welcome!

🚢 Boat-based outing to see seabirds and other marine wildlife
⏰ Meet for the 6:30 a.m. ferry | On the water 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
👤 Guided by Jim Wilson (Saint John Naturalist Club)

1. Cost:
• $25 registration fee to Nature Moncton.

Send your $25 per person registration fee by e-transfer to:
📧 naturemonctontreasurer2020@gmail.com
(Please include your name and “Pelagic Tour” in the message field.)

• Approx. $150 paid to the boat captain (day of tour)
• Plus your own travel expenses
👥 Ages 12+

📧 Interested? Email Cynthia Doucet: outandabout4nm@gmail.com. Spaces are limited — come join us for a memorable day on the Bay of Fundy!

Fred Richards

506-334-0100

(Editor's note: it does say in the write-up to meet for the 6:30 AM Blacks Harbour ferry, but some may choose to go the day before and stay on Grand Manan overnight.)

**The giant silkworm moths and moths in general seem to be a bit slow in appearing this spring possibly because of the cool weather.

Anita Cannon spotted and photographed the beautiful polyphemus moth day-perching on a 4-inch wide post at the golf course in Irishtown on Friday morning.

(Editor's note: this moth usually runs 4 - 6 inches when spread. This one is a male, indicated by the bushy antennae. Anita’s photo shows the 2 big ‘eye spots' on the forewing, but is covering the 2 equally large eye spots on the hind wing meant to scare off potential predators. The adults are now out on their short mating mission of up to a week before egg laying that will lead to the huge beautiful caterpillars we will see in later summer.)

**Georges Brun spotted and photographed one of our several species of strikingly marked ichneumon wasps trying to get across the road just past Llangollen Road (off Salisbury Road across from Jones Farm on Coverdale Road) recently.

(Editor’s note: the female ichneumon wasp possesses an extraordinarily long ovipositor, used to deposit eggs deep within wood, reaching larvae not accessible by other means.)

**Lisa Morris got a documentary photo of what is suspected to be a fishing spider.

These large spiders are often found near water, where they have the ability to forage on underwater insects by taking a small bubble of air with them to help complete their foraging mission.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

POLYPHEMUS MOTH. JUNE 19, 2026. ANITA CANNON

ICHNEUMON WASP SP. JUNE 18, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

FISHING SPIDER (SUSPECTED). JUNE 17, 2026. LISA MORRIS

Friday, 19 June 2026

June 19 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

**Jamie Burris found a nice flush of wine cap mushrooms (Stropharia rugoso-annulata) AKA king stropharia! They are a choice edible and can be grown in your own backyard garden. After Jamie had his fill (he shared), he decided to make a mushroom garden.
While gathering the mushrooms, he collected lots of spawn, mycelium and older specimens. He laid down a substrate of straw on top of the soil, then some wood chips, and then the mushrooms and spawn he had collected. Jamie made 3 layers of this, like making lasagna! He will keep an eye on this garden and inform us if this works out; he should know by autumn.

(Editor’s note: this is a “very interesting project” Jamie is doing, and the results will be very interesting to hear. Many folks mention they would like to have their favourite wild mushrooms growing on their property. As Jamie points out, it is very important to seed the area with some ground that was around the original mushrooms, as this is where the spawn is. This will not work for all species of mushrooms as the habitat has to be right. Go Jamie go!)

**Susan Rousseau saw a striking sky colour show in Saint Grégoire (between Bouctouche and Saint-Antoine) recently to capture a photo.

Brian Stone was consulted, and he responded “it looks like a rainbow segment.")

**Shannon Inman photographed a very distant egret on the Harvey Marsh on Thursday. It would appear to be a great egret, but distance has to call it suspected.

She also photographed serviceberry (with so many other common names) in fruit on Thursday, which is normally the first tree/shrub to actually produce fruit in the season, much to the delight of wildlife fruit connoisseurs such as cedar waxwings.

**Brian Stone revisited Irishtown Park on Thursday afternoon and heard fewer birds than he did the evening before, but walked some trails in much better weather than the previous evening. The common loon that was cruising the reservoir earlier was much closer and in better lighting conditions so Brian managed to get a few better photos of it. A Swainson's thrush or two were calling as loudly as they were on Wednesday, and a hermit thrush stopped on the path to peck at whatever a thrush would find interesting on a dirt path. A female common whitetail dragonfly rested on the ground close enough for a photo as Brian was approaching the car in the parking lot.

Back at home a song sparrow perched on Brian's back deck briefly, but long enough for a photo.

The day before, on Wednesday late afternoon, a rare astronomical occultation took place when the Moon approached the planet Venus and moved in front of it. Brian was hoping to photograph the entire event but was frustrated by the large fluffy clouds floating around in the sky and only managed to get a couple of images as the Moon became visible at times in gaps between them. He combined two images together, one suffering from some wispy cloud cover, that show the little bright dot of Venus as the Moon got closer to covering it, but he missed the actual occultation and reappearance of the planet as it came out the other side. The Moon was in a waxing crescent phase and was 9.3% illuminated at the time, just past 5:00 pm.

**This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2026 June 20 – June 27
Seasons are the result of the earth’s rotational axis being tilted about 23.5 degrees off the vertical with respect to its orbit. The first day of astronomical summer is this Sunday. The “astronomical” qualification is used because meteorologists have taken to confusing people with meteorological seasons based on temperatures. Meteorological summer in the northern hemisphere includes June, July and August because they have the highest average temperatures for the year.

On the summer solstice, the Sun rises and sets at its most northerly points on the horizon. For those of us at 45 degrees latitude, at midday (1:21 pm in Moncton) the Sun is about 68.5 degrees above the southern horizon; its highest altitude for the year. If we lived at latitude 23.5 degrees the Sun would be directly overhead at midday on the solstice. Several millennia ago the Sun was “in” the constellation Cancer on the solstice, hence that latitude is marked on maps as the Tropic of Cancer. The dim constellation does resemble a crab somewhat, but there is speculation that the Sun’s forth and back movement along the horizon at that time of year was reminiscent of a crab’s sideways walk.

The summer solstice point on the ecliptic, the Sun’s path through the constellations, has since passed through Gemini into Taurus. The roaming solstice is due to Earth’s axis wobbling like a top, making one revolution every 25,800 years in what we call the precession of the equinoxes. Enjoy your summer, whenever it starts.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:27 and sunset will occur at 9:13, giving 15 hours, 46 minutes of daylight (5:36 and 9:15 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:30 and set at 9:14, giving 15 hours, 44 minutes of daylight (5:38 and 9:16 in Saint John). The Sun reaches its most northern point of the ecliptic, the summer solstice, this Sunday morning at 5:25.

The Moon is at first quarter on Sunday and on June 27 it is near the orange supergiant star Antares in Scorpius. The alignment of evening planets changes over the week as dim Mercury moves below the ecliptic, By midweek it sets around 10:30, followed by Jupiter 20 minutes later, and Venus 50 minutes after that. Early in the week Saturn rises around 2 am and Mars an hour and a half later.

Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of Astronomy by the Bay.

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