Nature Moncton Nature News: July 24 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 24, 2017 (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)

** Winston Jones in Upper Coverdale reports he noted a CATTLE EGRET [Héron garde-boeufs] following cows in a field behind the church at the corner of Coverdale Road and Turtle Creek Road. It's been there for a few days, so may linger. Winston comments he has resisted removing Common Milkweed [Herbe à coton] from one of his farm fields. He says it's great for the Monarch butterflies but not so good for the farmer when the plant chooses farm fields to set roots.

** Always nice to hear from Léon Gagnon at Wilson's Point on Miscou. He noted a huge gathering of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] in that area on July 19, 20 and 21. However, on July 22 they seemed to all take their leave. He also had three BARN SWALLOWS [Hirondelle rustique] around his property, being only the second time that he has seen them there in ten years. He has a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO [Coulico à bec noir] that is favouring a willow tree near his summer home there. He has seen it at least three times since July 14. He has also seen several WHIMBRELS [Courlis corlieu] in that area recently.

** Lois Budd was pleasantly surprised to see a male EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] appear at her feeders on Sunday.

** The MONARCH [Monarque] butterfly bonanza is continuing. Ed and Janice Bull have seen at least six of them in their Common Milkweed field at Northampton outside of Woodstock.

** The big sphinx moths are seen less frequently by this time but Aldo Dorio had a Big Poplar Sphinx appear on Sunday. The underwing with the rose patch does not show in the photo.

At the moment I am raising 15 BIG POPLAR SPHINX moth caterpillars that are growing very fast at about 5 cm in length at the moment. Brian Stone got some photos of these caterpillars on Sunday, and also some of the POLYPHEMUS [Polyphème d'Amérique] moth caterpillars, of later hatch, that are in the nursery cage. The Big Poplar Sphinx caterpillars are eating aspen leaves, the Polyphemus are feeding on red oak leaves.

** Aldo also got a photo of two fledgling MERLINS [Faucon émerillon] working on their maiden flights.

** Murray Wigglesworth enjoys building wooden bird feeders at his home shop. They are downsizing to an apartment and he now has all his remaining stock for sale, as per his note that follows:

I have closed my work shop and we have down sized to an apartment.

I have about 40 simple platform feeders left is stock. Most are reversible for use with large or small feed.

They are normally sold for $12.00 - $18.00.

FINAL SAL- 2 / $5.00 while they last.

CALL MURRAY 899-0811

** Brian Stone and I spent some time on Saturday in some back woods of the Miramichi area. Several items of interest came to our attention. A pleasant surprise was to hear and see so many WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS [Bec-croisé bifascié] and lots of cones for them to partake of in the treetop café. It is looking like a White-winged Crossbill season, in some areas for sure.

** A check on the AMERICAN KESTREL [Crécerelle d'Amérique] box that I erected last year showed a nestling in the opening, looking very near fledging. The box was used last year but I never got to see the youngsters. Brian got a photo of an adult arriving with food, apparently a grasshopper.

Lots of dragonflies were flying, with CHALK-FRONTED CORPORAL the most prevalent, but also CRIMSON-RINGED WHITEFACE, BELTED WHITEFACE, (Note the pruinosity at the base of the abdomen), and some that require further identification.

ATLANTIS FRITILLARIES were noted at a few locations. CANADA LILY was noted in full bloom at a few locations.

A photo of a washed-up water-lily with a huge root shows why animals like MOOSE like to browse under water for those huge succulent, nutritious roots that we don't often see.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton