Nature Moncton Nature News: July 29 2017

NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – 29 July 2017 (Saturday)

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

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

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

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**Kerry Lee Morris-Cormier advises the annual SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER [Bécasseau semipalmé] migration is underway, and the displays of thousands of birds flying, feeding, and roosting near the Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Interpretive Centre are magnificent. PEREGRINE FALCONS [Faucon pèlerin] have been hunting, and a raft of BLACK SCOTERS [Macreuse à bec jaune] is floating in and out on the tides daily.

**Nancy Mullin in Quarryville is an avid Moth watcher, and operates a light and bait to attract them. Nancy comments the UNDERWINGS [Likenée] are starting to fly at the moment, and many are very striking, when those brilliant underwings open. One Nancy photographed recently was the SCARLET UNDERWING [Catocala coccinata], with photo attached. Most Underwings are medium-sized Moths, with one, known as the WHITE UNDERWING [Catocala relicta], that is quite large.

**Mac Wilmot photographed a mother MOOSE [Orignal] nursing her calf on July 10th at Little McKendrick Lake. The photo is attached. He revisited the same spot on July 27th. The mother Moose was still there in the same area in late afternoon. They spotted the calf as they were leaving, but no photo. Mac also took note of a plant growing by their Guagus camp on the Renous River. It was approximately 7 feet tall, and appears to be TALL BLUE LETTUCE [Laitue bisannuelle].

**Gordon Rattray paid a visit to Dale Gaskin’s home at 709 Dawson Settlement Road on Friday, to see some of Dale’s EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est]. One cooperated on cue for a photo.

**John Massey shares a photo of his MASON BEE [Abeille maçonne] house with patrons taking and filling compartments nicely.

**I’m adding a few more recent botany photos after having Sean Blaney confirm them. Sean comments the HORNED BLADDERWORT [Utriculaire cornue] likes wet peat areas, where we found it. It has a mass of tiny green pseudoleaves at the base sticking up around the plant, which I did not notice, but will be on the watch for next time. Sean identified the pink flower as HAIRY WILLOW-HERB [Épilobe hérissé], a species which is uncommon in the Maritimes, but seems to be slowly increasing in distribution. I saw it near Lamèque this week. The Orchids, RAGGED-FRINGED ORCHID [Habénaire lacérée] and CLUB-SPUR ORCHID [Habénaire claviforme], were in prime bloom at a bog on Miscou Island this past week.

**Wild PARSNIP [Panais] is a very common invasive plant on roadsides and in field areas, blooming at the moment. It is an attractive yellow plant, but one should be careful about handling it, as the sap of this plant can make skin sensitive to sunlight. That being said, I’ve had no personal problems with it before I was aware of that. A few photos are attached from Friday. Also, VALERIAN [Herbe aux chats] is a very common plant in bloom at the moment. This plant is not problematic, but does contain the sedative drug Diazepam, so it is one of the plants used medicinally in the past, which did have sought-after effects. While looking at these plants roadside, a FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle] was on the road and still alive. I suspect it had been brushed by a car. I led it off the road, then picked it up to toss it into tall grasses, when it flew off into bushes, so it appears that recovery may have been imminent.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton