Nature Moncton Nature News: July 30 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 30, 2017 (Sunday)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca
Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com
Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Luc Richard reports two HARBOUR PORPOISES [Marsouin commun] were plying the waters of the Petitcodiac River while he was surfing on Wednesday. I presume that they were after some species of fish in the river at the moment.

** HIMALAYAN BALSAM [Balsamie de l'Himmalaya] is a plant making its way around the province from the initial landing at Saint John, where it is thought to have arrived in ship's ballast. John Massey noted some blooming plants at Rockport on Saturday.

** Annette Stone, Brian Stone and Carol Shea made a run around Buctouche Bay on Saturday. They noted a group of 9 BONAPARTE'S GULLS around the Caissie Cape wharf, one still in breeding plumage, the others in non-breeding plumage and some showing remnant brown of immaturity. On the Cormierville marsh they saw a small group of SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS [Bécassin roux], yellowlegs [chevaliers], ducks [canards] and CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada], and at a small Cocagne pond saw yellowlegs, a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER [Pluvier semipalmé] and a LEAST SANDPIPER [Bécasseau minuscule].

They went to last year's BANK SWALLOW [Hirondelle de rivage] nesting site near the observation tower at the Buctouche Dune. Unfortunately, due to erosion in that area, a rock wall had to be erected there, so there is no Bank Swallow nesting area left.

** It was very rewarding on Saturday morning to find several MONARCH [Monarque] caterpillars enjoying our small milkweed patch started last year in urban Moncton. They were all in the 3-4 cm range and seemed to be predominantly on the Swamp Milkweed, but I did see female butterflies laying eggs on both Common and Swamp Milkweeds.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton