Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 21 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 21, 2018 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Roger Leblanc paid a visit to the Riverview Marsh on Monday to remind everyone that it is a great nearby spot to be checking out at the moment. He found approximately 150 shorebirds there, tallying six species. The majority species was LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] at approximately 85. Roger points out that it could be very interesting to follow up in this area in the next weeks and suggests that an impromptu field trip could be a productive idea and may arrange one over the next few days so stay tuned.

** It’s time for fledgling GREAT HORNED OWLS [Grand-duc d'Amérique] to hoot, or maybe better expressed as screaming, for parents to being them food, and hurry it up! Mac Wilmot shares a night video of what they think might be up to five calling, seemingly all night, around his daughter’s home at 963 Coverdale Rd. We had a family by our camp one year and can surely testify to the dusk to dawn ruckus of teenage Great Horned Owls. Check out the videos at the attached links.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Kfbqn23895nJBz64A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LMnBHUb921sFvT6j9

** The flashily dressed caterpillars are popping up in numbers. Catherine Hamilton got a nice photo of a WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH CATERPILLAR [Chenille à houppes] as well as a RED-SHOULDERED PINE BORER BEETLE [Beetle de bore de pin a epaules rouges]. The Red-shouldered Pine Borer Beetle larval grub feeds on dead and decaying wood but the adult feeds on flowers. A WEASEL cooperated nicely for a photo of it in its summer pelage which will become white with a black tail tip in just three months.

** The MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] caterpillar that Jamie Burris took inside has pupated into a striking chrysalis on August 16 which was 17 days after the egg was laid. His grandchildren were enjoying the look of the chrysalis when they spotted a second small caterpillar which is now twenty mm. long and growing very fast on the Swamp Milkweed plant that was taken indoors.

** Brian Stone’s nature sleuthing in Perth, Ont. on Monday was mostly near a pond to get a LEOPARD FROG [Rana pipiens] and a BULLFROG [Ouaouaron]. Note that the lateral line curves down and around the tympanum to quickly identify a Bullfrog. A fragrant WATER LILY was at its peak bloom, these close up at night. The CLOUDED SULPHUR BUTTERFLIES [Coliade du trèfle] were still attracted to one spot. A COMMON WOOD NYMPH BUTTERFLY [Satyre des prés] was about as well, and an Orb Weaver Spider was showing its very effective insect trap.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton