Nature Moncton Nature News: June 26 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 26, 2019 (Wednesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Judy Marsh marshj@nbnet.nb.ca

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

**Susan Richards hosted another of our native Sphinx Moths, the striking ONE-EYED SPHINX MOTH that was attracted to a light at her Taylor Village home on Monday evening.

Fred and Susan Richards visited Fort Louisburg in Cape Breton Nova Scotia on Monday to be very interested in the SWALLOW activity there, as Parks Canada workers were counting and making notes on the SWALLOWS. Fred got photos of BARN SWALLOWS [Hirondelle rustique], nicely showing their signature forked tail and a CLIFF SWALLOW [Hirondelle à front blanc] on it's nest, nicely showing it's light forehead patch.

**Great to hear of another pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] reporting in. Bob Grant in Cape Spear had a pair occupy a new box he had erected this spring. They moved in on June 7^th. When the female flew from the nest on Tuesday, Bob quickly opened the box for a fast check to see a clutch of 4 eggs, suspecting they must be very near hatching. Bob also has a pair of TREE SWALLOWS[Hirondelle bicolore] in his yard that are now feeding young. Bob also has a GRAY CATBIRD [Moqueur chat] near his home that has been very entertaining .

**Jim Johnson in Scotch Settlement has had the starting colony of 3 CLIFF SWALLOW [Hirondelle à front blanc] nests on a gable of his home, to now swell to 7 pairs with nests in two groupings of 3 and one nest by itself. We were able to get two of the man made CLIFF SWALLOW [Hirondelle à front blanc] nests for Jim to try last week. He got them up right away, but there has been no takers to them yet, but we may have gotten them to Jim just too late for this year, but is still hoping for a pair to give them a look. The first ones were spotted on May 19^th and Jim suspects the others have started nests, but only did a completion on Monday.

**Nadia Parisella in Pennobsquis got two beautiful photos of a COLUMBIA SILK MOTH on Tuesday morning. It appears very fresh and unworn. This is one of our giant silkmoths, that seem to be popping up in good numbers at the moment from photo reports. Thanks to Suzanne Rousseau for forwarding Nadia's find.

**Heather Silliker, is yet another to host one of the SPHINX MOTHS to her Upper Coverdale home. She photographed the MODEST SPHINX aka BIG POPLAR SPHINX that she found on her doorstep on Tuesday morning. It seems to have a bit of fraying to the wing edges, so may have seen flying for several nights before being photographed.

**Annette Stone was yet another to capture photos of GIANT SILK MOTHS day perching. She came across a POLYPHEMUS SILK MOTH as well as a COLUMBIA SILK MOTH, as she was looking at patio stones at the Kent Building supplies location in Harrisville, a double whammy GIANT SILK MOTHS event.

Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park on Tuesday and found the butterfly activity was heightened using the fuel of the warm brilliant sun. SILVERY BLUE BUTTERFLIES were actively mating to get still photos of that as well is two short video clips. Take a look at the attached links.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5r15s7c59gwerro/Silvery%20Blue%20Butterflies%201.MOV?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7tmskdk879guolt/Silvery%20Blue%20Butterflies%202.MOV?dl=0

He was also able to get still photos of ARCTIC SKIPPER and LONG DASH SKIPPER BUTTERFLY, NORTHERN CRESENT BUTTERFLIY with views of the underside to show the dull underside of the hind wing to quickly separate the species from a few other similar ones. Brian also got a photo of the QUESTION MARK BUTTERFLY underside to show the signature silver marking there to give it its name and quickly separate it from the Comma butterflies.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton