Nature Moncton Nature News: June 27 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 27, 2019 (Thursday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Leon Gagnon is back to his summer place at Wilson’s Point on Miscou Island and is always on the watch for interesting wildlife activity. He spotted an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER [Moucherolle à côtés olive] in the same spot that he has seen one in past years. Leon got a nice photo showing the white tufts on the side of the rump that is distinctive to this bird but often not visible. An EASTERN KINGBIRD [Tyran tritri] nicely shows that white tail tip nicely. He photographed an OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur] enjoying a Flounder. Flounder seems to be an Osprey favourite, maybe because it tends to stay quiet on the bottom, but it has to be amazing how they are able to see them. Leon also photographed a pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi] on June 25 off Wilson’s Point. This species nests on the tundra so I am not sure of the reason for them being there on June 25. Leon is also enjoying watching a RED FOX [Renard roux] out on its regular evening hunt.

** Louise Nichols was able to get some awesome dragonfly photos around her Aulac property. The EBONY BOGHAUNTER is a very special one. It is a species that only flies very early in the season, often around bog edges when the black flies are most active. This may be one of the reasons that this is the first time a photo of one of this species has been submitted to this blogspot. Louise also got excellent photos of others that many of us have trouble identifying, like the RACKET-TAILED EMERALD, SPINY BASKETTAIL, BELTED WHITEFACE, female DOT-TAILED WHITEFACE, and the DUSKY CLUBTAIL. Note the eye arrangement of the Dusky Clubtail. The clubtails are the only dragonfly group with the eyes so obviously separated to help with narrowing down identification. Louise’s photo shows this feature beautifully. Damselflies would have eyes widely separated and on stalks. Another dragonfly Louise also was got the COMMON WHITETAIL dragonfly. Thanks to Denis Doucet and Gilles Belliveau for opinions on the more challenging ones.

** Brian Stone shares a few more photos he got at Mapleton Park on Monday to include a perfect photo of a BEAVERPOND BASKETTAIL DRAGONFLY showing its ID features so well. BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL in bloom. HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY was in very full bloom showing the central area of true reproductive flowers with the showy, large, sterile petals around the rim. A SPEEDWELL species was in bloom showing one of the four petals smaller than the rest, that being a characteristic of this species, and HAIRCAP MOSS. Several GYPSY MOTH CATERPILLARS were chowing down on green foliage. The Gypsy Moth caterpillar can be problematic due to its insatiable appetite and its wide range of host plants.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton