NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 15, 2020 (Wednesday)
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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)
** It’s just so great to start,
hopefully, daily MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] chatter. Jim Wilson had his first
Monarch Butterfly to his Swamp Milkweed in his Hampton yard on Monday, July 13th,
and it was there again on Tuesday morning. Last year Jim had his first one on
July 20th. Bev England in Quispamsis also had her first Monarch
Butterfly visit on Monday as well.
** Jane Leblanc spotted a RAZORBILL
[Petit Pingouin] very near shore at high tide in St. Martins on Tuesday. It
dove repeatedly and was practically jumping out of the water. She had noticed SHINERS
getting washed up ashore so she assumed that was what it was there for, as was
a HARBOUR SEAL [Phoque commun]. The facial plumage would seem to be unexpected
at this time of year and it could be an immature, non-breeder or some other
plumage changing scenario.
** Yolande Leblanc came across a large,
2 inch plus long larval grub in some rotting wood near her Memramcook home.
BugGuide has identified it as in the SCARAB, STAG, and BESS BEETLE group that
look similar. Their diet is rotting wood. This must be a real prize for a
Pileated Woodpecker as well as its role as a wood recycler. A close up photo is
attached.
** Jack Perry in Saint John adds
additional comments to Gordon Rattray’s mentioning of the invasiveness of the
plant VALERIAN [Valériane]. Jack sends a photo of a field behind where he lives
in Saint John showing it full of Valerian that he did not note last year to
attest to its invasiveness.
** Larry Sherrard and I went very deep
into the New Brunswick hinterland on Monday, travelling on many wood roads in
Northumberland Co. A few of the highlights were a large cow MOOSE [Orignal] and
a young BLACK BEAR [Ours noir], neither of which were interested in being
photographed. An adult BROAD-WINGED HAWK [Petite Buse] allowed a few shots that
were branch bombed. A family of SPRUCE GROUSE [Tétras du Canada] was much more
cooperative, seeming in true Spruce Grouse style to want to get us on their day
list as well. A parent strolled about with the young fledged birds being able
to fly short distances when they chose. A RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée] was
more wary and took its leave.
We also came across a dragonfly
unfamiliar to me, the NORTHERN PYGMY CLUBTAIL dragonfly. Gilles Belliveau
helped identify it and comments he thought
it to be considered common in NB in the right habitat (clear rocky
streams, brooks or rivers with sand/silt bottom). The specimen photographed is
a female.
I was surprised to see so much RED-BERRIED
ELDER [Aîné aux fruits rouges] showing off its scarlet, red berry cone-shaped
clumps. One area had several BRISTLY SARSAPARILLA which was getting ready to
form its later to be blue berry clusters standing far above the leaves compared
to the more common Wild Sarsaparilla. A photo of the developing bristly stem base
is also attached. This plant grows waist height and higher.
A visit to the northwest fish barrier on the
Northwest Miramichi River had an encouraging Salmon scenario with the number of
Salmon and Grilse there much higher than in previous years for some unknown but
welcome reason. Salmon numbers have been down significantly in the past several
years.
** The DOBSONFLY is a very large
appearing insect that is on the wing right now. Its 4 wings are what makes it
seem large when opened up. Most of the life of this insect is under water with
the adults out on mating flights at the moment. A female came to my moth light
and day roosted to be photographed.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
