Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 16 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 16, 2020 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

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** Lois Budd got a great photo of a juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON [Bihoreau violacé] while birding on Saturday. This is not a New Brunswick breeding bird and is not commonly seen in New Brunswick, especially a juvenile.

Lois located it at Latitude N4574949 Longitude W64491890’, Lower Rockport Road. Lois was in Sackville and took 106 to go home, sign said 935 and headed that way. After several Km and then onto a dirt road she passed the road to Dorchester Rte. 935 and kept going straight. She came to a marshy area on the right before a bridge and there it was. Seemed quite content so may stay for a bit.

A very special find!.

** Jane LeBlanc has a very diverse natural yard of plants in St. Martins, complete with a lily pond that attracts lots of Mother Nature’s community. On Saturday, an ATLANTIS FRITILLARY [Argynne de l’Atlantique] dropped by for Purple Coneflower; a WHITE ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY [Amiral] came in for the Joe Pyeweed; and when the light was just right, she could photograph a YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] tadpole in the lily pond.

** Louise Richard had a bird window strike at their Acadieville cabin. The size of the bird was not indicated, but in consultation with Gilles Belliveau, he felt the buffy eye ring and lores with markings on the chest fit with SWAINSON'S THRUSH [Grive à dos olive]. Hopefully, it recovered to continue on its mission. This once common thrush has declined in number.

** More colourful caterpillars are being noted. Annegret Lamure spotted a WHITE-MARKED TUSSUCK MOTH caterpillar enjoying munching on a maple leaf in her yard.

** Aldo Dorio sends a photo of GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] that are so common at the moment and will be in no rush to leave. Note the longer bill at one and a half head lengths, and heavier set bill than the Lesser Yellowlegs, and also the slight downcurved tip to the bill. He also photographed JEWELWEED in bloom which is a migrating hummingbird favourite due to its very high fructose nectar. It also gets the common name “Touch-me-not,” as when the seed pods mature, they can spring open suddenly to expel seeds, especially when handled.

** While visiting St. Martins on Friday, we were able to see what has been given the name Anvil Rock, a rock formation with trees on top similar to the formations at Hopewell Cape. Jane LeBlanc comments that when she moved to the area 40 years ago, the top of it was attached to the cliff. They actually heard the rock crash, but didn’t realize until after what the noise had been.

** Along the Fundy Trail Parkway, the relatively small island Isle Haute can be seen out on the Bay of Fundy. This island has a lot of historical stories of humans visiting the island. I was able to get a photo but fog limited clarity.

** HIMALAYAN BALSAM is a common plant in the Saint John area, and it is thought it was introduced by ships dumping ballast. It has spread and it is quite happily blooming at some sites at St. Martins at the moment. They grow in colonies and can grow quite tall with attractive blooms. Some photos are attached. I have noted one large tall plant at Bell/Wilson Marsh.

** The flower garden at the Fundy Park Interpretive Centre has several Swamp Milkweed plants. MONARCH BUTTERFLIES [Monarque] have found it and several chrysalids were noted. They were all attached to a clump of ferns approximately 10 feet away from the milkweed patch. Another chrysalis was attached to the deck. A photo is attached. Jim Edsall thought that it was either a QUESTION MARK BUTTERLY [Polygone à queue violacée] or a MOURNING CLOAK BUTTERFLY [Morio] pupal stage. If that is correct, an adult butterfly will emerge this fall and overwinter as an adult.

** RED OSIER DOGWOOD is a very common shrub that is sporting its clumps of white berries at the moment. When the shrubs lose their leaves in the fall, the bright red stems are notable.

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton