NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, 26 June 2021
(Saturday)
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Edited
by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript
by: Catherine Clements
Info
Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**Sue
Richards sends some participant photos from the Thursday night nature walk. Sue
comments “our Tuesday nature walks got off to a shaky start, having to be
postponed to Thursday, but Thursday gave us great weather, a great turnout, and
was enjoyed by all 13 participants. Starting at 6:30, we walked the Dobson
Trail in Riverview, with nature being observed, birds heard, and stories
shared, ending back at the parking lot at about 8:30, in that full strawberry
moonlight! Very much enjoyed by all, and they look forward to the next walk.
(Editor’s note: I would sure encourage other naturalists’ groups to consider
the same style of weekly outing to a local interesting spot. Rose-Alma Mallet
started a similar scenario with day birding every Thursday that has been very
appreciated by les Ami.e.s de la nature. It has its drawbacks in summer, due to
so much else on the agenda, but if the first effort is any indication, folks
make time to join when they can. The Club des Naturalistes de la Péninsule
Acadienne also do group birding outings. It is a great way to connect, as COVID
subsides)
At Thursday night’s hike, Brian Stone got a
great photo of a NORTHERN PEARLY EYE BUTTERFLY doing what it does best. This
butterfly tends to be in shaded woods or out on cloudy days, quite different
from many of its sun-worshipping kin. It was flying in the dark understory when
it was spotted, then landed on a tree bark where we had to stare at it to see
it, being so cryptic against the tree bark, which was its very intent. A
BLUE-HEADED VIREO entertained with its song, but it was very hard to photograph
as it was constantly on the move. Brian’s persistence captured it. Brian also
got a photo of a pair of beetles in the genus Dichelonyx, which we were not able to give a common name to. There
are several beetles of this species in New Brunswick.
There
were surprising numbers of ferns discovered. ROYAL FERN was surprisingly
abundant, and one that some had not seen before. NEW YORK FERN was also a
surprise, which Gordon Rattray got photos of. Gordon also photographed OAK
FERN, ROYAL FERN, and the flowering plants SHEEP LAUREL and BIRD’S-FOOT
TREFOIL.
BEAKED
HAZELNUT shrubs had progressed to the developing nut. A few participants have
gathered these, and shared how best to gather and prepare them, saying they are
as good as commercially purchased filberts, but smaller. The fuzz on the seed
covering can be very irritating and staining, so gloves are indicated. The low
shade-loving shrub HOBBLEBUSH had gone to its green developing berry stage.
They will end up red.
Some
FLY AGARIC MUSHROOMS found moisture in rotting wood to fruit. Many PINK LADY’S
SLIPPERS were past their prime, but some were still in perfect bloom.
A lot
of surprise to find the brilliant cultivar FOXGLOVE, which contains digitalis,
a drug used to treat some heart problems. SHEEP LAUREL was abundant, and a
large mass of the cultivar GARDEN LOOSESTRIFE was at the trailhead.
A flowering shrub
that had us all wondering about its identity was Snowberry. Most of us are
familiar with Creeping Snowberry and the cultivar Snowberry.
We did key it out
as Snowberry but none of us had seen this plant in NB.
In consult with
Gart Bishop, he points out he has only seen it 4 times in NB over his extensive
botanical career and it always initially stumps him as he does not expect it. Gart
checked the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre listing, and they consider
it to be introduced to NB from the west. It is not listed
in the Flora of NB as having been found in the Moncton region.
Andrew Darcy, who recently moved here from Ontario, suspected it as Snowberry and now know why he was quite correct.
**Jim
Johnson in Scotch Settlement reports he has 2 nest boxes occupied by EASTERN
BLUEBIRDS. Both are near the road.
**Fred
Dube sends a photo of a Plume Moth species. The perched posture is very
characteristic of the Plume Moth group, almost resembling a CRANE FLY with
short legs.
**Aldo
Dorio sends a photo of a WHITE ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY spreadeagled for a top view.
It appears very fresh and unblemished.
This
is one of the butterflies that fly in to join us in the summer season, but do
not overwinter in New Brunswick.
**BITTERSWEET
NIGHTSHADE is at the point where the cluster has still prime blossoms and
others developing green berries which will become red over the next month. A
photo is attached.
**As
an early heads-up, the write-up for next week’s Tuesday evening Nature Moncton
outing is attached below. It will be repeated on Monday and Tuesday.
Nature
Moncton Tuesday evening hike, Tuesday, June 29, 2021. 6:30 PM
Tuesday’s
walk will be from Point Park area of Riverview across the marsh trail towards
the Petitcodiac River. The walk will be about 3 Km in distance on level
groomed trails, easy walking.
Start is
6:30 PM so come early so we have time to do the Covid protocols before we
leave. The walkway is wide so separation will not be an issue.
Directions:
On route 114 (Hillsborough Rd.) just before the Petro-Canada station turn down
Point Park Drive, go to end then turn left on Avondale. At end of
Avondale go right along Hawthorne Drive to Hawthorne Park where there is
parking.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson
Poirier,
Nature
Moncton
