NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 28, 2021 (Monday)
To respond by email, please address your message to
the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording
or photo labelling.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the
website at www.naturemoncton.com
Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
*John Massey is watching a colony of the POLISTES
genus wasps, nesting under an eave. This
species is our most common so-called paper wasp and does not cover the cells of
its nest like the Vespidae family that cover the cells completely. The nest style sometimes gives it the name of
Umbrella Wasp. The genders do differ in
appearance. The one on the nest John
photographed is a female. John has noted
he is able to go right up to the nest which is expected. This wasp is not as aggressive as the Vespidae
but can be provoked if the nest proper is disturbed.
**Fresh LUNA MOTHS are still about. Margaret Murray in Scotch Settlement had one day perch on her home on Sunday aside what appears to be a SATIN MOTH. Both looking very fresh.
**Eric Wilson spotted a pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES at
Wilson Marsh. This has been a very regular nesting site for this species over
the years and a great spot to see this sometimes hard to locate bird during
nesting season. They usually tend to like the Aspen Trees located there
(especially along Bond St.) to construct their elaborate pendulant nest high in
a tree which is often hard to spot in the leaf foliage. They can often be
spotted flying about with patience and especially when the young nestlings are
being fed and as the nestlings fledge. This is also a traditional nesting site
for WARBLING VIREO. Eric sends a locational map of the marsh (a keeper for
those unfamiliar with this excellent naturalizing site!). A nice trail starts
around the Ducks Unlimited impoundment at the southern end of Bond St. (Rte.
106 is the Salisbury Road)
**Aldo Dorio photographed a SONG SPARROW enjoying a
bath at Hay Island on Sunday. Land birds
can put on quite a vigorous show when they very contentedly bathe with intense
vigor.
** Fred Dube photographed NORTHERN CRESCENT
BUTTERFLIES on Sunday. Note in the photo of the pair; one is darker than the
other. Jim Edsall advises the female is darker than the male.
**Photos from the Saturday Nature Moncton field trip
to Prosser Mountain are coming in. Kelly
Honeyman pointed out several plants/trees that were indicators of rich
(sweet/alkaline) soil areas. IRONWOOD is
one of those trees.
Richard Perron sends a photo of the leaf details. The
bark tends to be very shaggy strips curled outward at each end which Richard
photographed as well.
CHRISTMAS FERN
is another indicator. Gordon Rattray got
nice photographs of it showing that little ear on the upper base of each pinna,
looking like a Christmas stocking, that is diagnostic.
Another indicator fern located was RATTLESNAKE FERN (BOTRYCHIUM
VIRGINIANUM), with some specimens showing the fertile sporophyte stalk to have it called one of the
grape-fern group. LONG-BRACTED ORCHID
was one of the rarities located that had not burst into bloom yet, but the few
found were very robust. One of the
round-leafed orchids (there are three species) was showing several plants, but
tops were nipped off by suspected White-Tailed Deer. HELLEBORINE ORCHID, our only non-native
orchid was also located. A few species of PYROLA were found and
identified. Kelly also pointed out the
lichens LUNGWORT and SMOOTH LUNGWORT that were seen growing on the same trees as
well as COLLEMA species of lichens are also indicators. More specific indicator plants were ROSE-TWISTED
STALK, WHITE MANDARIN (AKA DEERBERRY) and both RED BANEBERRY and WHITE BANEBERRY. The two look similar at first glance if not
in berry but Red Baneberry has finer pedicels supporting the flower and fruit
than the broad pedicels of White Baneberry aka Doll’s Eye. There were numerous photos taken Saturday by
Brian Stone and Andrew Darcy that came in this morning but will hold them until
tomorrow’s edition to allow more individual perusal. Stay tuned, they are
great!
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
