NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June
03, 2021 (Thursday)
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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)
** Yvette Richard was able to capture a
long distance, zoomed in photo of the LEAST BITTERN [Petit Blongios] on
Wednesday seemingly enjoying Highland Park in Salisbury as much as birders
trying to seek a brief audience as Yvette did for 5 seconds! The Least Bittern
is a small bittern at 13 inches compared to the American Bittern at
approximately 28 inches, a big size difference.
** Louise Nichols was walking on the
old Fairfield Rd. in Sackville on Wednesday and saw a bird enter a clump of Old
Man’s Beard lichen. She observed it for a bit and saw that it was, as she suspected, a
NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier] warbler. It was entering and leaving the
nest quickly but she managed to get one zoomed in photo of the bird as it was
going in. Louise comments “It doesn’t look like a very sturdy nest but I
guess it must work”.
** Bev Schneider came across a group of
BLISTER BEETLES chowing down on newly opening LUPIN plants. These common
beetles can strip plants as they aggressively forage. Lupin seems to be a
favourite but certainly not confined to
it as can be galloping gourmets on other greenery. These beetles will release a
chemical agent canthardin as defense mechanism. It can produce blisters to human
skin and was historically used as an aphrodisiac.
** Gordon Rattray made a trip to Highland Park in Salisbury on Wednesday morning. Many birders were there looking for the bitterns. The LEAST BITTERN [Petit Blongios] was heard several times and the AMERICAN BITTERN [Butor d'Amérique] was observed by some. There were interesting birds in the marsh. Gordon saw the COMMON GALLINULE [Gallinule d’Amérique] from a distance and the PIED-BILLED GREBES [Grèbe à bec bigarré] were present. BALTIMORE ORIOLES [Oriole de Baltimore] were around at several locations. The marsh has a huge population of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes] and both the males and the females were active. Gordon also got some common plants in bloom photos like BUTTERCUP and GOATSBEARD to appreciate their beauty which we often overlook.
The non-native yet very common
MULTICOLOURED ASIAN LADY BEETLE adult joined the photo lineup.
** With everything blooming now,
especially their Lilac favourite, the CANADIAN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLIES
[Papillon tigré du Canada] are appearing in numbers on schedule. Jane Leblanc
got a photograph of one choosing her Cherry Tree blossoms to nectar upon.
Jane also came across a SONG SPARROW
[Bruant chanteur] missing a tail, very possibly having had an encounter with a
raptor. The tail feather follicles will start on a replacement and all should
be back to normal and as good as new in a month.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
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