NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
June 4,
2022 (Saturday)
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Edited by:
Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
**Aldo Dorio photographed a Red-throated Loon in breeding plumage at Hay Island on Friday. It would seem late for a migratory journey but only the loon knows for sure!
** Yvette
Richard joined the band wagon and headed for South Tetagouche on Tuesday for an
audience with the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and was rewarded.
They
started off in the tall grasses eventually heading to the water then off for a
feed.
Yvette
comments “Beautiful creatures”.
** Gordon Rattray made a trip to the
section of the Whiterock Recreation area near Hillsborough where in previous
years many butterflies have been observed. On Friday there were many
species to photograph, top of the list was a Western Tailed Blue Butterfly and
a Northern Cloudywing Butterfly of which both have been seen in this
area in other years. Gordon also was able to photograph a Northern
Crescent Butterfly, a Dreamy Duskywing, a Silvery Blue, a
pair of Cabbage White, and Common Ringlet Butterflies.
Gordon also saw a Four-spotted Skimmer and a Dot-tailed Whiteface
in the dragonfly category. An Arctic Skipper Butterfly
stopped for a photo. Gordon came across a moth Jim Edsall identified as in the Caenurgina
group.
**Brian Stone spent a few hours searching for nature
along the Taylor Rd. in Second North River on Thursday. Many subjects presented
themselves to the camera in the nice sunny weather and calm conditions. A Groundhog
sunning on the road was the first critter photographed and that started
off a good photography day. Two birds seen were a Red-eyed Vireo singing
alongside the road and a Veery that was being very vocal close by. At
least 5 Northern Waterthrush were either seen or heard but all managed
to avoid being photographed. At a large beaver dam and pond Brian managed to
get some long distant photos of some of the 5 Nighthawks that were
feeding on insects in the air above him.
At the
beaver pond some Fish were swimming vigorously in the road ruts beside
the dam that were being fed water from the overflowing dam. Bullfrogs, Green
Frogs and Leopard Frogs were present, and Brian noticed an
interesting Snail slowly crawling along the pond bottom. Several
varieties of dragonflies were perching and hovering in the area including Lancet
Clubtail Dragonfly, Common Whitetail Dragonfly, and Dot-tailed
Whiteface Dragonfly. Small, brown Oblique-lined Tiger Beetles were hopping along
the dry, sandy parts of the roadways.
Butterflies were plentiful and Brian saw a large group of at least 15 Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies interacting right on the side of the road. Eastern Comma, Mourning Cloak (no photos), and Northern Azure Butterflies added variety. Along the dusty dirt road Brian found Bog Elfin Butterflies to top off the list. After a good chase a White-striped Black Moth finally settled down to be photographed.
Plants noted along the way were Blue-eyed Grass in bloom and being attended by a small Flower Fly, brightly coloured Blue Flag Iris, and a large patch of Sundew.
Brian finished his outing by standing just a little bit
too long on a large Black Ant nest and needing to make a quick exit to
avoid being swarmed by the little critters.
A link to a
video clip of the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies is attached
below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mrg4j5guz3as7pu/Butterflies%20Interacting.MOV?dl=0
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
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