Nature Moncton Nature News

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

June 14, 2022 (Tuesday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**David Lilly photographed the striking blooms of Columbine in prime bloom in a wooded area of Jemseg on Sunday. Columbine is always a pleasant find in the wild in New Brunswick, escapee or wild.

Gart Bishop points out the main difference between the wild Columbine and the cultivated varieties is the spur petal. As can be seen clearly in David’s photo the spur is curved or hooked. In the Wild Columbine the spur is straight. Wild Columbine is very rare and found only once, I believe, on the North Shore. The Columbine that we find are variations on the European species.

**Georges Brun has recently spotted some interesting waterfowl on the Petitcodiac River. A Red-Throated Loon and the immature male Common Eider were photographed on the Petitcodiac River down from Halls Creek.

Above the new bridge a Gadwall was present.

There was a juvenile Bald Eagle at the mouth of Jonathan Creek.

**Bob Blake sends a pleasant photo of a Highbush Cranberry shrub

 just beginning its summer mission showing the large white sterile

ray flowers on the outside that will attract pollinators to the fertile

 disc flowers in the center that are still in bud but will be opening

 soon.

**Aldo Dorio recently photographed a buddying up duo of an

 American Robin and an Eastern Bluebird in the yard of his Neguac

home. Both appear to have real estate possibilities in mind.

** On Sunday Brian Stone walked behind Crandall University to

 check on the development of spring life in the area. The Pink

 Lady's Slipper Orchids were still in bloom and the Common

 Milkweed was growing fast. A Cedar Waxwing perched in a low

 tree alongside the back road and watched Brian taking photos.

 Brian saw his first Viceroy Butterfly of the season along with several

 Arctic Skipper Butterflies, Common Ringlet Butterflies, many

Northern Crescent Butterflies, and a Hobomok Skipper Butterfly.

A White Spring Moth was hunted until it finally settled and got

 its own photo. A wasp and a Slender Crab Spider finished off

the photo outing. Brian noted that the largest pond behind the

 University was already as dry as it was in August of last year, and

 most of the other smaller ponds had already dried up.

**Nelson Poirier’s Mourning Dove nest beside the deck has permitted the first photos of the newborn family to be shared with the public. Yes, a face only a mother could love!

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com