Nature Moncton Nature News: July 25 2022

July 25, 2022 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

** Nature Moncton Wednesday walk details at the end of this edition.

**The Eastern Bluebird pair continue to feed the hungry nestlings inside a nesting box near Brian Coyle's home on Lower Mountain Rd. near Moncton. A cricket as well as a red berry of some kind were on the menu.

This family is using a Nature Moncton nest box erected on the utility pole roadside.

Brian visited his trail cam set-up near a small pond again on Sunday to find the Great Horned owlets still present in the area. They are becoming quite developed and flying on their own and don’t seem to mind Brian visiting them and capturing great photos.

Brian got a great video of two of them going about their day. It is interesting to note one bird seems to be continually rotating its head. It is assumed this action allows their highly developed asymmetrical ears to hear sounds in all directions. A lucky scenario to capture in the video. Take a look at the action by clicking on the attached video link.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sgu6fc35pgwid81/Owl%20Head%20Bobbing%20..%20Brian%20Coyle.MOV?dl=0

**Louise and Glen Nichols posed the question below which the editor felt Rheal Vienneau would be the best person to ask for an opinion.

Louise and Glen asked “Glen and I have a question. Would it be a good idea to put up some chicken wire around the Monarch Butterfly plants to keep the birds off the caterpillars? If so, when would be a good time to do that -- when they get bigger? Since the Monarchs are still flying around now and possibly still depositing eggs, we don't want to block them from the milkweed with the chicken wire. We're not sure what to do”

Rheal’s response was

“Here is my humble opinion on this suggestion:

1. I definitively agree that this a not a time to cover your milkweed as one needs to allow the monarchs to nectar and to oviposit.

2. I have never observed/experienced birds being an important predator. The smaller the caterpillars the higher the mortality rate(by other insects like ants and spiders). Conversely the larger the caterpillar the lower the mortality rate and considerably lower. So, I recommend not to cover your milkweed. To keep birds away, I paint big black eyes on beach balls and hang them near where I have problems with birds.

I am away for a few days but will forward a picture of my painted beach balls.”

**Leon Gagnon shares some observations from Miscou Island and Cap Brule.

On July 5, 10 Great Blue Herons were seen at La Malbaie Sud lagoon on Miscou. They come there on a regular basis. On July 5, two birds were performing a dance there.

A Whimbrel was observed on July 20. It landed in the lagoon of La Malbaie Sud.

The last Tree Swallows were seen on July 19: a group of 25 flying over a wooded area. After that, some Bank Swallows were observed, which pass in migration, along the edge of the sea. Another observation on a visit Leon made to Cap Brulé (Boudreau West, near Shediac) was a group of 80 individuals of Bank Swallows that were resting on a wire. (editors note: take note of the neck 'cummerbund')

**It would seem unusual, but folks are capturing photos of a small one-cm weevil just over the past few days. It is the same genus and species name, Polydrusus formosis, but common names as they sometimes do, vary somewhat. On today’s search, a prevalent common name was Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil which seems very fitting.

This weevil is non-native, having been introduced from Europe, and is being reported in Eastern Canada, especially east of Québec. It is not reported as problematic at the moment, but that could change as all leafed tree species seem to be on its menu. Fred Dube in Lower Coverdale, Stella LeBlanc in Bouctouche, and Matthew Poirier in Moncton all photographed this colourful little critter recently.

**Longhorn beetles seem to be ‘coming out of the woodwork’!

Lynn Dube photographed the colourful Banded Longhorn Beetle strolling across the deck of their summer spot in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

This beetle is often found on flowers, eating the pollen of a variety of species though they seem to favour parsley, carrot and celery flowers. Look for them in herb, vegetable, and flower gardens. Adult beetles can also be found on hardwood trees. Eggs are laid on dead or decaying trees where larvae hatch and begin boring into the wood. Look for larval frass, a mix of feces and sawdust, on the trunk or near the base of the tree. It is produced as a larva digs and is expelled as the tunneling deepens. This species' larvae seem to prefer birch, sumac and goldenrod. Examine fallen trees and rotting logs in mixed wood forests for signs of the Banded Longhorn Beetle.

**With the extreme heat Gordon Rattray only took a short walk around his property for some outdoor time. He was rewarded by a Mourning Cloak Butterfly landing on his drive. Gordon also photographed several wildflowers that he spotted, mostly along a wet margin. Arrow-leaved Tearthumb- note the barbs, Boneset, Early Lowbush Blueberry with berries ready, Garden Loosestrife, Yellow Loosestrife, Jewel Weed, Mallow, and Joe-pye-weed.

**During Wednesday evening’s Nature Moncton walk to the Salisbury Wetlands Park, several photos were caught of Pied-billed Grebes enjoying catching fish that almost seemed too large for them to swallow, but they certainly were not as they went 'down the hatch' very promptly which is a bit of a surprise as Alyre Chiasson has identified one of the fish as Brown Bullhead which are armed with razor-sharp armament.

**Nature Moncton will again have a nature walk on Wednesday, July 27, starting at 6:30 p.m. This outing will be at the Ducks Unlimited compound in Upper Coverdale. This outing will be led by Gordon Rattray.

Directions: From Moncton take Route 112 west from Riverview, travel 9.7 km from the end of the new bridge in Riverview to Tucker Street, on the right, go to the end of the street where there is ample parking.

From Salisbury, take Route 112 east and travel 11.1 km to Tucker Street on your left.

This compound has several large ponds with an excellent trail system, it has been mowed so walking will be easy. There is a significant hill to go down to get to the marsh, it will be a moderate exertion going in and out. There were a lot of waterfowl there last week, so it looks good. There is also good vegetation for other nature spotting.

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com