Nature Moncton Nature News: July 5, 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

July 5, 2022 (Monday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**On Monday, Jim Carroll had the privilege to view and ID a Purple Gallinule in Dipper Harbour for property owners who wish to remain anonymous. The bird is currently living in a small pond on their property. The owners have been feeding it pelletized fish food. The bird appears comfortable in the local microsystem. There is no doubt when first seeing it with its brilliant blues that it is a Purple Gallinule rather than the Common Gallinule we have become accustomed to in NB.

** Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins finally caught one of the singers in her yard...the Red-eyed Vireo.

She was out at a nearby lake on Sunday and found many dragonflies and damselflies.

Jane was able to photograph the striking and often hard to find Calico Pennant Dragonfly, Crimson-belted Whiteface Dragonfly, and a bluet damselfly which is suspected to be either a Boreal or Northern Bluet.

**On Sunday Brian Stone walked in the woods behind Crandall University to search for seasonal changes in the flora and fauna of the area. The only birds he photographed there were an Eastern Phoebe that stopped by briefly and then flew, and a bright male Yellow Warbler. Many butterflies were present, and most were not new to the season. Very common were the Northern Crescent Butterfly, the European Skipper Butterfly, the Common Ringlet Butterfly, and a Cabbage White Butterfly. The butterfly-like Virginia Ctenucha Moth was a seasonal first for Brian. A Band-winged Grasshopper was wonderfully camouflaged on the dusty gravel of the path and Brian was surprised when a small Giant Water Bug crawled across the path in front of him. A Mining Bee posed on a leaf to add to the fauna list.

Some plants noted were Red Elderberry, Red Baneberry, Pyrola, Fireweed, Lupins gone to seed, and Valerian which seemed to be everywhere. Brian then followed the trails to the Common Milkweed patch on the Gorge Rd. exit ramp and took some photos of the flowers blooming on the plants. Most were not open yet but the aroma of them was still quite pleasantly strong. On the Milkweed Brian noticed and photographed a Milkweed Beetle, a Robber Fly, and a Slender Crab Spider. Nearby, a small, orange Asian Lady Beetle stood out against a dull background.