NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
June 14,
2023
Species
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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Proofreading
courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**Louise and Glen Nichols joined the Chignecto Naturalists’ Club on Saturday morning on a hike around the site of the former Pickard Quarry in the middle of Sackville. The Town of Tantramar has purchased the site from Mount Allison University and is developing it into a flood-prevention wetland. The Chignecto Club plans to work with the Tantramar Outdoor Club to create safe and easy walking trails throughout the quarry with access points from various locations. Now, rough trails exist but are sometimes risky to navigate with steep drops alongside and no railings. Once it is made more accessible, this will be another interesting nature observation site in Sackville.
Louise returned on Monday morning
and took some photos of the quarry site. A Northern Cardinal
serenaded her as she walked the trail along with many other birds. She
was able to relocate the nest of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which the
group had spotted on Saturday, and she very quietly stood aside and watched the
hummingbird come and go from the nest, sitting on eggs at the moment.
Louise noted the lichen ‘shingling” used around the outside of the nest, which
matches the lichen on the tree branch, creating the perfect camouflage.
(Editor’s note: This site has an amazing history! Over 140
years ago, it was a farm owned by Charles Pickard. He came upon a rock on his
property that turned out to be a massive deposit of red sandstone that became
known as Sackville Red Sandstone. At one point, it was producing 5 to 8000 tons
of stone annually that was in operation until 1930. Some of the buildings at Mount
Allison University were constructed with this stone and sent elsewhere to many
sites, such as the Customs House in Halifax, the old City Hall in Toronto,
Dominion Observatory in Ottawa, and the restoration of the Ontario Legislature
building. Stone was quarried out of it for 95 years. It is 6 acres in size, and
when the restoration is complete, chances are it will join the Sackville Waterfowl
Park in popularity.)
**Further to
the 200 Common Eiders reported by Georges Brun on Monday, Barb Curlew saw a
flock of about 200 Common Eiders leaving Waterside on June 12. They
were heading up the river towards Moncton.
On June 13th, Barb had a good view of 2 Nelson's Sparrows in Waterside. Before this, she had just been hearing them
occasionally ‘singing’ this past week.
**Mac Wilmot now realizes they have Eastern Bluebirds in another nest box
in the river field on their Lower Coverdale property. He suspected they were
there; pine needles were leaking out the rough joints. On Tuesday, they finally
got several good looks at the comings and goings and confirmed Eastern Bluebirds,
possibly those who gave up at Mac’s brother's yard (neighbour). Two Eastern Bluebird
families in production is hard to beat, as they already had a confirmed one in
their yard.
(Editor’s note: just to keep Mac’s prowess in check, Nelson Poirier found
on Tuesday that one of his swallow boxes is hosting a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, as is one of his camp’s neighbours. It appears like Eastern Bluebirds are having
a banner year!)
**On Monday, Brian Stone took advantage of the heat
and clear weather to drive and walk along Taylor Rd. in Second North River
near Salisbury. Hoping to find butterflies and dragonflies enjoying the bright
Sun and steamy heat, Brian spent a few hours searching along the road. Still, he had difficulty finding photo subjects willing to sit long enough to be
recorded. He saw multiple dragonflies on the wing but could not identify them,
as well as many Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies that would not sit for a
photo.
At the end of his walk, Brian did manage a picture
of a Bog Elfin Butterfly and a Northern Azure Butterfly that was
landing briefly in the dusty dirt of the road, and a Hobomok Skipper
Butterfly that considerately stayed put more than long enough for a close
up photo. Brian also found a small Harris's Checkerspot Butterfly
Caterpillar motoring along the road on its way to whatever nature held in
store for it. In some ponds and wet ditches, Brian saw and photographed a Mink
Frog, a Green Frog, and a large Bullfrog.
The Blue-eyed Grass was in bloom. Another small Wolf Spider was noted walking on water
across a small puddle which always fascinates Brian. Also, Brian sends images
of Common Cinquefoil and Wild Strawberry Flowers to round off the
day.
Nelson Poirier
Nature
Moncton
