Nature Moncton Nature News: May 29 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

May 29, 2024

Nature Moncton members, as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise both the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and the proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Barbara Smith came across a video that shows very clearly how to remove a tick using fine-point tweezers.
https://youtu.be/X7wffUoQsio?si=KNj47H4ZTK6wW-uI

This is an excellent video produced by Government Canada. There are very useful small gadgets available for tick removal but if someone does not have them, the video shows how it can be done with fine point tweezers that may be more accessible but have to be used properly.

The Black-legged Tick is increasing in numbers in New Brunswick and it is very important that we learn how to live with them by protecting ourselves from serious infections they may transmit to humans. It is also very important to be able to distinguish the Black-legged Tick from the few other species that will attach onto humans but are not vectors of disease.

**Peter and Deana Gadd had a visit today from a bird species that sometimes drops by for a day in May. This is the first they have witnessed though since 2020. Tuesday evening a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak kindly came into their “patio bird studio” and posed for about 10 minutes and then decided to have a snack on the Hawthorn blossoms! It does look as though it caught a moth, but Peter thinks it is just the handy blossom petals it decided to munch on.

Deana and Peter went to Hay Island in the rain Tuesday morning hoping to catch a glimpse of the wayward Fork-tailed Flycatcher. They had to settle for two Moose exploring the far side of the estuary.

(Editor’s note: note the denuded areas especially in the frontal area of the Moose from trying to rub off winter ticks.)

**Brian Stone sends some photos from last Thursday out on the woods road behind Irishtown Park that he finally found the time to process. He had already sent in the birds he had found there that were posted on an earlier edition and now he sends the smaller fauna, mainly butterflies and dragonflies and a few other things. Butterflies noted were an American Lady Butterfly, a Red Admiral Butterfly, some Northern Azure Butterflies, one tiny Bog Elfin Butterfly, and a small, dark Dreamy Duskywing Butterfly.

Dragonflies seen were many fresh new Dusky Clubtail Dragonflies, lots of Hudsonian Whiteface Dragonflies, a couple Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonflies, and a Belted Whiteface Dragonfly. A Bluet Damselfly posed nicely and some very small, frail-seeming damselflies that were populating a small boggy area were identified as Eastern Red Damsels. A Green Frog, a Flower Fly, another type of Fly, and some ants hanging out with leaf hoppers as well as the pretty pink Rhodora flowers joined the photo lineup.

(Editor's note: Brian's Eastern Red Damsels are a species many of us have not been able to see. They may not be uncommon but uncommon to see as can be very specific about their habitat.)

**A heads up to jot off Saturday, June 15 for the Nature Moncton field trip to the outstanding Clancy property with the writeup below:

Nature Moncton invites you to join us for an early summer outing, on Saturday, June 15th. We will be hosted by Trevor and Elaine Clancy, at their Steeves Settlement property, a beautiful 60+ acres of mostly old-growth forest. The start time is 10:00 a.m., ending mid-afternoon, and we encourage you to bring a picnic lunch.

Trevor and Elaine’s woods are easily accessed by a network of mowed walking trails. There are also water features scattered around the property. We will enjoy seeing many different tree species, and as well the site also abounds with spring flowers, and at this time of the year many bird species will be in the area.

Trevor enjoys having folks walk his trails and is looking forward to our visit. Dress for the season; you may need footwear for wet areas, and bug control is always a good idea. Don't forget your Nature Moncton name tag too.

Trevor and Elaine’s property is located at 356 Steeves Settlement Road. Steeves Settlement is behind Killams Mills, between Petitcodiac and Salisbury. Elaine suggests the Trans-Canada Highway to the Havelock exit # 414, then from the exit ramp turn right onto Route 885, then another right at the Beckwith Road (Kinnear Sett. Church is at that corner). Travel up the Beckwith Road approximately 5 km... the 3rd road on the right is the Steeves Settlement Rd. Your destination is the first driveway on the right: #356. Their phone number, if lost or need help getting there, is 506-756-8267.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nature Moncton