Nature Moncton Nature News: June 25 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

June 25, 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

**Jane LeBlanc stood in the fog in St. Martins near a Tree Swallow nest box and managed a photo of one of the incoming parents.

**The Hummingbird mimic moths are making full use of the many plants flowering at the moment. We have three species in New Brunswick but the Hummingbird Clearwing moth is the most common and Lisa Morris was able to photograph one in her yard on Monday.

Lisa also photographed an interesting lady beetle, the Fourteen-spotted lady beetle (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata). Many of us have probably not seen this lady beetle (including the editor). It is not uncommon but is very small at 3.5 to 4.5 mm and comes in a great variety of colour forms from cream through yellow to bright orange. Its larvae feed on aphids and the eggs of some beetles and butterflies.

**Jane Renton was surprised to see two Red Crossbills join several Purple Finches at her Canaan Forks black oil sunflower birdfeeder. Her daughter was able to get documentary photos that show the crossed bill.

**Deana and Peter Gadd spent some time at Miramichi Marsh Monday afternoon. Many of the usual birds made themselves obvious. They were pleased to see a young family of Hooded Mergansers, not seen at the marsh in recent years to the best of their knowledge. Perhaps the “refurbishment” of a couple of nearby duck nest boxes had something to do with it?

A pair of Eastern Kingbirds have once again established a nest on a water-bound snag, used previously, just “offshore”. It will be a conveniently worthwhile observation spot as the eventual demanding nestlings will make their needs known.

The Pied-billed Grebes continue to occupy a nest out in open water, one seen under construction June 4^th. One lone juvenile Pied-billed Grebe was spotted separately once again, thought to be the only survivor of a family of new hatchlings sighted May 29^th but not seen as a group since then.

For the first time in quite a few years a Killdeer was present at the marsh. The water levels have been maintained at a consistent depth by Ducks Unlimited over the last year or so, meaning that there are muddy areas along the banks of the ponds suitable for shorebirds. Wilson's Snipe have re-appeared this year as well, and there are Spotted Sandpipers. There was also a family of Mallard ducklings today. With the heatwave last week Peter was concerned about the Tree Swallow nest boxes becoming too hot. It seems at the marsh those that were out in the open were flourishing, but a couple of boxes that would not have had much of a breeze were quiet activity-wise today. An American Robin had a mouthful of “grub” down at the water’s edge to take to a nest.

They also checked out an area near the Miramichi Marsh, on its northwest edge, where over this past winter the former Zellers’ shopping mall site was finally demolished after more than 30 years of dilapidation! In July of 2019 Nelson Poirier, following up on sightings of Jim Saunders, had found Rose Pogonia and Club Spur orchids growing up as the asphalt parking lot area was succumbing to succession. Yellow Ladies’ Tresses Orchids had been reported at this location previously. In this same area today Deana identified rare (S3) Fen Orchids (Loesal’s Wide-lipped orchid). Despite all the recent heavy equipment assaults on the area … nature wants to prevail.

At the Beaubears Co-op store on the way home, they came across a pair (apparently) of confident Ravens checking out the grassy ditch!

**Joyce Robinson in Cambridge Narrows sends a very interesting response to the photos of the old steam-powered ship, the Majestic, which is too good not to share so I'm quoting Joyce verbatim:

“I was very interested in the photo of the Majestic that you took on the weekend.
I am excited and saddened at the same time to see what it has become. My grandparents worked on that boat prior to 1919, when they were married. My grandfather worked as a deckhand and my grandmother as a waitress. I have photos of them on the boat as well as some of the other crew.
The Majestic ran from Saint John up through the Washademoak Lake (where I live), and ended its run in Coles Island, where it turned around and made ready for the return trip the next morning.
It was a very important means of transportation for country folks to travel to the city as well as a way for farmers to ship their produce to market and receive supplies from the city.
My grandparents spoke very fondly of their time aboard the Majestic! Those were the good old days!!
I'd like to go have a look at the remains.”