NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
August 31, 2025
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**Shannon
Inman photographed a very fresh-looking common ringlet butterfly on
Friday.
Shannon
also photographed a Nelson’s sparrow, which appears to be potentially a
young-of-the-year bird, considering the time of year; however, a post breeding
molt would also have to be considered. This sparrow species can be quite
challenging to photograph.
Shannon
also spotted a young-of-the-year common yellowthroat resting on a
cattail.
John
Inman comments that he does not know how a downy woodpecker he
photographed managed to get past all the long thorns on a thistle, but it spent
a while pecking on something quite intently, ignoring the sharp thorns.
John has not seen this before.
John is
also noting that the female ruby-throated hummingbirds are thinning out quite a
bit.
**The northern
flicker is well known for its habit of ground feeding for ants this time of
year, especially evident on groomed lawns. Brian Coyle had a duo of them doing
just that on the lawn of his home. They both appeared to be male with the black
‘moustache’.
**Rheal
Vienneau found a late instar Canadian tiger swallowtail butterfly
caterpillar in his Dieppe yard on Saturday. Rheal wonders if it may be a
bit late in season, perhaps from a second brood.
(Editor's
note: The Canadian tiger swallowtail butterfly is very abundant around the time
lilacs are in bloom. I often wonder why we don’t see more of this very
recognizable caterpillar.)
**The monarch
butterfly caterpillars are still very much on mission.
Sue
Richards found one on their Taylor Village swamp milkweed patch on Saturday
that was just over two inches in length. If it is successful in forming a
chrysalis and emerging, the strong-winged fresh adult should be prime for its
migratory journey to Mexico for the winter.
**Barbara
Smith found a large yellow underwing moth clinging to the underside of a
plant when she went to water her hanging baskets in Riverview. The moth was
shaking and appeared to be unable to find its way out from below the heavy
fronds. She offered a finger for it to perch on, and it didn't hesitate to hop
on. It stayed put for a couple of minutes, seemingly catching its breath. Once
it stopped shaking, it flew off.
(Editor’s
note: this moth may appear very drab with wings closed, but when it opens its
wings, the black banded, bright-yellow underwing is colourful and very
obvious.)
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
