Nature Moncton Nature
News
Clicking
on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.
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.
If you would like to share
observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Please advise the editor
at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo
labelling.
Proofreading courtesy of
Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
The camera on the peregrine
falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When
checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image,
which shows what is happening in real time.
https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam
**President Fred Richards
gives an update on the planned Nature Moncton group visit to Grand Manan for a
pelagic tour on August 15. This is a great opportunity to be out on the Bay of
Fundy to witness the special birds and mammals we only get to see on such a
pelagic adventure.
If you are interested in
participating, register promptly to make sure this trip is a go as 20 are
needed to make it happen, with a maximum of 30 seats available. At the moment, 16
have registered. All details below:
Pelagic Tour to Grand Manan! 🐦🌊
We still have spaces available for our pelagic seabird tour to Grand
Manan on Saturday, August 15, 2026 — and non-members are now
welcome!
🚢 Boat-based outing to see
seabirds and other marine wildlife
⏰ Meet for the 6:30
a.m. ferry | On the water 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
👤 Guided by Jim Wilson
(Saint John Naturalist Club)
1.
Cost:
• $25
registration fee to Nature Moncton.
Send your $25 per person registration fee by e-transfer to:
📧 naturemonctontreasurer2020@gmail.com
(Please include your name and “Pelagic Tour” in the message field.)
• Approx. $150 paid to the boat captain (day of tour)
• Plus your own travel expenses
👥 Ages 12+
📧 Interested? Email Cynthia Doucet: outandabout4nm@gmail.com. Spaces are limited — come join us
for a memorable day on the Bay of Fundy!
Fred Richards
506-334-0100
(Editor's note: it does say in the write-up to meet for the 6:30 AM Blacks Harbour ferry, but some may choose to go the day before and stay on Grand Manan overnight.)
**The giant silkworm moths
and moths in general seem to be a bit slow in appearing this spring possibly
because of the cool weather.
Anita Cannon spotted and
photographed the beautiful polyphemus moth day-perching on a 4-inch wide post at the
golf course in Irishtown on Friday morning.
(Editor's note: this moth usually runs 4 - 6
inches when spread. This one is a male, indicated by the bushy antennae. Anita’s
photo shows the 2 big ‘eye spots' on the forewing, but is covering the 2
equally large eye spots on the hind wing meant to scare off potential predators.
The adults are now out on their short mating mission of up to a week before egg
laying that will lead to the huge beautiful caterpillars we will see in later
summer.)
**Georges Brun spotted and
photographed one of our several species of strikingly marked ichneumon wasps
trying to get across the road just past Llangollen Road (off Salisbury Road
across from Jones Farm on Coverdale Road) recently.
(Editor’s note: the female
ichneumon wasp possesses an extraordinarily long ovipositor, used to deposit
eggs deep within wood, reaching larvae not accessible by other means.)
**Lisa Morris got a
documentary photo of what is suspected to be a fishing spider.
These
large spiders are often found near water, where they have the ability to forage
on underwater insects by taking a small bubble of air with them to help complete
their foraging mission.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
