Nature Moncton Nature
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well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their
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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
**Aldo Dorio was able to spot his first fresh-looking short-tailed
swallowtail butterfly of the season at Hay Island on Wednesday.
He also photographed a red
fox jostling with one of its kits.
(Editor’s note: The short-tailed
swallowtail butterfly is a rare butterfly species endemic to eastern Canada and
small pockets of New England. Its range is highly localized to coastal marshes
where its host plants of Scotch lovage and cow parsnip grow.
This butterfly is easily
mistaken for the black swallowtail butterfly. The tail of the short-tailed
black swallowtail is about the same length as the yellow spot just above it,
which can be a hint to its identity. There are other features to identify it,
but this feature, if seen, is helpful.)
**Gordon Rattray has young of
the year in his yard, feeding on peanut butter. There are immature hairy
and downy woodpeckers and young red-breasted nuthatch.
Gordon was able to get a photo of a parent feeding a young red-breasted nuthatch.
An immature male hairy woodpecker was feeding itself. Gordon is expecting
eastern phoebe fledglings soon.
(Editor’s note: Both the
juvenile downy and hairy woodpeckers have a splash of red on the top of their
heads, but it is located in a completely different spot than in adult males, as
Gordon's photo shows.)
**Jane and Ed LeBlanc in
St. Martins found an ovenbird nest strictly by accident. It is right
beside their driveway, and every time they drove or walked by, a bird would fly
out. It is a very well-concealed hole in a small bank. They try to be mindful
when they go by now. Jane caught a hermit thrush on a nearby branch.
Jane also started a golden
chain tree (laburnum) from seed in 2009. It finally flowered this
year. This is a multi-stemmed tree, and after the heavy rain the other night,
one stem snapped off. Jane is hoping it doesn't kill the tree.
**The abundance of wet
weather we are experiencing at the moment has the mushrooms popping!
Jamie Burris and his
grandsons went out on another mushroom prowl and hit the motherload of choice
edibles! King boletes (Porcini) and chanterelles! One chanterelle
was very robust compared with the others they picked. Jamie comments, “What a
feed for their two families. It doesn't get better than this.”
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
