Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 12 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 12, 2022

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Heads up on the Nature Moncton field trip scheduled for today, Saturday. It is definitely weather postponed for the moment with a decision by the Activities Committee to be announced on a new date. Stay tuned!

**On Friday, Jane Wood saw and heard a female Red Bellied Woodpecker (her first) in her yard and a neighbour's yard in Riverview.

It was eating apples in the neighbour's apple tree. It has been around for a few days. Jane heard the bird but could not see it. (Editor’s note: it is interesting to note some of the Red- bellied Woodpeckers being reported seem to have a taste for apples. Note Jane’s comment about hearing the bird. Obviously, females of the species vocalize as do the males. Take a moment to use one of your apps to get to know the distinct call of the Red-bellied Woodpecker)

Other yard birds Jane is hosting are Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinch, Blue Jays, Morning Doves, Rock Doves (always Pigeons!), Red-breasted Nuthatches, and an occasional, White-breasted Nuthatch.

**Shannon Inman recently came across a group of structures that fooled us all as to what they may be. Note the initial photo submission #1. Shannon searched for 3 days to relocate it to get closer photos which she was successful in doing and solved the mystery as a group of feral Honeybees not in a cavity. The editor used the word feral as they were living in a wild state however the excellent explanation by beekeeper Glen Nichols as quoted below explains why the term feral needs interpretation.

Quoting Glen:

“Definitely Honeybees. I'm not sure they're "feral" exactly; they are the result of a 2022 summer swarm which failed to find a cavity. Seeing as the comb is completely exposed, there is zero chance they'll survive the winter in the open like that. I've seen pictures of open-air combs, but never imagined to see one. It would be fairly rare I would say since most swarms find a cavity. Thomas D. Seeley has an amazing book called Honeybee Democracy in which he uses 3 generations of researchers' work to unpack some of the mechanics of how bees program and execute their swarming activity including how they choose a cavity etc. Failure to build in a cavity is a failed colony. Sad, but that's nature of course.”

Alyre Chiasson also added the comment that he wonders if climate warming could have an effect on the bee’s decision to create a hive in the open instead of in a cavity.

**John Inman is still getting new arrivals to his Harvey, Albert County birdfeeder yard.

Most recent is a Fox Sparrow and yet another Rusty Blackbird. The Rusty Blackbird is recognized as a new one by the very dark plumage. It joins the 3 Rusty Blackbirds still present to again make a quad.

John also sends a Baltimore Oriole photo but he's not sure if it is an existing patron or a new one. John also sends a nice spread-wing photo of his resident Red-tailed Hawk about to enjoy another meat lunch as it has for multiple seasons.

**Fred and Sue Richards visited the High Marsh Road on the Tantramar Marsh on Tuesday. It was quite windy so not much activity.

Sue found 2 nests interesting and sends a photograph of one that would appear to be that of a Raven. It was located in the covered bridge at the start of the High Marsh Road.

**It is that time of year when we start to see nests that we were unaware were even there before leaf fall.

Yolande LeBlanc found 3 nests on Friday in a Japanese Maple tree in her Memramcook yard.

One is very tiny, less than 3 inches. (Editor’s note: the owner of this nest was obviously a small bird and suggestions would be welcome). The other was quite large and has bark, lichen, grasses, and even a plastic zip tie which seemed long and wide around. (Editor’s note: this nest is suggestive of a Cedar Waxwing considering the size and variety of materials in its construction). The third is a Robin's nest with the signature packed mud central chamber and overall size.

**Georges Brun captured a pleasant photo of a female Common Eider checking out the water of Hall’s Creek as it enters the Petitcodiac River on the ebbing tide. The calm water of the day makes for the perfect backdrop.

**Brian Stone walked some of the main trails at Irishtown Park on Friday afternoon and sends a few photos taken there. Bird life was scarce, but he did see and photograph a Double-crested Cormorant on the main reservoir and some Golden-crowned Kinglets foraging alongside the trail. Also photographed was a lone male Pine Grosbeak on a distant treetop.

Several specimens of a variety of Winter Moth were fluttering about in a few different areas and a damaged, volleyball sized Wasp Nest was noted very high in a treetop.

Brian also photographed a fresh Red-belted Polypore mushroom surrounded by Cladonia sp. lichens.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton