Nature Moncton Nature News: March 21 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 21, 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

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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

The live feed to the Peregrine Falcon nest box camera can be accessed at https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

** Michel Roy and Frank Branch went to Miscou Wednesday morning, and on the way back in the afternoon on the main road from Shippagan to Inkerman approximately 250 m. past the road going to Le Goulet, at the roadside there it was -- a Northern Hawk Owl.

By the time they could back up in heavy traffic, Frank could only take a few photos in the poor light conditions before it glided far into the woods.

**Many folks were able to access the nest box videocam to get early views of the Peregrine Falcon pair checking things out in preparation for the season ahead.

Some photos are added today of the action that has been going on over the past months getting the camera in place and what it looks like close-up. One photo shows Fred Richards beside the small router connected to the outside camera that sends us all the information.

The falcon pair never left the immediate area this winter and were often seen perched on the big A logo or perched on the nearby Bell Aliant Tower. As the camera was being installed and other preparations made, the pair would occasionally do fly passes to check in on their property and size up the intruders!

**Brian Coyle was able to get out to one of his trail cameras Wednesday at a Beaver pond where a Bobcat scent-marked the trail camera directly! Quite the closeup of its rear end :)

Take a look at the unsavory behaviour below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gkpj34djprho0fumoncz3/IMG_0001-Copy-6.MP4?rlkey=q2f0xf8bcbru3uk6g6vksai9y&dl=0

**Richard Perron photographed Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa) on a Black Cherry tree at Rotary Park in Dieppe. Black Knot manifests itself differently in the Black Cherry as rounded irregular clumps instead of the tubular structures seen in many other prunus species.

**Verica LeBlanc took a walk Wednesday morning on her street in Nelson, Miramichi toward Rte. 126. The trees looked so beautiful all clad in white from the snow. When she returned, all had melted!

It was a successful walk as Verica saw the Red-winged Blackbirds returning and was interested to note a pair of Evening Grosbeaks feeding on the winter-clinging berries still present on the trees.

**Aldo Dorio, like many others lately, was pleased to have an American Robin visit his Neguac yard on Wednesday.

** Brian Stone sends photos from Hampton, N.B. where he is visiting family for a few days. At the now open lagoons, he noted a good variety of ducks and other birds enjoying the open water. Some of his photos from the lagoons include Gadwall Ducks, American Wigeon Ducks, Bufflehead Ducks, Lesser Scaup Ducks, Common Goldeneye Ducks, Mallard Ducks, and Ring-necked Ducks. He counted at least 6 Turkey Vultures cruising overhead and perching in nearby trees and many Ring-billed Gulls were also present.

An American Crow was calling from a perch near a stick nest that was possibly its own. Pussy Willows were beginning to open beside the trail in a sure sign that spring has started.

(Editor's note: separating the identity of scaup can be a potential challenge. Take note of Brian's photos numbered 3 and 5 where it appears the arrowed female birds have primary and secondary wing feathers appearing to be completely white to suggest the possibility of a Greater Scaup in the group. This may or may not be a photographic illusion.)

Brian also checked out the new Peregrine Falcon nest box camera and took a few screen prints of one of the falcons in the box. This falcon was scratching at the debris in the box and rubbing it with its body before resting in that spot in possible nesting behavior.

Wonder how they will like the heavy rain today??

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton