NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
April 29, 2025
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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respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line
editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .
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advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and the proofreader
Louise Nichols at Nicholsl@eastlink.ca if
any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
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To
view the live feed of the Peregrine Falcon nest cam on the summit of Assumption
Place in Moncton, go to:
** Gart Bishop and Alison McArthur were on Hwy 10 at
McGowans Corner on Sunday night, checking the field just east of Hwy 690. The wetland was filled with Canada geese and
ring-billed gulls, but there was a barnacle goose among the Canada geese. The
word went out on Sunday night.
The barnacle goose is an uncommon visitor to New Brunswick, and Gart and Alison’s find had many birders arrive at the site on Monday morning to successfully relocate and enjoy the special visitor that appeared to be enjoying its visit in the company of its Canada goose kin.
(Editor’s note: part of the world population of barnacle
geese breed in northeastern Greenland, and it is an accidental vagrant in the
Maritime provinces.)
**On Monday morning, Brian Stone and many other birders
drove out to McGowans Corner to try to relocate and photograph the recently
sighted barnacle goose and were successful. The goose was accompanying a
group of Canada geese across the water on an island and was a bit too
far away for choice photographs to be taken, but fellow birders at the spot
with scopes were sharing views that were visually much more satisfying, and a
good day was had by all. When the photographer recovers from the long day, many more photos of other subjects from the trip will come along later.
**Over the last two days, the Merlin pair that
nested next door to Brian Coyle's home have returned. They have been making a ruckus and hopefully, they will nest in the same spot again.
**Another birder told Jane LeBlanc that a flock of greater
yellowlegs was in the harbour in St. Martins, between the covered bridges, as the tide rose. Jane went to the site and observed
approximately 20 greater yellowlegs.
**John Inman is experiencing the black invasion of our three species of blackbirds moving in with intensity. A raptor troupe has
found it a real opportunity. John tallied a lineup of one northern harrier, three sharp-shinned
hawks, one merlin, and a peregrine falcon.
(Editor’s note: What an incredible raptor lineup for one
yard!)
Shannon Inman came across a few clumps of what the editor
thought was pink earth lichen by oak trees, with an acorn for size comparison
to show how small the individuals are.
Fortunately, Kendra Driscoll was asked for confirmation.
Kendra corrected the misidentification, and I am quoting Kendra below so we all
can get to know this look-alike:
“Actually, from the colour of the fruiting bodies, I'd
say this is likely Baeomyces rufus, aka brown beret lichen, another lichen in
the same family as pink earth lichen (Dibaeis baeomyces). The grey-green crust
covering the ground is the vegetative part of the same lichen (the thallus).
Most likely, it did stand out following the rain, as you suggest. Well spotted!
By Lars Larsen Marsh, Shannon observed about 30 great
blue herons feeding on small fish, and further out through her binoculars,
she counted 17 bald eagles, adults and juveniles.
That is a lot of bald eagles in one spot!
Shannon also noticed some fern fiddleheads emerging.
These would either be the interrupted or cinnamon fern, which are hard
to differentiate at this stage. These are not edible fiddleheads, as are the
sought-after soon-to-appear ostrich fern fiddleheads.
Nelson Poirier.
Nature Moncton
