NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
May 6, 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
To
respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line
editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .
Please
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.
For more information
on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com
Proofreading
courtesy of Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
To
view the live feed of the Peregrine Falcon nest cam on the summit of Assumption
Place in Moncton, go to:
**Isaac Aker was again able to get interesting amphibian photos in the Moncton area that includes an American toad, green frog, red-backed salamander, and what is suspected may be a four-toed salamander. The four-toed salamander is known only from a few places in New Brunswick, and further confirmation with Don McAlpine at the New Brunswick Museum was needed to be certain of its identity.
Don commented, “There are some features that do suggest a
four-toed salamander. There is a hint of a constriction at the base of the tail,
and it looks like the lateral colouration might be grading to salt and pepper
belly just behind and below the right eye. But the photo resolution is not great,
and the red-backed salamander is highly variable. Any further photos could be
helpful.”
We are hoping Issac has/can get more photos to confirm
this important identification.
**A supply of newly minted Nature Moncton nest boxes is available
for distribution to members. These nest boxes primarily attract tree swallows,
but some are taken by eastern bluebirds, black-capped chickadees, and an
occasional flying squirrel. These nest boxes have to be put up promptly to be
occupied this season. If anyone has spots for these nest boxes to be placed,
please contact naturemonctoncontact@gmail.com, and arrangements will be made
to pick up/deliver these nest boxes ASAP.
**Louise Nichols visited the Jolicure Lakes
area on Monday morning to find birds active and a couple of FOY warbler species
for her, including black-and-white warbler and northern parula
warbler. Palm warblers and yellow-rumped warblers were
also present, as were blue-headed vireos, purple finch, hermit thrush, and a brown creeper that
was unusually visible for a photo. Louise also heard a winter wren,
possibly two, but was not able to see them.
Louise comments, “So nice to see things
coming back!”
**On Monday, John Inman had a Baltimore
oriole, a male rose-breasted grosbeak, and a white-crowned sparrow as new visitors to his Harvey yard. There were several purple finches, and the males are getting quite bright.
**Norbert Dupuis was able to share special photographic moments in his Memramcook yard with a chipping sparrow among bursting buds and a newly arrived female yellow-bellied sapsucker.
**On Sunday, Fred and Susan Richards
represented Nature Moncton at an Earth Expo at St. Paul’s United Church in
Riverview. Many people were interested in what Nature Moncton does. Thank you
to Karen Rogers for inviting Nature Moncton.
**Recently, Brian Stone photographed some
early-season bees on male willow catkins at the Sackville Waterfowl Park. A
consultation with Emily Austen provided comments on their identity, with ID
features suggested. Emily’s comments are quoted below:
“These look to be sweat bees to me
(family Halictidae), and I think genus Lasioglossum. Reasons for
this guess: size relative to the willow inflorescence, the blue-ish metallic
sheen, and what appears to be a hairband at the base ("uppermost")
part of each abdominal segment.”
Nelson Poirier.
Nature Moncton
