Nature Moncton Nature News: September 27 2025

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

September 27, 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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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Louise and Glen Nichols visited Cape Breton last week and did some hiking along the Cabot Trail and in and around the town of Cheticamp. The most interesting place they visited was Cheticamp Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway. The island is quite rugged with some treed and bushy areas in the centre and spectacular cliffs on the NW side. They first walked along a trail that took them through some trees and bush, an area that was alive with birds. The most numerous birds seen were white-throated sparrows and yellow-rumped warblers, but also present were song sparrows, cedar waxwings, American robins, golden-crowned kinglets, and numerous white-crowned sparrows, all immature. On the cliff side of the island, cattle roamed freely and sometimes walked quite calmly alongside the road, seemingly not bothered by the occasional car going by. An electric fence ran along the cliff edge, presumably to keep the wandering cattle (and perhaps wandering naturalists) from going over the edge. On this side of the island, Louise caught a whimbrel that was foraging in some long grass. A spectacular area to see.

(Editor’s note: That very special time has arrived when we start to see white-crowned sparrows on their migratory route from the north where they breed, to the south of us where they overwinter. It is the only time we get to see the immature birds during the fall migration. Review Louise’s photos carefully to be able to call the first one you see by name!)

**Jane LeBlanc had her last two monarch butterfly chrysalids hatch this week. Both were males. This brings the total for the year to nine successfully hatching in her cage. Four females, four males, and one undetermined. Hopefully, there will be more next year as she will already have the cage ready to go as soon as they arrive.

Jane's witch hazel is also in flower.

(Editor’s note: It is typical for the witch hazel to bloom very late and it can continue blooming well into December.)

**Red Knots have been appearing in very pleasant numbers at Hay Island in the latter part of the season for the past few years.

Aldo Dorio was able to photograph a good-sized group on September 21.

**On Friday, September 26th, Sue Richards had a Monarch butterfly finally eclose from her chrysalis after 24 days of waiting. She found that to be a longer than usual time in the chrysalis and feared the butterfly would not make it out safely as she saw a few black dots on it after being exposed to sunlight for a short time. The time frame was quick, from almost 9 a.m. when Sue looked at her dark-with-a-tinge-of-orange chrysalis, to almost 10 a.m. when she checked again, and there she was unfolding herself. She is a beautiful, perfect little lady, and she has been released from her large jar as she was fanning her wings and there was not enough room for her to open her wings fully.

She walked onto Sue’s hand and onto her. After photo ops, she fluttered into the same garden where she was found. She rested on a clump of black-eyed Susans and waited for the sun to warm her. It was 2 p.m. in the afternoon, and she was still there on the plants, flitting from one side to the other, around the stem, and resting under a sky with some clouds, but with the sun and blue sky coming through. The temperature outside was 21 degrees.

She was wished a safe journey to Mexico

**On Wednesday, Brian Stone checked out the ponds at Highland Park in Salisbury to find them essentially a dry mud flat. Very few birds were present, but some of the hardy residents were resting: a greater yellowlegs, two female mallard ducks, one female wood duck, and an active male belted kingfisher that was hovering over the small puddles that were left. A group of Canada geese was standing around on the dry pond beds, looking confused over the lack of water. Brian took photos of the mudflats to document the very dry fall season. In the small, nearly dry pond on the side of the trail, Brian saw a large group of tiny fish schooling in the muddy water.

(Editor’s note: confirmation of identification hopefully to follow.)

He then went on to Wilson Marsh and photographed a nearby juvenile northern harrier and a merlin that caught a dragonfly and perched in a close dead tree to munch away on it. Several woolly bear caterpillars were active, with one being relatively small at only 1.5 cm. Another caterpillar that was photographed was dark only on one end, a Virginian Tiger moth caterpillar a.k.a yellow woolly bear. Back at home, a common raven was perched at the top of his yard maple tree, as it does most days, and was being very vocal for whatever reasons that ravens have.

**On Saturday, October 4, 2025 (rain date Sunday the 5th) enjoy an early fall walk through mixed forest and hemlock stands out at Sussex’s "Big Bluff." Although well-established, the somewhat hilly trail
has many roots and is narrow in places along rocky ridges. Sturdy footwear is highly recommended and,
as hunting season has started, wearing something orange is a good idea. Round trip, it is about 4.5 KM.
Once at the Bluff, participants will be treated to a panoramic view of Trout Creek winding its way
through "Dutch Valley." The fall colour show was just beginning on September 19 but it should be in full
swing on the day of our outing. The walk will start at 10 AM with participants meeting at the Sussex Corner parking area as indicated on the map below. As parking is limited, carpooling is recommended. We will meet at the Gorge Road entrance to Mapleton Park around 8:45 AM. Anyone needing a ride should contact Fred Richards at fred.j.richards@gmail.com. All are welcome.

Take exit 198 off Hwy 1. Turn left onto Hwy 111, continue 350 metres to the stop sign, turn left to follow Hwy 111 (also called St. Martins Road). Continue 1 KM, turn right to follow Hwy 111 (now also called Post Road). Continue 1.5 KM then turn left onto Sullivan Drive which will change to Pugsley Street after a sharp right turn. Continue about 200 metres, then turn left onto Rockridge Drive. Continue 400
metres to a well-marked parking area.

**Another heads up to mark off your calendar for a special date at Wilson’s Marsh:

If you’re available, Ducks Unlimited invites you come out to their Treasured Wetlands event on October 7^th from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM! A poster is attached below with more details to come!

Nature Moncton will be on site to install 20 nest boxes as part of the event.