NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
October 22, 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
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 Louise Nichols
at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**Ken English, who lives in Miramichi,
was working the night shift at the Irving refinery in Saint John to find himself in
the right place at the right time with a camera in hand! After working his shift, Ken was on the Loch Lomond Rd in Saint John at 5:45 AM when he
noted a stream of lights moving across the sky and quickly nabbed a perfect
photograph of the Starlink Satellite Chain as it raced across the sky.
Note the objects to the left, which are the pot of the Big Dipper.
This Elon Musk venture is best seen
a few days after launch for those lucky enough to see it and on a clear,
cloudless night.
**Brian and Annette Stone went for a
fall walk at Highland Park in Salisbury on Monday afternoon and found that the
recent rains had not gone far in filling the dry ponds and had just grown the
small puddles slightly and dampened the large mud flats. A lone greater
yellowlegs was wading in the small side pond, and a great blue heron was
standing picturesquely beside the nearly dry stream that feeds the pond. The
only ducks present were a dozen or more green-winged teals, and a few
late red-winged blackbirds were hanging out at the west end of the park.
All over the dry mud flats, mussel shells were scattered, indicating that
"someone" had a good lunch.
(Editor’s note: Mussels are haute
cuisine to muskrats. With the dry conditions exposing the mussels, there has to
be a high potential, which made for excellent dining.)
On the way home, Brian drove up
Scott Road, where he saw a northern harrier sitting far out in a field, and
then down Route 880 back towards Moncton. At a farm on 880, near the junction
with route 112, Brian spotted some eastern bluebirds perching on the wires
leading down the driveway to the farm. After taking a few photos and getting
back in the car, Annette spotted and pointed out two small brown birds perched on
the wires across from the farm's driveway. They turned out to be American
pipits. It's always nice to have a great spotter with you on a scenic
drive.
(Editor’s note: This is a very
unusual habitat spot for American pipits, but the evidence is solid! They are
much more likely to be seen along our coastline rather than inland, as
observed. Never say never!)
Nelson Poirier
Moncton
