Nature Moncton Nature
News
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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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observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Please advise the editor
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Proofreading courtesy of
Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
**Dale Pugh witnessed
multiple young American goldfinch families throughout late summer and
early fall. On one occasion, she captured a photo of dad feeding a
fledgling. Goldfinches feed their young by regurgitating softened,
semi-digested seeds mixed with a nutritious liquid stored in the crop.
The past week or so, the families have been feasting on immature, green
sunflower seeds - the softer shells are easy to pierce with their small beaks.
(Editor’s note: the American
goldfinch nests late in the season compared to many passerines, so the
youngsters no doubt appreciate the soft-shelled sunflower seeds on Dale’s
plants.)
**Marbeth Wilson was not
expecting to see this great blue heron standing at the edge of the wharf
at Cape Tormentine. A red-throated loon was right below, diving in and
out of the water.
Marbeth also captured a photo of a yellow-rumped
warbler and a song sparrow in the Tormentine area.
**Leigh Eaton comments on
an interesting walk on the south trail near the Gorge Road entrance of Mapleton
Park where he saw evidence of beaver activity. Photos show what he suspects is
beaver work, but he has seen no other indicators in the park.
Possibly they plan to dam
up the small creek.
Some prolific fungi
were recycling a dead tree in the same area. Beautiful bright red branches of red
osier dogwood bushes on the same trail were adding colour to the generally
drab late fall palette.
**Katie Girvan apologizes
in advance for the quality of the peregrine falcon photos, as she took
them on her iPhone through a scope while it spent 30 minutes on a tower near
her Upper Coverdale yard. The video is of the peregrine falcon flying away
after that 30-minute perch.
In one photo, you’ll
notice a leg up; not sure what it was doing. It seemed to be pointing and
curling its toes/talons over and over.
It may be hard to tell
from the photos, but it was definitely a peregrine falcon, as Katie would
recognize one readily from watching the Assumption Building birds.
Katie comments, “I know
the video is also very shaky; that’s sadly just me being too excited to get the
perfect shot. I also had binoculars which helped in verifying that it was
indeed a peregrine falcon just hanging out.”
**Nelson Poirier has at
least three flying squirrels enjoying their nightly fix of peanut butter. Barkley,
the tree ornament, keeps an eye on the stash to ward off interlopers. Only one squirrel would allow a photograph!
Nelson has a Nature
Moncton bird box in nearby trees, and is hoping they will use it as a winter roost or
possibly a nest site next season.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
