Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Tuesday, 5 May 2026

May 5 2026

 

 

Nature Moncton Nature News

 

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

 

 

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.

 

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

  

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

The camera on the peregrine falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image, which shows what is happening in real time.

 

All is outwardly quiet in the nest box this morning, but that could be a very different scenario in a few weeks!

Does anybody want to make a guess on what day the first chick pips out of an egg??

No takers yet? Nelson is going for Mother's Day!

 

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

 

 

**Ducks Unlimited has produced a great four-minute video on Wilson Marsh. Most of this video is narrated by Nature Moncton members and is very well done. Listening to the video at the link below makes us all realize what a special place we have so near at hand.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRb3gG2ZBi4

 

 

**With all the warbler photos coming in, it’s that time to again “think warblers”.

Slot off Saturday, May 16, for the spring Nature Moncton Warbler Field trip. All details at the end of this message and upfront nearer the event.

 

**Jane LeBlanc and Judith Ives spent the morning with members of the Saint John Naturalist Club in a hike around 'the res', in east Saint John. Birds of note were a pair of common loons, a savannah sparrow, a blue-headed vireo, a ruby-crowned kinglet, and an eastern phoebe, among others. Thanks to leader Hank Scarth for the chilly but enjoyable hike.

 

**On their way home from Fredericton on Monday, Brian and Annette Stone stopped in at Jemseg and checked out the recently awakened painted turtles and many nesting ospreys that are happy to be back (despite the cranky stares) for another productive summer season. A busy bumblebee was a brief distraction from the more distant main subjects, but was just as welcome to be photographed.

 

 **Nature Moncton Warbler Hike

Hillsborough, NB

May 16, 9:00 AM. Gather in the Kiwanis parking lot on Mill Street, Hillsborough.

Leader for the walk will be Gordon Rattray of Nature Moncton

 

 


In late spring each year we have the movement of many birds returning to their nesting regions, both local nesters and those that just pass through on their journey further north. The warblers are one such group that passes through our area. These little birds are very colorful and very vocal as they stop for a rest and to feed. In late May, we can often locate many of the warbler species in the Hillsborough area. This May 16, Nature Moncton will host a hike for members and anyone interested in observing warblers.  The warblers are most active as the morning warms and the insects take to flight, making 9:00 AM a good starting time. The hike will be on an abandoned rail line, flat but with the rails still in place, so a little bit of difficulty. The rail hike is only 200 meters up, and we double back. Also in the same location are the prepared trails of the Hillsborough water park, a walk on a gravel surface of 2 kilometres. Those wishing for a little more birding can do this trail after we lunch, or Gordon can take the group for a quick visit and short walk at the White Rock Recreation area which is a short drive.

 

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton



OSPREY. MAY 04, 2026. BRIAN STONE 


OSPREY. MAY 04, 2026. BRIAN STONE 


EASTERN PHOEBE. MAY 4, 2026. JANE LEBLANC


COMMON LOONS. MAY 4, 2026. JANE LEBLANC


BLUE-HEADED VIREO. MAY 4, 2026. JANE LEBLANC


SAVANNAH SPARROW. MAY 4, 2026. JANE LEBLANC


RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. MAY 4, 2026. JANE LEBLANC


PAINTED TURTLE. MAY 04, 2026. BRIAN STONE 


PAINTED TURTLE. MAY 04, 2026. BRIAN STONE


PAINTED TURTLES. MAY 04, 2026. BRIAN STONE


BUMBLEBEE. MAY 04, 2026. BRIAN STONE




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, 4 May 2026

May 4 2026

 

Nature Moncton Nature News

 

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

 

 

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.

 

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

  

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

The camera on the peregrine falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image, which shows what is happening in real time.

 

All is outwardly quiet in the nest box this morning, but that could be a very different scenario in a few weeks!

Does anybody want to make a guess on what day the first chick pips out of an egg??

 

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

 

 

**Nature Moncton has erected many bird nesting boxes at Wilson Marsh. Marbeth Wilson got some photographs of tree swallows appearing to very much appreciate their new digs.

 

**Jane LeBlanc had a chipping sparrow in her St. Martins yard in the rain and wet snow. The poor hummingbird must not have been impressed with this weather.

 

**Georges Brun spotted two white-throated sparrows next to his Moncton driveway on Saturday. 

Northern shovelers, green-winged teals, and lesser scaup were in a small pond on the west side of the Brenda Robertson bridge the same day. 

(Editor's note: Georges is leaving a good suggestion here to make stops at the off-ramps on the western side of the bridge, as there is often waterfowl and gulls resting there.)

 

**David Lilly photographed a double-crested cormorant in its brighter spring breeding plumage. This species is moving into New Brunswick now in the thousands along our coastline and especially in freshwater rivers where smelts are moving up in clouds to lay eggs. The smelt is very sought after, as well as the soon-to-arrive gaspereau, by the newly arriving double-crested cormorants.

David also photographed a male northern cardinal, one with the background of a red building and the other without that backdrop.

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton



LESSER SCAUP. MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN



LESSER SCAUP. MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN




LESSER SCAUP. MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN



DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. MAY 2, 2026. DAVID LILLY


AMERICAN WIGEON (PAIR). MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN


AMERICAN WIGEON (MALE). MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN


NORTHERN SHOVELER AND GREEN-WINGED TEALS. MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN


CHIPPING SPARROW. MAY 3, 2026, JANE LEBLANC




WHITE- THROATED SPARROW. MAY 2, 2026. GEORGES BRUN


NORTHERN CARDINAL (MALE). MAY 2, 2026. DAVID LILLY


NORTHERN CARDINAL (MALE). MAY 2, 2026. DAVID LILLY


TREE SWALLOWS. MAY 3, 2026.  MARBETH WILSON


TREE SWALLOW. MAY 3, 2026.  MARBETH WILSON












 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Sunday, 3 May 2026

May 3 2026

 

 

Nature Moncton Nature News

 

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

 

 

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.

 

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

  

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

The camera on the peregrine falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image, which shows what is happening in real time.

 

All is outwardly quiet in the nest box this morning, but that could be a very different scenario in a few weeks!

 

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

 

 

**Jane LeBlanc had a very brief visit from a male ruby-throated hummingbird on Saturday after hearing of other hummingbird visits in St. Martins. The photo is documentary only, as it happened very fast.

At last count, Jane also had seven yellow-rumped warblers in her yard.

 

**The welcome heavy rains of May 1st created a scenario of small streams becoming raging torrents of water flow in many parts of New Brunswick.

Larry Sherrard captured the action at Libby Falls, a normally small stream that empties into the little Southwest Miramichi River. Take a look at the action at the link below:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3uydvhxk9sjdqmomsga8e/LIBBY-FALLS-LARRY-SHERRARD-APRIL-2026.mov?rlkey=fuhmm3kam3z21mlckesu72p7h&st=73zehrn3&dl=0

(Editor’s note: One can only imagine the amount of oxygen this flow is creating to refresh the little Southwest Miramichi River that has experienced very low water levels this spring.)

 

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton



RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (MALE). MAY 2, 2026. JANE LEBLANC




YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. MAY 2, 2026.  JANE LEBLANC


YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. MAY 2, 2026.  JANE LEBLANC




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, 2 May 2026

May 2 2026

 

 

Nature Moncton Nature News

 

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

 

 

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.

 

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

  

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

The camera on the peregrine falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image, which shows what is happening in real time.

 

The female appeared to be enjoying a very pleasant snooze at 7:14 AM, taking in the dawn of a sunny day after the cool wind and rain of Friday. The wait until Mother’s Day is on!



PEREGRINE FALCON (FEMALE). MAY 2, 2026. NELSON POIRIER


 

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

 

 

** A photo from Phil Riebel captured a pine marten in mid-leap on fresh snow in central New Brunswick, using a DSLR camera trap.
Phil comments, “Pine martens depend on intact, mature forests with complex structure, standing deadwood, dense canopy, and healthy prey populations.
Protecting large, connected forest ecosystems doesn’t just benefit martens; it supports entire communities of wildlife, from birds to large mammals, and maintains the ecological balance of these northern systems.”

(Editor’s note: the pine marten is present but isn’t often seen in the southern part of New Brunswick. It is more commonly seen in the northern part of the province beyond a line that crosses the center of the province. It is an arboreal animal usually seen in trees.)

 

 

**Jane LeBlanc managed to get three out of four yellow-rumped warblers in the same photo in her yard, enjoying Dollarama suet.

 

**Shannon Inman was out in the rain on Friday to photograph wildlife she encountered.

She photographed a wet raccoon taking a rest on a neighbor's steps and an equally wet skunk out foraging, not particularly concerned about the rain. A peregrine falcon on a fence post in a field demonstrated that heavy rain was no problem for its plumage!

 

**Bob Blake maintains daily weather statistics from his Second North River home, including morning low temperature, daily high temperature, and monthly precipitation.

Bob submits a table comparing those values for April of 2025 with those of April of 2026 from this one location.

It is interesting to note that the statistics from the two months are quite similar; however, if April had one more day this year, things would have changed a lot with the deluge of rain we experienced on May 1, 2026.

 

2025

2026

morning temperatures

daily highs and rainfall

morning temperatures

daily highs and rainfall

-5-1

-2-3

-1-2

0-2

+1-2

+2-3

+3-3

+4-1

+5-2

+6-5

+7-1

+8-2

+10-1

+11-1

+13-1

 

+22-1

+17-1

+15-2

+14-1

+13-4

+10-3

7 cms. snow

127 mms. rain

 

 

 -5-1

-4-1

-2-4

-1-2

0-1

+1-3

+2-1

+3-1

+4-3

+5-4

+6-1

+7-3

+8-3

+9-2

+18-1

+17-2

+16-2

+15-1

+11-1

3 cms. snow

114 mms.rain

 

 

 

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton






YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. APRIL 30, 2026. JANE LEBLANC






PEREGRINE FALCON. MAY 1, 2026. SHANNON INMAN





PINE MARTEN. APRIL 6, 2026. PHIL RIEBEL




SKUNK. MAY 1, 2026. SHANNON INMAN


RACCOON. MAY 1, 2026. SHANNON INMAN