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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.
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
**Louise and Glen Nichols noticed a large log had been shoved out of place on their property in the woods in back of their house. They checked with each other, and neither of them had moved it, so they wondered who did it. They were thinking about the possibility of a bear moving it to get insects underneath? Louise wishes she had her trail cam on it!
**Shannon Inman photographed a large adult American toad as well as a barred owl.
At their Harvey home, a few chipping sparrows moved in the last couple of days.
(Editor’s note: Shannon’s chipping sparrow photo shows it as either a juvenile or an adult entering winter plumage. The continuation of the dark eye bar between the eye and the bill is a great signature mark to confirm a chipping sparrow that can be confused with other sparrows at first glance.
**It’s that time in the fall when the woolly alder aphid goes into its winged stage, abandons the woolly nests we see in the summer, and heads for their winter hibernating areas. Clouds of hundreds of these insects can resemble snowflakes. They are very small and tend to have a bluish tinge.
Fred Richards photographed one that landed on his shirt!
**Strange sounds in the night!
Nelson Poirier heard a
sound that was being repeated on Monday evening at approximately 10:00 PM
outside his Miramichi camp that he was
not familiar with and didn’t recall hearing before.
When telling a neighbor
about it, he said he had experienced the same scenario some years ago at
another site and was told that the red fox, especially the female, can emit
some surprising vocalizations, especially at night.
A Google search found a
video that seemed to be the exact sound Nelson was hearing, only more distant
than in the video.
Possibly many are familiar
with this vocalization, but it was a first time for Nelson and possibly many
others. Apparently, it is known as the vixen call, as it is a
vocalization by the female red fox.
Brian Stone was able to put
it into a link that we are able to share with Nature News, which is below:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a76ncr2a4bevws0im8lzp/FOX-BARKING.-SEPT.-05-2026..mp4?rlkey=gw3dvbzdb3kyrdgqg33wdjt37&st=7z6nvm5w&dl=0
**It is
always said to pass on the news that one of our great leaders and friends of
the New Brunswick naturalist community has left us.
Tony Erskine
has done so much biological and natural work over his long career, and many New
Brunswick naturalists will have fond memories of the time spent with this
outstanding naturalist.
Obituary
of Anthony John Erskine | Campbells Funeral Home serving S...
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
