Nature Moncton Nature News

Thursday, 26 February 2026

February 26 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

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise both the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and the proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca 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

**While driving in St. Martins, Jane LeBlanc saw a mink in the same area twice this week. It was in/near the Mosher River, along Route 111. This river becomes salt water at high tide, and there are rock doves that roost under the bridge. Jane is wondering how big a mink's territory is. The site is not that far from Jane's property, as the mink swims.

(Editor’s note: the mink occupies a niche in the mustelidae group in between the terrestrial martin/ fisher and the aquatic otter, with a preference for being near water for fishing but including terrestrial prey when available. Their territory can be large, but they can be quite content to stay near a consistent food source. It is that time of year when mating in preparation for spring litters can alter normal routines, which include roaming about during the day. Although they are mainly nocturnal for the rest of the year, they become more active during this period. Observing a mink with its curious and bold attitude is always special.)

**Brian Stone found a swamp sparrow on Wednesday at Mapleton Park that offered Brian several cooperative photographs to observe the many field marks that we don’t often get to see due to the secretive nature of this sparrow when on breeding territory come spring.

The swamp sparrow normally does not stay with us over the winter, but occasionally one does as Brian found.

Several photos are attached to give the opportunity to see all those field marks.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

SWAMP SPARROW. FEB. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

February 25 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

Please advise both the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and the proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca 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

**Nature Moncton will be participating in the Riverview MapleFest event on March 29 with a beginner birding workshop. The details are at the end of this edition and are published well in advance as registration is required. The details will be repeated closer to the event if space is still available.

**Phil Riebel in Miramichi shares some beautiful captured photos of a pine martin in the Miramichi area using an ingenious setup he put together himself that is obviously capable of very rewarding results.

The camera traps Phil used are older DSLRs with Nikon SB-28 flashes and an IR motion sensor, plus some homemade housings.

(Editor’s note: I asked Phil for a photo of his homemade trail camera outfit, which is added today, as well as the rewarding results. I know Phil would be glad to share his methodology, but suspect it may be challenging to copy!)

(Editor's note: The American marten [Martes americana] and "pine marten" in North America are generally the same animal, with the term "pine marten" used commonly but technically referring to a distinct Eurasian species [Martes martes]).

**Deanna Fenwick had taken down her feeders because of the big winds in Sackville at dusk on Tuesday, but neglected to remove the small suet ball. As she was looking at the storm progressing, a brave little male downy woodpecker still managed to grab dinner in the midst of the snow and swirling winds!

**Nature Moncton will be participating in the Town of Riverview's upcoming MapleFest event by holding a beginner birding workshop. Please share this workshop invitation with your circle of friends and family who may be interested in developing their birding skills.

🐦Sunday, March 29 from 10am-12pm

🍁Riverview Operations Centre, 300 Robertson Street

🐦Age 12+

🍁Registration required: outandabout4nm@gmail.com

Leaders: Cathy Simon and assistants Marbeth Wilson and Jessica Belanger-Mainville.

Nature Moncton welcomes all budding bird enthusiasts to learn where the birding hot spots are in the area, and what bird species are most likely to be seen, and how to use the free bird identification app, Merlin. Following a brief indoor presentation, participants will head outside to walk the Mill Creek Nature Park trails in hopes to put their birding skills to good use. Bring binoculars if you have them. Extras will be available to share if needed. Outdoor, weather appropriate clothing and footwear is required. This workshop is part of the Town of Riverview’s MapleFest celebrations.

https://www.townofriverview.ca/events/beginner-birding-workshop

https://naturemoncton.com/events/

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

DOWNY WOODPECKER (MALE). FEB. 23, 2026. DEANNA FENWICK

PINE MARTEN. FEB.6, 2026. PHIL RIEBEL

DSLR CAMERA TRAP. DEC. 2018. PHIL RIEBEL

Monday, 23 February 2026

February 23 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.

The weather the past few days information line 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

**A very important message below from Nature Moncton president Cathy Simon:

📣 We want your feedback!

Nature Moncton is inviting members and attendees to take a few minutes to complete a short survey about our monthly presentations. The survey includes just 10 quick questions and asks what you enjoy, what could be improved, and what topics or formats you’d like to see going forward. 🌿Your input will help guide future programming at Nature Moncton, so we’d really appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

👉 Please fill out the survey here. Thank you for helping us make our presentations as engaging and relevant as possible 💚

**Jane LeBlanc found the resident pair of bald eagles on 'the ocean floor' on St. Martins Beach at very low tide on Saturday. They very briefly engaged in mating behaviour before they flew off in different directions.

**This item is of historical interest revolving around a clear, good-quality photo John Inman got on June 10, 2018.

A lot of birders have spent time examining this photo, and the general consensus is that it is suspected to be a juvenile male painted bunting. The painted bunting is a rare bird in New Brunswick, and a juvenile male is even more so. It is also a bit of a surprise that it turned up in the month of June.

“Never say never” when it shows up in the yard of John Inman!

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

PAINTED BUNTING (JUVENILE MALE SUSPECTED). JUNE 10, 2018. JOHN INMAN

BALD EAGLES. FEB. 21, 2026. JANE LEBLANC

Sunday, 22 February 2026

February 22 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

The weather the past few days information line 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

**Rheal Vienneau experienced a sure sign of oncoming spring when he encountered a group of thousands of snow fleas while snowshoeing to his cabin in Belleisle Creek. Take a look at the action in the video below that Rheal captured:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yk18fmc2njv8av3zo1hfs/SNOW-FLEAS-RHEAL-VIENNEAU.MOV?rlkey=4nv26olj3c001ckvsehtseccd&st=d5ewzrph&dl=0

(Editor’s note: Snow fleas are actually springtails, not related to the commonly known flea. They have a springlike appendage called a furcula that allows spectacular leaps to give them the name flea. Their body chemistry consists of a powerful biological antifreeze that lets them emerge in grainy snow on warmish winter days. They are with us all year, but are very obvious with a white background. They also come in other colours such as coral, but black is the most common. They forage on detritus and are completely harmless to humans.)

**John Inman photographed a standoff between a white-tailed deer and a barred owl popping its beak at the deer while sitting on its flying squirrel meal. The owl won out as the deer quickly left, while a few of the 76 mourning doves continued to enjoy their menu.

**On Saturday, the Nature Moncton Birdfeeder Tour took place in nicely cold weather under cloudy skies with occasional mild snow flurries. Brian Stone and Deanna Fenwick report that the group was treated to an excellent breakfast at Fred and Susan Richards' home in Taylor Village while they observed their selection of birds through their windows in comfort. The next stop was at Yolande LeBlanc's home in Memramcook, where another nice selection of birds was watched at her feeders. Then at Gordon Rattray's Weldon home, a similar variety of birds were viewed, as well as a fast-moving bald eagle that blurred its way through Brian's attempted photo. This was a special eagle that was called up by Gordon on demand as he was explaining how bald eagles commonly fly up the river past his yard, and one immature bald eagle did just that as he was telling the story. You can't get better service than that. The group finished their outing at club president Cathy Simon's home, where hot drinks, crafty cupcakes, and various other treats were enjoyed while staring out the living room window at even more resident birds.

A list of birds photographed on the tour includes American goldfinches, American tree sparrows, blue jays, northern cardinals, black-capped chickadees, evening grosbeaks, hairy and downy woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos, white-throated sparrows, white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches, rock pigeons, one very blurry immature bald eagle, and a well-behaved red squirrel.

(Editor’s note: There have been a few comments lately about the lack of birds in the area, but I think the birdfeeder tour showed there were lots about from the photos Deanna Fenwick and Brian Stone share.)

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton