Nature Moncton Nature News

Saturday, 28 March 2026

March 28 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

**Jane LeBlanc caught both American robins and Canada geese on a walk through St. Martins on Friday. The one she missed (twice) was a northern harrier seen flying over the marsh. At least she knows they are in the area, so she can keep an eye out for them.

**Shannon Inman photographed a group of alder shrubs that had lesions that she had not noticed before, and she was wondering what may be the cause. A consultation with Doug Hiltz at the Maritime College of Forest Technology brought back a commentary with a portion of that response quoted below:

“Normally fungus and fungus-like pathogens are usually fairly dormant in the winter. SO, I believe this is probably some type of sun-scald injury. This time of the year when the air is cold and dry and the sun is bright and intense, it can cause damage to the outer and inner bark. Essentially like a peeling sunburn on humans. I’ve never really seen it on an alder so I can’t be certain but it looks similar to this in other species.”

**Thanks to Georges Brun for alerting Nature News to Mike Wedge's Petitcodiac Tidal Bore Channel! Mike for certain has the most video dating back to prehistoric times when the Albert County Mastedon roamed the province of New Brunswick. Joke!

Mike Wedge’s amazing history of the Petitcodiac River tidal bore is definitely something to watch in order to appreciate and understand this phenomenon that has attracted people from all over the world.

https://youtube.com/@hightidesup?si=kiZTaSO5fGFQ0SB7

**On Friday Brian Stone checked on the bald eagle nest in Upper Coverdale and saw that the nest had one eagle sitting in it, deep enough to be hidden from view when near the nest. As Brian was watching to see if the eagle would peek up over the edge of the nest the eagle's partner flew in (blurred by the trees in front of it) and landed on the side of the nest. Brian was amazed by the eagle's wingspan that was evident in one photo as it landed and its wings were held straight up showing an impressive length. At a further stop in Highland Park Brian found a large number of Canada geese and caught a pair of common mergansers flying fast over the river. A female hairy woodpecker looked comically out of place pecking for insects at a pileated woodpecker site.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

BALD EAGLE. MAR. 27, 2026. BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN ROBIN. MAR. 27, 2026. JANE LEBLANC

HAIRY WOODPECKER (FEMALE). MAR. 27, 2026. BRIAN STONE

COMMON MERGANSERS. MAR. 27, 2026. BRIAN STONE

CANADA GEESE. MAR. 27, 2026. JANE LEBLANC

ALDERS WITH BARK PEELING. MAR. 26, 2026. SHANNON INMAN

Friday, 27 March 2026

March 27 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

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

**Monarch Butterfly tracking continues to improve.

Michael Cybulski points out that there is now an app that folks can download on their phone, and it will help track monarch butterflies automatically if they have the tracker attached:

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+track+mopnachars+phone+app&oq=how+to+track+mopnachars+phone+app&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRiPAtIBCTEyMDY2ajBqNKgCAbACAfEF5Lf6xTxz-wY&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/monarch-butterfly-mexico-migration-tracking-smartphone-9.7126224

**On Wednesday, Brian Stone went to Highland Park in Salisbury to check for new arrivals, as he had noticed on Tuesday that the water was beginning to thaw, and he found that the ponds were 90% ice-free. There were a few Canada geese and just two green-winged teal present, but the photos of the day were a pair of hooded mergansers snuggling up together in the smaller side pond. It won't be long before more pond-loving birds show up, so it will be good to keep checking the ponds on a regular basis.

Brian also found a female common goldeneye duck in the ponds, and three white-tailed deer alongside the road on the way.

(Editor's note: Brian's photo of the green-winged teal shows some detail in the wing plumage we don't often get to see in this fast-flying duck. Note the black side band beside the green speculum and the buff borders seen in flight.)

**This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2026 March 28 – April 4
With Easter happening next weekend let us look for signs of it in the night sky. Lambs have long been associated with spring and Easter, so we can start with Aries the Ram low in the west. For many the symbol of Easter is Peter Cottontail, the Easter Bunny. When darkness sets in we can see Lepus the Hare below the feet of Orion. I see the constellation as three vertical pairs of stars, with the brightest pair in the middle and the widest to the right. With a reasonably dark sky you can see the bunny ears between the widest pair and Orion’s brightest star, Rigel.

In Germanic mythology Ostara, the goddess of spring, found a wounded bird and changed it into a hare so that it could survive. This animal was allowed to run as fast as it could fly and it retained the ability to lay eggs, which it did in spring to honour its rescuer. The Saxon name for the goddess was Eostre. I think the best symbol is seen on the Moon when it is full or nearly so. When it rises in spring, look for the dark bunny ears to the upper right. With them identified, it isn’t difficult to picture Peter Cottontail clutching a giant egg.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:06 and sunset will occur at 7:42, giving 12 hours, 36 minutes of daylight (7:12 and 7:47 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:53 and set at 7:51, giving 12 hours, 58 minutes of daylight (6:58 and 7:56 in Saint John).

The Moon is below Regulus on Sunday evening, full on Wednesday and near Spica Thursday. Venus sets around 9:30 pm this weekend, becoming more prominent now as it climbs up the steep angle of the spring ecliptic. Jupiter is high in the southwest at sunset, and this Saturday telescope users might see its moon Europa disappear behind the planet at 9:54. Mercury is a challenging binocular target, rising 50 minutes before sunrise this weekend but not gaining much altitude before twilight gets too bright. Saturn and Mars are too close to the Sun for observing. Beginning late in the week rural observers might see the subtle glow of zodiacal light in the west 60 to 90 minutes after sunset.

Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of Astronomy by the Bay. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre at 7 pm on April

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

HOODED MERGANSER (MALE AND FEMALE). MAR. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

HOODED MERGANSER (MALE). MAR. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

GREEN-WINGED TEAL (MALE). MAR. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

COMMON GOLDENEYE DUCK (FEMALE). MAR. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

CANADA GEESE. MAR. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

WHITE-TAILED DEER. MAR. 25, 2026. BRIAN STONE

Easter Bunny

Thursday, 26 March 2026

March 26 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

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

**Nature Moncton movie night is scheduled for tonight Thursday, March 26, at 7:00 PM via Zoom.

All are welcome to share in this interesting viewing, whether a Nature Moncton member or not.

**NATURE MONCTON MOVIE NIGHT

· Film: “Dances with Cranes” (The Nature of Things Season 64, Episode 10)

· March 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM via Zoom

· Co-hosts: Gwen Clark & Jessica Belanger-Mainville

You are invited to a movie night on March 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM. This event will be held on Zoom.

Together, we will watch the documentary “Dances with Cranes” from the CBC series The Nature of Things. Afterwards, Gwen and Jessica will have some questions to guide a discussion about the film.

Whooping Cranes were on the brink of extinction—down to less than 20 individuals in the 1940s. Largely due to the incredible work of Nova Scotian George Archibald, who has dedicated his life to them, there are now over 800 individuals!

“Dances with Cranes” follows the ongoing recovery of these magnificent birds, and the exceptional scientists doing whatever it takes to make it happen… including dancing. This documentary highlights the challenges that Whooping Cranes and scientists face every day in the species’ fight for survival.

Please join us to watch this heartfelt and inspiring story.

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81662794070?pwd=XWFIp6mT1Cn9VzwTzKX0dbvPakrv4a.1

**Jane LeBlanc had not seen any golden-crowned kinglets this winter, so on a walk out her driveway, she called one. One responded, and she got documentary photos.

**On Sunday, Brian Stone and Cathy Simon checked out Wilson Marsh and came away with a decent number of sightings compared to other recent outings. Some that managed to get photographed were male and female purple finches, a male house finch, common raven, black-capped chickadee, an American robin, some gulls, and a tree full of red-winged blackbirds. Cathy Simon spotted two small groups of common mergansers flying over the river to total 7 individuals, but they had no trouble flying faster than the camera could catch them.

Red Maple tree buds and pussy willow buds were evident and some evidence of recent beaver activity was noted. A small, woven nest was showing all the traits of a vireo nest that was hanging on a low branch. As Cathy and Brian were stopped and listening to the calls of multiple song sparrows, they heard a rushing sound coming from the direction of the river and turned in time to see the tidal bore roar past through a small gap in the riverbank. Brian figures that counts as luck and was glad to have it.

**Nelson Poirier was recently in the St. Andrews area and as always in awe at the wild turkeys strutting about. It was amusing to watch a tom Turkey in full display strutting about a group of hens, trying to attract their attention but seemingly not getting much traction!

Lines of a dozen plus turkeys would occasionally be seen right from the main highway between St. Andrews and St. Stephen.

These are truly wild turkeys that have crossed the border without visas or green cards!

Similar turkey observations are regular in the Sussex area to the Wheaton Settlement area, with the potential of them being truly wild turkeys having expanded their range, or the possibility of them breeding with released domestic birds.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

TURKEYS. MARCH 24, 2026. NELSON POIRIER

TURKEY (TOM DISPLAYING). MARCH 24, 2026. NELSON POIRIER

TURKEY (TOM DISPLAYING TO UNIMPRESSED HENS). MARCH 24, 2026. NELSON POIRIER

TURKEY (HEN). MARCH 24, 2026. NELSON POIRIER

ICELAND GULL (1st CYCLE). MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

HOUSE FINCH (MALE). MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. MAR. 24, 2026. JANE LEBLANC

COMMON RAVEN. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

AMERICAN ROBIN. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

PURPLE FINCH (MALE). MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

PURPLE FINCH (FEMALE). MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

RED MAPLE TREE BUDS. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

PUSSY WILLOW BUDS. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

ICE. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

BEAVER WORKINGS. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

BEAVER LODGE. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

TIDAL BORE. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

VIREO NEST. MAR. 22, 2026. BRIAN STONE

Monday, 23 March 2026

March 24 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

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

**An early heads up to reserve this coming Thursday evening, March 26. The Nature Moncton movie night is scheduled with all details at the end of this edition and upfront Thursday morning.

**Yvette Richard shares some photos of observations she has recently had around her home, including one of a flock of seven snow buntings in the field next door, a curious European starling, and her resident merlin at dusk.

Yvette got a cell phone photo taken on March 19 of the iridescent colors around the sun.

Yvette comments, “It reminded her of the fallstreak hole phenomenon (in photos) she saw on Jan 24, 2024. It was taken coming over the hill overlooking the bay at Grande Digue. Very interesting event.”

* John Inman’s resident red-tailed hawk is staying much longer than in previous years, and John wonders if it might not migrate this year, maybe due to age. It hasn't taken a handout in two weeks but has been hunting in the area; it's not abusing the system, but on Monday it came quickly to get a handout, mantling its booty to guard it from intruders.

Two northern flickers went through on Monday, but no photo op.

**On Sunday, as Brian Coyle made his way out to his trail cameras, he came upon the very fresh tracks of a weasel. This individual was bounding, as they typically do, leaving a somewhat diamond-shaped mark in the snow when all four feet come together. The red squirrel leaves a similar shape in the snow, and can be confused for weasel tracks, but the red squirrel's imprint is more square and boxy. When the snow conditions are just right, you will note that the weasel's tracks are arranged in a diagonal, with the front footprints not passed by the hind footprints. The red squirrel's footprints will be very symmetrical, and the larger hind feet will register ahead of the front feet, much like a snowshoe hare.

In this case, the bounds were approximately 24" apart, with the individual feet measuring 1/2" by 3/4" for the front feet, and 1/2" by 1/2" for the hind feet.

As the snow conditions were perfect for reading the signs of animals travelling, Brian Coyle came across some very fresh otter tracks. It had only stopped snowing a few hours before, so he was able to deduce that these tracks were only a few hours old at best. River otters have very large feet, with these individual footprints measuring approximately 3 3/4" by 3 3/4" and showing 5 toes. In the snow, otters love to use a combination of bounding and sliding.

Brian captured video on his trail camera of several species, including a hard-working beaver, a snowshoe hare investigating a pine tree, a coyote, and a weasel. Check them out at the links below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/b1ucft43t15jpmcjmprgv/BEAVER.-MAR.-23-2026.-BRIAN-COYLE.MP4?rlkey=f40vtttxr3bxd74k1ct2qsg8z&st=sf5y04eq&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/42vshxdexl9kw5mw7hnv2/COYOTE.-MAR.-23-2026.-BRIAN-COYLE.mp4?rlkey=c9pdumpsq954mw2631940saac&st=h1kxegk3&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x25gfsu1k9ei1d7puus4h/SNOWSHOE-HARE.-MAR.-23-2026.-BRIAN-COYLE.MP4?rlkey=rbwj5cbnh77480rxsroewbh2s&st=nf2n8bqm&dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fp81lbsj8klzkdf4dg53l/WEASEL.-MAR.-23-2026.-BRIAN-COYLE.mp4?rlkey=mx8k19ar1kvgapy04390e04tb&st=49lh8qi7&dl=0

**For those who have not visited the St. Thomas wharf recently, Brian Stone points out that the wharf is now closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

**NATURE MONCTON MOVIE NIGHT

· Film: “Dances with Cranes” (The Nature of Things Season 64, Episode 10)

· March 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM via Zoom

· Co-hosts: Gwen Clark & Jessica Belanger-Mainville

You are invited to a movie night on March 26, 2026, at 7:00 PM. This event will be held on Zoom.

Please join us to watch this heartfelt and inspiring story.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81662794070?pwd=XWFIp6mT1Cn9VzwTzKX0dbvPakrv4a.1

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton