Nature Moncton Nature News

Saturday, 14 February 2026

February 14 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 email, please address your message to the 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

💘

**John Inman reports the male red-bellied woodpecker is still patronizing his feeder yard with a particular taste for John’s suet block, looking like it will probably stay until it's time to look for a mate, which could be a tall order in New Brunswick.

(Editor's note: Mr/Ms Google says "Yes, male red-bellied woodpeckers often appear brighter or more intense in colour during the spring, largely due to breeding-related hormonal changes and pre-breeding behaviors. While they do not have a distinct seasonal plumage change (a molt), their red plumage, particularly on the head, appears more vibrant as they enter the breeding season.

John took particular note of a male rusty blackbird puffing its throat and really vocalizing, a sure sign of spring in the air.

John also had a Cooper’s hawk come by, tarrying long enough for a few photos.

**Brian and Annette Stone walked in Mapleton Park on Thursday afternoon, and Brian photographed a hybrid mallard duck, a distant male pine grosbeak perched high atop a tree (spotted by Annette), and a "stack" of mushrooms on the side of a tree that had the size and appearance (sort of) of restaurant pancakes.

(Editor’s note: The mushrooms have the appearance of oyster mushrooms, having a seasonal challenge!)

Brian took some photos of evening grosbeaks enjoying the menu put out by Daryl Doucette whose home borders Mapleton Park.

**On Friday morning, very early, Brian got up and went out to a high lookout point facing south/east to try and capture images of the SpaceX rocket carrying astronauts to the ISS space station. He was disappointed by the size and brightness of the rocket passing by and had difficulty even making it out with just his eyes. He took a poor, documentary photo (Brian's words), but it is quite blurry as he could not use a tripod and timer on a moving object. You can still make out the rocket, just barely, and a cloud created by its burning fuel (Brian assumes). Brian also took a couple of photos of the waning crescent Moon that was floating on the horizon.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (MALE). FEB 13, 2026. JOHN INMAN

PINE GROSBEAK (MALE). FEB.12, 2026. BRIAN STONE

RUSTY BLACKBIRD (MALE). FEB 13, 2026. JOHN INMAN

EVENING GROSBEAKS. FEB.12, 2026. BRIAN STONE

HYBRID MALLARD DUCK. FEB.12, 2026. BRIAN STONE

COOPER'S HAWK (IMMATURE). FEB 13, 2026. JOHN INMAN

SPACEX CREW-12 ROCKET. FEB.13, 2026. BRIAN STONE

CRESCENT MOON. FEB.13, 2026. BRIAN STONE

MUSHROOMS. FEB.12, 2026. BRIAN STONE

Thursday, 12 February 2026

February 13 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

To respond by email, please address your message to the 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

**Jim Johnson and some friends visited the Midland Ice Caves which are located just off Route 124, which goes from Norton to Evandale. You can Google the exact location, and there are also directions on NB Trails site. It's a 4 km round trip, which Jim describes as a moderate hike. He would highly recommend wearing some ice crampons as it is very steep at the site. Jim points out that the water seeps over the top ledge and slowly freezes over the winter. There is a small cave behind the ice. Jim suggests that if you plan a visit, do so on a day with freezing temperatures. Jim comments that the phenomenon is quite incredible and very worth a visit at the moment.

(Editor’s note: the link to the NB trails site Jim mentioned is below):

https://www.hikingnb.ca/Trails/FundyEast/MidlandIce.html

**Lisa Morris recently photographed the results of pileated woodpecker activity on the edge of the ski trail in Centennial Park.

(Editor’s note: There have been several reports over the past season of pileated woodpeckers having a territory in Centennial Park. It is great to have this beautiful bird taking a territory within the city where more people can get to see it. We will probably have the opportunity to see that on the Nature Moncton winter tree ID hike scheduled on March 7 in Centennial Park.)

**I suspect most of us were not aware that the American robin will eat small fish as well as do the fishing to get them.

It is not a common behaviour, but is documented, and Jamie Burris came across a link below where photographer Daniel Cadieux captured incredible images of this activity. View the activity and photos at the link below:

Something Fishy About This American Robin

**This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2026 February 14 – February 21
Let’s pay attention to the minority this week. By this I mean the Minor constellations: Ursa, Canis and Leo, all of which are now visible in the evening. Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, hosts the Little Dipper asterism and it has what is arguably the most important and famous star of the night sky–Polaris, the North Star–at the tip of its tail. Although smaller and less bright than the nearby Great Bear, Ursa Minor is at the centre of action in our night sky. How many have heard or even believe that Polaris is the brightest star in the night sky? It actually ranks at number 48.

Canis Minor, the Little Dog, is noted for having the eighth brightest star, Procyon. An imaginary arrowhead formed by Orion’s head and shoulder stars points eastward to the Little Dog. We usually see it as just two stars so it is probably a wiener dog. Despite the brilliance of its luminary, the Little Dog is just the opening act for Canis Major and its leading star, Sirius, the brightest one of the night sky. In early winter Procyon rises first to announce the impending arrival of Sirius, hence the name which means “before the dog.”

Leo Minor the Little Lion experiences difficulty in being noticed, and with good reason. It is one of those inconspicuous constellations created by the 17th century astronomer Johannes Hevelius to fill gaps in the sky. We see it as a triangle between the back of Leo and the feet of Ursa Major. To give it some distinction and pride we can imagine the lion cub nipping at the heels of the Great Bear to keep it from attacking Leo.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:23 and sunset will occur at 5:43, giving 10 hours, 20 minutes of daylight (7:26 and 5:50 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:12 and set at 5:54, giving 10 hours, 42 minutes of daylight (7:15 and 6:00 in Saint John).

The Moon is new on Tuesday, and the razor-thin lunar crescent sits just below Mercury on Wednesday. The Moon is near Saturn on Thursday with Mercury two binocular fields to their lower right and Venus below it setting around 6:45 pm. Jupiter shines brightly high in the east in early evening, and on Tuesday telescope users can see its moon Europa disappear behind the planet at 7:19 while the Red Spot is in mid-transit. Rural observers might catch the zodiacal light angling up the ecliptic 60 to 90 minutes after sunset early in the week.

Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of Astronomy by the Bay.

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

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

MIDLAND ICE CAVES. FEB 9, 2026. JIM JOHNSON

PILEATED WOODPECKER FEEDING CAVITIES. FEB 9, 2026. LISA MORRIS

Minor Leo 2024

February 12 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

To respond by email, please address your message to the 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

**Shannon Inman spotted four white-tailed deer on the road that quickly bounded away through the bulrushes at Lars Larsen Marsh in Harvey.

John comments that the coyotes have been very vocal out in the fields in their area as it’s that time of year when wildlife are thinking of spring, as has been pointed out in a few other reports today.

John photographed what seems to be newly arrived purple finch, which all happen to be male. He has had a few purple finch of both genders over the winter, but this suggests an advanced guard of males.

**Georges Brun captured some nice activity in the warmth of Tuesday afternoon from the Chateau Moncton overlooking the Riverview Marsh.

It’s that time of year when it is not unusual to see a duo of red foxes together, as it is mating time to prepare for spring litters. Georges was able to watch two individuals together, very actively and successfully hunting.

He also spotted a coyote hunting on the marsh, as well as a nearby song sparrow that he’s been noting for the last few weeks.

An adult Bald Eagle perched on the ice blocks on the far side of the river was showing its Fundy mud-stained tail tip.

**Brian Stone spent the last 5 days visiting family in Hampton, but got few photos to show for it. During a walk in Dutch Point Park (in Hampton), he photographed a white-breasted nuthatch and a red-breasted nuthatch in the same spot, and a golden-crowned kinglet nearby. In the sky above, he noticed a rare display of Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, aka fluctus clouds, that have a wave-like appearance.

Brian shares a video of a raven interacting with another raven that was just off-screen to the left. It was making an odd sound that Brian had never heard before, but you need full volume to make it out. Kind of a whiny wo wo sound. The other raven, off-screen, was very noisy in response.

(Editor’s note: It is that time of year when raven pairs are interacting, making pair bonds in preparation for nesting which often occurs in March. It is not unusual to see them doing barrel rolls and flips together in flight, which is part of the mating ritual.)

Listen carefully to a duo of ravens as they vocalize to one another in the video clip below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0jsx21nx747kv64phd5yz/RAVENS.-FEB.-08-2026.-BRIAN-STONE.mp4?rlkey=3y5gsrculnto5ixa9okdyg4cf&st=dnxh7w3p&dl=0

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

SONG SPARROW. FEB 10, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. FEB. 08, 2026. BRIAN STONE

PURPLE FINCH (MALES). FEB 10, 2026. JOHN INMAN

PURPLE FINCH (MALE). FEB 10, 2026. JOHN INMAN

GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLET. FEB. 08, 2026. BRIAN STONE

BALD EAGLE. FEB 10, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. FEB. 08, 2026. BRIAN STONE

RED FOXES. FEB. 10, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

RED FOX. FEB. 10, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

RED FOXES. FEB. 10, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

COYOTE. FEB. 10, 2026. GEORGES BRUN

WHITE-TAILED DEER. FEB 10, 2026. SHANNON INMAN

KELVIN-HELMHOLTZ (FLUCTUS) CLOUDS. FEB. 08, 2026. BRIAN STONE

DUTCH POINT PARK. FEB. 08, 2026. BRIAN STONE

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

February 11 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

To respond by email, please address your message to the 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

**Yvette Richard shares photos of birds taken outside the windows of her Cocagne home to include evening grosbeak, pine grosbeak, and sharp-shinned hawk. In addition, Yvette visited the painted bunting in Bayfield three times and saw it all three times. The last date she saw it was January 9.

She returned to view the bunting on the last two Fridays and did not see it either time.

Yvette also shares her first sighting of a female rusty blackbird. She spotted it at the Sackville Waterfowl Park as it flushed from a bush along the trail to the little wooden bridge by the highway end of the park.

(Editor’s note: It is of interest to note that this is the first rusty blackbird photograph submitted that was not part of the small flock patronizing John Inman’s Harvey bird feeder yard.)

**Bald eagles are now establishing nesting territories.

On Tuesday, John Inman photographed an adult appearing to advise two immature bald eagles that appeared to be within the adult's nesting territory. The adult very pointedly escorted them out of the area.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton