March 20 2023

 

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 20, 2023

 

 

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

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com  if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

 

Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

 

**Nature Moncton March meeting is on for tomorrow night, Tuesday.  The announcement is repeated at the end of this edition.
 

**Richard Blacquiere reports there was a male Ruddy Duck in the first pond Hampton lagoon Sunday morning. It still has a way to go to develop into breeding plumage. (Editor’s note: Sibley points out that the male Ruddy Duck takes on its breeding plumage in March, so a sudden molt can be expected soon). Richard got a nice photo of the Ruddy Duck beside a Mallard Duck to show the small size of this species).
The duck variety in that ice-free pond continues to grow; currently, there are Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Mallards, Blacks, and, occasionally, Canada Geese. Iceland Gulls continue to linger, and Ring-billed Gulls are again a daily presence. 

**Cathy and Evar Simon were walking in the Irishtown Nature Park and were surprised to come across a female Ruffed Grouse who was very comfortable with walkers passing by in close proximity.

 

**Georges Brun confirms the presence of 2 Short-Eared Owls in Riverview Marsh near the outlet Trans-Aqua. George saw one in late November flying from the Jonathan Creek side of Vaughan Harvey Blvd (near Pollinator Park - Assomption Blvd). He was able to get a few photos then but could not get visual markings of the underwings.  He was not able to locate them in the marsh Dec., Jan., or Feb. until reports from Sue Berube earlier this month.  Most feeding areas were frozen closer to Moncton.  The south area has a greater number of Cattails, which helps sections to take up water and there is less freezing.   A female Northern Harrier has stayed in the area off and on for most of the fall and winter.  The Northern Harrier was not impressed with the Short-eared Owl the day he saw it.

Spring Turnover is ongoing along the banks of the Petitcodiac River at the moment.  A Crow also got into the act to harass the owl.

 

Above the new bridge in Riverview-Moncton, very large flocks of gulls have decided to use the bridge and they approach for cover from the northeast winds.

 

There is a pair of Bald Eagles probably on Mac Wilmot’s land who seem to be setting up housekeeping.  

 

 

 **Fred and Lynn Dube put out cracked corn in their Coverdale driveway, which was found very quickly by Mallard Ducks earlier in the season.

In the past week, it has attracted other wildlife that was not expected. It would appear 2 Coyotes are visiting nocturnally, and a juvenile Northern Goshawk has made at least two visits for a duck dinner.

The snag tree Fred has erected with cavity-filled suet has become a major attraction to several species of suet connoisseurs.

 

 

**Shannon Inman did a quick trip around the block in the Harvey area and spotted an American Woodcock and approximately 15 goldeneyes, some of which were performing male Common Goldeneyes.
(Editor’s note: always pleasant to see those first arriving American Woodcock (timberdoodles!) and we will soon be hearing/seeing the males do their dramatic courtship displays).
 

**On Saturday, Brian Coyle was out to his trail cameras (he has 8 trail cameras out) and came upon fresh Coyote and Raccoon tracks and sign. (Editor’s note: note the human hand-like print of the fore paw of the Raccoon).

In addition, he observed a half dozen Black-capped Chickadees in a Tamarack tree, seemingly feeding on the tender buds. Upon arriving at his home, he sat on the back deck and was able to get some additional photos of one of the pair of resident Brown Creepers in his backyard, at times feeding on the ground at the base of Spruce trees. 

 

**The Nature Moncton March meeting will take place this coming Tuesday night, March 21, at 7:00 PM, when Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director of the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance, will give a live presentation at the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge. It will also be available virtually.

The presentation write-up is below:

Nature Moncton March Meeting

March 21, 2023, at 7:00 PM

Mapleton Rotary Lodge

Presenter: Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director, PWA

“Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance update”

 

The Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance has a wide variety of current and past projects. Generally, these fit into 4 general categories: scientific monitoring, habitat improvement, environmental assessment, and education & outreach. Together, these themes provide a rounded approach to restoring and protecting the ecological services of the water systems that flow into Shepody Bay through science-based research, action, and public outreach.

This year the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance is celebrating 25 years of incorporation, and 26 since its inception. To celebrate, the PWA is ramping up in some key areas to increase its impact and improve environmental monitoring, health, and education in our watershed. The organization has launched new branding, communications strategies, and a new website that better highlights their work and includes interactive features to learn more about the PWA’s work, the watershed, and some key aspects of environmental management in the region. The PWA has also moved to a new location that increases its capacity and the types of activities it can pursue, while also taking on some new projects to revitalize its work and increase impact. At the same time, the organization continues to pursue its long-standing projects in green infrastructure, water quality monitoring and restoring fish passage for species such as the endangered iBoF Salmon. PWA Executive Director Kelsey Wilson will share updates on these projects -- comprising some results from their 2022 field season -- and give us a glimpse of what is coming to launch the organization into its next 25 years, including ways to get involved in hands-on projects that improve the health of our local waterways.

This meeting will be in person at the Mapleton Rotary Lodge, but anyone is welcome to join virtually from anywhere at the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87467213229?pwd=elZ5cFA4V3pjUDNnYURZcVRQd1NFUT09

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

 

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN WOODCOCK. MAR 19, 2023.  SHANNON INMAN

AMERICAN WOODCOCK. MAR 19, 2023.  SHANNON INMAN

RUDDY DUCK (MALE). MARCH 19, 2023. RICHARD BLACQUIERE

RUDDY DUCK (MALE) AND MALLARD DUCK (MALE). MARCH 19, 2023. RICHARD BLACQUIERE

COMMON GOLDENEYE (MALE). MAR 19, 2023. SHANNON INMAN

COMMON GOLDENEYE (MALE). MAR 19, 2023. SHANNON INMAN

COMMON GOLDENEYE (MALE). MAR 19, 2023. SHANNON INMAN

RUFFED GROUSE (FEMALE). MARCH 19, 2023. CATHY SIMON

SHORT-EARED OWL. MAR. 17, 2023. GEORGES BRUN

SHORT-EARED OWL AND NORTHERN HARRIER. MAR. 17, 2023. GEORGES BRUN

DOWNY WOODPECKER AND WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. MARCH 19, 2023, FRED DUBE

BROWN CREEPER. MAR 18, 2023. BRIAN COYLE

BROWN CREEPER. MAR 18, 2023. BRIAN COYLE

BROWN CREEPER. MAR 18, 2023. BRIAN COYLE

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (JUVENILE). MARCH 18, 2023, FRED DUBE

COYOTE. MARCH 18, 2023,  FRED DUBE 

RACCOON TRACKS. MARCH 18, 2023.  BRIAN COYLE

RACCOON TRACKS. MARCH 18, 2023.  BRIAN COYLE

RACCOON TRACKS. MARCH 18, 2023.  BRIAN COYLE

COYOTE PAW PRINT. MARCH 18, 2023. BRIAN COYLE

 

March 19 2023

 

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 19, 2023

 

 

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

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com  if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

 

Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

 

**Aldo Dorio was able to get back to one of his favourite spots, Hay Island, and photograph male Common Mergansers in the opening water off the island.
 
** John Inman reports blackbirds are now arriving in number to his Harvey, Albert County feeder yard.
They are being welcomed by John’s complement of raptors, so difficult to share photos. Common Grackles have jumped to 12+ in the past few days, and Red-winged Blackbirds have done the same with the arrival of bright males.

**These dreary days make for few nature reports so John Massey shares a springtime encounter.
John was fishing on the Miramichi River in early spring when he encountered a Red Fox that was in the process of shedding its winter coat and got a photo. John comments it looked half dressed, looking like it had just put on its pants but forgot its jacket!
While John was photographing the fox, he noticed movement near his feet in the rocks which turned out to be a Wood Turtle. 

No salmon were caught but an interesting day nonetheless.

 

 

 

**The Nature Moncton March meeting will take place this coming Tuesday night, March 21, at 7:00 PM when Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director of the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance will give a live presentation at the Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge. It will also be available virtually.

The presentation write-up is below:

Nature Moncton March Meeting

March 21, 2023, at 7:00 PM

Mapleton Rotary Lodge

Presenter: Kelsey Wilson, Executive Director, PWA

“Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance update”

 

The Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance has a wide variety of current and past projects. Generally, these fit into 4 general categories: scientific monitoring, habitat improvement, environmental assessment, and education & outreach. Together, these themes provide a rounded approach to restoring and protecting the ecological services of the water systems that flow into Shepody Bay through science-based research, action, and public outreach.

This year the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance is celebrating 25 years of incorporation, and 26 since its inception. To celebrate, the PWA is ramping up in some key areas to increase its impact and improve environmental monitoring, health, and education in our watershed. The organization has launched new branding, communications strategies, and a new website that better highlights their work and includes interactive features to learn more about the PWA’s work, the watershed, and some key aspects of environmental management in the region. The PWA has also moved to a new location that increases its capacity and the types of activities it can pursue, while also taking on some new projects to revitalize its work and increase impact. At the same time, the organization continues to pursue its long-standing projects in green infrastructure, water quality monitoring and restoring fish passage for species such as the endangered iBoF Salmon. PWA Executive Director Kelsey Wilson will share updates on these projects -- comprising some results from their 2022 field season -- and give us a glimpse of what is coming to launch the organization into its next 25 years, including ways to get involved in hands-on projects that improve the health of our local waterways.

This meeting will be in person at the Mapleton Rotary Lodge, but anyone is welcome to join virtually from anywhere at the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87467213229?pwd=elZ5cFA4V3pjUDNnYURZcVRQd1NFUT09

All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

 

 

 Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 

 

 

 

BALD EAGLE (IMMATURE). MARCH 17, 2023. JANE LEBLANC

CANADA GEESE. MARCH 18, 2023. JANE LEBLANC

COMMON MERGANSER (MALES). MAR 18, 2023.  ALDO DORIO

COMMON MERGANSER (MALES). MAR 18, 2023.  ALDO DORIO

RED FOX SHEDDING WINTER PELAGE. JOHN MASSEY

 

March 18 2023

 

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 18, 2023

 

 

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

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com  if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

 

Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

 

**John Goobie photographed an evergreen plant on the Dobson trail on February 7. Some of us could not put a handle on the identity until Gart Bishop reviewed it to identify it as Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia).

 

This is a very common native plant but can surely fool neophyte botanists when we see a photo of this plant in midwinter showing off its greenery in a snowy background.

 

**Gordon Rattray is seeing and hearing birds getting into the spring mood.  Gordon has heard Mourning Doves, White-throated Sparrows, and Black-capped Chickadees singing territory vocalizations.  Gordon also had his first of spring visits from a Song Sparrow.  Also present in his yard are several American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. 

Gordon had an interesting event on Friday when an internet technician removed a Bald-faced Hornet nest from his tower.  The nest was built last summer and was about 12 m up in the air.  There were two dead wasps in the nest and some unmatured pupae.  For contrast, Gordon includes a nest he collected several years ago.

 

**Dan Hicks, Director of Parks for the City of Moncton, has successfully applied for a grant from Trail Care Canada for the City of Moncton to partner with Nature Moncton for a habitat improvement project installing bird nest boxes on the Riverfront Trail in Moncton.

The plan is to erect approximately 20 Nest Boxes appropriately placed along the trail in early April.

 

 

 Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 

 

 

 

SONG SPARROW, MAR 17, 2023. GORDON RATTRAY

SHEEP LAUREL. FEB 7, 2023. JOHN GOOBIE

BALD-FACED HORNET NEST COMB, MAR 17, 2023. GORDON RATTRAY

BALD-FACED HORNETS. MAR 17, 2023. GORDON RATTRAY

BALD-FACED HORNET  INSIDE NEST. MAR 17, 2023. GORDON RATTRAY

BALD-FACED HORNET NEST, MAR 17, 2023. GORDON RATTRAY

WASP NEST. GORDON RATTRAY

 

Marc 17 2023

 

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 17, 2023

 

 

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

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com  if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at www.naturemoncton.com .

 

Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

 

**Yesterday, Fred Dube shared a photo of a juvenile Northern Goshawk. Today, John Massey sends nice photos of an adult Northern Goshawk again on duck prey in his Dieppe yard.

Again, note the pale grey eyebrow (supercilium) that contrasts sharply with dark auriculars, and the grey barred underparts with blue grey back.

 

** While driving near her home in St. Martins, Jane LeBlanc saw a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks flying overhead. 

Jane also notes she had a total of 6 American Robins in her yard at one time this week, but since the supply of Mountain Ash berries has dried up, she's sure they will move on.

 

** A Western Screech Owl was sitting on a wall by the entrance of the house near where Lynda LeClerc is at the moment in California. The owner approached it, and it did not move. She actually touched its head, and it still did not move. She took a picture and then called the wildlife rescue people. They advised her how to catch it and put it in a cage. When she came back from getting the equipment and went to wrap it in a towel, it flew away.  She hasn’t seen it since. Hopefully, it was just stunned from hitting something and is going on with its normal life. 

 

** Many of us remember the days we watched those tall radio transmission towers on the Tantramar March for raptors.

Amanda Christie is an interdisciplinary artist working in experimental film, video installation, and more.  Her Spectres of Shortwave film (about the radio towers that stood outside Sackville until they were removed a few years ago)  is playing on March 23, at 7:30 pm at the Vogue Theatre in Sackville;  It is screening as a part of the Sackville Film Society.

 Here are two links for more information: http://spectresofshortwave.net/  and  https://www.facebook.com/groups/152492437136/

 

 

 **It’s Friday and the day we review what next week’s night sky may have in store for us courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.

 

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2023, March 18 – March 25
Around 1930 the International Astronomical Union finalized the official constellations and their boundaries to cover the entire sky. Oddly, 22 of those 88 constellations begin with the letter “C.” Around 9 pm, we can see 11 of those and parts of three others, so rather than deep sea fishing, let’s go high C hunting. Starting in the west, we might catch the head of Cetus the Whale before it sets, and toward the south, Columba the Dove hugs the horizon below Lepus and Orion. Meanwhile, Cygnus the Swan flaps a wing above the northern horizon as it never sets completely for us.

Higher in the north the house of Cepheus the King is upright for a change. To his west we see the W-shape of his wife, Cassiopeia the Queen, and above them we might have to strain to see Camelopardalis the Giraffe. Looking southwest, to the left of Orion are his faithful big and little dogs Canis Major and Canis Minor. Barely visible above the little dog is Cancer the Crab, nestled nicely between Gemini and Leo. In the southeast, we have Corvus the Crow and Crater the Cup, both of which piggyback on Hydra. Tailing Leo high in the east is Coma Berenices, the locks of distressed Queen Berenice II of Egypt, and dogging Ursa Major is Canes Venatici the Hunting Dogs. Finally, lower in the east, we see the Northern Crown, Corona Borealis.

This episode of Sky at a Glance was brought to you by the letter C and the number 14. As you find each C constellation, count out loud like the Count (One! That’s one C constellation, ah ha ha!), and for each one, you find you can reward yourself with ... COOKIE!

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:26 am and sunset will occur at 7:28 pm, giving 12 hours, and 2 minutes of daylight (7:31 am and 7:33 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday, the Sun will rise at 7:13 am and set at 7:38 pm, giving 12 hours, 25 minutes of daylight (7:18 am and 7:42 pm in Saint John). On Monday at 6:24 pm, the Sun crosses the equator to begin the spring season in the northern hemisphere.
    
The Moon is new on Tuesday, and the razor-thin crescent appears to the left of Jupiter in evening twilight on Wednesday. Around 9 – 10 pm Friday, Uranus might be seen with binoculars two moon-widths to the left of the crescent Moon, with Venus about a fist-width below them. Mars makes a reddish-orange triangle with equally bright Aldebaran and brighter Betelgeuse during the week. Mercury has moved to the evening sky, setting 45 minutes after sunset by next weekend. Saturn rises 50 minutes before sunrise this weekend, a challenging binocular target a fist-width upper left of the waning crescent Moon on Sunday morning.

On Sunday evening at 8 pm, tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show via the Facebook page or YouTube channel of Astronomy by the Bay.

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

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 

 

 

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (ADULT).  JOHN MASSEY

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (ADULT).  JOHN MASSEY

RED-TAILED HAWK. MARCH 15, 2023. JANE LEBLANC

SCREECH OWL (WESTERN). MAR 16, 2023. VIA LYNDA LECLERC

C Constellations