Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 8 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Dec 8, 2022

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**On Wednesday, Sybil Wentzell had a return visit from a fully dressed female Baltimore Oriole. It stayed long enough for a portrait and to check out the day’s menu. The oriole had paid a quick visit on the weekend and tried some sumac fruit only to be chased off by the Yellow-breasted Chat who hadn’t shown any previous interest in the sumac. The chat continues to enjoy daily helpings of the peanut butter suet. (Editor’s note: there has to be a possibility this Yellow-breasted Chat will become an all-winter patron).
The Wentzells also had a Brown Creeper probing for insects finding the deep crevices of an Elm tree to have very desirable insect sleuthing potential.

**Scott Wilmot shares a video of his woodpile supervisor, a Short-tailed Weasel. He comments that it is very comfortable around humans.
Scott’s video shows the total pelage change from summer brown to winter white with the exception of the black tip of the tail which can be seen during the video. Check it out at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5rbfo0crvaayeb2/Ermine.mov?dl=0

**About 15 years ago a friend told Frank Branch he had to change his woodpecker toothbrush pointing out that after suet and peanut butter, they had to brush their 'teeth,' and old chicot (a dead tree with cavities) was much softer than a frozen healthy hardwood.

Frank made a permanent hole about 10 inches in diameter and about 3 feet deep in the ground and placed the chicot (an expired beach canker-affected tree) in the hole, having to replace it every 6 to 8 years depending on how solid it stayed.

Nearly all of Frank’s regular birds are seen looking in the cavities looking for seeds or pieces of suet put there by woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees (or Frank). Frank has found this idea a real bird-attracting magnet to his feeder yard. (Editor’s note: Frank’s idea sounds like a great addition to any birdfeeder yard!).

** Candace Stultz who lives in a rural area near St Catherines, PEI was pulling into her driveway at dusk to spot a Barred Owl posing on her garbage can. It sat for a bit and she thought it may be injured so she got out of her vehicle, and it promptly flew away. Photos via Candace’s father Mac Wilmot.

**Brian Stone visited Wilson Marsh on Monday for a short walk and found the area to be quiet except for a few local patrons. A male and female Northern Cardinal were hiding in the branches of the bare shrubs along the upper trail area and managed to confound the camera's focus, resulting in just one photo coming through as a documentary-quality image. An American Crow looked on as Brian walked down the trail, and a group of several Canada Geese flew over. Brian noticed that the dirt on the trail was raised in areas and when it was scuffed, some ground frost was uncovered. Rose hips were photographed to add to the images of the day.

**Brian Stone decided to check out the Riverview Marsh trail on Tuesday afternoon to see if any raptors might be present and was rewarded with a flyby of a female Northern Harrier. The harrier dropped into the tall grass in a likely attempt at grabbing an afternoon snack but came up empty. Brian also noted three types of sparrows flitting through the grasses and photographed the Savannah Sparrow and the American Tree Sparrow but missed the Song Sparrow. Also in the tall grass were Ring-necked Pheasants which seemed intent on giving heart-stopping sudden surprise flights as punishment for being disturbed. One other interesting feature in the grass and also on the plants, only noticed when it was backlit by the sun, was the presence of Spider Web streamers on everything in the marsh. That's a lot of silk. Brian couldn't help noticing the increased amount of the invasive Common Reed (Phragmites) present in the marsh and along the trail. Some areas were blocked from view that were open the last time he was there.

**Brian also did a Riverview Christmas lights photo shoot for Jan Tingley. The results are indeed eye candy!

**Nelson Poirier took note of two different rose bushes loaded with rose hips in the backyard of a house joining a large parking lot.

The unique elongated rose hips of the Dog Rose (Rosa canina) were photographed. Another rose species, Multiflora Rose was loaded with fruit beside it. Multiflora Rose is an invasive plant. Its fruit is very popular with wild bird connoisseurs.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton