Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 8 2023

Jan 8, 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

** Sybil Wentzel reports the juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker was easily seen on Saturday in Riverside -Albert. It seemed very interested in the various birdhouses on the property and flew back and forth from one to another, often resting in place for durations at each. This bird's behaviour was spunky when in the company of the other birds, mainly Mourning Doves and Blue Jays. Sybil comments “hope we can watch it as it matures over the winter and into spring”.

**Gordon Rattray and Nelson Poirier paid a visit to the site of the Green-tailed Towhee at the Tantramar Wetlands Centre in Sackville on Saturday. It had a large respectful audience.

The bird seemed very content and foraged heavily among the grasses and very rewarding to watch it move about seemingly ignoring its admirers and being very cryptic. It just looked very content!

Any photographs took real patience; however, Gordon was able to capture a few which are shared.

After enjoying a time with the towhee, Gordon and Nelson dropped by to visit the Great Egret at the Sackville retention ponds. It was in its usual spot where there is open water but surely did not have the content ambience of the towhee. Hopefully, it was just in between lunches.

It was accompanied by several Mallard Ducks that seemed much more content with their lot.

**On Friday Brian Stone walked around the western half of Mapleton Park and spent some time looking at the large new Beaver Lodge and its accompanying three "constructions" (arrowed), possibly dams, that are nearby in the creek at the west end of the park. Many trees, large and small, chewed by the beavers were also noted.

He also photographed some of the flock of 30 or more Evening Grosbeaks that were flying noisily around the park and foraging at multiple spots. (Editor’s note: the samara of interest appears to be maple but not sure what the small black fruit may be?).

Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers were present as well and a few American Goldfinch were in the lower branches of the shrubs foraging on small seeds.

A few interesting hanging Ice Formations gave an indication of the lowering water levels in the creek.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton