Nature Moncton Nature News: Feb 22 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Feb 22, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**All appreciation to Kelly-Sue O'Conner for virtually visiting Nature Moncton on Tuesday evening to share a project she is working on very diligently that has been shared with and appreciated by many folks.

Kelly shared 2 short videos she has produced and directed, and more can be viewed by going to her website at www.birderbraindoc.com

**John Inman got a quick photo of a Downy Woodpecker with his hackles up due to a female crowding him and obviously not impressed. It’s that time of year!!

John also noticed his Red-winged Blackbirds were really singing Tuesday morning, which he has not heard all winter. (Editor’s note: that beautiful Sun would make anybody want to sing).

**Matt Poirier came across a River Otter trail in the Elgin area on Tuesday. The trail was on a slanted area leading to a pond. It clearly shows the slide marks typical of the River Otter, and if one stops the video in between slides the tracks show up quite nicely. Take a look at the action in the attached video link.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/thybkwzj31ei1h8/River%20Otter%20Trail%20in%20Snow.mp4?dl=0

**A noticeably large Sharp-shinned Hawk (presumably female) arrived at the yard of Frank Branch in Paquetville on Tuesday to take a Blue Jay as prey.

Also, before noon Frank also had a Northern Shrike check out his patrons, as well as a Northern Goshawk last week.

Frank is enjoying an excellent season with a diversity of visitors.

**Anita and David Cannon missed the Nature Moncton meeting Tuesday evening as they were rather far south of Moncton in Pompano Beach, Florida. (Editor’s note: poor excuse!)

They will be back in beautiful New Brunswick Wednesday -- weather and the airlines permitting -- but Dave shares a photo taken right outside their townhouse window of an American Kestrel that will be staying on a bit longer in Florida.

**Judith Dewar comments for those who are wondering where the Pine Siskins are, her father has lots arriving at his feeders every day in St. George; however, Judith has not been seeing any around the Fredericton area this year, just as many others have been commenting.

**Brian Stone says the heck with the calendar ... when a Red Squirrel shows up in his back yard for the first time this winter and starts licking sap from the maple tree branches beside his deck, then for him, spring has arrived!

Brian also photographed an interesting trail on the backside of the Irishtown Nature Park recently that we suspect to be that of a Ruffed Grouse. In one photograph, that trail is crossed by a Snowshoe Hare.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton