Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Wednesday 15 March 2023

March 15 2023

 

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

March 15, 2023

 

 

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

 

**Louise Nichols took advantage of the sunny spring weather on Monday to explore some spots around Memramcook and Dorchester, including a long walk down Dorchester Island Rd. to the Memramcook River.  The morning hoarfrost created some beautiful scenery just about everywhere.  Birds were still few and far between.  The best bird sighting Louise had was an adult Red-tailed Hawk in flight lit by the sun while she was driving with another car behind her and nowhere to pull over.  She also saw -- while she was driving -- a small flock of eiders flying up the river.  Otherwise, she saw a few of the typical winter birds.  Louise attaches some photos.

(Editor's note: when zooming in on Louise's photo of Maritime Sunburst Lichen, the numerous fruiting bodies typical of this lichen species show well) 


 

**Jane LeBlanc in St. Martins has heard Canada Geese in the marsh the last few days as she was walking her dog. In her yard on Tuesday, just before the snow started, she saw several Common Grackles and a bright-looking pair of American Robins feeding on the Mountain Ash berries.

(Editor’s note: the latter two arrivals must very much appreciate the berries Jane stored for them last fall!)

 

**Shannon Inman could not relocate the Brant she saw on the Shepody River on Monday. The tide was partly out, so possibly it/they were out in the bay, or it was just a brief stay. She did get a photo of a handsomely attired male Hooded Merganser.

Behind their home, 9 White-tailed Deer were going to attempt a crossing of the Shepody River. Two deer tried the mud, but after further discussion, they decided to try another spot.

 

**Daryl Doucette photographed a prime-appearing Woolly Bear Caterpillar strolling across the warm pavement of his driveway on Tuesday.

This caterpillar is the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth, which overwinters as the caterpillar stage and can be found happily roaming about, especially during the first few warm days of late winter. It can even be seen moving about on warm days in midwinter. It will go into the pupal (cocoon) stage for a brief period in spring before emerging as the flying adult Isabella Tiger Moth.

 

 

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN ROBIN. MARCH 14, 2023. JANE LEBLANC

COMMON GRACKLE. MARCH 14, 2023. JANE LEBLANC

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. MARCH 13, 2023. LOUISE NICHOLS

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. MARCH 13, 2023. LOUISE NICHOLS

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. MARCH 13, 2023. LOUISE NICHOLS

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. MARCH 13, 2023. LOUISE NICHOLS

HOODED MERGANSER (MALE). MAR 14, 2023. SHANNON INMAN

WHITE-TAILED DEER. MAR 14, 2023. SHANNON INMAN

WHITE-TAILED DEER. MAR 14, 2023. SHANNON INMAN

MARITIME SUNBURST LICHEN. MARCH 13, 2023. LOUISE NICHOLS

WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLAR. MAR 14, 2023. DARYL DOUCETTE

MEMRAMCOOK RIVER. MARCH 13, 2023. LOUISE NICHOLS