Nature Moncton Nature News: April 27 2023

April 27, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Louise Nichols visited the Eddy Marsh near Amherst, NS on Wednesday morning. Lots of ducks were present, especially Ring-necked Ducks, which numbered probably close to 100. Louise noted how prominent the white spur is on the Ring-necked Ducks, making them readily identifiable even from a distance on a dull day. In addition to a large number of Ring-necked Ducks, Louise was surprised to see the number of Northern Pintails that were among the waterfowl crowd. She was able to count 20 at one point, which was more Pintails than she has ever seen before at one spot. Other ducks in the marsh in fewer numbers included Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard Ducks and 2 Lesser Scaup. Canada Geese were also noisily present. The ducks were far out in the middle of the impoundment, so Louise was able to get only documentary photos.

She also briefly visited the newer Fundy Winds Marsh, which is an educational marsh for youth located beside the larger Eddy Marsh. The Fundy Winds Marsh was more quiet although Louise spotted a male Wood Duck along with Blue Winged Teal and Northern Shoveler pairs (no opportunity for photos). Canada Geese were also loudly there. In the middle of one of the two impoundments was a beaver lodge but no sign of the occupants.

**John Inman got a very lucky photograph of a weasel that was well on the way to its change to summer brown from winter white, showing an interesting blend of the two.

Shannon Inman photographed Field Horsetail.

(Editor’s note: this interesting plant has separate nonreproductive and spore-bearing stems. Shannon has photographed the nonreproductive stage, which will disappear and be replaced by the green spore-bearing stems).

**Nelson Poirier recently had an encounter with a cow Moose and her yearling calf. Both animals were showing the severe damage to their pelage by constant scratching and rubbing from an infestation of the Winter Tick (Dermacentor albipictus).

(Editor's note: this is a yearly occurrence for Moose and must be very annoying. The huge, engorged ticks will drop off at this time of year to lay eggs and procreate and be ready to attach to another Moose in late fall. These ticks are specific to Moose and do not attach to other animals or humans. The pelage will now start to grow back to be the majestic, beautiful animal we will see in a few months).

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton