Nature Moncton Nature News: November 2 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 2, 2023

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Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**John Inman had a late Tuesday afternoon visit from an Eastern Phoebe and an Orange-crowned Warbler to his Harvey yard that rewarded him with excellent photographs.

(Editor’s note: the Eastern Phoebe is a flycatcher that nests throughout New Brunswick; however, the Orange-crowned Warbler does not. It is a warbler that nests to the north of us and we get to see it only during its spring and fall migration. It does tend to migrate through New Brunswick at this time of year to make it a special prize to watch for. It is a small warbler with somewhat muted plumage both in spring and fall. The faint striping on the breast, the pale-yellow rump, and its vocalization as it migrates are helpful clues to its presence.)

**Elaine Gallant spotted and was able to photograph a juvenile Peregrine Falcon in Cap Brule on Tuesday afternoon, November 1st, 2023.

**Grey skies brought about approximately 50 Double-crested Cormorants flying over the Petitcodiac River, then over Riverview Marsh and heading southwest on Tuesday.

A juvenile Great Blue Heron was along the mouth of Halls Creek, still successfully fishing for small fish. It would appear to have very dark plumage, but Sibley points out this is the dark morph juvenile bird.

**Brian Stone finally processed his photos from last Friday, Oct. 27th. and shares them for today's edition. On that day, Brian joined Nature Moncton members Cathy and Isabelle Simon for a walk around the Highland Park trail in Salisbury. He noted that there are still 3 immature Common Gallinules present, along with several Pied-billed Grebes and an American Coot. A pair of Northern Cardinals were hanging out in the bushes, and a pair of Song Sparrows were doing the same. A Great Blue Heron was perching on its favorite nest-like mound, watching the pond activity. One of the males from the large number of Green-winged Teal Ducks in the ponds joined in the photo session near the end.

Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonflies were mating in preparation for laying eggs to produce the next generation. A few large groups of European Starlings flew over, and one group was photographed.

Earlier that day, Brian photographed some Asian Muticolored Lady Beetles in his backyard along with one of the many Woolly Alder Aphids floating through the air there. Just barely noticed were several tiny (1 cm. tall) Mushrooms growing along the side of the back deck.

Brian also adds some images he took at Mapleton Park on Tuesday of some male and female Hooded Mergansers fishing in the main pond.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton