Nature Moncton Nature News: December 20 2023

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Feb 3, 2023

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Elaine Gallant was not able to tally duck decoys that were frozen in time during the Moncton Christmas Bird Count in Lower Coverdale.

**Bohemian Waxwings would not seem quite so common this year as they sometimes are when fruit is plentiful like this year however Aldo Dorio noted a flock of 25 Bohemian Waxwings at Hay Island on Tuesday.

Aldo also noticed a Red-throated Loon in winter plumage off Hay Island.

**During the Christmas Bird Count on December 16, Brian Stone and Nelson Poirier took note of a very obvious striking yellow-green will moss that was very prevalent showing up very prominently among all the retired flora around it.

Bruce Bagnall identified it as Girgensohn’s Sphagnum Moss (Sphagnum girgensohnii)

Bruce points out it will stay a similar colour all year round except will appear a darker green when the plant is wet. It appears paler green when dry as the green chlorophyllose cells do not show through as well when the plant is dry.

**Brian Stone drove the coast from Cap Lumiere to Pointe-du-Chene on Tuesday and shares the few photos that he managed to get.

At Cap Lumiere, Brian photographed a pair of Harlequin Ducks and a couple of male Long-tailed Ducks but nothing else along the rest of the coast was close enough for a photo and most areas were just empty of sea birds. A nice drive in mostly pleasant weather but the camera felt neglected and needed reassurance that it was still important. As a consolation, Brian photographed the colourful sunset back at home and a dim, late-day rainbow.