Nature Moncton Nature News: October 21 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

October 23, 2024

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

**One of John Inman’s two Sharp-shinned Hawks was in the birch tree and the Cooper’s Hawk was up the poplar tree fanning its tail when a bright male Eastern Towhee arrived. John comments “It’s a wonder any birds show with the number of hawks monitoring his yard this year.”

(Editor’s note: the Cooper’s hawk sure provided the photographer with a striking fanned tail view.)

**Ray Gauvin spotted a Coyote hunting on the side of the road. It wasn’t too concerned about his presence. It was on the Fundy Trail Parkway Tuesday, about halfway through.

It was crossing the road when Ray first spotted it. It was in no hurry. Ray was able to capture a photo from inside the vehicle while it was hunting on the side of the road. He got out of the vehicle for a video and that’s when it sauntered into the woods. It looked to be in very good condition. At first, Ray thought it was a German Shepherd. Ray captured a video as it sauntered away. Take a look at the attached link:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sg11vmdl8u1ynqzp6rqn5/Coyote-Ray-Gauvin.MOV?rlkey=2yt5mxka5ddzgahq0n0queh2q&st=z5wdtzpy&dl=0

**Georges Brun got an excellent photo of a Weasel proudly showing prey in its mouth. It came from the Dieppe side of the walking bridge over Halls Creek then scurried across to hide in the shrubs next to the flagpoles. For five or so minutes it stayed hidden but reemerged again on the western side of the walking bridge, maybe to show off how easy it was to get its prey. With a number of folks as witnesses, it scurried back and forth until it snuck under the railing to enter riprap habitat and head west.

As expected, it was still in its summer brown pelage which will become snow white with black tail tip over the next months. Georges has been seeing a weasel at that site almost every year for the past 20 years.

(Editor's note: note that the tip of the tail in one photo is greyish. I'm wondering if this is the first indication of the black tail tip of winter pelage.)

A Bald Eagle saw a piece of sod floating along the shoal and descended to have a look, then made another flyby and flew upriver.

**Lisa Morris came across a tiny two-leaf red maple that was proudly showing off its beautiful red coat among the fallen leaves. As small as it was, its bright colour attracted her eye and it needed to be photographed.

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton