Nature Moncton Nature News: December 31 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Dec 31, 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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**Lynn and Fred Dube captured an interesting scenario on their trail cam of a Barred Owl perched close to some open water over their garden fishpond. They are fairly certain the owl is not just dreaming of a successful fish lunch as they keep track of the number of fish in the pond. It is not the first time they have gotten documentary photos of the activity. This scenario with an owl would seem unusual but suspect there are not many trail cameras on yard fishponds to document it.

They also photographed one of the three Pileated Woodpeckers that are now regular patrons, as well as potentially the same number of Brown Creepers.

**Rheal Vienneau comments that his small herd of White-tailed Deer is very interested in the sunflower seeds that he puts out for the many Ring-necked Pheasants he gets as regulars. These same deer are also regularly seen on the Dieppe Marsh and walking trail about a mile or so closer to town than Rheal’s home.

(Editor’s note: note that one deer is a buck with antlers still intact which will soon fall. Usually, adult buck deer tend to be loners except during the rutting season.)

**Moving slow and quite dirty, John Inman photographed a Woolly Bear caterpillar out and about in the warmth of Monday.

(Editor’s note: the Woolly Bear caterpillar is the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger moth and is one of the few caterpillars that stay in the larval stage all winter and will move about on warmish days.)

**Gordon Rattray had visits today from some Ring-necked Pheasants. The male has been a frequent visitor, but on Monday, he was joined by two females, a first for them this winter to provide for excellent photographs to show their attractive plumage not to be outdone by the flaming males!

**Georges Brun noted Canada Geese were flying in formation as the tidal bore was moving upriver. They flew up Halls Creek, destination question mark.

Snow Buntings (20) were flying from the northeast side of the new bridge. Georges thinks there are some snacks on the western side of the same bridge.

**Brian Stone walked through Irishtown Park on Monday afternoon and did not find many subjects to photograph. He did see a male Downy Woodpecker, some tracks, and a foggy, misty trail view. At home he photographed a tiny Ichneumon Wasp and a small Winter Cranefly resting on his kitchen window.

(Editor’s note: tracks and trails in snow conditions like we have at the moment, unless very fresh, are difficult to identify. Some of the trails in Brian’s photos suggest grouse or crow/raven.)

Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton