NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
March 4 2025
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
To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the
information line editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .
Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and proofreader Louise Nichols at Nicholsl@eastlink.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website
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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols
**On Sunday, Shaun O’Reilly photographed a very large
flock of bohemian waxwings in Miramichi. He estimated there were
approximately 600 of them. This was a conservative estimate. They were right
beside Adam’s Funeral Home on King Street in Chatham. Many were flying back and
forth between the large trees beside the funeral home and the many trees on a
close-by street - Springvale Ave. There was also a flock of around 20 American robins
in these trees.
The flock flew off after Shaun had observed them for
about 45 minutes. They headed towards the Chatham Industrial Park. He searched
for them later, with no luck.
**Ron Arsenault, who is very knowledgeable on duck
species, has commented on the ‘odd’ duck reported in the last two editions that was recently spotted by Becky Gillcash at
Mapleton Park. I will quote Ron directly below:
“I suspect the buff-coloured duck labelled as a leucistic
mallard is more likely to be a domestic duck than a leucistic 'wild'
mallard. I have seen many domestic ducks that look very much like this duck. In
colouration, it looks very much like a Buff Orptington (domestic
origin), but likely smaller. Whether a leucistic wild type mallard or a domestic
duck, it is the same species, Anas platyrhinchos.”
**Mac Wilmot reports that one of their resident Carolina
wrens in Lower Coverdale started vigourously vocalizing on Monday. Mac
suspects that Spring is knocking.
(Editor’s note: all best wishes for a second successful
breeding season for this pair of Carolina wrens in the Wilmot’s yard.)
**Issac Acker has some trail cameras set up around the
Moncton area and shares some documentary photos of some of his nocturnal
visitors, including some winter white plumaged snowshoe hares, a
coyote, a raccoon, and a red fox.
**Brian Stone got some photos of a white-tailed deer searching
for food beside a road in Riverview as it foraged and then crossed the road in
front of him with a few bounds and a couple of disdainful glances. Back in Moncton, Brian checked in on the peregrine falcons to find them perched in their
favorite spot under the new nest box.
Later that evening (Tuesday), Brian photographed the waxing
crescent Moon (17% full) as it hovered over the planets Venus and Mercury
in the twilight. A little brightening and level adjustment made the planets
stand out better to show them as a good pair of eyes would see them under good
conditions.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
